Professional Writing Courses
This page lists courses taught by members of the Professional Writing Program. Prerequisites beyond freshman composition are listed in red.
Please consult your major or minor check sheet to determine how the following courses fulfill requirements.
Also, note that ENGL 3764: Technical Writing and ENGL 3774: Business Writing are designed for students outside the English major. Students interested in pursuing Professional Writing or "dipping into" Professional Writing courses should take ENGL 3104: Introduction to Professional Writing.
3104: INTRODUCTION TO PROFESSIONAL WRITING
This course introduces students to the theory and practice of professional writing and its functions in workplace settings. In this rhetorically-based course, students gain experience with a variety of writing situations, composing documents that solve problems or help readers make decisions. Students learn current conventions and broadly applicable procedures for analyzing the audiences, purposes, and situations of professional writing, and learn strategies for adapting these conventions and procedures to meet the unique demands of each new situation and task. Pre: 1106 or 1204H. (3H,3C)
3764: TECHNICAL WRITING
Principles and procedure of technical writing; attention to analyzing audience and purpose, organizing information, designing graphic aids, and writing such specialized forms as abstracts, instructions, and proposals. Junior standing required. (3H,3C)
3774: BUSINESS WRITING
Extensive practice in forms of persuasive and informative writing such as memos, case analyses, reports, abstracts, and letters. Designed for students in all curricula. The College of Business. Junior standing required. (3H,3C)
3804: TECHNICAL EDITING AND STYLE
Technical Editing and Style explores the art of editing from the initial writing task to the final delivery of the document. In addition to learning document management, students study and practice the roles, responsibilities, and tasks that editors perform. The course also covers the rules that govern the fundamentals of style (correctness, clarity, and propriety) and the principles needed to match the tone and formality to the aim, audience, and occasion of the work. Must have pre-requisites or the consent of the Director of Professional Writing. Pre: 3104. (3H,3C)
3814: CREATING USER DOCUMENTATION
This course prepares students to produce both print and online user documentation that enables people to accomplish a given set of tasks (e.g., user guides, online help, policy and procedure manuals, tutorials, and how-to books). Readings include rhetorical theory and discussions of professional practice. Students learn the principles of user and task analysis, information design, usability testing, and indexing. In addition, they have opportunities for hands-on experience with clients and end-users. Must have pre-requisites or the consent of the Director of Professional Writing. Pre: 3804. (3H,3C)
3824: DESIGNING DOCUMENTS FOR PRINT
This course prepares students to design and produce complex documents such as proposals, brochures, booklets, and newsletters using computer technologies. Students learn rhetorical and visual factors (e.g., legibility, readability, layout, and integration of text/images) that contribute to the effectiveness and usability of documents. In addition, students study the use of color and electronic image editing. They also master some of the technologies necessary to publish documents from their desktops. In addition to working on individual projects, students engage in collaborative exercises intended to sharpen their teamwork, editing, writing, audience-awareness, and design skills. Must have prerequisite or consent of the Director of Professional Writing. Pre: 3804. (3H,3C)
4804: GRANT PROPOSALS AND REPORTS
This course prepares students to write effective proposals, reports, and informational articles. Students learn to define and write problem statements, program objectives, plans of action, evaluation plans, budget presentations, and summaries. In addition, they sharpen their teamwork, editing, writing, audience awareness, and design skills as they engage in collaborative projects with campus and/or non-profit organizations in the community. Prerequisite or consent of the instructor is required. Pre: 3804. (3H,3C)
4814: WRITING FOR THE WEB
This course prepares students to write and design complex documents for the World Wide Web, with a particular emphasis on communicating complex, technical, and scientific information. Students learn rhetorical principles, writing strategies, visual design factors, and technologies needed to create effective, usable web sites. They will develop sites in both individual and team settings, apply the principles of usability testing, and locate and use resources to help them keep pace with this rapidly changing field. Pre: 3804. (3H,3C)
4824: SCIENCE WRITING
Writing in and about the natural and social sciences. Students will write documents such as abstracts, research proposals, and ethnographies, analyze the development of disciplinary writing practices, and study non-fiction science writing for general audiences. Senior standing or instructor approval required. Pre: 1106 or H1204 or COMM 1016. (3H,3C)
4874: ISSUES IN PROFESSIONAL AND PUBLIC DISCOURSE
In this course, students will focus on the ways in which scientific, technical, and professional communication influence, and are influenced by, public discourse. Drawing on strategies of rhetorical criticism, students will gain an understanding of the persuasive value of style, arrangement, and delivery by investigating their professional roles in helping to structure public debate. Pre: 3804. (3H,3C)