Rhetoric and Writing

The Rhetoric and Writing secondary field is the study of how writers interact with and consider texts, contexts, and audience in order to construct knowledge and effect change. Successful writing is not only dependent on a writer’s knowledge and skill, but also on the writer’s ability to analyze rhetorical situations. To do so, students read and write about rhetoric and writing in order to think critically about their own texts and composing practices; subsequently, they often change many of their beliefs about writing which then impacts their processes and strategies. Students in Rhetoric and Writing not only learn declarative knowledge (“knowing what”: e.g. what a thesis is) but procedural knowledge (“knowing how”: e.g. how to analyze the rhetorical situation to know how to develop the appropriate argument). As rhetorical analysis and written communication are both necessary components of many professions and fields of study, the writing beliefs and practices students develop throughout the program are then transferable to contexts beyond their undergraduate work. Rhetoric and Writing introduces students to practical application not only through their coursework but also through required experiential learning.

Core Faculty in Rhetoric and Writing

Alexandra Maass, Assistant Director of Writing
Avni Vyas, Instructor of Writing
Jennifer Wells, Director of Writing/Program Director, Writing Resource Center

Affiliated Faculty in Rhetoric and Writing

Carrie Beneš, Professor of History/Chart Your Course Director (On Leave)
Sonia Labrador-Rodriguez, Associate Professor of Spanish Language and Literature

Requirements for the Secondary Field in Rhetoric and Writing

A minimum of six (6) academic units, a structured professional experience, and an ePortfolio.

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To “count” a non-WEC course or tutorial as an elective for the Rhetoric and Writing secondary field, students will need to receive approval from the Director of Writing.