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Chapbooks written, edited, and produced by WRIT editing students |
To write well requires neither mystery nor magic. It is a craft that can be learned from expert teachers and honed in frequent practice. All that is required is the commitment to work at it.
Those who can write well are able to discover, articulate, organize and present clearly and effectively their own as well as other people’s ideas. Those who can write well are always in demand and always valued, no matter where they exercise their craft.
The Writing Minor is for those who want to explore the theory and practice of writing in a more intensive way than is possible in other courses. From classical rhetoric to contemporary theories about composition, from creative writing to the principles of editing and researching in a digital age, the topics covered in the Writing Minor examine various aspects of the academic discipline of writing studies.
Who can take the Writing Minor?
The Writing Minor is open to all undergraduate students, including English students. The Writing Minor complements all fields of university study.
What are the requirements?
The Writing Minor will require successful completion of WRIT 1120 (Writing Theory and Practice) and 2.5 other courses selected from WRIT courses offered in the English Department or LIBR 2100, Introduction to Research in the Information Age.
What's the difference between WRIT and ENGL courses?
Any course designated as WRIT or as ENGL/WRIT counts towards the Writing Minor, as does LIBR 2100. English students who are looking for courses to fulfill the requirements of a literature program (minor, concentration, major, advanced major, or honours in English) cannot count WRIT courses as part of the literature requirements, although they can, of course, take WRIT courses as electives or enroll in the Writing Minor. Courses designated as ENGL/WRIT can fulfill requirements for either the Writing Minor or one of the literature programs.
Possible Writing courses will include An Introduction to Editing, Creative Writing, Writing to Influence, Myths and Theories about Writing, and Studies in Writing. For further advice on the Writing Minor, contact the English Department Writing Co-ordinator, Dr. Anna Smol.
Where are Writing Minor courses listed?
Please note that when registering for WRIT courses, you have to search under "Writing" in Web Advisor, not "English." However, when consulting the University Undergraduate Calendar, you will have to look under "English" for a listing of WRIT courses. If you are interested in the Library 2100 course, you will have to search under "Library" in Web Advisor. Below you will find a listing of the Writing Minor courses scheduled for 2010-2011.
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Fall - Winter 2010-2011 WRIT courses
WRIT 1120: Writing Theory and Practice(half unit)
In this course, you will approach writing from a rhetorical perspective: that is, writing is not just a matter of following a series of rules or applying a set of templates. Instead, writing involves making choices that are appropriate to the situation. Assignments will include, but also extend beyond, traditional academic writing. You will get practice in drafting and substantial revision as well as editing and polishing. Issues of academic integrity and accurate citation will be addressed in the process of developing research-informed papers.
This course is the foundation of the Writing Minor; it is recommended that you take 1120 before you attempt any other WRIT or WRIT/ENGL courses.
A writing exercise will be assigned in the first class. Students whose performance is judged inadequate will be strongly recommended to withdraw. Students on the waitlist must attend classes until a decision on their status can be made.
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ENGL / WRIT 2220: Writing to Influence Fall term; half unit
Section 01: Tuesday and Thursday 10:30-11:45
Instructor: Susan Drain
Winter term; half unit
Section 02: Monday and Wednesday 11:05-12:20
Instructor: David Wilson
Pre-requisite: WRIT 1120 or five units of university study. If you are taking this course in the Writing Minor, you are recommended to complete WRIT 1120 first.
Building on WRIT 1120, this course explores the rhetoric of persuasion in various genres and situations. The foundation of the course is classical rhetoric, as reinterpreted for modern times. We explore logic and style as part of effective persuasion, as well as ethical issues that arise. By the end of the course, students will be familiar with a variety of rhetorical and literary terms --impress your friends by referring casually to paronomasia or paraprosdokian. Some research in the field is required.
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ENGL/WRIT 2221: Creative Writing
Winter term; half unit
Monday and Wednesday 3:05-4:20
Instructor: Clare Goulet
Pre-requisite: ENGL 1170/1171 or ENGL 1155 or permission of the instructor. If you are taking this course in the Writing Minor, you are recommended to complete WRIT 1120 first.
This is a study of lyric and narrative thinking via specific writing assignments in poetry, fiction, and/or nonfiction, in a workshop environment. Reading and written discussion of (and visits by) contemporary writers are central to the course, with peer-reviewed literary journals drawn on as texts and to establish standards. Limited enrolment.
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ENGL/ WRIT 3330: Myths and Theories about Writing Fall term; half unit
Tuesday and Thursday 1:30-2:45
Instructor: Susan Drain
Pre-requisite: ENGL 1170/1171 or ENGL 1155 or WRIT 1120 and one of ENGL/WRIT 2220, ENGL/WRIT 2221 or WRIT 2222.
This course addresses some fundamental questions about writing: where do ideas come from? how is writing accomplished? can writing be taught? what makes "good writing"? In exploring these questions, we will examine our own practice and assumptions, and we will look at a variety of mythical and historical sources (the ancient muses, classical rhetoric, eighteenth-century philosophers). We will concentrate on selected readings from recent theorists and researchers in the field of rhetoric and composition. Of interest to anyone who writes or struggles with writing, this course provides a framework particularly important for potential teachers, editors, and critics.
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Offered by the Library:LIBR 2100: Introduction to Research in the Information Age
Please check Web Advisor under "Library" for the scheduling of this course in the fall and winter terms.
Prerequisite: recommended that students have completed one term of study
An introduction to research including frameworks for the organization of information in print and online; critical strategies for acquiring, evaluating and communicating information; and ethical and legal (intellectual property, copyright, plagiarism) obligations of using information. Information sources across various disciplines, formats and media will be considered.
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