Overview
Writing Studies is an interdisciplinary field engaged in scholarship related to composing and making; rhetoric, culture, and technology; community-engagement and public writing; and language, literacy, and pedagogy.
The Department of Writing Studies offers courses in support of UM’s General Education Requirement for written communication skills, as well as a range of 200- and upper-level courses. Additionally, through its various specialized programs and initiatives, the Department contributes to the development of innovative writing skills for all UM students and faculty.
Students completing first-year courses for the General Education Requirement will center themselves as learners while demonstrating effective written communication skills in relation to specific rhetorical tasks; constructing original, well-reasoned arguments using a range of materials; and integrating and synthesizing appropriate and relevant primary and secondary sources in their writing.
Students enrolled in 200- and upper-level Writing Studies courses will receive additional practice in rhetorical considerations such as audience, context, and purpose; critical attention to genre, social action, and disciplinary convention; engagement with developing effective writing processes and feedback approaches; inquiry-based making practices; and, intentional and reasoned use of source material.
WRS 100T. Transfer Credit Elective. 1-10 Credit Hours.
Transfer Credit Elective
Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, & Summer.
WRS 101. Writing Lab. 1 Credit Hour.
WRS 101 will provide students with consistent and sustained support for their reading and writing needs in WRS 105. Students will schedule one-hour per week standing appointments with Writing Center tutors. These standing appointments will be used exclusively to support the work of the WRS 105 course and must be kept throughout the entire semester.
Corequisite: WRS 105. and Requisite: (ACT English >=18 and <=31) or (SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing >=430 and <=690) or (SAT Critical Reading >=430 and <=690) or (TOEFL iBT Writing >=18).
Components: LAB.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall & Spring.
WRS 102. Writing Lab. 1 Credit Hour.
WRS 102 will provide students with consistent and sustained support for their reading and writing needs in WRS 106 or WRS 107. Students will schedule one-hour per week standing appointments with Writing Center consultants. These standing appointments will be used exclusively to support the work of the WRS 106 or WRS 107 course and must be kept throughout the entire semester.
Corequisite: WRS 106 or WRS 107.
Components: LAB.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall & Spring.
WRS 103. Basic Academic Writing. 3 Credit Hours.
Intensive approach to the basics of academic writing with emphasis on building written fluency, using conventions of standard written English, and editing for precision and correctness. Intended for students who need extra preparation before entering WRS 105. Not for credit toward graduation.
Requisite: ACT English score below 18; or SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing or Critical Reading score below 430; or TOEFL iBT Writing score below 18.
Components: LEC.
Grading: CNC.
Typically Offered: Fall & Summer.
WRS 105. First-Year Writing I. 3 Credit Hours.
Advanced approaches to multidisciplinary written and multimodal communication. Emphasizes transferable skills in academic inquiry and argument. Not for major or minor. Cannot be taken on credit-only option.
Requisite: ACT English score 18-31; or SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing or Critical Reading score 430-690; or TOEFL iBT Writing score 18 or above.
Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, & Summer.
WRS 106. First-Year Writing II. 3 Credit Hours.
Advanced approaches to multidisciplinary written and multimodal communication using secondary sources. Emphasizes transferable skills in academic analysis, argument, and research. Not for major or minor. Cannot be taken on credit-only option.
Requisite: WRS 105 OR ACT English score 32 or above; or SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing or Critical Reading score 700 or above or Foote Fellow designation.
Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, & Summer.
WRS 107. First-Year Writing II: STEM. 3 Credit Hours.
Advanced approaches to multidisciplinary written and multimodal communication using secondary sources. Emphasizes transferable skills in academic analysis, argument, and research for STEM disciplines. Not for major or minor. Cannot be taken on credit-only option.
Prerequisite: WRS 105 or Requisite: ACT English score 32 or above; or SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing or Critical Reading score 700 or above.
Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, & Summer.
WRS 200T. Transfer Credit Elective. 1-10 Credit Hours.
Transfer Credit Elective
Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, & Summer.
WRS 208. Advanced Academic Writing for Transfer Students. 3 Credit Hours.
Review of research techniques and revision strategies. Completes the university Written Communication Skills requirement for those students who transfer into UM with credit for one first-year writing course from another institution. Open only to transfer students who have received transfer credit for either WRS 105 or WRS 106. Not open to students who have taken WRS 105, WRS 106, and/or ENG 106 at UM.
Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall & Spring.
WRS 210. Rhetoric in Action. 3 Credit Hours.
In this course, students will learn how to apply principles of rhetoric to write and communicate effectively across a range of contexts, genres, and modalities. They will engage with rhetoric not only as the classical art of persuasion but also as a tool to shape ideas, construct identities, and craft responses to complex situations. The course will cover both classic and contemporary theories of rhetoric, including cultural, feminist, and digital approaches. Course projects will invite students to innovate and adapt their communication strategies, utilizing advanced writing and multimedia design tools, including generative AI, to engage with diverse communities.
Prerequisite: WRS 106 or ENG 106 or WRS 107 or ENG 107 or WRS 208 or ENG 208.
Components: DIS.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall & Spring.
WRS 230. Advanced Professional Communication. 3 Credit Hours.
In Advanced Professional Communication, students will explore complex rhetorical situations that may arise in the workplace and beyond. Writing in this field requires an understanding of formal written communication styles, research, and the use of generative writing technology in professional settings. Students will practice writing in formats and genres that may include, but are not limited to, job search materials, project proposals, informal and formal reports, and professional presentations.
Prerequisite: WRS 106 or ENG 106 or WRS 107 or ENG 107 or WRS 208 or ENG 208.
Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, & Summer.
WRS 231. Advanced Writing for Arts and Humanities. 3 Credit Hours.
In the Arts & Humanities disciplines, students develop a nuanced understanding of complex cultural and artistic practices. Writing in these fields requires the ability to convey sophisticated critical and analytical judgments effectively through both print and digital forms of communication. In this course, students will practice writing in formats and genres common to professions in the humanities fields, including criticism, reviews, museum/exhibition catalogs, and web blogs/social media. (May be repeated if topics are different.)
Prerequisite: WRS 106 or ENG 106 or WRS 107 or ENG 107 or WRS 208 or ENG 208.
Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall & Spring.
WRS 232. Advanced Writing for People and Society. 3 Credit Hours.
In the People and Society disciplines, students develop a nuanced understanding of societal structures and social change, using sociological and anthropological frameworks to examine human behavior, social patterns, and cultural dynamics. Writing in these fields requires sophisticated engagement with various texts, critical analysis, and reflective dialogue. In this course, students will practice writing in social science formats and genres, such as narrative reports, ethnographies, comparative case studies, and historical analyses. They will express their ideas in both traditional print and digital forms of communication.
Prerequisite: WRS 106 or ENG 106 or WRS 107 or ENG 107 or WRS 208 or ENG 208.
Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall & Spring.
WRS 233. Advanced Writing for STEM. 3 Credit Hours.
In the STEM disciplines, students develop a nuanced understanding of complex natural and man-made phenomena. Writing in these fields requires being able to communicate clearly with both specialist and non-specialist audiences. STEM writing demands a sophisticated engagement with data, original research findings, and existing scholarly literature. In this course, students will learn to convey scientific knowledge through both traditional print and digital forms of communication. Students will also practice writing in formats and genres common to the science and engineering fields, including proposals, literature reviews, and presentations.
Prerequisite: WRS 106 or ENG 106 or WRS 107 or ENG 107 or WRS 208 or ENG 208.
Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall & Spring.
WRS 300T. Transfer Credit Elective. 1-10 Credit Hours.
Transfer Credit Elective
Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, & Summer.
WRS 306. Special Topics in Writing and Rhetoric. 1-3 Credit Hours.
Special topics courses work at the intersection of rhetorical theory and professional, community, and/or academic writing contexts. May be repeated if topics are different.
Prerequisite: WRS 106 or ENG 106 or WRS 107 or WRS 208.
Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall & Spring.
WRS 310. AI in Digital and Professional Writing. 3 Credit Hours.
This course provides students with a hands-on foundation for using AI tools to compose digital and professional writing, emphasizing critical reflection on AI’s impact on rhetorical choices, authorship, and ethical considerations. Through research, practice, and reflective exercises, students will evaluate the efficacy, bias, and ethical implications of AI in academic, professional, and personal contexts. They will engage with AI writing tools to create digital projects relevant to their disciplines, while exploring the possibilities and limitations of AI in their fields. Assignments include researching AI’s use in professional settings, developing an AI-integrated digital writing project, and maintaining a reflection journal. By the end of the course, students will be prepared to make informed decisions about integrating AI into academic, workplace, and other writing environments.
