Course Descriptions
The Department of Rhetoric and Writing offers the following courses for both Undergraduate and Graduate degrees.
Undergraduate Courses
RHET 1110 Composition Fundamentals Writing Laboratory
Individualized supplemental help for students enrolled in RHET 0310 or 1311. Practice in basic grammar and writing skills. May be used as a refresher course before taking RHET 1311; may be used to prepare for composition test‐outs. Graded CR/NC. One credit hour.
RHET 1130 Writing on Computers
A practical course for writers to use the computer in the composing process. Students will learn one word processing program well, integrate it into their individual writing processes, and use other software that supports writing on computers. One credit hour.
RHET 2100 Writing Laboratory
Individualized supplemental help for students enrolled in RHET 1312 or who have completed composition courses. May be used as a refresher course. Graded CR/NC. One credit hour.
RHET 2312 Advanced Composition
Prerequisite: RHET 1312 or equivalent. A course designed to offer the student advanced practice in essay and other academic writing forms; includes review of composition modes as well as grammar and mechanics. The course is especially appropriate for returning, transfer, and other students who want or need additional writing practice in preparation for performance in upper‐level coursework, or students who wish additional writing practice before entering a writing major. Three credit hours.
RHET 3300 Introduction to Research
Prerequisite: RHET 1312 or the equivalent. An introduction to quantitative and qualitative research methods and the research process as applied to the study of written communication. Three credit hours.
RHET 3301 Editing for Usage, Style, and Clarity
Prerequisites: RHET 1311 and 1312 or equivalents. An introductory editing course that focuses on basic editing and proofreading skills. Course includes review of grammar, punctuation, and mechanics. Editing practice includes work with the student’s own writing as well as secondary texts. Three credit hours.
RHET 3315 Persuasive Writing
Prerequisite: completion of RHET 1312 or the equivalent. A theoretical and practical introduction to the art of written persuasion. Emphasis on persuasive techniques and their ethical consequences. Three credit hours.
RHET 3316 Writing for the Workplace
Prerequisite: RHET 1312 or the equivalent. Study and practice of workplace communication required of professionals who write as part of their jobs. Emphasis on developing a sense of audience and purpose, writing in teams, and learning problem solving strategies. Intensive practice writing workplace documents such as memos, letters, e‐mail, résumés, and reports. Three credit
hours.
RHET 3317 Introduction to Nonfiction Writing
Prerequisite: completion of RHET 1312 or the equivalent. Study and practice of nonfiction writing to explore, investigate, and explain ideas, experiences, and perspectives. Emphasis on style, voice, revision, and collaboration. Three credit hours.
RHET 3326 Technical Writing
Prerequisite: RHET 1312 or the equivalent. Intensive instruction in the theory and practice of technical communication. Emphasis on understanding audience, establishing a clear purpose, using technology, acquiring a sense of the profession, and developing strategies for successfully producing individual and collaborative documents. Practice writing genres such as reports, instructions, descriptions, specifications, and proposals. Three credit hours.
RHET 3320 Contemporary Issues in Language and Rhetoric
Prerequisites: RHET 1311 and 1312 or equivalents. A study of contemporary issues in language research from rhetorical and social perspectives.
RHET 4100, 4200 Independent Writing Project
Prerequisites: senior standing, 12 hours of upper‐level RHET courses. For the student of superior ability who wishes to undertake an independent writing project. One or two credit hours.
RHET 4202 Teaching Writing in Secondary Schools
Prerequisite: RHET 1312. A methods course team‐taught by faculty from the Departments of English and Rhetoric and Writing. Topics include making classroom presentations, managing small‐group work, responding to student writing, evaluating and using secondary school literature and composition textbooks, and learning approaches to teaching literature and writing. Taken in conjunction with ENGL 4202. Dual‐listed in the UALR Graduate Catalog as RHET 5202. Two credit hours.
