To see the official Oakland University class schedule, visit the SAIL Schedule of Classes, select the semester you wish to view, and then select "writing and rhetoric."

If you wish to major in Writing and Rhetoric, fill out a change of major form and go over the plan of study with an adviser.

Course Descriptions

The department offers selected courses from the undergraduate catalog as warranted by student needs and availability of faculty. Specific offerings for each term can be found in the Schedule of Classes.

WRT 102 Basic Writing
Developing writing skills including idea generation and invention, organizational strategies and conventional usage in expository prose. Emphasis on developing fluency and effective writing processes. Placement by referral. Enrollment in summer by placement in Student Success Services Program only. May be repeated once for additional credit. Graded S/U.

WRT 104 Supervised Study (1 or 2 credits)
Tutorial instruction in areas mutually agreed upon by student and instructor such as independent or academic writing projects. May be taken concurrently with other rhetoric courses (seven weeks or 14 weeks). May be repeated for up to 8 credits. Graded S/U.

WRT 140 College Reading
Analysis of main ideas and organizational patterns used in academic texts, synthesis of different passages for readers' own purposes, and evaluation of written and digital materials, focusing on non-fiction prose. Emphasis on developing flexible reading skills for personal and professional use.

WRT 150 Composition I
A course emphasizing the rhetorical and stylistic demands of college writing through focus on experiential, analytical, and expressive writing. Students learn to generate, organize and develop their ideas and to make choices as writers that are appropriate to the rhetorical situation. A grade of 2.0 or higher must be achieved to advance to WRT 160. Prerequisite: Placement by faculty evaluation of writing or successful completion of WRT 102.

WRT 160 Composition II
Emphasizes the process of writing in increasingly complex rhetorical situations with focus on developing analytic thinking and problem-solving strategies in writing. Students learn methods of academic research including evaluation and documentation of sources and are expected to create at least one research paper. A grade of 2.0 or higher must be achieved to satisfy the university writing proficiency requirement. Prerequisite: Placement by portfolio review by faculty, successful completion of WRT 150, or transfer of 3-5 credits of college-level composition.

WRT 231 Composing Audio Essays
Explores the rhetorical, ethical, stylistic, and technical principles of creating personal, observational, and ethnographic essays and oral histories for digital audio distribution. Prerequisite: completion of the university writing foundation requirement.

WRT 232 Writing for New Media
An introduction to the rhetorical, ethical, stylistic, and technical principles of web authoring. Examines the rhetorical roles of ethos, logos, and pathos in the construction of online identities; basic theoretical arguments around the construction of identity and community in online contexts; and ethical and stylistic issues surrounding web authorship.Prerequisite: completion of the university writing foundation requirement.

WRT 233 Digital Storytelling
Explores the rhetorical, ethical, stylistic, and technical principles of creating personal, observational, and ethnographic narratives through visual and digital productions—slide shows, videos, graphic-intensive websites, posters, flip books, and comics.
Prerequisite: completion of the university writing foundation requirement.

WRT 305 Advanced Writing: Various Themes
Students will read and write about and within increasingly complex rhetorical situations within chosen themes. Themes provide the opportunity to explore new and emerging genres and contexts for writing, while students gain insight and experience with the importance of writing for various parts of society. Prerequisite: completion of the university writing foundation requirement.

WRT 320 Peer Tutoring in Composition
Peer tutoring theories and pedagogies, and practical experience in teaching. Work divided between classroom and tutoring assignments. Particularly valuable for majors in the humanities, education, psychology, human services and related fields.
Satisfies the university general education requirement in the knowledge applications integration area. Satisfies the university general education requirement for a writing intensive course in general education or the major, not both. Prerequisite: completion of the university writing foundation requirement.

WRT 329 Composition Studies
A survey of composition-rhetoric as an academic discipline, including an examination of the history, theory, research, curricula, and practices associated with composition-rhetoric in the university. Prerequisite: completion of the university writing foundation requirement.

WRT 330 Digital Culture: Identity and Community
An examination of the rhetoric and ethics of Internet technology and culture. Introduces theories of digital culture and its effects on both online and actual identities and communities, especially in relation to ethnicity, gender, class, physical ability, and sexual orientation. Includes individual and collaborative analysis and construction of web projects. Satisfies the university general education requirement for a writing intensive course in general education or the major, not both. Satisfies the university general education requirement in U.S. Diversity. Prerequisite: completion of the university writing foundation requirement.

WRT 331 Introduction to Professional Writing
An introduction to the field of professional writing. Examines the theories, practices, technologies, and ethics of professional writing in the workplace. Prerequisite: completion of the university writing foundation requirement.

WRT 332 Rhetoric of Web Design
An intermediate course in the rhetorical, ethical, stylistic, and technical principles of web design. Applies the rhetorical principles and research methods learned in the prerequisite courses WRT 160 and WRT 232 to the effective production of web documents. Prerequisite: completion of the university writing foundation requirement.

WRT 334 Video Game Culture
Introduction to the rhetorical, ethical, stylistic, and technical principles of video games and gaming culture. Prerequisite: completion of the university writing foundation requirement.

WRT 335 Writing for Human Services Professionals
Development of analytical and collaborative writing skills for human services and training and development professionals. Emphasis on written analysis in a variety of forms including letters, memos, problem statements and proposals among others. Experience in writing individually and cooperatively. Class will include writing workshops and group discussions. Prerequisite: completion of the university writing foundation requirement and junior standing.

