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. Fall 2022: Professor Timothy McCormack, Department of English (646.557.4654, tmccormack@jjay.cuny.edu). Spring 2023: Christen Madrazo, Department of English (212-621-3726, cmadrazo@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
Total Credit Hours: 3
Part Two. Professional, Public and Disciplinary Writing
Select one.
| ENG 225 | Interpreting Objects, Texts and Culture | 3 |
| ENG 255 | Argument Writing | 3 |
Select two
| ENG 228/ANT 228 | Introduction to Language | 3 |
| ENG 233 | News Reporting and Writing | 4 |
| ENG 235 | Writing for Management, Business and Public Administration | 3 |
| ENG 245 | Creative Nonfiction | 3 |
| ENG 250 | Writing for Legal Studies | 3 |
| ENG 253 | Technical Writing in Computer Science, Math, and Science | 3 |
| ENG 316 | Advanced Argument Writing and Response: Theory and Practice | 3 |
| HUM 214 | Writing in the Humanities: Writing for Real Life | 3 |
| SSC 215 | Writing in Criminal Justice: Bridging Theory and Practice in Research | 3 |
| SSC 220 | Writing in the Social Sciences: Learning Powerful Authorship | 3 |
Total Credit Hours: 9-10
Part Three. Electives
Select two
| ENG 133 | Language and Justice | 3 |
| ENG 247 | Creative Expression and Human Nature | 3 |
| ENG 260 | Grammar, Syntax, and Style: Writing for All Disciplines | 3 |
| ENG 328/ANT 328 | Forensic Linguistics: Language as Evidence in the Courts | 3 |
| ENG 346 | Feminist Rhetorics: Histories, Intersections, Challenges | 3 |
| ENG 350 | Advanced Legal Writing: Advocacy and Oral Argument | 3 |
Total Credit Hours: 6
Total Credit Hours: 18-19