RHET 4191, 4291 Writing Internship
Prerequisites: junior standing, consent of director. On‐the‐job training for students planning to enter a writing career or teach writing. For assignment, see the director of the University Writing Center in the Department of Rhetoric and Writing. CR/NC grading optional. One or two credit hours.
RHET 4301 Theories of Rhetoric and Writing
Prerequisites: RHET 3315 with a grade of C or greater, or consent of instructor. A study of theories of rhetoric and writing. Dual‐listed in the UALR Graduate Catalog as RHET 5301. Three credit hours.
RHET 4304 Technical Style and Editing
Prerequisites: RHET 3301 or consent of instructor. Survey and study of institutional and industrial style manuals. Intensive practice in editing technical, business, government, and scientific reports. Dual‐listed in the UALR Graduate Catalog as RHET 5304. Three credit hours.
RHET 4305 Document Design
Prerequisite: RHET 3316 or 3326. Study and practice of the use of visual elements in technical communication. Emphasis on typography, page layout, data displays, pictorial communication, and usability testing for both print and online documents. Dual‐listed in the UALR Graduate Catalog as RHET 5305. Three credit hours.
RHET 4306 Writing for Business and Government
Prerequisite: RHET 3316 or 3326 with a grade of C or greater, or consent of instructor. Theory of and practice in writing for government and business organizations. Topics will include training manuals, job descriptions, policy writing, records, and correspondence. Dual‐listed in the UALR Graduate Catalog as RHET 5306. Three credit hours.
RHET 4307 Writing Software Documentation
Prerequisite: RHET 3316 or 3326 with a grade of C or greater, or consent of instructor. Study and practice of writing documentation for computer software, including printed manuals, tutorials, reference guides, and online help systems. Emphasis on analyzing prospective users and their tasks, interviewing subject matter experts, developing help for different levels of users, writing user‐friendly text, editing documentation for style and clarity, and working on a documentation team. Intensive practice with RoboHELP HTML software for composing online help. Dual‐listed in the UALR Graduate Catalog as RHET 5307. Three credit hours.
RHET 4315 Advanced Persuasive Writing
Prerequisite: RHET 3315 with a grade of C or greater, or permission of the instructor. Intensive study of classical and new rhetorics. Emphasis on solving rhetorical problems. Dual‐listed in the UALR Graduate Catalog as RHET 5315. Three credit hours.
RHET 4317 Advanced Nonfiction Writing
Prerequisite: RHET 3317 with a grade of C or greater, or consent of the instructor. An advanced nonfiction writing class. Study and practice of writing to explore, investigate, and explain. Students will write a variety of professional, scholarly, and popular essays. Dual‐listed in the UALR Graduate Catalog as RHET 5317. Three credit hours.
RHET 4321 Editing for Publication
Prerequisite: RHET 3301. A hands‐on experience in pre‐production editing for publication. Includes study of the editing process, manuscript acquisition, the peer review process, manuscript editing, editorial correspondence, and preproduction manuscript preparation. Dual‐listed in the UALR Graduate Catalog as RHET 5321. Three credit hours.
RHET 4325 Legal Writing, Reasoning, and Argument
Prerequisite: RHET 3315 or permission of instructor. Designed for all majors, particularly for pre‐law students and writers interested in the discourse of the law. Students will read a variety of judicial decisions on current issues such as Freedom of Speech and complete several relatively short assignments forusing on legal reasoning and argument. Students will also learn how to find information on legal decisions and issues. Three credit hours.
RHET 4331 History of Rhetoric I: Beginnings to 1800
Prerequisites: RHET 3315, RHET 3316 or RHET 3326, and RHET 3317, all with a grade of C or greater, or consent of instructor. A study of major theorists and practitioners of rhetoric from classical times through the eighteenth century. Duallisted in the UALR Graduate Catalog as RHET 5331. Three credit hours.
RHET 4332 History of Rhetoric II: 1800 to Present
Prerequisite: RHET 4331 with a grade of C or greater. Study of major nineteenthand twentieth‐century theorists. Dual‐listed in the UALR Graduate Catalog as RHET 5332. Three credit hours.
