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WRI370H5 • Writing about Place

Examines writing about geographic places and the multiple rhetorics --- scientific, historical, geographical, social, political, economic --- that come into play. Students will design and carry out original primary research to develop their writing projects.

Prerequisites: WRI227H5 or WRI273H5 or WRI291H5 or WRI292H5 or WRI293H5

Distribution Requirement: Social Science
Total Instructional Hours: 24L
Mode of Delivery: In Class

WRI370H5 | Program Area: Communication, Culture, Information and Technology

WRI375H5 • Writing about Environment and Ecology

Examines the evolving rhetoric of scientific, journalistic, legal and political writing about environmental issues. The course will consider eco-linguistic theory and eco-critical discourse analysis. Through theory and applied research, including primary research, and writing, students will consider protocols, research standards, and ethics in writing about environment and appraise current issues around the emerging language of sustainability.

Prerequisites: Completion of 8.0 credits with a minimum CGPA of 2.0

Distribution Requirement: Social Science
Total Instructional Hours: 24L
Mode of Delivery: In Class

WRI375H5 | Program Area: Communication, Culture, Information and Technology

WRI380H5 • Podcasting

This course offers the skills and techniques needed to script, record and publish podcasts to the Web. Students will design and carry out original primary research to script, edit and produce independent podcasts. The course also explores the growing popularity of podcasts, and modern societies’ shift into a secondary orality.

Prerequisites: Completion of 8.0 credits with a minimum CGPA of 2.0

Distribution Requirement: Social Science
Total Instructional Hours: 24L
Mode of Delivery: In Class

WRI380H5 | Program Area: Communication, Culture, Information and Technology

WRI390H5 • Independent Studies

A research/writing project designed by the student in consultation with a faculty member. Independent Study students will produce a substantial body of writing at a high professional standard submitted in weekly installments and will develop their drafts in editing sessions with other Independent Studies students. Students will also design and carry out a reading program. Students may not take WRI390H5 and WRI391H5 in the same term.

Prerequisites: 8.0 credits including 1.5 WRI credits with a mark of 77% or higher in each and permission of course instructor or the PWC Director.

Distribution Requirement: Social Science
Mode of Delivery: In Class

WRI390H5 | Program Area: Communication, Culture, Information and Technology

WRI391H5 • Independent Studies

A research/writing project designed by the student in consultation with a faculty member. Independent Study students will produce a substantial body of writing at a high professional standard submitted in weekly installments and will develop their drafts in editing sessions with other Independent Studies students. Students will also design and carry out a reading program. The Project Supervisor will be chosen in consultation with the Program Coordinator. Students may not take WRI390H5 and WRI391H5 in the same term.

Prerequisites: 8.0 credits including 1.5 WRI credits with a mark of 77% or higher in each and permission of instructor or the PWC Director.

Distribution Requirement: Social Science
Mode of Delivery: In Class

WRI391H5 | Program Area: Communication, Culture, Information and Technology

WRI395H5 • Re-languaging: Writing Across Cultures and Languages

Explores the practice and experience of writing across cultures, languages, and space. We examine writing as inflected through questions of translation, migration, colonialism, and social identity. Students will consider these themes through a historical and theoretical lens to sharpen analytic and writerly skills.

Prerequisites: Completion of 8.0 credits with a minimum CGPA of 2.0

Distribution Requirement: Social Science
Total Instructional Hours: 24L
Mode of Delivery: In Class

WRI395H5 | Program Area: Communication, Culture, Information and Technology

WRI399Y5 • Research Opportunity Program

This courses provides a richly rewarding opportunity for students in their third year to work in the research project of a professor in return for 399Y course credit. Students enrolled have an opportunity to become involved in original research, learn research methods and share in the excitement and discovery of acquiring new knowledge. Participating faculty members post their project descriptions for the following summer and fall/winter sessions in early February and students are invited to apply in early March. See Experiential and International Opportunities for more details.

Prerequisites: A minimum of 10.0 credits or permission of instructor

Distribution Requirement: Social Science
Mode of Delivery: In Class

WRI399Y5 | Program Area: Communication, Culture, Information and Technology

WRI410H5 • Professional Writing and Communication Internship 1

This course is a practical internship and is available only upon application from PWC Majors. Through a placement, students will apply their expertise in writing, editing and communications. Students must plan well in advance for their placement and work closely with CCIT/PWC placement officer to determine eligibility and suitability. A report of the placement, samples of work completed on the placement and a presentation about it will be required at the end of the placement. These, and the employer's assessment, will determine the course mark.