Prerequisite: WRS 106 or ENG 106 or WRS 107 or ENG 107 or WRS 208 or ENG 208.
Components: DIS.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall & Spring.
WRS 331. Legal Writing and Rhetoric I. 3 Credit Hours.
This course will introduce students to foundational skills in legal writing and rhetoric. Students will analyze judicial opinions and court briefs in order to craft persuasive legal documents and to develop an understanding of legal communication. Through the writing assignments, including memoranda and briefs, students will develop rhetorically-sound approaches to communicating about legal issues. They will also learn how legal writing translates into oral arguments.
Prerequisite: WRS 106 or ENG 106 or WRS 107 or ENG 107 or WRS 208 or ENG 208.
Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall & Spring.
WRS 332. Writing for Civic Engagement. 3 Credit Hours.
In this course, students will examine how civic engagement can foster critical dialogue and drive social engagement through writing. They will develop skills to use writing as a powerful tool for community collaboration and advocacy. Students will analyze real-world issues while focusing on elevating community voices. They will critically engage with writing as a tool for positive personal and community transformation.
Prerequisite: WRS 106 or ENG 106 or WRS 107 or ENG 107 or WRS 208 or ENG 208.
Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall.
WRS 333. Writing the Research Paper. 3 Credit Hours.
This course will guide students through the research and writing processes necessary to produce a well-crafted academic research paper. By engaging in independent research, students will learn to select appropriate topics, formulate research questions, and conduct research using both traditional library resources and digital tools. Emphasis will be placed on critically evaluating and synthesizing sources, practicing ethical methodology, engaging in the recursive writing process, understanding disciplinary conventions, and developing effective multimodal presentations of their findings.
Prerequisite: WRS 106 or ENG 106 or WRS 107 or ENG 107 or WRS 208 or ENG 208.
Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, & Summer.
WRS 335. Writing for Interactive Media. 3 Credit Hours.
Interactive media communicates in non-linear and user-dependent ways and requires writers to learn how to structure content for a variety of screen-based and off-screen experiences with media. In this course, students will practice methods of non-linear writing and design work, utilizing a rhetorical approach to creating documentation and developing accessible and repeatable writing processes. Additionally, students will learn to work on high impact approaches to working generative artificial intelligence as part of their writing workflow. Students who take the course should have a working understanding of interactive media and principles of user experience.
Prerequisite: WRS 106 or ENG 106 or WRS 107 or WRS 208.
Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall.
WRS 345. Writing for Innovation and Leadership. 3 Credit Hours.
This class will explore writing as foundational to facilitating and leading innovation activities with civic and professional organizations. We will emphasize team dynamics and how these interplay with innovation activities. We will also discuss the rhetorical nature of writing and leadership through creative thinking and community organizing work.
Prerequisite: WRS 106 or ENG 106 or WRS 107 or WRS 208.
Components: DIS.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall.
WRS 399. Independent Study. 1-3 Credit Hours.
Through this independent study course, students will research topics related to the field of Writing Studies (e.g., digital literacy, writing ethics, rhetoric). Students will write smaller assignments throughout the semester that will build to a final research paper.
Prerequisite: WRS 106 or ENG 106 or WRS 107 or WRS 208.
Components: THI.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall & Spring.
WRS 400T. Transfer Credit Elective. 1-10 Credit Hours.
Transfer Credit Elective
Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, & Summer.
WRS 431. Legal Writing and Rhetoric II. 3 Credit Hours.
In this course, students will build on the legal writing and rhetoric skills gained in WRS 331 by focusing on advanced rhetorical techniques at the appellate and judicial level, which are more complex than those at the trial level. Students will draft an appellate brief on behalf of a mock client as well as a judicial opinion to resolve a legal issue for the final project. The appellate brief will consist of multiple components, each of which will be the subject of the individual writing assignments. As part of their research, students will learn to search for publicly available law, navigate a “closed universe” of existing case law, and select the most helpful sources to support their arguments. The students will also learn how their appellate arguments translate into oral arguments and will collaborate to present an appellate oral argument toward the end of the semester. In completing these assignments, students will closely examine the most common rhetorical devices deployed by experienced federal appellate lawyers and judges.
Pre-requisite: WRS 331.
Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall & Spring.
WRS 500T. Transfer Credit Elective. 1-10 Credit Hours.
Transfer Credit Elective
Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, & Summer.
