Writing Studies
Questions?
Undergraduate Coordinator
Shelley Clark
519-850-2920
writing@uwo.ca
Writing Studies Courses
Web Registration: If you have a question or concern about registration (Writing course selection, Writing module/program requirements, and related matters), please first read the course descriptions and module/program descriptions (and linked ‘Worksheets’) as applicable. To view calendar descriptions and recent course outlines for 2020-21 courses follow the links below. If your questions are not answered by the information in those documents, please feel free to contact the Undergraduate Program Director/Writing Studies, Prof. Brock Eayrs, directly by email at beayrs@uwo.ca. You will receive a response within 36 hours.
*Students registered in FIMS please note: If you have at least 65% in each of MIT 1020E (or both of MIT 1021F/G and MIT 1022F/G) and MIT 1025F/G (total 1.5) you now have the prerequisite for most senior Writing courses.
FALL/WINTER 2020-21 COURSES
1000-Level Introductory Writing Courses
| Course Number |
Course Title |
| Writing 1000F/G |
Students are introduced to the creative process of writing through in-class exercises, peer workshop, analysis of creative texts, journaling, essay writing, and a review of writing mechanics. Students learn strategies for idea generation in a variety of genres, composing a first draft, approaching revision, and effective editing and proofreading. Fall Section 650 Syllabus Winter Section 650 Syllabus |
| Writing 1030G |
Writing For Professional Success in Nursing This course serves as an introduction to the basic principles and techniques of good writing, an integral tool for learning and a vital source of communication in the Nursing profession. The course will emphasize practical work and the development of writing skills for a variety of styles and genres appropriate to the profession. Winter Section 001 Syllabus |
| Writing 1031F/G |
Global Positioning: Introduction to Rhetoric and Professional Communication This course will introduce students to the rhetorical principles and practices of written and oral communication in professional contexts. Particular attention will be paid to understanding audience, context, and purpose; modes of persuasion; and the negotiation of cultural difference. Fall Section 650 Syllabus Winter Section 650 Syllabus |
2100-Level Introductory Writing Courses
| Course Number | Course Title |
| Speech 2001 |
The Major Forms of Oral Discourse For effective communication of ideas: Public Address, with basic purposes; Group Discussion; Debate; Voice and Diction; Interpretative Reading. Full Year Section 001 Syllabus |
| Writing 2101F/G |
Introduction to Expository Writing An introduction to the basic principles and techniques of good writing. The course will emphasize practical work and the development of writing skills for a variety of subjects and disciplines. Antirequisite(s): The former Writing 2121F/G. Fall Section 650 Syllabus Winter Section 650 Syllabus |
| Writing 2111F/G |
Writing in the World: Introduction to Professional Writing This course will introduce students to various genres of workplace writing such as letters, memos, and reports. Topics include: employment communications (application letters and resumes); business writing style; positive, negative, and persuasive messages; cross-cultural communication; oral communication. Antirequisite(s): Writing 1031F/G. Fall Section 650 Syllabus Winter Section 650 Syllabus |
| Writing 2130F/G |
Building Better (Communcation) Bridges: Rhetoric & Professional Communication for Engineers This course introduces students to rhetorical principles and the practices of written, oral, and visual communication in professional engineering contexts. Students will learn strategies for drafting and designing technical and academic documents and for approaching the editing and revision of those documents. Antirequisite(s): The former Engineering Science 2211F/G. Fall Section 001 Syllabus Winter Section 001 Syllabus |
| Writing 2131F/G |
No Bones About It: Writing for the Sciences Writing in the Sciences introduces students to the basic principles and genres of writing required for science students in their undergraduate careers: lab reports, summaries of scientific research, and scientific review essays. The course will focus on drafting and revising various reports written on scientific topics. Fall Section 650 Syllabus Winter Section 650 Syllabus |
2200-Level Advanced Writing Courses
| Course Number | Course Title |
| Writing 2202F |
