University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown Bulletin

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Course Descriptions

ENGLISH WRITING ENGWRT
0051	INFORMATIVE WRITING	03.0 cr.
Focuses on the development of various types of expository prose. Designed to allow the student freedom to develop his or her own style. Assignments grow out of contemporary problems, current readings, and the students' individual interests. Writing majors must take either this course or Descriptive Writing. Prerequisite: ENGCMP 0006.
0052	DESCRIPTIVE WRITING	03.0 cr.
Study and practice of a variety of descriptive techniques in short, structured assignments followed by longer, more independently determined assignments in the second half of the course, which allow students to draw on personal experience and interests. Stress on finding a writer's voice and developing a style through close attention to the expressive possibilities of language (vocabulary, syntax, metaphor). Writing majors must take either this course or Informative Writing. Prerequisite: ENGCMP 0006.
0401	INTRODUCTION TO CREATIVE WRITING	03.0 cr.
Offers the opportunity to experiment with forms of poetry and fiction and to read and discuss from a writer's point of view contemporary writing in these genres.
0521	INTRODUCTION TO FICTION WRITING	03.0 cr.
This first course in the fiction sequence introduces students to aspects of prose fiction--plot, point of view, characterization, conflict, etc. Students may write exercises on these aspects of fiction, write one or more short stories, and revise frequently. Students will also read representative stories and explore their use of particular fictional techniques.
0531	INTRODUCTION TO POETRY WRITING	03.0 cr.
Through writing exercises, analysis of modern and contemporary poetry, and frequent revision of their own poetry, students learn the basic elements of poetry writing.
1011	FICTION WORKSHOP	03.0 cr.
Course assumes students know the basics of fiction. Students work on writing short stories and reading a wide range of stories. Students can expect to revise their work regularly. Class sessions will address problems in fiction writing--from plot to characterization, from point-of-view to style.
1051	INFORMATIVE WRITING 2	03.0 cr.
Designed to allow the student maximum freedom to develop his or her own style. Assignments grow out of contemporary problems, current readings, and the student's individual interests. Prerequisite: 0052.
1096	AUTOBIOGRAPHY AND CREATIVE IMPULSE	03.0 cr.
Explores the relationship between writers' lives and the material they write with close attention paid to form, style, and the raw material transformed by the writing process. Readings can include various short stories, creative non-fiction works pertaining to writers' lives, essays written by writers about their texts, and critical studies about the genre. Students will be asked to write their own autobiographical prose, transforming raw material into creative non-fiction.
1097	WRITER'S JOURNALS	03.0 cr.
This course studies the journal as an art form. It also questions the purpose and value of journal keeping for a writer.
1130	GRAMMAR REVIEW	03.0 cr.
Reviews essential grammatical principles traditionally and historically, including punctuation.
1159	COMPOSITION TUTORING	03.0 cr.
Provides students with training in theory and techniques for tutoring students in the writing process. It includes writing and grammar review.
1180	TRANSLATION WORKSHOP	03.0 cr.
Course views translation as a form of creative writing or as a technical skill. Proficiency above the intermediate level in some foreign language is desirable. Students are provided with literal translations to work on when necessary.
1192	TECHNICAL WRITING	03.0 cr.
Prepares students to deal with problems of technological communication in various fields. Includes analysis, development, use, and evaluation of various models employed in the process of technical writing. Prerequisite: ENGCMP 0006 or ENGCMP 0004.
1211	POETRY WORKSHOP	03.0 cr.
For this advanced poetry writing course, the central text will be the student's own writing. Students will read recently published poetry, regularly write their own poetry, and frequently rewrite it.
1294	TOPICS IN POETRY	03.0 cr.
This course concerns itself with matters of interest in poetry writing: form and technique, contemporary production, and the relation of the poet to his or her society.
1406	WRITING THE REVIEW	03.0 cr.
Explores various types and styles of reviews. Students read a variety of critics as well as write original reviews of film, television, theater, music, books, etc.
1407	SCIENCE WRITING	03.0 cr.
Students write about scientific subjects for the layperson. Students will be asked to combine research and interviewing skills with imaginative writing to produce several science feature stories as they might appear in a magazine or daily newspaper. In addition, students will become acquainted with scientific journals and other sources of information for stories and will read a wide variety of examples of scientific writing.
1407	SCIENCE WRITING	03.0 cr.
Students write about scientific subjects for the layperson. Students will be asked to combine research and interviewing skills with imaginative writing to produce several science feature stories as they might appear in a magazine or daily newspaper. In addition, students will become acquainted with scientific journals and other sources of information for stories and will read a wide variety of examples of scientific writing.
1711	SENIOR SEMINAR IN FICTION	03.0 cr.
This is a class designated to meet the special needs of senior writers.
1731	SENIOR SEMINAR IN POETRY	03.0 cr.
A fairly broad knowledge of 20th century poetry in English is assumed. Most class hours will be devoted to workshop critiques; a portion of class time will be spent discussing the work of younger contemporary poets.
1751	SENIOR SEMINAR IN FREELANCE WRITING	03.0 cr.
Concentrates on developing skills necessary for the freelance writer as well as provides opportunity for students to work on extended projects, such as articles in a series or part of a book-length manuscript.
1902	INDEPENDENT STUDY	01.0 to 06.0 cr.
This option permits students to design their own course with the approval of a department faculty member. Students must submit a proposal to the faculty member. Students must have earned at least six credits in department writing courses.