WRTG - Writing

Students will examine roleplaying games (RPGs) in terms of the writing that forms and drives them. We’ll look at how roleplaying games are constructed, how their rules act as facilitators of both experiences and narratives, and how diverse types of writing are needed to create them. Various types of games will be studied, from simple interactive fiction games to complex rules systems like Dungeons & Dragons. We’ll work together to create rules, build worlds, and share adventures, and we’ll discuss the current state of RPGs as a potential career path for writers. Special guests from those who work in the RPG industry will help us along our path.

First in the sequence of creative writing courses, the prerequisite for all higher level creative writing. Conducted in an informal workshop format, the course provides practical experience in the writing and evaluation of poetry and short fiction. Basic forms, prosodies, techniques, genres, and the problems they pose are considered through study of historical and contemporary examples, and through writing assignments.

Students develop their rhetorical awareness and learn valuable lessons about the writing process and about how to connect writing skills to professional qualifications in a supportive environment.

This course introduces students to the field of composition-rhetoric, its origins and present day applications. Students will investigate historical and contemporary definitions, theories of, and figures in composition-rhetoric as well as critically analyze and produce texts with a deep awareness of rhetorical strategies underlying them.

Variable-content course; topic announced in the online Course Offerings each semester.

This skills-based course provides a practical introduction to editorial practices and processes. The primary emphasis will be upon learning the principles and tasks of copyediting (e.g., marking manuscripts, developing style sheets, writing queries, and communicating with authors) and applying these principles via a collaborative final project for a partner. Students will learn how to produce clear, consistent, cohesive, and correct content that meets the needs of various professional,

Continued study of forms, techniques, genres, and theories of fiction writing. Emphasis on further development of students' skills in writing and self-criticism through intensive workshop experience. Readings in contemporary fiction.

Continued study of forms, techniques, genres, and theories of poetry. Emphasis on further development of students' skills in writing and self-criticism through intensive workshop experience. Readings in contemporary poetry.

Study of forms, techniques, genres, and theories of creative nonfiction writing and the differences with other rhetorical styles of nonfiction. Emphasis on further development of students' skills in writing and self-criticism through intensive workshop experience. Readings in contemporary creative nonfiction. Permission of instructor.

This course is designed as a practicum for students interested in literary publishing. The central focus of the course is the production of The Trident, the undergraduate literary journal at Fredonia. Over the course of this semester, this class will advertise, solicit, screen, and file manuscripts, handle rejection and acceptance letters, design, edit, and prepare a volume of The Trident for publication. We will discuss national literary journals, both online and in print

Students will be required to explore issues of form and theory relevant to both poetry and prose and to write in both genres. Sample topics for poetry might be the implicit politics involved in writing in form in the 21st century, the complex issues surrounding the use of the lyric "I" in poetry, and the question of what different genres and modes of poetry can do (theorize, express, authenticate, narrate, etc.); sample topics for prose might include the distinctions that are made between genre and literary fiction, the question of what responsibilities, if any, a fiction writer has when he/she writes, and the sometimes complicated implications that point of view can have for narrative.

The course focuses on the issues surrounding "fact" vs. "opinion" in journalism, including discussion of concepts such as objectivity, truth, and the importance of background, context and balance. Students will gain experience with techniques appropriate to presentation of opinion and critical commentary such as columns, editorials, cartoons and critical reviews of the arts as well as learning how to thoughtfully critique such work.

Building on the work done in ENGL 100, this is a non-fiction writing workshop course in which students compose papers in argumentation, exposition, and narration. As part of the workshop, they will analyze, respond to, and edit the work of others. There will also be an emphasis on developing informational literacy, which includes gathering, evaluating, and synthesizing multiple sources in order to support or refute a claim. Students will also read professional texts that focus on advanced composing techniques, conventions, and styles.

In this course, we will isolate and study strategies for identifying issues, determining positions, assessing claims and reasons, locating and evaluating supporting evidence, and writing essays that represent clear and convincing arguments in themselves.

