Rhetoric and Composition

Major

No major is offered in Rhetoric and Composition, but students with such interests might consider majoring in English or Creative Writing. The Individual Major is another alternative.

Minor

Students may earn a minor in Rhetoric and Composition by completing approved programs of study. Such programs will consist of at least 4 full courses, including:

• two RHET courses at the 200- or 300-level;
• RHET 401/ENGL 399: Teaching and Tutoring Writing Across the Disciplines;
• and one elective from the following: a 100-level RHET course from the sequence 101-105 or 120; a private reading in a topic of rhetoric and composition of the student’s choosing; an additional 200- or 300-level RHET course, OR another course approved by the chair.

Writing Associate Training

Students interested in training to be Writing Associates (peer tutors) should apply for consent to enroll in RHET 401/ENGL 399.  Please consult the instructor of RHET 401 for details.

Seeking Writing Assistance

Winter Term

Staff members will be available to sponsor Winter Term Projects in writing.

Courses for First-Year Students Only

The Rhetoric and Composition Department regularly offers at least one First-Year Seminar per year. First-year students seeking a small, writing-intensive course to orient them to the liberal arts at Oberlin College should seriously consider taking an FYSP. The First-Year Seminars offered by Rhetoric and Composition faculty for 2013-14 are listed below.

• FYSP 129 - Coming of Age in African Literature
• RHET 100 - Academic Writing for the American Classroom

Writing Courses for First-and Second-Year Students

For first- or second-year students seeking an introduction to college writing. These courses focus on a variety of topics, but they all offer substantial attention to the process of writing and to critical thinking and reading. Many sections are interdisciplinary and employ a workshop/discussion format. Especially recommended for first- and second-year students who want to prepare for other Writing Intensive or Writing Advanced courses across the curriculum. The Rhetoric and Composition courses 101 through 105 cover essentially the same skills and issues; writing processes and strategies and writing for various purposes and audiences. The course numbers do not indicate a sequence; instead, they signify the different emphases and approaches adopted by various instructors.

• RHET 103 - College Writing: Motives and Methods
• RHET 104 - College Writing and Beyond: Negotiating Language, Culture and Power
• RHET 105 - Writing to Learn & Participate

Writing Courses for Students Beyond the First Year

Rhetoric and Composition courses at the 200 and 300-level are intended for students beyond the first year who are interested in improving their writing skills. Issues in disciplinary discourses and composing and revising for a range of writing tasks are emphasized through frequent writing assignments, class discussions, and writing workshops. First-year students may enroll in these courses only by special consent of the instructor.

• RHET 201 - Writing in the Sciences
• RHET 205 - Rhetorics of Gender Non-Conformity
• RHET 301 - Seminar in Scholarly Writing
• RHET 303 - Writing about Travel: Composing as Reflection on Time Abroad
• RHET 401 - Teaching and Tutoring Writing Across the Disciplines

Practica

These courses offer students a chance to gain practical experience in writing either by working with an approved student publication or by developing a grant or fellowship application.

• RTCP 107 - Practicum in Journalism
• RTCP 308 - Fellowship Writing