The Department of Writing offers a comprehensive curriculum designed to foster clarity and creativity in expression through courses in first-year composition, creative writing, and advanced expository writing. The Department offers a major with concentrations in nonfiction writing, creative writing, professional writing, and feature writing. Students are admitted to the major after an interview with the Department chairperson or a senior faculty member. Majors are given preference in course registration. The Department also offers a 21-credit minor. Students interested in declaring a minor should contact the Department’s minor coordinator.
WRTG 10600-all sections ACADEMIC WRITING I HU LA
3 CREDITS
01: Hadley (Scott) Smith, Smiddy 404A, X3503, hadley@ithaca.edu
02, 03: TBA
04: Barbara Adams, Smiddy 427, X3045, adams@ithaca.edu
05: TBA
06: Maggie Gerrity, Smiddy 411, X7945, mgerrity@ithaca.edu
07-09: TBA
10: Elaine Farrugia, Smiddy 402, X1864, efarrugia@ithaca.edu
11: Katie Marks, Smiddy 419, X3569, kmarks@ithaca.edu
12-15: TBA
16: Louise Cannon, Smiddy 406, X3324, lcannon@ithaca.edu
17: TBA
18: Gigi Marks, Smiddy 401, X3599, gmarks@ithaca.edu
19-28: TBA
ENROLLMENT: 22 per section
PREREQUISITE: Available only to freshmen, sophomores, and transfer students in HSHP, the School of Music, and the Park School, except by petition. Students cannot get credit for this class and WRTG-10800 or an ICSM in writing.
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this course is to teach students how to read perceptively and write intelligently in their college courses. Students will learn to comprehend, critique, and respond to college readings by practicing a variety of writing tasks ranging from simple restatements of reading to evaluations of the claims and evidence in a number of reading sources. Course emphasizes thoughtful and responsible use of sources. May satisfy departmental and school requirements for a 100-level writing course
FORMAT AND STYLE: Brief lectures, discussion, workshops.
STUDENTS: Strongly recommended for students who meet the placement criteria. Preference is given to freshmen and transfer students.
REQUIREMENTS: Six to eight hours of reading and writing per week and additional Center tutoring as needed.
GRADING: Grades A-F are based on improvement in both reading and writing ability.
WRTG 10800-all sections ACADEMIC WRITING I FOR HUMANITIES AND SCIENCES HU LA
4 credits
01: Patricia Spencer, Smiddy 418, X3770, pspencer@ithaca.edu
02: Fred Wilcox, Smiddy 422, X3571, fwilcox@ithaca.edu
03: Catherine Taylor, Smiddy 412, X7031, ctaylor@ithaca.edu
04: Linda Godfrey, Smiddy 414, X1070, godfrey@ithaca.edu
05: Louise Cannon, Smiddy 406, X3324, lcannon@ithaca.edu
06: Katie Marks, Smiddy 419, X3569, kmarks@ithaca.edu
07: Jaime Warburton, Smiddy 425, X3516, jwarburton@ithaca.edu
08: Jim Stafford, Smiddy 413, X5145, jstafford@ithaca.edu
09: Maggie Gerrity, Smiddy 411, X7945, mgerrity@ithaca.edu
10: Elaine Farrugia, Smiddy 402, X1864, efarrugia@ithaca.edu
11: Tom Kerr, Smiddy 423, X3546, tkerr@ithaca.edu
12: TBA
13: Hadley (Scott) Smith, Smiddy 404A, X3503, hadley@ithaca.edu
14: TBA
15: Jerry Mirskin, Smiddy 420, X1246, mirskin@ithaca.edu
ENROLLMENT: 22 per section
PREREQUISITE: Open only to freshmen, sophomores, and transfer students in the School of Humanities and Sciences; students from the professional schools may be admitted on a space-available basis by petition. Students cannot get credit for this course and WRTG-10600 or an ICSM in writing.
