Current Course Offerings

Spring 2010 (click a title to learn more) [pdf flyer]

Advanced Argumentative Writing—WRT 255: Advanced Argumentative Writing

MW 12:45-2:05 (40354, sec M001)
Tricia Serviss

Angry mobs packing town hall meetings about health care demonstrate how argumentation is often (mis)understood in the public sphere. We are surrounded by depictions of “argument” as disagreement: insidious, angry opponents work to win. This course complicates simplistic notions of argument and engages argumentation as invention, inquiry, ethics, and negotiation of relationships. Using rhetorical concepts from various eras and cultures, we will enrich the idea of argument. We will apply and adapt these concepts to arguments across contexts, audiences, and media to generate powerful and persuasive argumentative writing of our own.

3 credits

Research Noir—WRT 303: Writing & Research

TTH 2:00-3:20 (52258, sec M001)
Jeff Simmons

Join a community of fearless writers expanding their research writing skills in pursuit of mystery. Collaborate with the living and dead, as we uncover dusty documents in special collections, reveal the dark underbelly of data bases and electronic archives, and develop expertise as interviewers. The semester will culminate in a sustained research project.

3 credits—Genres & Practices Category

Style—WRT 308: Style

TTH 12:30-1:50 (38607, sec M001)
Instructor TBA

WRT 308 provides a writing workshop focused on issues of style, so that you can work on advanced techniques for writing and editing your prose. We will study the components of style, analyze the stylistic choices writers make in response to specific rhetorical situations, and discover how applying different writing styles can support particular rhetorical purposes. We will also consider the social and political implications that surround judgments about style.

3 credits—Genres & Practices Category

WRT 307: Professional Writing

WRT 307 is taught by multiple instructors at various times. The following is the catalog description:
"Professional communication through the study of audience, purpose, and ethics. Rhetorical problem-solving principles applied to diverse professional writing tasks and situations."

3 credits—Genres & Practices Category

Writing With Video—WRT 400: Special Topics

TTH 5:00-6:20 (52267, M001)
George Rhinehart

This course will explore the intersection of text and video. We will examine theories that define and challenge the relationships among and boundaries between text, image, sound, and video—from the rhetorical canons to new media theory. We will produce work that demonstrates that intersection in a number of ways, engaging in the creation of digital video products—from storyboarding to editing—as composing processes. Prior experience with digital video technologies is neither required nor expected, but creativity and willingness to think outside the conventional rectangles—page and screen—are.

3 credits—Histories & Theories Category

Vision and Voice—WRT 422: Studies in Creative Nonfiction

MW 2:15–3:35 (41848, sec M001)
John Colasacco

Creative Nonfiction (CNF): artistically ambitious writing based in reality. In this class students will read and write under the premise that CNF must deliver the diverse truths of reality while maintaining authentic vision and voice. We’ll operate in three phases: Invention (short creative nonfiction assignments, reading and discussing craft/technique), Reading and Research (a range of anthologized/unique creative nonfiction examples or manifestoes, writing/discussion bent toward our favorites), and Expansion (writing to grow, collaboration, reading/discussing peer work, in-class and student-prompted assignments).

3 credits—Genres & Practices Category

Rhetorics of Resistance—WRT 424: Studies in Writing, Rhetoric, and Identity

TTH 9:30-10:50 (39846, sec M001)
Laurie Gries

This course explores how writing, rhetoric, and identities emerge in various contact zones—social spaces where cultures meet, collide, and grapple in contexts of highly uneven power. Throughout the course, students will investigate rhetorics that oppress and rhetorics that resist. Focusing heavily on colonial contexts in the Americas, students will study how words, images, artifacts, and the body are employed to achieve personal, cultural, and political survival. Students will be encouraged to explore acts of resistance in their own communities, engage in historical research, and create multimedia presentations.

3 credits—Histories & Theories Category

Rhetoric and/as Design—WRT426: Studies in Writing, Rhetoric, and Information Technology

MW 3:45–5:05 (41852, sec M001)
Collin Gifford Brooke

Much like rhetoric, the term “design” cuts across many disciplines and fields of endeavor. In recent years, there has been a surge of interest in the impact that design has on our everyday lives. This course will look carefully at the connections between rhetoric and design, paying special attention to more recent fields where the two intersect: web design, visual and multimedia rhetorics, and the idea of transmedia, to name but a few. We will consider what it means to research and write about design, and how rhetoric might help us to approach design critically, socially, and historically. Depending upon the experience and interests of the class, we may also spend some time working on digital projects.