RHET 4345 Topics in Persuasive Writing
Prerequisite: RHET 3315 with a grade of C or greater, or consent of the instructor. Theory and practice of persuasion with topics varying each semester. Dual‐listed in the UALR Graduate Catalog as RHET 5345. Three credit hours.
RHET 4346 Topics in Technical Communication
Prerequisite: RHET 3316 or RHET 3326 with a grade of C or greater, or consent of the instructor. The theory and practice of technical communication; topics vary each semester. Dual‐listed in the UALR Graduate Catalog as RHET 5346. Three credit hours.
RHET 4347 Topics in Nonfiction Writing
Prerequisite: RHET 3317 with a grade of C or greater, or consent of the instructor. Theory and practice of nonfiction writing with topics varying each semester. Dual‐listed in the UALR Graduate Catalog as RHET 5347. Three credit hours.
RHET 4371 Writing on the Web
Prerequisite: RHET 3316 or RHET 3326 with a grade of C or greater, or consent of instructor. Ability to compose effective technical writing and/or computer competency. Introduction to basic web design and construction; course emphasizes audience(s), purpose(s), and accessibility issues such as web site navigation, multiple browsers, and ADA compliance. Dual‐listed in the UALR Graduate Catalog as RHET 5371. Three credit hours.
RHET 4375 Grant Writing
Prerequisites: RHET 3316 or RHET 3326 with a grade of C or greater, or consent of the instructor. Survey, theory and practice of grant writing (solicited and nonsolicited) and the philanthropic sector. Topics include, but are not limited to: finding and researching a foundation, resources for each stage of the grant writing process, developing a problem statement, creating objectives and goals, creating a budget, and working with foundations. Dual‐listed in the UALR Graduate Catalog as RHET 5375. Three credit hours.
RHET 4390 Colloquium in Rhetoric and Writing
Prerequisite: Senior status. Focuses on professional development and synthesizing the major concepts within rhetorical/writing theory.
RHET 4395,4396 Cooperative Education
Prerequisite: RHET 3315, 3316, or 3317; recommendation of the departmental cooperative education coordinator. Designed to complement and extend the classroom learning experience through the application of theoretical concepts in a professional workplace. Exact number of work hours, activities, and responsibilities depend on the work experience and must be specified in a written agreement between the employer and student in coordination with the Office of Cooperative Education. Three credit hours.
RHET 4398,4399 Senior Writing Project
Prerequisites: senior writing major or minor with 12 hours of upper‐level courses. Student will complete either a portfolio or a final project written in cooperative arrangement with advisor from both major and minor department. Three credit hours.
Graduate
5202 Teaching Writing in Secondary Schools
Prerequisite: graduate standing.
This is a methods course that is team taught by the English and Rhetoric and Writing departments. The topics include making classroom presentations, managing small group work, responding to student writing, evaluating, using secondary school literature and composition textbooks, studying approaches to teaching literature, and writing as a way to reading. It should be taken in conjunction with English 5202.
5301 Theories of Rhetoric and Writing
Prerequisite: graduate standing.
An introduction to the formal study of classical and contemporary theories of rhetoric and writing. Emphasis on the practical understanding and application of techniques of rhetorical analysis and criticism.
5304 Technical Style and Editing
Prerequisite: graduate standing.
Institutional and industrial style manuals; editing technical, business, government, and scientific reports.
5305 Document Design
Prerequisite: graduate standing.
Study and practice of the use of visual elements in technical communication. Emphasis on typography, page layout, data displays, pictorial communication, and usability testing for both print and online documents.
5306 Writing for Business and Government
Prerequisite: graduate standing.
Theory of and practice in writing for business and government organizations; includes writing strategies, appropriate diction, and report formats.
5307 Writing Software Documentation
Prerequisite: graduate standing.