OBJECTIVES: This course teaches freshman-level students how to read perceptively and write coherently in college courses. Students learn to comprehend, critique, and respond to college readings by writing analytical essays ranging from single-source papers to evaluations of the claims and evidence in a number of readings. This course includes a fourth hour designed to guide students through the composing process and help them edit their own writing more effectively for clarity, development, correctness, and style. May satisfy departmental and school requirements for a level-1 writing course.
FORMAT AND STYLE: Lectures, discussion and workshops
REQUIREMENTS: Six to eight hours of reading and writing per week and additional Center tutoring as needed.
GRADING: A-F
WRTG 11100-01, 02 ACADEMIC WRITING II HU LA 3a
3 CREDITS
01: Ron Denson, Smiddy 416, X3567, denson@ithaca.edu
02: TBA
ENROLLMENT: 22 per section
PREREQUISITES: Any level-1 composition course from WRTG-10600 through WRTG-16500. Available only to freshmen, sophomores, and transfer students.
OBJECTIVES: To refine and advance writing and reasoning abilities taught in Academic Writing I. Focus on complex synthesis of material from diverse sources to analyze and evaluate significant issues. Students will study library research methods and complete an independent research project.
STUDENTS: Preference is given to freshmen and transfer students. This course also provides a second semester of instruction for students who are required or who elect to take two 100-level courses in academic writing.
FORMAT AND STYLE: Brief lectures, discussion, workshop.
REQUIREMENTS: Six to eight hours of reading and writing per week.
GRADING: Grades A-F are based on improvement in both reading and writing ability.
WRTG 17500-all sections INTRODUCTION TO CREATIVE WRITING LA FA
3 CREDITS
01: Linda Godfrey, Smiddy 414, X1070, godfrey@ithaca.edu
02: Linda Godfrey, Smiddy 414, X1070, godfrey@ithaca.edu
03: Joan Marcus, Smiddy 408, X3470, jmarcus@ithaca.edu
04: Elaine Farrugia, Smiddy 402, X1864, efarrugia@ithaca.edu
ENROLLMENT: 22
PREREQUISITES: Any level-1 composition from WRTG-10600 through WRTG-16500. Not open to students who have previously received credit for WRTG-23600 or WRTG-23800.
OBJECTIVES: To familiarize students with the fundamental elements and techniques of writing fiction and poetry, through instruction, analysis of models, discussion, experimentation, and practice. Students will learn fiction-writing techniques, including character and plot development, use of dialogue, creating scenes, narrative structure, narrative voice; and poetry-writing techniques, including traditional poetic forms, poetic imagery, descriptive and figurative language.
STUDENTS: Required for all Writing majors, strongly recommended for Writing Minors. Recommended for students who have completed the 100-level writing requirement and plan to take Fiction I or Poetry I, but who are not yet familiar with the techniques of those genres.
FORMAT AND STYLE: Lecture, discussion and workshop.
REQUIREMENTS: Six to eight hours of reading and writing per week. Students will be required to complete exercises in both genres, and complete a final portfolio of 30 pages of revised work.
GRADING: Grades A-F, based on demonstration of understanding of elements of both genres, class participation, improvement, strength of final portfolio.
WRTG 20100-all sections ARGUMENT HU LA 3a
3 CREDITS
01: Marlene Kobre, Smiddy 417, X3321, mkobre@ithaca.edu
02: Marlene Kobre, Smiddy 417, X3321, mkobre@ithaca.edu
03: Tom Kerr, Smiddy 423, X3546, tkerr@ithaca.edu
04: Maggie Gerrity, Smiddy 411, X7945, mgerrity@ithaca.edu
ENROLLMENT: 22 per section
PREREQUISITES: Any level-1 composition course from WRTG-10600 through WRTG-16500; sophomore standing or above.
OBJECTIVES: To encourage a persuasive and interesting exchange of ideas in a rational and civil manner. Skills in developing written argument will be polished by reading and analyzing model arguments and by understanding the foundation of logical discourse.
