Three different photos of students writing and presenting
RWU Writing Students in Action

Writing Courses in the Spotlight

Spring 2027 Upper-Level offerings from the Department of Writing Studies, Rhetoric, and Composition

Students gathered around a table on laptops

Spring 2027 Courses

WTNG 250: Advanced Composition

Professor John Madritch
T/Th 11:00-12:20

In WTNG 250, we'll work with Richard Miller and Ann Jurecic's Habits of the Creative Mind, 3rd edition., to help us question, explore, reflect, and connect. As we do so, we'll move from personal narrative to public argument—i.e., we'll take what matters to us and work to make it significant to others. We'll attend, as well, to questions to voice and style as we consider how best to engage a variety of audiences. And, because this class is a writing class, we'll draft, revise, and edit our own writing, and we'll offer feedback to our classmates to help them realize the goals they have for their writing, too.(3 credits)

Prerequisite: Successful completion (C- or higher) of WTNG 102 
Fulfills the second of two University General Education requirements in the University Writing Program 
Fulfills a course requirement in the Professional and Public Writing Minor

WTNG 270: Travel Writing

Professor Kate Mele
T/F 2:00-3:20, 3:30-4:50

What's the story you tell over and over when you return from a trip? What surprises have you had when traveling—even on vacation? How has travel changed your world view or taught you something about yourself? What does it take for you to turn these experiences into a good travel story?

This course gives you both academic and experiential knowledge of the travel writing field so you can get that story on the page.

Rhetorically analyzing samples written by professionals, you will—

  • study the various purposes and types of travel writing

  • identify what editors, publishers, and the public expect from a credible piece of travel writing

     

Engaging experientially in the field's writing practices, you will— 

  • pitch me story ideas to decide which ones work

  • write several drafts that meet a word-count requirement

  • revise keeping in mind what editors are looking for

  • go through an editorial process as if the piece were going to be published (3 credits)

Prerequisite: Successful completion (C- or higher) of WTNG 102 
Fulfills the second of two University General Education requirements in the University Writing Program 
Fulfills a course requirement in the Professional and Public Writing Minor 

WTNG. 340: Advanced Topics in Workplace Writing

Professor Mel Topf
T/Th 12:30-1:50

This course explores the role of writing in dealing with issues and controversies that are affecting the workplace today. Emphasis will be on the rhetorical situations that characterize writing on "in house" problems. Students will select their own issue from a group of "live" controversies that are currently "in the headlines," perhaps ethical, social, legal, political, or economic. They'll develop a series of reports and talks leading to a formal position paper on their selected issue. (3 credits)

Topics may include: diversity and equity in the workplace; social media and the workplace; employee nondisclosure agreements; remote-work issues; disability and religious workplace accommodation; customer discrimination such as "redlining"

Prerequisite: Successful completion (C- or higher) of a 200-level WTNG class. Fulfills a course requirement in the Professional and Public Writing Minor