3 credits—Histories & Theories Category

Emerging Technologies in Prof. & Technical Communication—WRT427/627: Wrt in Design & Development Environments

W 5:15–6:35 & online (427: 52259, M001/627: 52260, M001)
Krista Kennedy

This hybrid course explores the impact of social media in technical communication and the workplace. Our locally-focused class project will incorporate wikis, tagging, GoogleDocs, Flickr, WriteMaps, and other applications. Participants will also use blogs, IM, LinkedIn, and Twitter during the collaborative process. Students will gain a broad vocabulary and understanding of how different workplace environments are coping with the challenges of producing technical communication in a period of complex factors, multiple audiences, geographical distances, and fast-changing tools. The class will meet both in the classroom & online.

3 credits—Genres & Practices Category

Prior Semesters

Fall 2009

Rhetorical Tools for Writers—WRT 255: Advanced Argumentative Writing	Faith Plvan
Writing, Publics, and Power—WRT 255: Advanced Argumentative Writing	Adam Banks
Writing as Rebellion—WRT301: Civic Writing	Janell Haynes
Otherwords—WRT302: Digital Writing	Collin Gifford Brooke
Writers Beyond the Classroom—WRT331: Peer Writing Consultant Practicum	Jason Luther
The Ethics of Rhetoric: Truth or Flattery?—WRT400: Special Topics	Lois Agnew
Studies in Narrative and Post Memoir—WRT422: Studies in Creative Nonfiction	Donna Marsh-O'Connor
e-Merging Identities—WRT 424: Studies in Writing, Rhetoric, and Identity	Ty O'Bryan

2008-2009

Spring 2009
Rhetorical Tools for Writers—WRT 255: Advanced Argumentative Writing	Louise Wetherbee Phelps
Writing, Publics, and Power—WRT 301:Advanced Writing Studio: Civic Writing	Kelly Rawson
WRT 307: Professional Writing	Multiple Instructors
Wild and Whirling Words—WRT308: Style	Jeremiah Thompson
Versions of Reality—WRT422: Studies in Creative Nonfiction	Gael Sweeney
African American Rhetoric—WRT423: African American Rhetoric	Gwendolyn Pough
Queer Writing—WRT424: Studies in Writing, Rhetoric, and Identity	Margaret Himley
Digital Underground: Black Music & Technology—WRT426: Studies in Writing, Rhetoric, and Information Technology	Adam Banks

Fall 2008
Arguing Publicly, Arguing Personally—WRT 255 : Advanced Argumentative Writing	Eileen E. Schell
Writing the Election—WRT 301: Civic Writing	Lois Agnew
Writing in Digital Spaces—WRT 302: Digital Writing	George Rhinehart
The Rhetorics of Research—WRT 303: Research Writing	Tricia Serviss
WRT 307: Professional Writing	Multiple Instructors
Writers Beyond the Classroom—WRT 331: Peer Writing Consultant Practicum	Jason Luther
Stranger than Fiction—WRT 422: Studies in Creative Nonfiction	Minnie Bruce Pratt
Writing in the City—WRT 428: Studies in Composition, Rhetoric, and Literacy	Steve Parks
Rhetoric and Politics of the Black Sermon—WRT 440: Studies in the Politics of Language and Writing	Adam Banks

2007-2008

Spring 2008
Argument and Community—WRT 255 : Advanced Argumentative Writing	Lois Agnew
Civic Space in New City—WRT 301: Civic Writing	Christina Feikes
Scholarship in Action—WRT 303: Research Writing	Madeline Yonker
WRT 307: Professional Writing	Multiple Instructors
It's All About How You Say It—WRT 308: Style	Molly Voorheis
Life, Love, and Liberation —WRT 423: African American Rhetoric	Adam Banks
Rap, Race, Rhetoric, and Identity—WRT 424: Studies in Writing, Rhetoric, and Identity	Gwendolyn Pough
Writing the Digital Divide—WRT 426: Studies in Writing, Rhetoric, and Information Technology	Iswari Pandey

Fall 2007
Writing for Local and Global Audiences—WRT 255 : Advanced Argumentative Writing	Iswari Pandey
Engagement Through Writing—WRT 301: Civic Writing	Adam Banks
Writing the Digital Zeitgeist—WRT 302: Digital Writing	Ty O'Bryan
Writing for Enthusiasts—WRT 303: Research Writing	Henry Jankiewicz
WRT 307: Professional Writing	Multiple Instructors
Writing Beyond the Classroom—WRT 331: Peer Writing Consultant Practicum	Jason Luther
Stranger Than Fiction—WRT 422: Studies in Creative Nonfiction	Minnie Bruce Pratt
Writing in Schools and Communities—WRT 428: Studies in Composition, Rhetoric, and Literacy	Jonna Gilfus
Writing About The Media—WRT 440: Studies in the Politics of Language and Writing	Steve Thorley