STUDENTS: Required for Writing majors and minors. Of particular interest to pre-law and journalism students and students who wish to prepare for graduate work in the humanities.
FORMAT AND STYLE: The class will blend workshop methods of instruction in writing with teacher-directed instruction.
GRADING: A-F; based on evaluation of student's written work.
WRTG 20500-all sections PERSONAL ESSAY HU LA 3a
3 CREDITS
01, 02: Cory Brown, Smiddy 421, X1065, cbrown@ithaca.edu
03: Katie Marks, Smiddy 419, X3569, kmarks@ithaca.edu
04: Nick Kowalczyk, Smiddy 415, X5146, nkowalczyk@ithaca.edu
05: Mary Beth O’Connor, Smiddy 409, X1325, moconnor@ithaca.edu
06: Gigi Marks, Smiddy 401, X3599, gmarks@ithaca.edu
ENROLLMENT: 22 per section
PREREQUISITE: Any level-1 composition course from WRTG-10600 through WRTG-16500.
OBJECTIVES: Personal Essay is a course in writing essays based on analysis of students' experience, ideas, and feelings. Emphasis is on narrative, descriptive, and organizational techniques, as well as development of style. Readings will deepen students' understanding of their own lives and provide models for creative interpretation of their own experience. The course gives students the opportunity to express ideas within the context of personal experience and also provides an introduction to narrative techniques useful in upper-level expository and creative writing courses.
STUDENTS: Required for Writing majors and minors. Other students with sophomore standing and above who meet the prerequisite.
FORMAT AND STYLE: Assigned readings serve as sources for writing. These readings supplement and generate understanding of the personal experiences. Students use the literature to find their own creative form, to learn narrative techniques, and to develop a consciousness about their lives expressed in their essays.
REQUIREMENTS: Writing consists of exercises and 5 or 6 essays about personal and significant moments, places, people, events, and emotions. A portfolio of best manuscripts may be required.
GRADING: A-F.
WRTG 21100-all sections WRITING FOR THE WORKPLACE HU LA
3 CREDITS
01: Anthony DiRenzo, Smiddy 426, X3614, direnzo@ithaca.edu
02: Patricia Spencer, Smiddy 418, X3770, pspencer@ithaca.edu
03: Jim Stafford, Smiddy 413, X5145, jstafford@ithaca.edu
04: Jim Stafford, Smiddy 413, X5145, jstafford@ithaca.edu
ENROLLMENT : 22 per section
PREREQUISITE : Sophomore standing or above and any 100-level writing course from WRTG-10600 through WRTG-16500.
OBJECTIVES : Basic on-the-job writing necessary to join, manage, and promote any organization, whether profit or non-profit. Focus is primarily on short forms – résumés, memos, business letters, summaries, brochures, newsletters, press releases, informal proposals and reports. The course also explores the way various social, economic, and ethical issues affect workplace writing.
STUDENTS : Required for Writing majors with a professional concentration. Recommended for all Writing majors, minors, or humanities students who anticipate leading professional lives requiring on-the-job writing.
FORMAT AND STYLE : Brief lectures, discussion, workshop.
REQUIREMENTS : All readings and written assignments, regular attendance and in-class participation
GRADING : A-F based on individual assignments and projects.
WRTG 22500-01,02 GRAMMAR AND USAGE HU LA
3 CREDITS
David Flanagan, Smiddy 403, X1356, flanagan@ithaca.edu
ENROLLMENT: 22
PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing or above; and any level-1 composition course from WRTG-10600 through WRTG-16500.
OBJECTIVES: Intensive study of the patterns of English grammar and their influence on sentence structure, punctuation, and style. Daily exercises in contemporary usage prepare students for refining their own academic prose and for editing the work of others.
STUDENTS: Writing majors and minors, English majors, modern language majors, teacher education students, and others whose professional interests or love of language impel them to further study of English grammar, style, and usage. It is assumed that students already have a working knowledge of the fundamentals of English grammar (e.g., the parts of speech). Not intended as a review of, or basic introduction to, the mechanics of English.
