Courses

Theme-Based Courses for Fall 2008 (in PDF format)

Comp 095 and Comp 099

Writing Techniques

Designed to help the less-prepared student qualify for Comp 105. Includes a review of basic grammar and syntax and frequent practice in writing short papers to develop skills in unified and coherent writing. Comp 095 is especially designed for non-native speakers of English. These courses do not provide credit toward graduation or toward the 6-hour composition requirement.

Comp 105

Composition I

Intensive study of college-level expository techniques through analysis of texts and regular writing practice. Students typically write 7 to 10 papers and take a final exam. Successful completion of Comp 105 is a prerequisite for Comp 106.

Comp 106

Composition II

Further practice and study in writing, emphasizing argumentation, critical analysis, and research. Assignments include at least five papers, graduated in length, complexity, and research expectations.

Comp 110 and Comp 220

Honors Composition

Students in the Honors Program satisfy their composition requirement with these courses, taught in conjunction with the Honors Seminars.

Comp 223

Creative Writing

An introduction to writing poetry, short stories, and drama, emphasizing analysis and discussion.

Comp 227

Intermediate Exposition and Argumentation

Further explorations in exposition and argumentation to develop the ability to write essays and articles. Intensive practice in writing and careful examinations of appropriate books and shorter prose works.

Comp 270

Technical Writing for Engineers

Instruction and practice in designing technical reports. Students study the rhetorical problems facing professional engineers and learn practical strategies for analyzing and communicating technical information to technical and non-technical audiences. This course fulfills the Composition II requirement for engineering majors, who must achieve second semester sophomore standing before taking the course.

Comp 327

Advanced Exposition

Composition 327/English 327 builds on introductory composition courses by offering further study and practice in college-level writing proficiency. As an advanced course in the writing of expository, narrative, and analytical essays, Comp/Eng 327 helps students build  rhetorical and audience awareness, find their own authentic voices as writers, and focus on elements of style.  Sections of the course typically ask students to read a variety of written texts (including but not limited to full-length works of non-fiction, shorter published essays, and imaginative texts from a variety of genres) and use expository writing as a means to critically engage with those texts. Like other UM - Dearborn writing courses, Comp/Eng 327 emphasizes revision as a crucial strategy for discovering purpose, clarifying meaning, and making the written word as forceful and effective as possible.

Comp 364

Writing for Civic Literacy

In this course students study how politicians, the media, and critical citizens use language to inform, advance agendas, and promote social issues and they will learn genres of writing that help them become more active citizens. The class will perform community service, collaborating with classmates and community agencies to create real-world writing projects.

Comp 365

Theories of Writing

In this course students learn why and how people write for particular audiences and investigate how writing "works" in a variety of contexts. Subjects will include cognitive and social theories of writing and the writing process, theories of persuasion, writing across the curriculum, writing for multiple audiences, writing in the workplace, writing for self-fulfillment, and teaching writing.

Comp 464

Contemporary Rhetorical Theory

Offered Winter 2009.

Comp 468

Writing Young Adult Fiction

In this course students explore the young adult novel from a reader's and a writer's point-of-view. Students read young adult fiction to explore such issues as gender, race and identity, as these relate to young adult lives and American culture generally. Students write several short stories or chapters of a novel directed toward a young adult audience.