Writing Courses in the Spotlight
Fall 2026 Upper-Level offerings from the Department of Writing Studies, Rhetoric, and Composition
Fall 2026 Courses
WTNG 235: Technical Writing
Professor Mel Topf
T/TH 12:30-1:50 & M/TH 2:00-3:20
Technical writing is everywhere. While it certainly is an important tool in fields like engineering, it is also vital to a wide range of fields and jobs鈥攆rom education to healthcare and even cooking. In this course, students will examine how to use technical writing to help audiences solve problems. It highlights effective technical writing through case studies focused on addressing real problems, such as 麻豆色情片's advising system, Bristol's bike path, and Rhode Island's Washington Bridge breakdown. Throughout the semester, students will explore how technical writing can be meaningful to them; they will also consider how to use its concepts to strengthen their writing to set them up for success in future jobs and internships. All majors are welcome! (3 credits)
Prerequisite: Successful completion (C- or higher) of WTNG 102
Fulfills the second of two University General Education requirements in the University Writing Program
Fulfills a course requirement in the Professional and Public Writing Minor
WTNG 240: Writing for Business Organizations
Professor Catherine Capineri
T/Th 9:30-10:50 & T/TH 11:00-12:20
Writing is one of the most important parts of a successful business. This course will help students understand how writing can help businesses meet their goals. It spotlights local for-profit and non-profit organizations, including CVS, Hasbro, and local YMCA branches with the goal to help students understand the qualities of effective business writing. Students will practice these concepts with a variety of projects that will help them understand how to apply successful writing strategies to their internships and future jobs in a wide range of fields. All majors are welcome! (3 credits)
Prerequisite: Successful completion (C- or higher) of WTNG 102
Fulfills the second of two University General Education requirements in the University Writing Program
Fulfills a course requirement in the Professional and Public Writing Minor
WTNG 245: Writing About Health
Professor Genette Merin
M/W/F 10:00-10:50 & M/W/F 11:00-11:50
Health in a state of well-being, which, ideally, is about completeness of mind, body, and soul. Writing is a means of communication; it is a bond between storyteller and reader. At its heart, writing about health cultivates a reciprocal relationship in which both writer and reader have the ability to reflect on how lived experiences and clinical knowledge intersect.
Public health is not only defined by temporary disease and terminal illness but also by nutrition and exercise. Therefore, students will have the opportunity to choose a health-related conversation they feel passionate about--such as fad diets, social anxieties, addictions, vaccines, or cancers. We will explore how chosen conversations take rhetorical shape for print and online publications, social media feeds, medical websites and journals. Through our research, we will analyze the most effective strategies used to reach a range of audiences, from public to professional, who differ in levels of curiosity and knowledge. Students will apply these compelling tactics to craft a portfolio of work including, but not limited to personal narratives, feature essays, and patient education. (3 credits)
Prerequisite: Successful completion (C- or higher) of WTNG 102
Fulfills the second of two University General Education requirements in the University Writing Program
Fulfills a course requirement in the Professional and Public Writing Minor
WTNG 470: The Writing Portfolio
Professor Dahliani Reynolds
T/TH 9:30-10:50
One of the most exciting鈥攁nd scary鈥攁spects of finishing your undergraduate studies is figuring out what comes next. This is perhaps especially true now, in a post-pandemic world, in which the workplace, and work culture, has been changed in a variety of ways. Given that many companies are opting to continue remote or hybrid work positions (not to mention giving over more work responsibilities to AI), workplaces will be seeking employees with strong competencies in multimodal communication. If you chose the PPW minor, you likely have considered how the minor might enhance your career opportunities after graduation. Even if you do not plan on a career as a writer, writing will undoubtedly be a part of your work life.
WTNG 470 will help you develop a professional writing portfolio to showcase your experiences and expertise鈥攖o help persuade potential employers or graduate school admissions committees that you are the candidate they seek. In this course, you will assemble, analyze, and evaluate a curated collection of your original work to demonstrate to potential employers your writing abilities, experiences, and creative communication. In short, you will demonstrate your ability to apply rhetorical knowledge and skills to writing tasks in a variety of contexts. By the end of the semester, you will have created a multimodal portfolio that presents you鈥攖he professional you鈥攖o enhance your application package for targeted employment and/or graduate school applications. (3 credits)
Prerequisite: Successful completion (C- or higher) of a 300-level WTNG class and junior standing.
Fulfills a course requirement in the Professional and Public Writing Minor