FORMAT AND STYLE: Lectures and discussions.
REQUIREMENTS: Daily written exercises at the sentence and paragraph level. Quizzes and exams.
GRADING: A to F; based on examinations and exercises.
WRTG 23200-01 WRITING NONFICTION
(Experimental Course)
3 CREDITS
Catherine Taylor, Smiddy 412, X7031, ctaylor@ithaca.edu
ENROLLMENT: 22 per section
PREREQUISITES: Either WRTG-20100, or WRTG-20500; sophomore standing or above.
OBJECTIVES: Introduces students to a range of methodologies, skills and styles important to their development as nonfiction writers. Subjects taught include primary and secondary research, interview techniques, ethnography or field work, and ethics. Students also learn how to combine factual research with literary techniques such as narrative pacing, character development, scene, etc.
STUDENTS: Sophomores, juniors, and seniors.
FORMAT AND STYLE: Class will function alternately as a seminar and workshop. We will discuss assigned readings, a range of methodologies, primary and secondary research, interview techniques, ethnography or fieldwork, and ethics, and our own writing. We will focus on how to combine factual research with literary techniques.
REQUIREMENTS: Written responses to assigned readings, several short research and writing exercises, quizzes, longer writing assignments, and participation in class discussion.
GRADING: Letter grades will be based on writing assignments, exercises, and class participation
WRTG 23600-01,02 FICTION I: SHORT STORY FA LA 3a
3 CREDITS
Jack Wang, Smiddy 404B, X3493, wang@ithaca.edu
ENROLLMENT: 22 per section
PREREQUISITES: Either WRTG-17500, or WRTG-20500; sophomore standing or above.
OBJECTIVES: To practice the techniques of fiction such as characterization, plot, point of view; to develop skills and sensibilities for the writing of short stories; and to strengthen critical skills through the analysis of both professional and student work.
STUDENTS: Sophomores, juniors, and seniors.
FORMAT AND STYLE: Workshop, discussion, major writing assignments.
REQUIREMENTS: Short story assignments resulting in at least 25 pages of fiction, revised.
GRADING: Letter grades will be based on writing assignments, workshop participation, and final portfolio.
WRTG 23800-01,02 POETRY WRITING I FA LA 3a
3 CREDITS
01: Cory Brown, Smiddy 421, X1065, cbrown@ithaca.edu
02: Katharyn Machan, Smiddy 424, X3325, machan@ithaca.edu
ENROLLMENT: 22
PREREQUISITES: Either WRTG-17500 or WRTG-20500; sophomore standing or above.
OBJECTIVES: To introduce students to the habits and skills involved in reading and writing poetry and to familiarize them with some classical forms, while instructing them in the creation of contemporary poetry.
STUDENTS: All students who meet prerequisites are welcome.
FORMAT AND STYLE: Class will function alternately as a seminar and workshop with guidance from the instructor. We will discuss assigned readings, poetic genres and forms and theories, and our own work.
REQUIREMENTS: Assigned texts will provide as models for poetic forms and examples of mature voices. Poetry writing throughout the semester, including assigned exercises, will culminate in a final portfolio. Class will often function as a workshop for the discussion of student poems in progress.
GRADING: Final grade will be based on writing assignments, quizzes on reading, and class participation.
WRTG 30500-01 SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY FA LA
3 CREDITS
INSTRUCTOR: Katharyn Machan, Smiddy 424, X3325, machan@ithaca.edu
ENROLLMENT: 22
PREREQUISITES: Either WRTG-20500 or WRTG-23600; junior standing or above.
OBJECTIVES: This is an advanced creative writing course in science fiction and fantasy which emphasizes the importance of character and thematic development. Assignments also focus on the significance of subject, setting, and narrative techniques. Extensive readings in science fiction and fantasy serve as models for approaches to these two genres.