Study and practice of writing documentation for computer software, including printed manuals, tutorials, reference guides, and online help systems. Emphasis on analyzing prospective users and their tasks, interviewing subject matter experts, developing help for different levels of users, writing user-friendly text, editing documentation for style and clarity, and working on a documentation team. Intensive practice with RoboHELP HTML software for composing online help.
5315 Advanced Persuasive Writing
Prerequisite: graduate standing.
Intensive study of classical and new rhetorics. Emphasis on solving rhetorical problems and producing a variety of persuasive texts.
5317 Advanced Nonfiction Writing
Prerequisite: graduate standing.
Writing to explore, investigate, explain; includes writing a variety of professional, scholarly, and popular essays.
5325 Legal Writing, Reasoning, and Argument
Prerequisite: graduate standing. Designed for all majors, particularly for pre-law students and writers interested in the discourse of the law. Students will read a variety of judicial decisions on current issues such as Freedom of Speech and complete several relatively short assignments focusing on legal reasoning and argument. Students will also learn how to find information on legal decisions and issues. Graduate students are recommended to have completed an introductory course in persuasive writing and/or rhetoric.
5331 History of Rhetoric I: Beginnings to 1800
Prerequisite: graduate standing.
Major theorists and practitioners of rhetoric from classical times through the eighteenth century.
5332 History of Rhetoric II: 1800 to Present
Prerequisite: graduate standing.
Major nineteenth- and twentieth-century theorists.
5345 Topics in Persuasive Writing
Prerequisite: graduate standing.
Theory and practice of persuasion with topics varying each semester. May be repeated for credit when topic varies.
5346 Topics in Technical Communication
Prerequisite: graduate standing.
Theory and practice of technical communication with topics varying each semester. May be repeated for credit when topic varies. Recent topics offered include
- Computer Documentation
- Computer-Mediated Discourse
- Proposal Writing
- Research Proposals and Reports
- Script Writing
- Teaching Workplace/Technical Writing
5347 Topics in Nonfiction Writing
Prerequisite: graduate standing.
Theory and practice of technical communication with topics varying each semester. May be repeated for credit when topic varies. Recent topics offered include
- Auto/Biography
- Editing for Publication
- Gender and Language
- Healing Narratives
- History of the Personal Essay
- Little Rock Writing Project
- Memoir Writing
- Qualitative Research Methods
- Rhetoric of Travel
- Writing about Travel
- Writing and Healing
- Writing for Children and Families
- Writing in the Inner City
5371 Writing on the Web
Prerequisite: graduate standing.
An introduction to the rhetorical aspects of web design and construction that emphasizes audience(s), purpose(s), and accessibility issues such as website navigation, readability, visual design, and ADA compliance.
5375 Grant Writing
Prerequisite: graduate standing.
Survey, theory, and practice of grant writing (solicited and non-solicited) and the philantropic sector. Topics include, but are not limited to, finding and researching a foundation, finding and using resources for each stage of the grant writing process, developing a problem statement, creative objectives and goals, creating a budget, as well as working with foundations.
7300 Introduction to Research Methods
Prerequisite: graduate standing.
An introductory course in research methods used to study writing in the classroom and workplace; quantitative and qualitative design; ethics of human subject research.
7150, 7250, 7350 Independent Study
Prerequisite: graduate standing and consent of instructor.
Intensive research and writing under faculty supervision on an approved topic in an area not covered in regularly scheduled course offerings; written proposal and final product required. No more than three hours may count toward concentration requirements. Additional hours may fulfill cognate requirements. May be repeated once for degree credit. Click here for proposal memo requirements.
7310 Composition Theory
Prerequisite: graduate standing.
Contemporary research and theory on composing processes; includes the text itself, writing behavior, relationship between cognition and writing, writing contexts and communities, development of the individual writer; requires extensive research. Core requirement.
7311 Rhetorical Theory
Prerequisite: graduate standing.
Nature, extent, practice of rhetoric; emphasis on necessity of integrating a solid understanding of rhetorical theory with extensive writing in a variety of modes for a variety of audiences and reasons. Core requirement.
