Writing and Rhetoric Concentration

Director: Dr. Karyn Hollis
Office: 458 St. Augustine Center
Tel. (610) 519-7872
Website: http://www.villanova.edu/artsci/writingrhetoric/

ACCEPTANCE: Students must have a 3.0 average or better to enroll in the concentration. An entrance essay must be submitted and will be scored in terms of purpose, content, style and organization. A base score must be attained.
The Concentration in Writing and Rhetoric provides students with a programmatic option for developing excellence in writing and speaking skills. The Concentration is open to students from all colleges in all majors.

CONCENTRATION: By the end of the first semester in the Concentration, students will have studied for and passed a self-administered WebCT exam covering principles of Standard Edited English, a style sheet, and other rules of grammar, punctuation and mechanics.

By the end of the student’s senior year, a “capstone” portfolio will be submitted to the director representing the range and quality of the student’s writing. This portfolio will be in the format of a “clip book” suitable for presentation to potential employers and will contain any published materials the student has written while in the Concentration. A similar E-Portfolio of student work displayed on the internet is also required.

To successfully complete the Concentration, students must achieve a 3.0 average in their Concentration courses. Students must complete 24 credit hours comprising 8 courses. All courses are to be writing enriched or writing intensive including:

• Three courses in Writing Practice at the intermediate or advanced level from the list of approved courses.
• Two courses in theory of composition, history of language, rhetorical theory or history and critical theory
• Two writing enriched or writing intensive upper level English courses
• One practicum course

MINOR: 18 credit hours in advanced courses, numbered 2000 or above. All courses are to be writing enriched or writing intensive, including:

• Three courses in writing practice from the approved list
• Two courses in theory of composition, rhetorical theory or critical theory
• One writing enriched or writing intensive English literature course at the 2100 level or above.

See Web site for list of approved courses and additional requirements.
 

See the website address above for more information.