STUDENTS: Junior standing or above.
FORMAT AND STYLE: Lectures, discussion, and workshops.
REQUIREMENTS: Readings, writing assignments (5 stories: 40-55 pages total for semester).
GRADING: Letter grades will be based on writing assignments, class participation, quizzes on reading, and final portfolio.
WRTG 31000-01 WOMEN AND WRITING FA LA 3a
3 CREDITS
INSTRUCTOR: Gigi Marks, Smiddy 401, X7964, gmarks@ithaca.edu
ENROLLMENT: 22
PREREQUISITES: Any one of the following: WRTG-20500, WRTG-23600 or WRTG-23800; junior standing or above.
OBJECTIVES: This is a creative writing course for students interested in exploring female experience through different literary forms, including personal essay, journals, fiction, portraits and creative non-fiction. We read the works of selected writers and produce our own work on assigned topics. The course allows us to examine issues of particular interest to women as well as images of women that have been historically assumed in western culture.
STUDENTS: Juniors and seniors of diverse majors and backgrounds who have met the prerequisites.
FORMAT AND STYLE: Largely discussion, with much student writing. Small-group workshops. Short lectures and in-class writing exercises.
REQUIREMENTS: 1. Assigned reading (representative selections of writing by and about women.) 2. Three portfolios, each consisting of journals/reading responses, assigned essays, and individual projects. Approximately 40 pages of finished work during the semester. 3. Attendance and participation in class discussion.
GRADING: Grades A-F will be based on commitment, participation, ability to read and analyze, creative and analytical writing, as demonstrated in portfolios.
WRTG 31100-01 WRITING FOR THE PROFESSIONS
3 CREDITS
INSTRUCTOR: Anthony DiRenzo, Smiddy 426, X3614, direnzo@ithaca.edu
ENROLLMENT: 22
PREREQUISITES: Junior standing or above. Any one of the following: WRTG-20100, WRTG-21100, or WRTG-21300; or any level 1 composition course from WRTG-10600 through WRTG-16500, and three courses above level 2 in the social sciences or a professional field.
OBJECTIVES: Advance, thematically centered workplace writing focusing on the more rhetorical forms: policy statements, position papers, reports, dossiers, and journal articles. Course themes vary but cut across and encourage dialogue and debate on major issues among different professions in business, government, law, and medicine. All sections are grounded in argument, ethics, and the humanities. Class readings may include casebooks, theoretical essays, or historical documents.
STUDENTS: Recommended for professional students and Writing majors and minors with an interest in management, public policy, corporate promotions, and institutional communication.
FORMAT AND STYLE: lecture, discussion, and workshop.
REQUIREMENTS: All readings and writing assignments, regular attendance and in-class participation.
GRADING: A-F based on individual assignments and projects.
WRTG 31700-01 PROPOSAL AND GRANT WRITING HU NLA
3 CREDITS
INSTRUCTOR: Patricia Spencer, Smiddy 418, X3770, pspencer@ithaca.edu
ENROLLMENT: 22 per section
PREREQUISITES: Any one of the following: WRTG-20100, WRTG-21100, or WRTG-21300; junior standing or above.
OBJECTIVES: Advanced workplace writing of long, formal documents, particularly proposals, grants, and reports. Students address problems in the local community while studying the interplay among business, education, government, and non-profits. Attentive to civic responsibility in the marketplace, this course teaches research, project management, editing, and document design. Writing assignments include feasibility, assessment, and individual and group-based grant development projects.
STUDENTS: This course: 1) caps the department’s PTW (professional and technical writing) curriculum for its own majors and minors; 2) provides a unique writing forum for non-majors interested in producing long documents for corporations, government agencies, and non-profits; 3) creates possible opportunities for service learning within the larger Ithaca community; 4) offers IC staff and other adult students an important and marketable professional skills.
FORMAT AND STYLE: Brief lectures, discussion, workshop, service-learning project teams.