Winning Your Argument: Rhetorical Strategy in a Visual Age An intensive and practical study of exposition in discursive prose, this course reviews the foundations of grammar, introduces students to the rhetoric of presentation and persuasion, and considers diverse types of prose across multiple disciplines, focusing an analysis of visual rhetoric and argumentation, including websites, advertisements, and other visual media. Fall Section 650 Syllabus |
| Writing 2203F/G |
From Headline to Deadline: Writing for Publication The course will improve writing intended for various forms of publication, including media releases and public letters, reviews and reports, newspaper and magazine articles. Students will develop skills in the preparation, writing, copy-editing, and formatting of materials for publication, focusing on effective organization at every level of writing. Antirequisite(s): MIT 3829F/G; MIT 3870G if taken in 2009-10, 2010-11, or 2011-2012. Fall Section 650 Syllabus Winter Section 650 Syllabus |
| Writing 2209G |
Visual Information Packaging: Document Design This course introduces students to principles of document design and methods of integrating visual and verbal information in print documents such as brochures, manuals, and flyers. Students will apply these principles to a variety of design projects using the computer lab facilities. Winter Section 650 Syllabus |
| Writing 2210G |
GrammarPhobia Demystified: Contemporary Grammar for Writers A study of how the English language works in practice, the course will include consideration of writing processes and the practical application of various theories of rhetoric and syntax. Students will analyse and imitate a variety of types of writing samples, and will develop a sophisticated understanding of writing in English. Winter Section 001 Syllabus |
| Writing 2211F/G |
The Naked Writer: Fundamentals of Creative Writing Students will explore fundamentals of creative writing and challenge their creativity through the writing of fiction, poetry and creative nonfiction. In craft talks and in small workshop settings, students will examine their work and the work of others for the use of basic elements such as character, voice, and setting. Winter Section 650 Syllabus |
| Writing 2213F |
LOL: Humour Writing |
| Writing 2214F |
Memoir, Memories, and Disclosure: Creative Non-Fiction This course is designed for students who wish to write what's true in the form of personal essay, memoir and literary journalism. We will explore how writers use narrative techniques and structure to create essays both to the traditional forms and challenge them in unexpected, important and engaging ways. Fall Section 650 Syllabus |
| Writing 2215F |
Encoding Persuasion: Rhetorical Theory This course introduces students to basic precepts of rhetorical theory, and their application to communication analysis and the practice of writing. Topics will include rhetorical argumentation, 'publics' theory, and conceptions of rhetoric as both a social practice and a method. Antirequisite(s): Writing 2292F (2008-2009). Fall Section 650 Syllabus |
| Writing 2218F |
To Make a Long Story Short: Introduction to Writing Short Fiction In this course students will develop not only fiction writing ability, but also critical reading skills. The short story will be the focus of the course. Students will produce their own short fictions based on professional models, instructor guidance, and class discussion. Antirequisite(s): Writing 2295F/G (2009-2010; 2008-2009). Fall Section 650 Syllabus |
| Writing 2219F |
Word Travels: Introduction to Travel Writing Great travel writing is a balance of colourful description, practical advice and history. Students will learn a variety of article styles including personal essay, guidebook writing and destination pieces for a variety of publications. Relevant issues will also be discussed including the evolution of the genre and ethical issues. Antirequisite(s): Writing 2296F/G (2008-2009, 2009 - 2010. Fall Section 001 Syllabus |
| Writing 2222G |
In the novel "Like Water for Chocolate", Mexican author Laura Esquivel reveals the powerful force of food to educate, and to influence emotions, culture and life. In this course students will practice food writing (through memoir, history, reportage, biography and narrative) while developing specific research methods to understand food systems. Antirequisite(s): Writing 2295G (2008-2009, 2009-2010, 2010-2011). Winter Section 001 Syllabus |
| Writing 2223G |
Fashion Writing: Elements of Style |
| Writing 2225G |
The Inside Track: Sport Writing Good sports writing fuels the fans' love of the game and combines elements of emotion, event coverage, and opinion. This course offers students a chance to cover the world of sports through interviews, attending events, and going behind the scenes to create stories about these popular pastimes. |
| Writing 2226G |
Out of the Book: Contemporary Experimental Writing Practices |
