Writing Minor

Minor Coordinator

Martha K. Love, Writing Studies Academic Support Coordinator
239 H.B. Crouse
315-443-1047
mklove@syr.edu

Faculty

Lois Agnew, Patrick W. Berry, Collin G. Brooke, Genevieve Garcia de Mueller, Leonard Grant, Margaret Himley, Krista Kennedy, Rebecca More Howard, Aja Martinez, Brice Nordquist, Eileen E. Schell, Tony Scott

In addition to offering both a major and a minor, the department of Writing Studies, Rhetoric, and Composition coordinates and facilitates writing instruction across the curriculum within the University. The goal of the department of Writing Studies, Rhetoric, and Composition is to integrate writing with reading and critical thinking in all disciplines and to encourage continuing development of these abilities. The department cooperates with other units to help writers and teachers achieve these goals.

Syracuse University students usually take WRT 105 - WRT 105 - Studio 1: Practices of Academic Writing and WRT 205 - WRT 205 - Studio 2: Critical Research and Writing . Writing Studios 1 and 2 serve as pre-requisites for upper-division writing courses. WRT 205 may be taken concurrently with WRT 255 .

WRT 105 -taken in the first semester of the first year-focuses on the study and practice of writing processes, including critical reading, collaboration, revision, editing, and the use of technologies. Academic writing-especially analysis and argumentation-is the focus.

WRT 205 -normally taken in the spring of the second year-builds on the work of WRT 105 and the experiences of writing during the first year. Students study and practice critical, research-based writing, including research methods, presentation of ideas and information, and source evaluation.

At the upper division, students may take advanced courses in civic, researched, digital, and professional writing, in style and editing, and in creative nonfiction, as well as study rhetoric and identity, information technologies, literacy, and the politics of language and writing.

The department of Writing Studies, Rhetoric, and Composition is also home to The Writing Center (H.B.Crouse 101; 315-443-5289), a resource for all writers at Syracuse University. See our web site at wrt.syr.edu for more information.

Minor in Writing Description

The minor in writing offers students the opportunity to develop expertise in writing for academic, professional, civic, and personal purposes. The coursework provides practice in writing in a range of genres, editing and style, publishing, and digital media. Courses also investigate rhetoric, information technology, the politics of language use, and language and identity.

Requirements

The minor in writing is available to all undergraduates at Syracuse University. Students must have credit for WRT 105 and WRT 205 , or equivalent. Students may begin the minor before completing WRT 205 . The minor requires 18 credits:

WRT 255 - Advanced Argumentative Writing
15 WRT credits numbered 300 or above, excluding WRT 320 . A list of these courses can be found on the Writing Program page under Major Requirements.

Note:

At most, one approved non-WRT courses (3 credits) can be used toward the major. A list of these approved courses can be found on the Writing Program page under Major Requirements.

Declaring a minor

To declare a Writing minor, students should completed the Declaration of Minor form and then bring the form to the Writing Department office (239 HBC Hall) for the signature of the minor coordinator. A copy of the form must be filed with the student’s home college.