REQUIREMENTS: All readings and written assignments, regular attendance and in-class/out-of-class participation.
GRADING: A-F based on individual assignments and group projects.
WRTG 31800-01 WRITING FROM CULTURAL EXPERIENCE HU LA 3a
3 CREDITS
INSTRUCTOR: Joan Marcus, Smiddy 408, X3470, jmarcus@ithaca.edu
ENROLLMENT: 22
PREREQUISITES: Either WRTG-20100 or WRTG-20500; junior standing or above.
OBJECTIVES: This advanced expository essay course asks students to explore the significance of their own ethnic and cultural identity, background, observations, and experience. Writing assignments require various essay styles and structures—from personal to public, from narrative to analytical.
STUDENTS: Juniors and seniors who value their own life experience and developing identities in terms of their nationality, race, religion, region, gender, sexual preference or culture, and who are appreciative of such diversity in others. Serves as upper-level expository elective for writing minors.
FORMAT AND STYLE: Seminar for the discussion of assigned reading, related issues and student writing, draft workshops.
REQUIREMENTS: Essays and shorter written exercises totaling approximately 30 pages.
GRADING: Letter grades based on all work.
WRTG 32000-01 PUBLIC ESSAY HU LA 3a
3 CREDITS
INSTRUCTOR: Ron Denson, Smiddy 416, X3567, denson@ithaca.edu
ENROLLMENT: 22
PREREQUISITES: Junior standing or above: and either WRTG-20100 or WRTG-20500.
OBJECTIVES: Public Essay is an advanced writing course for students committed to developing their writing style and voice in the contemporary essay form—often a mosaic of the personal, expository, and the argumentative. Students read a broad range of the best essays and essayists of the last half-century whose writing exemplifies possibilities of subjects, perspectives, and rhetorical strategies. The essays students write for this course will reflect their active and varied responses to political, social, and ethical issues and concerns. Students practice the craft of revision to generate ideas, shape them, and re-see them in their own fully developed, independent essays intended for an audience of informed and literate readers. This process of reading, writing, and revising encourages student writers to see themselves as writers of a literary and social genre—the public essay. Reading in the course: Readings represent the best in published contemporary essays—non-fiction of literary quality, social relevance, and intellectual thought. The readings also reflect the possibilities and varieties of essay lengths, topics, perspectives, rhetorical devices, and themes. As models, these writers combine personal, informative, argumentative, and mosaic techniques to develop their subject with a unique style and compelling voice.
STUDENTS: Priority given to interested juniors and seniors who have met prerequisites.FORMAT AND STYLE: Although there will be some lectures by the instructor, the greater part of the course will be given over to group discussion of assigned readings, students’ writing, and topical issues.
REQUIREMENTS: At least five essays, as well as assigned readings of classic and contemporary essayists.
GRADING: Grades A-F will be based on the quality of the papers and the quality of class preparation and participation.
WRTG 33100-01 FEATURE WRITING HU LA
3 CREDITS
INSTRUCTOR: Nick Kowalczyk, Smiddy 415, X5146, nkowalczyk@ithaca.edu
ENROLLMENT: 22
PREREQUISITES: Either WRTG-20100 or WRTG-20500; junior standing or above.
OBJECTIVES: The central purpose of this course is to develop the practical skills necessary to write informative, interesting, and interpretive feature articles suitable for publication in daily or weekly print and online newspapers. Students learn interviewing and research skills and story types, as well as how to develop variety in structure, style, and tone. This course provides an introduction to journalistic conventions and practices for humanities students; it provides excellent preparation for magazine writing.
STUDENTS: Writing majors and minors, television and journalism majors, English majors, sport media and sport studies majors, students interested in writing for specific newspapers, magazines, or company publications. Serves as upper-level expository elective for writing minors and is a requirement for writing majors electing to concentrate in Feature Writing.
FORMAT AND STYLE: A mix of lecture, discussion and workshop.
