2023-2024 Undergraduate Bulletin

Writing and Rhetoric Minor

Description. The minor in Writing and Rhetoric provides students with a theoretical understanding of rhetorical principles as they apply them to academic, public, and professional writing situations.  Students learn to write for diverse audiences and purposes, and across multiple genres, styles, and designs. The minor teaches students to meet the expectations and requirements for producing texts with impact across varied writing contexts, including creative non-fiction, law, business, and discipline-specific academic writing; as such, the minor prepares students for the advanced writing required in upper-level college courses and in their professional careers beyond graduation.

Learning outcomes. Students will: 

  • Language and Style: Show a versatile understanding and execution of language, voice, structure, and style, as appropriate for diverse professional and academic genres and audiences.
  • Rhetoric: Explain the basics of rhetorical theory in order to identify and analyze writing from professional and academic genres.
  • Research: Conduct and apply independent primary and secondary research as evidence in different genres of writing.
  • Process: Demonstrate writing and research processes that include planning, composing, revising, editing, proofreading, and reflection.
  • Ethics: Reflect upon the inherent power of the written word and apply fair and just practices in all aspects of researching, planning, composing, and designing texts.


Credits.
18-19

Minor coordinator. Professor Timothy McCormack, Department of English (646.557.4654, tmccormack@jjay.cuny.edu).

Requirements. To earn a minor in Writing and Rhetoric, students complete ENG 201, three courses in professional, public or disciplinary writing and elective courses.  The minor is 18 credits with at least one course taken at the 300-level or above. A maximum of two courses can overlap with a student’s major, other minor, or programs. 

Part One. Required Gateway Course

 
ENG 201Composition II

3

Total Credit Hours: 3

Part Two. Professional, Public and Disciplinary Writing

Select one.
ENG 225Interpreting Objects, Texts and Culture

3

ENG 255Argument Writing

3

Select two
ENG 228/ANT 228Introduction to Language

3

ENG 233News Reporting and Writing

4

ENG 235Writing for Management, Business and Public Administration

3

ENG 245Creative Nonfiction

3

ENG 250Writing for Legal Studies

3

ENG 253Technical Writing in Computer Science, Math, and Science

3

ENG 316Advanced Argument Writing and Response: Theory and Practice

3

HUM 214Writing in the Humanities: Writing for Real Life

3

SSC 215Writing in Criminal Justice: Bridging Theory and Practice in Research

3

SSC 220Writing in the Social Sciences: Learning Powerful Authorship

3

Total Credit Hours: 9-10

Part Three. Electives

Select two
ENG 133Language and Justice

3

ENG 247Creative Expression and Human Nature

3

ENG 260Grammar, Syntax, and Style: Writing for All Disciplines

3

ENG 328/ANT 328Forensic Linguistics: Language as Evidence in the Courts

3

ENG 346Feminist Rhetorics: Histories, Intersections, Challenges

3

ENG 350Advanced Legal Writing: Advocacy and Oral Argument

3

Total Credit Hours: 6

Total Credit Hours: 18-19