2006-2007

Spring 2007
Writing For Our Local and Global Communities: The Word, the Image, and the Screen—WRT 301: Civic Writing	Eileen Schell
Research Writing in an Online World—WRT 303: Research Writing	Kurt Stavenhagen
WRT 307: Professional Writing	Multiple Instructors
Stylin'—WRT 308: Style	Jeff Simmons
Writers Beyond Classrooms—WRT 331: Peer Writing Consultant Practicum	Jason Luther
Public Intellectuals, Cultural Critics, and “Pop Culture” Analysts: Writing Self and Society—WRT 422: Studies in Writing, Rhetoric, and Identity	Gwendolyn Pough
Troubling Bodies: Race, Gender, and Sexuality—WRT 424: Studies in Writing, Rhetoric, and Identity	Elisa Norris
Writing for Web 2.0 —WRT 426: Studies in Writing, Rhetoric, and Information Technology	Collin Gifford Brooke

Fall 2006
The Active Writer—WRT 301: Civic Writing	Lois Agnew
The Digital and Its Links—WRT 302: Digital Writing	Derek Mueller
Radical Syracuse—WRT 303: Research Writing	Nance Hahn
WRT 307: Professional Writing	Multiple Instructors
Peer Consultant Practicum—WRT 331: Peer Writing Consultant Practicum	Jason Luther
Where Do We Go From Here? Contemporary African American Rhetoric—WRT 424: Studies in Writing, Rhetoric, and Identity	Adam Banks
Authors, Writers, Heroes—WRT 428: Studies in Composition, Rhetoric, and Literacy	Rebecca Moore Howard
Class Warfare: Campus & Community—WRT 440: Studies in the Politics of Language and Writing	Steve Parks

2005-2006

Spring 2006
From Spray Paint to Blogs: Activist Writing —WRT 301: Civic Writing	Steve Park
Research Noir—WRT 303: Research Writing	Jeff Simmons
WRT 307: Professional Writing	Multiple Instructors
Constructing Style—WRT 308: Style	Lois Agnew
Advanced Editing Studio—WRT 340: Advanced Editing Studio	Chris Madden-Feikes
Writing a Sense of Place: A Creative Nonfiction Workshop —WRT 422: Studies in Creative Nonfiction	Eileen Schell
Race, Rhetoric, and Technology —WRT 426: Studies in Writing, Rhetoric, and Information Technology	Adam Banks


Fall 2005
Writing for Change—WRT 301: Civic Writing	Molly Voorheis
Jacking the Frame (Technological Remediation and Re-culturation)—WRT 302: Digital Writing	Madeline Yonker
Argument in the 21st Century—WRT 303: Research Writing	Rebecca Moore Howard
WRT 307: Professional Writing	Multiple Instructors
WRT 331: Peer Writing Consultant Practicum	Vivian Rice
WRT 427/627: Writing in Design and Development Environments (Online)	George Rhinehart
Sermons, Standups, and the Spoken Word: Rhetoric in the African American Oral Tradition —WRT 424: Studies in Writing, Rhetoric, and Identity	Adam Banks
Black Women and Literacy—WRT 428: Studies in Composition, Rhetoric, and Literacy	Gwendolyn Pough
Language and the Public—WRT 440 : Studies in the Politics of Language and Writing	Lois Agnew

2004-2005

Spring 2005
</writing>—WRT 302: Digital Writing	George Rhinehart
WRT 307: Professional Writing	Multiple Instructors
Experimenting With Styles—WRT 308: Style	Rebecca Moore Howard
WRT 340: Advanced Editing Studio	Eileen Moeller
The Art of Creating Memoir—WRT 422: Studies in Creative Non-Fiction	Maureen Puetzer
Paul Robeson, the Black Left, and the Movement Between the Movements—WRT 424: Studies in Writing, Rhetoric, and Identity)	Adam Banks
WRT 430: Advanced Writing Consultation	Vivian Rice

Fall 2004
Environmental Activism—WRT 301: Civic Writing	David Nentwick
Language, Culture, and Information —WRT 303: Research and Writing	Tennyson O'Donnell
WRT 307: Professional Writing	Multiple Instructors
Peer Writing Consultant Practicum—WRT 331: Peer Writing Consultant Practicum	Vivian Rice
Memoir and Public Voice —WRT 422: Studies in Creative Non-Fiction	Amanda Brown
Self-Presentation/Media Representation —WRT 424: Studies in Writing, Rhetoric, and Identity	Burgess
Writing, Schools, and Power —WRT 428: Studies in Composition, Rhetoric, and Literacy	Jonna Gilfus

Last modified: October 28, 2009