REQUIREMENTS: Six feature stories for specific newspapers on topics of student’s choice.
GRADING: Letter grades on all work.
WRTG 33400-01 HUMOROUS WRITING FA LA
3 CREDITS
INSTRUCTOR: Anthony DiRenzo, Smiddy 426, X3614, direnzo@ithaca.edu
ENROLLMENT: 22
PREREQUISITES: Either WRTG-20500 or WRTG-23600; junior standing or above.
OBJECTIVES: This section of Humorous Writing focuses on satire, from Ancient Rome to the present. We will study satire’s origins and development, experiment with its different forms and techniques (such as monologue, parody, caricature, and irony), define its strengths and limitations, and debate its ethical, political, and philosophical significance.
STUDENTS: Those who take their humor like their coffee, strong and black.
FORMAT AND STYLE: Lecture, discussion, workshop.
REQUIREMENTS: Readings from classic and contemporary satires and some critical essays. Intensive practice in humorous writing through 13 short exercises (inspired by class readings and discussion) and a final creative portfolio. Students also will write a 5-page research paper on a major satirical work not studied in class. Participation in class discussion and presentation essential.
GRADING: A-F based on the above.
WRTG 33600-01 FICTION II FA LA
3 CREDITS
INSTRUCTOR: Fred Wilcox, Smiddy 422, X3571, fwilcox@ithaca.edu
ENROLLMENT: 22
PREREQUISITES: WRTG23600; junior standing or above.
OBJECTIVES: Further developing skills as writers of fiction; developing work that is worthy of submission for publication; coming to a sophisticated understanding of what constitutes significant and responsible contemporary fiction.
STUDENTS: Juniors and seniors who have taken previous courses in which fiction was the primary subject. Students who are self-directed and committed to writing fiction.
FORMAT AND STYLE: Intensive workshop. Students will read work aloud in class, act as editors for each other's work, meet deadlines.
REQUIREMENTS: Intensive reading of contemporary fiction: 75 pages of prose.
GRADING: A-F.
WRTG 34200-01 WRITING ABOUT SPORTS HU LA
3 CREDITS
INSTRUCTOR: Ron Denson, Smiddy 416, X3567, denson@ithaca.edu
ENROLLMENT: 22
PREREQUISITES: Either WRTG-20100 or WRTG-20500; junior standing or above.
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate what constitutes good sports writing; to expose students to a variety of purposes and perspectives in writing about sports; to encourage writing that enhances our appreciation of the sports scene.
STUDENTS: Writing majors and minors; sports enthusiasts who care about articulating their responses in writing.
FORMAT AND STYLE: group discussions of readings and sporting events, the latter to be viewed both on TV and in person.
REQUIREMENTS: Portfolio of 25 pages of polished prose composed during the semester, including an 8-10 page feature paper requiring substantial research.
GRADING: A to F; based on final submitted portfolio.
WRTG 34500-01 WRITING AS A CRITIC HU LA
3 CREDITS
INSTRUCTOR: Barbara Adams, Smiddy 427, X3045, adams@ithaca.edu
ENROLLMENT: 22
PREREQUISITES: Either WRTG-20100 or WRTG-20500; any two courses beyond level 1 in art, art history, literature, theater, music, dance, photography, television-radio, video or film; junior standing or above.
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this course is to learn the essentials of writing arts reviews and criticism for newspapers, magazines, and trade journals—both print and online. Subjects for review include film, theatre, music, dance, performance media, literature, painting, printmaking, sculpture, photography, television, radio, video, games and digital media.
STUDENTS: Students in the humanities (especially the arts), and in music, film, photography, and television-radio. Serves as upper-level expository elective for writing majors and minors.
FORMAT AND STYLE: Seminar style: lecture and discussion intermixed. Active participation in discussion is expected.