Prerequisites: Completion of 13.0 credits with a minimum CGPA of 2.5 and approval of the internship coordinator/instructor, and evidence of additional career development (e.g. workshops, networking events, and professional communication with faculty, librarians, staff, and peers).
Exclusions: CCT410H5 and CCT409H5

Distribution Requirement: Social Science
Mode of Delivery: In Class

WRI410H5 | Program Area: Communication, Culture, Information and Technology

WRI411H5 • Professional Writing and Communication Internship II

This course is a practical internship and is available only upon application from PWC Majors who have completed WRI410H5. The course is intended for students who have the opportunity to continue their WRI410H5 internship for a second semester. A report of the placement, samples of work completed on the placement and a presentation about it will be required at the end of the placement. These, and the employer's assessment, will determine the course mark.

Prerequisites: (Completion of 13.0 credits including WRI410H5 or CCT410H5 or CCT409H5) and minimum CGPA of 2.5 and permission of the Internship Coordinator.
Exclusions: CCT411H5

Distribution Requirement: Social Science
Mode of Delivery: In Class

WRI411H5 | Program Area: Communication, Culture, Information and Technology

WRI420H5 • Making a Book

Examines principles, procedures and practices in book publishing. Students, working collaboratively, will collect material for, design, edit, typeset, print and assemble books. Students will consider philosophical, aesthetic, and economic factors that guide publishing, editing and design decisions. Students who do not receive formal permission may not take this course.

Prerequisites: A minimum of 3.0 WRI credits and permission of instructor

Distribution Requirement: Social Science
Total Instructional Hours: 24L
Mode of Delivery: In Class

WRI420H5 | Program Area: Communication, Culture, Information and Technology

WRI430H5 • Journalistic Investigation

This course examines principles and practices in journalistic investigation and writing, and provides an introduction to the main socio-political issues related to contemporary journalism. The course will consider various models and formats of journalistic writing. Students will design and carry out investigative projects that culminate in a series of journalistic articles. The course will also analyze the Canadian media industry and its evolving labour market.

Prerequisites: A minimum of 1.5 WRI credits and (WRI291H5 or WRI378H5)

Distribution Requirement: Social Science
Total Instructional Hours: 24L
Mode of Delivery: In Class

WRI430H5 | Program Area: Communication, Culture, Information and Technology

WRI470H5 • Writing Futures

This course examines speculative non-fiction and explores ways writers communicate about research, projections, and plans for humanity’s future. Students will consider how writing and other cultural forms act not only as “products” of science and reportage but as tools of knowledge-making. Students will produce portfolios that respond to and add to the literature of speculative non-fiction.

Prerequisites: 3.0 WRI credits 
Exclusions: WRI490H5

Distribution Requirement: Social Science
Total Instructional Hours: 24L
Mode of Delivery: In Class

WRI470H5 | Program Area: Communication, Culture, Information and Technology

WRI483H5 • Character, Narrator and Psychic Space

This course examines the central role of characterization and character development in nonfiction prose. Students explore the theory of psychic space, working to understand how the creation of that space operates to advance audience engagement. Classwork explores the furnishing and unfurnishing of psychic space in relation to meaning and characterization. Students focus on a small set of characters they develop over time via a writing portfolio. The course considers the impacts of place, incident, narrative arc, and complication-resolution models, with reference to theories by Gerke, French, Wolfe, and Van Manen. Weekly exercises and assignments focus on developing believable, memorable characters. Readings include a mix of student-authored and contemporary professional works.

Prerequisites: 2.0 WRI credits

Distribution Requirement: Social Science
Mode of Delivery: In Class

WRI483H5 | Program Area: Communication, Culture, Information and Technology

WRI488H5 • Food and Writing

This course examines narrative approaches to researching and writing about food-related topics. Students will design and carry out research projects that culminate in a series of life stories, narrative articles/chapters, or personal essays that investigate complex relationships surrounding food in society.

Prerequisites: 2.0 WRI credits
Exclusions: Food and Writing taken previously as WRI490H5

Distribution Requirement: Social Science
Mode of Delivery: In Class

WRI488H5 | Program Area: Communication, Culture, Information and Technology

WRI490H5 • Special Topics in Writing

An in-depth examination of topics in writing. Topics vary from year to year, and the content in any given year depends upon the instructor. The contact hours for this course may vary in terms of contact type (L, S, T, P) from year to year, but will be between 24-36 contact hours in total. See the UTM Timetable.

Prerequisites: 2.5 WRI credits and permission of instructor

Distribution Requirement: Social Science
Total Instructional Hours: 24L
Mode of Delivery: In Class

WRI490H5 | Program Area: Communication, Culture, Information and Technology

WRI499Y5 • Research Opportunity Program

This courses provides a richly rewarding opportunity for students in their fourth year to work in the research project of a professor in return for 499Y course credit. Students enrolled have an opportunity to become involved in original research, learn research methods and share in the excitement and discovery of acquiring new knowledge. Participating faculty members post their project descriptions for the following summer and fall/winter sessions in early February and students are invited to apply in early March. See Experiential and International Opportunities for more details.

Prerequisites: A minimum of 13.0 credits.

Distribution Requirement: Social Science
Mode of Delivery: In Class

WRI499Y5 | Program Area: Communication, Culture, Information and Technology