Category: Course Spotlights

Do you have a disability or know someone who does? No matter who you are, the answer is almost certainly yes. What’s less clear-cut is what disability is, exactly, and what we should do when we encounter it, whether it’s our own disability or that of someone we know. This spring, Dr. Monica Reyes is teaching WRD 232: The Language of Disability, a course that explores the intersection of disability, culture, and society. It examines how the language we use defines, describes, and creates real-world effects for those with disabilities.  Has this course been offered before, and is this your

Generative AI has been around in its current form for a few years now, but the conversation around it isn’t slowing down yet. What is its place in our writing, and in the world at large? How does it actually work, and what is it useful for? If you’re curious about any of these issues, Dr. Lisa Dush is teaching WRD 242: Writing with AI this winter, and it’s a great way to find out more.  Why this course?  Generative AI emerged so suddenly that even people with years of experience in writing and new media studies, including Dr. Dush,

Have you ever been apart of something that made you feel like you belong? Really belong? Within the context of communities and cults, Professor Hohenzy is exploring the way that people are drawn to being apart of something bigger than themselves. WRD 360: Topics in Rhetoric: Cults & Rhetoric of Community tackles the juxtaposition between finding peace and losing autonomy in the process of acceptance. Read on to discover why this new course is a great way to understand rhetorical manipulation and the power of cults. What are your goals for this course and what do you hope students learn? 

This winter, Professor Coray Ames Hoffner is teaching WRD 377: Writing and Social Engagement: From Hip Hop to Hashtags, part of DePaul’s Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program. It was also offered last spring, so check out our previous course spotlight to learn more about the basics of the course. Keep reading to see photos from last quarter and get an update.  What did you enjoy most about teaching this course last spring? Is there anything you’re especially looking forward to this quarter?   So many come to mind, but I’ll just name a few: an early conversation about the nature of

*originally posted October 10, 2024 Writing is best when it is a collaboration. In high school, the thought of someone critiquing my work was terrifying. However, a great way to grow as a writer is to work with those around you, receiving and giving feedback. In WRD 371: Mentoring Youth in Community Groups, DePaul students have an opportunity to grow their ability to provide feedback, enhancing their own reflective writing processes, and help younger students at the local Leo High School develop their writing. Finding these types of spaces can be intimidating, but WRD 371 has become a haven for

Rhetoric and culture are constantly at odds with one another. To fully understand these interdependent concepts, Dr. Monica Reyes explores “symbols, material conditions, locations, and ordinary day-to-day practices” in WRD 210 or Cultural Rhetorics. Dr. Reyes provided some insight into what to expect in WRD 210 in the upcoming Winter Quarter and addressed why this course is crucial to understanding how communities make meaning.   What are your goals for this course, and what do you hope students learn?  My main goal in WRD 210 is to help students see how deeply culture and communication shape who we are and how

Ever faced an ethical dilemma when writing? Dr. Jason Schneider’s WRD 282: Ethics of Public and Professional Writing seeks to unpack the power of ethics within workplace writing and beyond. In this brand-new course, students will get to explore ethical implications within public and professional writing that can be applied to all types of real-world experiences, whether in the workplace or elsewhere. Here, Dr. Schneider provides insight into what students might expect when taking this course during the upcoming Autumn Quarter 2025.   What are your goals for the course and what can students hope to learn?     I think we

Graceland Cemetery is a Chicago landmark and arboretum that has acted as the final resting place for many prominent Chicagoans since 1860. Although it is a gateway into Chicago history, Graceland disproportionately highlights the men buried there through a variety of monuments. Dr. Julie Bokser is on a mission to address this disparity through WRD 377 Writing & Social Engagement: Women of Graceland. In Autumn Quarter 2025, students will have the opportunity to explore the beloved landmark through scholarship and research that uplifts and honors the women who have been laid to rest in Graceland. With insights provided by Dr.

*Originally posted by Leo Swearingen in Winter Quarter, 2024, with edits made to apply to Dr. Elliott’s iteration in the upcoming Spring Quarter 2025. At the intersection of The Avengers and Aristotle, WRD 288 Rhetoric & Popular Culture emerges to explore how pop culture shapes and is shaped by the art of persuasion. Taught this Spring Quarter by Dr. Timothy Elliott, this course is your ticket to entertainment and enlightenment in one. Read on to hear from Dr. Elliott and learn more about what the course entails. Are there any specific artifacts or events in pop culture the class will be taking a look