UWP 110

Specialized Genres in Professional Writing

Prerequisite: satisfaction of the upper division composition requirement. This course does NOT satisfy the upper division composition requirement.

  1. SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENTS:
    Students completing these courses will gain skills immediately applicable to a professional writing career. Examples of potential genres include technical writing and editing; proposal and grant writing; publicity writing; writing for digital media; and speech writing. Students will learn about the specialized forms of writing, writing purposes, demands, and tasks within a particular genre. In doing so, they will analyze audiences and markets; practice research methods; learn about issues of professional responsibility and ethics; explore the collaborative process; develop an understanding of the elements of style and tone, such as prose and levels of formality; and practice revision strategies.  
  2. ILLUSTRATIVE READING:
    Readings will vary according to the particular course focus but will include case studies of the genre, professional models, guide books, and advice from professionals in the field.
  3. FINAL EXAMINATION REQUIREMENT: Yes
  4. JUSTIFICATION OF UNITS:
    UWP 110 is a four-unit course. Three hours per week is lecture/discussion. Six hours of outside prep time are required for the three hours of lecture/discussion. As with all upper-division writing courses, the additional unit of credit is justified by the significant amount of work (additional three hours per week) that students must do outside of class to plan, draft, and revise two major stories: a four-to-eight page in-depth article and an eight-to-twelve page article. In addition to this substantial written requirement, students will meet individually with the instructor for discussion and evaluation of their work. The estimated time of preparation of the writing assignments (research, consultation, drafting, revision) is thirty hours, an amount consistent with the Carnegie Rule guidelines.
  5. POTENTIAL COURSE OVERLAP:
    UWP 110 does not overlap with any other courses. UWP 110 is distinguished from other advanced writing courses, specifically 111A (Specialized Topics in Journalism) by its focus on specific genres in academic disciplines or professional careers (other than journalism), such as technical writing and editing; proposal and grant writing; publicity writing; writing for digital media; and speech writing.
  6. GENERAL EDUCATION JUSTIFICATION:
    Grades will be based on the students' performance on in- and out-of-class writing assignments and on a final project. The number of assignments and weight of each assignment may vary according to the instructor. Typically, however, students will write two major stories: a four-to-eight page in-depth article and an eight-to-twelve page article. Each assignment will be thoroughly introduced by the instructor, using models of successful work as appropriate. Students will receive frequent feedback on drafts of assignments through instructor commentary, conferences, and peer response. Students will have frequent opportunities to revise drafts. All assignments will be graded on content and style.
  7. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS:
    None