7312 Language Theory
Prerequisite: graduate standing.
Research and theory concerning acquisition and nature of functional language competence, including oral and written language and the movement from oral to written discourse. Core requirement.
7313 Theory of Technical Communication
Prerequisite: graduate standing.
Research and theory concerning writing in professional settings; includes study of processes and products of writing in the workplace, theories informing technical communication, influence of new technologies, implications for pedagogy and practice. Requires extensive research and writing. Core requirement.
7320 Working with Writers
Prerequisite: graduate standing.
Study of a variety of writing processes, strategies, skills for writers. Emphasis on practical applications for writers and writing teachers in academic, work, and other settings.
7330 Topics in Nonfiction Writing
Prerequisite: graduate standing.
Advanced study of theoretical, practical, or pedagogical topics related to nonfiction writing. May be repeated for credit when topic varies. Recent topics offered include
- Auto/Biography
- Editing for Publication
- Gender and Language
- Healing Narratives
- History of the Personal Essay
- Little Rock Writing Project
- Memoir Writing
- Qualitative Research Methods
- Rhetoric of Travel
- Writing about Travel
- Writing and Healing
- Writing for Children and Families
- Writing in the Inner City
7331 Topics in the Essay
Prerequisite: graduate standing.
Advanced study of theoretical, practical, or pedagogical topics related to the essay. May be repeated for credit when topic varies.
7332 Topics in Extended Nonfiction
Prerequisite: graduate standing.
Advanced study of theoretical, practical, or pedagogical topics related to extended nonfiction writing. May be repeated for credit when topic varies.
7335 Topics in Rhetoric
Prerequisite: graduate standing.
Advanced study of theoretical, practical, or pedagogical topics related to rhetoric. May be repeated for credit when topic varies.
7340 Topics in Technical, Business, and Government Writing
Prerequisite: graduate standing.
Advanced study of theoretical, practical, or pedagogical topics related to technical communication. May be repeated for credit when topic varies. Recent topics offered include
- Computer Documentation
- Computer-Mediated Discourse
- Proposal Writing
- Research Proposals and Reports
- Script Writing
- Teaching Workplace/Technical Writing
7360 Internship/Practicum
Prerequisite: graduate standing, recommendation of the departmental internship/practicum coordinator.
Hands-on writing experience in a professional workplace. Work hours, activities, and responsibilities must be specified in a written agreement between the employer and student in consultation with the internship/practicum coordinator. May be used to fulfill cognate requirements only. May be repeated for credit.
7370 Theory of Computer-Mediated Communication
Prerequisite: graduate standing.
Studies in various theories of computer-mediated communication. Includes areas such as uses and abuses of power online and explorations of writing processes in online environments.
7380 Writing and Service Learning
Prerequisite: graduate standing and permission of the instructor.
Community service projects involving writing. Initiatives will vary according to community needs and abilities of students. Final reflection paper required. Three hours may be applied to either concentration. May be repeated for cognate credit.
7395 Cooperative Education
Prerequisite: recommendation of the departmental cooperative education coordinator.
Hands-on writing experience in a professional workplace. Work hours, activities, and responsibilities must be specified in a written agreement between the employer and student in consultation with the internship/practicum coordinator and in coordination with the Office of Cooperative Education. May be used to fulfill cognate requirements only. May be repeated for credit.
7399 Writing Research Proposals and Reports
Prerequisite: graduate standing. Reference bibliography methods, research methods, proposal and report writing; includes a research project in an area chosen by the student with a faculty sponsor from the research area responding to the project’s substance and methodology.
8300 Final Project
Prerequisite: completion of PTW graduate course work, consent of graduate coordinator.
Attend class, develop and present final project proposal (including project description, survey of literature, timetable, names of committee members) to graduate faculty for approval; complete portfolio.
8301 Final Project
Prerequisite: 8300.
Completion and defense of final project, approval of supervisory committee, and acceptance of project by Graduate School.