REQUIREMENTS: Writing: Students write weekly reviews, as well as one book report, an arts essay, and an essay analyzing a critic’s style; the workload totals 40-55 pages. Students are encouraged, but not required, to publish their work in campus and area publications. The course involves extensive writing, as journalistic critics, who face constant deadlines, need skill in writing frequently and relatively quickly. Readings: various essays on the nature and function of criticism – numerous reviews, both current and historical. Also required: Attendance at particular area arts events (plays, films, shows) as appropriate for the chosen assignment.
GRADING: A-F.
WRTG 36000-01 COMPOSITION THEORY HU LA
3 CREDITS
INSTRUCTOR: Jerry Mirskin, Smiddy 420, X1246, mirskin@ithaca.edu
ENROLLMENT: 15
PREREQUISITES: WRTG-20100; WRTG-20500; junior standing or above.
OBJECTIVES: Introduction to the research and scholarship shaping the theory and practice of composition studies. The course covers major philosophies of composing, as well as studies in language and learning that inform writing theory. The class considers the social and political dimensions of literacy learning, including issues of race, class, and gender, as well as how new technologies affect language use, learning and community life. This is a writing intensive class, which provides background knowledge in the field of composition, as well as a language for talking about students’ own writing processes.
STUDENTS: Junior and senior writing majors, and those interested in writing theory, research and pedagogy.
FORMAT AND STYLE: Seminar
REQUIREMENTS: Weekly analytical writing assignments in response to readings, and three essays of various kinds. Because this is a seminar, class preparation and participation are required.
GRADING: A-F, based on quality of all course work and participation.
WRTG 36500-01 POETICS HU LA
3 CREDITS
INSTRUCTOR: Catherine Taylor, Smiddy 412, X7031, ctaylor@ithaca.edu
ENROLLMENT: 15
PREREQUISITES: Either WRTG-23600 or WRTG-23800; any other writing course above level 1; junior standing or above.
OBJECTIVES: An introduction to western theories of creative writing as a means of investigating the relationships between writer, text, and world. Cultural/political, psychological, philosophical and aesthetic concerns are addressed. Students will analyze their own creative work and process in the context of these theories.
STUDENTS: For Writing majors and minors and any other students seriously committed to understanding theories inherent in their own creative writing endeavors.
FORMAT AND STYLE: Lecture, discussion and workshop.
REQUIREMENTS: Written responses to readings and three 10-page essays.
GRADING: A-F. Final grade will be based 60% on essays, 25% on responses to readings, and 15% on class participation.
WRTG 41500-01 SENIOR SEMINAR U LA
3 CREDITS
Section 01: Crossover
INSTRUCTOR: Diane McPherson, Smiddy 430B, X3031, mcperso@ithaca.edu
ENROLLMENT: 15
PREREQUISITES: Senior standing; permission of the instructor; and 2 writing courses beyond level 1, at least one of which must be at level 3. Other specific prerequisites to be determined by the subject of the seminar. May be repeated for credit so long as focus of seminar varies. At least one seminar is required of all Writing majors.
OBJECTIVES: To develop an aesthetic and theoretical understanding of the functions of narrative voice in fiction and nonfiction, through close reading of the work of modern and contemporary fiction writers, nonfiction writers, and poets, and through readings in contemporary literary theory. Student writing for this class will include short creative pieces in which students will experiment in the genre of their choice in order to discover the elements that constitute their own narrative voices, and to examine the ways changing the narrative voice alters and controls the structure of a work of prose or poetry. In addition, students will write a series of expository papers leading to a substantive analytical paper on the functions of narrative voice in fiction, nonfiction, or poetry.
STUDENTS: Writing majors and minors (both expository and creative concentrations).
FORMAT AND STYLE: Some lecture; primarily intensive discussion.
REQUIREMENTS: Two or more oral presentations of assigned readings; at least 30 pages of experimental creative writing in fiction, nonfiction, or poetry, and 25-30 pages of expository prose. No exams.
GRADING: Grades based on class participation, assigned oral presentations, and assigned writing.
