Writing Minor for Online Degree Completion Program

Surveys genres and modalities of professional writing, including social media and writing for the web. Provides an overview of areas such as digital publishing, new media journalism, business and technical writing, and editing. Develops a rhetorical understanding of professional writing as the ability to write in response to elements including audience, purpose, medium, and design.

Study and intensive practice of writing in digital environments, with a focus on journalistic contexts. Examines technical and rhetorical features of online environments, including interactivity, hyperlinking, spatial orientation, and non-linear storytelling. Focuses on the writing conventions and standards of digital media, as well as editing techniques and competencies.

Study and intensive practice of composition in social media genres. Examines rhetorical conventions for digital communication and the dissemination of information through social media for professional purposes, including developing a social media content strategy and analytics. Integrates editing techniques and competencies. May also cover theoretical issues such as copyright and authorship, visual literacy, and moderation of collaborative online environments.

Study and intensive practices of inventing, shaping, producing, and delivering text, audio, video, and images aesthetically and purposefully. Examines various genres of and technical platforms for multimedia composition. Integrates editing techniques and competencies. May also cover theoretical issues relevant to digital media such as universal access and participatory culture.

Study of media literacy, including techniques and strategies used to analyze the use of diverse media to inform, entertain, and sell. Examines diverse media messages in advertisements, television, film, newspapers, magazines, and the Internet.

Study and intensive practice of professional writing skills and genres, such as resumes, letters of application, emails, memos, short proposals and reports.

Study and intensive practice of professional writing skills and genres, with a focus on longer proposals and reports.

Study and intensive practice of professional writing skills and genres, with a focus on grant applications and reports, letters of introduction, and other fundraising materials.

This course will deal with these features: news, feature, and editorial writing; copy editing and fact checking; headline writing; and page layout, both in print and online. This course touches on the growing possibilities and ethical considerations for journalism in the digital age.

Surveys theories of composition and language acquisition, with the aim of providing a context for students interested in teaching professions. Examines current cognitive studies of how people learn and use language. Students will write compositions following the different approaches studied.

Introduction to the study and intensive practice of creative writing. The course will touch on fiction, drama, poetry, and other creative forms. Analysis and critique of students' writings in group and individual conferences. May be repeated for a maximum of nine credit hours if topics differ.

Intermediate study and intensive practice in creative writing in a specific genre or topic. Intended for intermediate level students with knowledge of and experience in the fundamentals of creative writing in the genre or topic of study (topics will vary by semester). Analysis and critique of students' writings in group and individual conferences. May be repeated for a maximum of nine credit hours if topics differ.

Advanced study of English grammar, structure, and usage. Focuses on applying the principles of grammar in one's own writing and in the teaching of writing. Reinforces students' cognitive knowledge of English grammar. Also covers skills and technical aspects of editing.

Special topics in the discipline, designed primarily for seniors. May be repeated for credit if topics differ.

Individual work for juniors and seniors in an area of special interest; designed and carried out by the student in consultation with the instructor.