WRT 340 Issues in Writing and Rhetoric Studies
An introduction to important past and current issues in the field of Writing and Rhetoric. Designed as an introduction to the discipline, the course will provide a theoretical and historical foundation for understanding current issues and challenges for the discipline. Prerequisite: completion of the university writing foundation requirement.
Satisfies the university general education requirement in the knowledge applications integration area. Satisfies the university general education requirement for a writing intensive course in general education or the major, not both. Prerequisite: completion of the university writing foundation requirement.

WRT 342 History of Rhetorical Studies
Examination of major Western rhetoricians and their cultural contexts. Considers the classical roots of modern rhetoric and the influences of rhetoric in other disciplines. Satisfies the university general education requirement in the knowledge applications integration area. Satisfies the university general education requirement for a writing intensive course in general education or the major, not both. Prerequisite: completion of the university writing foundation requirement.

WRT 350 Service Learning Writing
Writing in a variety of genres and applying academic research skills to community issues and problems. Community service work required through local agencies or student-initiated organizational contact. Satisfies the university general education requirement for a writing intensive course in general education or the major, not both. Prerequisite: completion of the university writing foundation requirement.

WRT 360 Global Rhetorics
Traces the contemporary and historical uses of rhetoric and written communication in non-Western cultures. Examines contemporary rhetorical contexts worldwide, including in education, professional writing, and political discourse. Satisfies the university general education requirement in Global Perspectives. Satisfies the university general education requirement for a writing intensive course in general education or the major, not both. Prerequisite: completion of the university writing foundation requirement.

WRT 364 Writing About Culture: Ethnography
Development of analytic and collaborative writing skills in the context of ethnographic study. Emphasis on written analysis in a variety of forms including case study analysis and ethnomethodological investigation. Appropriate advanced writing experience for majors in communication, education, psychology, anthropology, sociology and political science. Satisfies the university general education requirement in the knowledge applications integration area. Satisfies the university general education requirement for a writing intensive course in general education or the major, not both. Satisfies the university general education requirement in U.S. Diversity. Prerequisite: completion of the university writing foundation requirement.

WRT 365 Women Writing Autobiography
Students use autobiography as a feminist methodology to explore topics of personal and community significance, and practice writing strategies relevant to addressing issues of audience, purpose, agency and research. Autbiographical texts by diverse women writers serve as models for students' own writing. Includes weekly assignments and an extended final project. Identical with WS 365. Prerequisite: completion of the university writing foundation requirement.

WRT 370 Special Topics (2 or 4 credits)
Special topics in composition and rhetoric. May be repeated under different subtitles. Prerequisite: completion of the university writing foundation requirement.

WRT 380 Persuasive Writing
Advanced writing designed to help students develop argumentative and stylistic skill in a variety of rhetorical contexts with application in business, communication, industry and government. Prerequisite: completion of the university writing foundation requirement.

WRT 381 Scientific and Technical Writing
Writing to diverse audiences about scientific and technological subjects in formats such as articles, essays and reports. Prerequisite: completion of the university writing foundation requirement.

WRT 382 Business Writing
Instruction in the theory and practice of written, visual, and digital rhetoric within business contexts. Satisfies the university general education requirement for a writing intensive course in general education and knowledge applications integration area. Prerequisite: completion of the university writing foundation requirement.

WRT 386 Workshop in Creative Non-Fiction
Creative writing workshop, with emphasis on stories of real life, balancing artistry and accuracy. May include the personal essay, autobiography or travel literature. Prerequisite: completion of the university writing foundation requirement.

WRT 394 Literacy, Technology, and Civic Engagement
Exploration and application of technology in the discipline of Writing and Rhetoric. Examines the uneven shifts from oral to print to digital literacy and how those shifts affect the production of knowledge, social relationships, and opportunities for civic engagement. Prerequisite: completion of the university writing foundation requirement.

WRT 414 Teaching Writing
Examination of and practice in instructional techniques and research in writing pedagogy, and such related issues as assessment and classroom workshops. Prerequisite: Junior standing and 320, or permission of instructor.

WRT 490 Independent Study (2 or 4 credits)
Special research projects in writing and/or teaching writing. Approved course of study and an authorization form, signed by a faculty member willing to supervise the study, must be submitted to the department the term prior to the term the independent study is taken. May be repeated for up to 8 credits. Prerequisite: One 300-level rhetoric course and permission of the instructor.

WRT 491 – Internship
Experience working with writing professionals in business or industry or in an educational or non-profit organization. May be repeated once in a different setting.
Satisfies the university general education requirement in the knowledge applications integration area. Satisfies the university general education requirement for a writing intensive course in general education or the major, not both. Prerequisite: WRT 320, WRT 335, WRT 382 or another 300-400 level writing/rhetoric course and permission of the instructor.

WRT 492 Senior Thesis
Experience researching and composing a text that examines the theories, practices, or issues related to one of the three tracks in the major. Prerequisite: WRT 320, WRT 331, WRT 394; and permission of instructor.

WRT 497 Apprentice College Teaching (2 or 4 credits)
Assisting in teaching an undergraduate course in rhetoric. Includes discussions with the supervising faculty member on the principles, methods and problems of such teaching. May be taken for a total of 4 credits. Prerequisite: Senior standing. WRT 414 and two additional 300-400 level WRT courses. WRT 414 may be taken concurrently.