| Writing 2227F |
Crime Writing: Black Dahlias, Red Herrings and Tequila Sunrises This course introduces students to the process of writing crime fiction for a variety of media. Drawing on classic works, students will also learn about the criminal mind and investigative procedure as they create realistic portrayals of the genre's archetypal crimes, including murder, ransom kidnapping, and the theft of antiquities. Antirequisite(s): Writing 2291F if taken in 2013-2014. Fall Section 001 Syllabus |
3200-Level Advanced Writing Courses
| Course Number | Course Title |
| Writing 3220F |
Outside The Envelope: Advanced Professional Communication This course will explore the parameters of professional communication, combining theoretical and practical approaches to the topic. Students will learn to apply new approaches to thinking, problem solving, and writing, in areas such as oral presentation and instructional design. Antirequisite(s): Writing 2292G if taken in 2013-14. |
| Writing 3221F |
Crime Scene to Courtroom: Forensic Writing Fall Section 001 Syllabus |
| Writing 3222G |
Pathology Pathography: Adv Healthcare Communication This course prepares students for careers traversing a variety of healthcare delivery models by engaging writing and rhetorical strategies for clinical, forensic, and corporate environments. Topics include everything from narrative medicine and medical blogging to executive hospital communication, as well as the influence of the popular media on patient expectations. |
| Writing 3223G |
Students will examine how the technical writer interprets and appropriately presents specialized information. Assignments will increase in complexity from letters and memos to document design, technical definition and description, instructions, proposals, the research report. Students will combine analysis, organization, and visual design to craft oral and written communications. Antirequisite(s): The former Writing 2205F/G. Winter Section 001 Syllabus |
| Writing 3225F/G | My Name is url: Writing for the Web
This course will explore the theory and practice of digital writing technologies. Topics covered include: the production, management, and reception of digital texts; web writing style; hypertext and linking; authorship; copyright. Students will evaluate the design and content of web texts and create their own web sites. Antirequisite(s): The former Writing 2207F/G. Fall Section 650 Syllabus Winter Section 650 Syllabus |
| Writing 3300F |
Students registered in a Certificate or Minor degree module in Writing and who have a cumulative average of 80% in Writing courses may elect to do an internship with an approved institution as a course at the 3300 level. Course requirements will be set individually prior to registration. |
4000-Level Advanced Writing Courses
| Course Number | Course Title |
| Writing 4880G |
Seminar in Creative Writing - Creative Writing through Literary Theory The premise of this course is that folktale and, by extension, fantasy can teach us a great deal about creative writing. This course will guide you through language creation, the structural principles and motifs of folktale and fantasy, and the writing of the great scene. Works as diverse as medieval epics and sagas, The Hobbit, and Patrick deWitt’s Undermajordomo Minor are all heavily dependent on folktale: folktale types, folktale motifs, and folktale methods for telling stories. We will learn how other writers such as Joe Abercrombie, Robin Hobb, George R.R. Martin, Robert Jordan, Kazuo Ishiguro, Ursula K. Le Guin, Scott Lynch, Mark Lawrence, R. Scott Bakker, Patrick Rothfuss, and Jim Butcher might also use elements of folktale. Students will spend the term working on one major project: an overview of a longer piece of creative fiction (synopsis; motifs; structure) and one significant scene from the piece. Winter Section 001 Syllabus |
| Writing 4998F/G |
Re-visioning Self: Creating Your Professional Portfolio In this half-course students will write new documents and revise documents written in previous Writing classes to include in a portfolio of their work. The portfolio will be both online and printed. Class time will be devoted to a combination of lecture and writing workshop. Antirequisite(s): The former Writing 2299F/G. Fall Section 650 Syllabus Winter Section 650 Syllabus |
| Writing 4999E |
Individual instruction in selection of a topic, preparation of materials, and writing of a creative writing thesis. To take this course, students must apply to the Director of Undergraduate Studies, Writing Studies. Restricted to students in fourth year of an English Honors Specialization module. Antirequisite(s): English 4999E if taken prior to the 2014-15 academic year.