This course combines domestic or international travel with real-world travel writing experiences, the kind of writing in demand in national publications, whether in print or online. Students will study the conventions of travel writing in different forms and practice writing a variety of travel pieces for publication. In a writing workshop, students will use their travel experiences to collaboratively and individually produce travel guides for specific audiences of their choice.

This course helps writers move beyond notions of "correctness" in matters of grammar and style to appreciate the nuances involved in crafting well-written persuasive prose for a variety of audiences, purposes, and contexts. It empowers students to approach grammar, syntax, and punctuation as rhetorical tools and to make thoughtful decisions among equally acceptable alternatives to suit the goals and needs of different audiences, assignments, and contexts. Because professional writers often work for an organization or institution, the course also introduces students to the notion of a style guide, preparing them to work with whatever house style is adopted by a specific profession or publication.

This writing-intensive course will use a variety of methods, materials, and rhetorical approaches to explore and respond to contemporary social change issues such as sustainability, democracy, social justice, and community engagement. In addition to literary works and nonfiction texts, students will analyze film, Internet, popular press and social media sources to evaluate the effectiveness of different writing/communication genres and to help them engage in several real world writing projects.

Focus on the development of students' ability to communicate in the business and professional world through the letter, memorandum, and in-house report. Emphasis on the importance of written communication as a tool for problem-solving in administrative and management settings.

A writing workshop course in which students practice research-based writing for multiple academic audiences, investigate discourse conventions for a variety of academic disciplines and fields of study, and use critical reading, writing, and discussion to inform their writing.

Workshop-oriented course in which students write, examine, and discuss the essay as a distinct mode. Through the course, students can expect to extend the range of their writing, their understanding of rhetorical traditions, and their freedom and flexibility as writers of essays.

This course has two main goals, both of which will help prepare students to be informed and skilled citizens of an increasingly digital world. First, the course will prepare students to reflect on and think critically about the wide-ranging effects of digital communication. Second, students will compose for digital spaces using a range of modes and media.

This course offers an overview of the grant writing process. In it, we will explore how to write a persuasive grant proposal and how to identify grant-making organizations best aligned with your project or need. We will also discuss the grant cycle so you can better appreciate not only how grants are reviewed, ranked, and awarded but also what is expected of you after a grant is secured.

Variable-content course; topic announced in the online Course Offerings each semester.

Undergraduate Research is an opportunity to conduct research in the fields of English. Students will join a research team with a specific focus and carry out the research tasks that will lead to submission of presentations or publications.

An eight-week training program preparing students to tutor writing in the university Learning Center for a minimum of four hours per week. Permission of instructor required.

Intensive critical discussion of student fiction. Readings in contemporary fiction. The orientation of the course is professional, and students are expected to complete and share a major manuscript.

Intensive critical discussion of student work. Readings in contemporary poetry. The orientation of the course is professional, and the students are expected to submit their work to periodicals for publication. Oral presentation of student work.

Intensive critical discussion of student creative nonfiction. Readings in contemporary nonfiction. The orientation of the course is professional, and students are expected to submit their work to periodicals for publication. In this class, you will be working independently, writing and submitting essays that demonstrate your abilities and personal aesthetic.

Writing internships. Interns work 40 hours for 1 credit hour. Enrollment requires a completed Learning Contract and permission of the department.

Study of a particular author, topic, or work. Periodic meetings with instructor and writing a substantial paper. Department approval.

The capstone project is the semester-long completion of a revised, publishable manuscript (including web-based or digital), as well as a public performance or presentation (such as participation in the Day of Poetry and Prose, the Student Research and Creativity Expo, or an event dedicated to graduating Writing students). For creative writers, the manuscript might include revising and writing poems, stories, essays, or chapters of a novel/memoir, shaping a cohesive project out of the work done in previous semesters, as well as newly generated work. For professional, technical, or rhetorical writers, the manuscript might include revised prior coursework and new writing finalized for publication or presentation, linked with a clear and coherent rationale (specifying topic, purpose, audience, for instance). Any writer may propose a digital project in the place of a written manuscript (such as a multi-episode podcast series, the script and prototype for a video game, or a multimedia website hosting a researched project [video testimonials, scholarly articles, student-written advocacy]).

Variable-content course; topic announced in the online Course Offerings each semester.