Please fill out the Agreement/Consent Supervisor Form and return.
Full Year - September-April
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Special Topics Courses
| Course Number | Course Title |
| Writing 2291G |
Creating Youth: Writing for Young Adults |
| Writing 2292F | Getting Well-Versed in the Craft: Intro to Poetry Calling all poets! Explore a range of poetic forms, styles, and techniques as you develop and expand your own voice in verse. Students will study exceptional contemporary Canadian poets while workshopping their own poems and learning about ways of engaging with Canada’s larger literary community. Fall Section 001 Syllabus |
| Wriitng 2292G | True Crime: Writing Podcasts & Purplish Prose This course interrogates the multimedia evolution of “true” crime over the last two centuries and what exactly such a designation means. With a focus on writing for podcasting productions, it additionally explores the impact of the genre on the administration of justice, particularly narratives focused on cold cases and the wrongfully convicted. Winter Section 001 Syllabus |
| Writing 3900F | Writing Fantasy Students in this course will work on various aspects of a full-length fantasy novel, focusing on aspects of world-building, the use and transformation of common fantasy motifs, various ways to structure the narrative and tell the story, and how to devise the most affective and climactic scenes. We will read some secondary material (including Tolkien and others on the genre) and one full-length novel together; students will also be required to read and report on a contemporary fantasy novel of their choice as we assess what makes fantasy successful. At the conclusion of the course, students will submit a portfolio of work that includes a myth or story that underpins their created world, character sketches, an outline of their novel, and an excerpt from it. Fall Section 001 Syllabus |
SPRING/SUMMER 2020 Courses
Distance Studies (May 4-July 31)
Arts and Humanities 1000E - Special Topics: “Critical Thinking and Writing for the Sciences”
“Critical Thinking and Writing for the Sciences” offers students important critical reading, writing, and thinking skills for being successful at university and in the workplace. Writing in the sciences requires students to observe clearly, record their observations systematically, follow and write clear procedures, summarize the work of others clearly, report the work of other researchers accurately, and communicate their own actions in detailed reports. Thus, students are taught criteria behind language use, which motivates the criteria of good reasoning. The course concludes considering philosophical issues in science and its broader role in society.
In this course you will learn how to:
• analyse scientific journal articles
• write for non-scientific audiences
• document your activities in a lab setting
• write research reports on scientific topics
• document your sources correctly
• write in a style appropriate to scientific discourse
• edit and revise your work to conform to Standard Edited English.
Note: This course will be an anti-requisite for Philosophy 1200, Philosophy 1230, and Writing 2131F/G. Students who have taken either of those courses or who plan to do so should not enroll for this course.
| Spring/Summer | 1000E / 650 | Instructor: tba | Syllabus |
4998F - Re-Visioning Self: Creating Your Professional Portfolio
In this half-course students will write new documents and revise documents written in previous Writing classes to include in a portfolio of their work. The portfolio will be both online and printed. Class time will be devoted to a combination of lecture and writing workshop. 0.5 course
| Spring/Summer | 4998F / 650 | B. Eayrs | Syllabus |
Intersession (May 11-June 26) TO BE DELIVERED ONLINE
2130F - Building Better (Communication) Bridges: Rhetoric & Professional Communication for Engineers
This course introduces students to rhetorical principles and the practices of written, oral, and visual communication in professional engineering contexts. Students will learn strategies for drafting and designing technical and academic documents and for approaching the editing and revision of those documents. 0.5 course
| Spring/Summer | 2130F / 001 | J. Johnstone | Syllabus |
Course listings are subject to change. See Western Academic Timetable for date, time, and location of specific courses. See Undergraduate Sessional Dates for more details and deadlines.
