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SFU

OFFICE OF THE ASSOOATE VICE.PRESIDENf, ACADEMIC AND ASSOOATE PROVOST

MEMORANDUM

ATTENTION

FROM

RE:

8888 University Drive, Bunuby, BC

Canada V5A IS6

Semte

Committee

University

Priorities

Bill Krane, Chair

TEL:

778.782.4636

FAX:

778.782.5876

DATE

PAGES

Semte Committee on Undergraduate Studies

Faculty of Ans and Social Sciences (SOJS 10-02bil)

avpcio@sfu.ca

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111

Action undertaken by the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies at its meeting of

January 7, 2010, gives rise to the following recommendation:

Motion:

That

SCUP approve and recommend to Senate the full program proposal for a

Certificate in Writing and Rhetoric.

The relevant documentation for review

SCUP is attached.

SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

THINKING OF THE WORLD

MEMO

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SFU

FACULTY OF

ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

TO:

Jo Hinchliffe, Secretary

Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies

FROM: Paul Budra, lnair

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Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Curriculum Committee

RE:

Certificate in Writing and Rhetoric (Full Program Proposal)

DATE: December 8, 2009

On November 19,2009, the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Curriculum

Committee approved the attached full program proposal for a Certificate

in Writing and Rhetoric, submitted by the Department of English. The

Notice of Intent was forwarded to SCUP on July 29, 2009.

Would you please place this item on the agenda of the next meeting of SCUS.

:pJ

Att.

FULL PROGRAM PROPOSAL

CERTIFICATE IN WRITING AND RHETORIC

EXECUTIVE

SUMMARY

Between the Departments of English, linguistics, and Communication, SFU has a wide range of

specialized courses

in the study of rhetorical analysis and written communication. The Certificate in

Writing and Rhetoric is designed to link these courses together into a coherent program which will be

attractive to a wide range of students seeking either to improve their written communication skills

or pursue the study of written communication and rhetorical analysis at a high level.

The proposed certificate, offered by the Department of English in consultation with the

Departments of Communication, and Linguistics, consists of a minimum of

units:

ENGl214

(History and Principles of Rhetoric), and six other courses from a list of 13 op'tional courses in

two categories from the Departments of English, Communication, and linguistics.

The university has

targeted "writing skills" and "written communication" as areas of

focus and improvement across the university. The Certificate in Writing and Rhetoric is

designed precisely to contribute to these goals. It will do so by providing students with a

coherent and yet diverse program in the study of academic writing and rhetorical

argumentation, and by drawing existing area strengths in several departments together into a

clearly defined certificate program. The skills students will acquire through the Writing and

Rhetoric Certificate will be highly marketable and sought after, as they apply to a wide range of

fields. Specific training in rhetorical argumentation and analysis, writing as a mode of critical

thinking, written communication and rhetorical argument as applied to the law, political

communication, sales, advertising, and marketing, dialogue and negotiation, are covered in the

Certificate courses.

No existing programs at other BC universities exactly duplicate the proposed certificate. The

University of British Columbia has no writing and rhetoric program; The University of Victoria has a

"Professional Writing Program," but this

is strictly a technical skills program, and lacks the theoretical

components of the

SFU certificate. Unique both for its interdisciplinary breadth and focused attention to

rhetorical performance

and analysis across a range of fields, the Certificate in Writing and Rhetoric will

both contribute to the university's

goals in the area of writing in general and attract new students to a

program with recognizable skills

and outcomes.

CURRICULUM

1. Student Outcomes

The Certificate in

Writing and Rhetoric includes a range of courses investigating the theories

and methods

of rhetorical analysis and production across a number of disciplines. It is intended

to attract all Simon Fraser University students interested in writing as a skill central to their

efforts as students and central to their future job prospects.

The certificate provides students

with extensive training in the theories and methods of

rhetorical analysis and written production through a course sequence that reflects the

interdisciplinary vitality of the field, drawing together studies of rhetoric in English, philosophy,

linguistics, arid communications. The English Department's writing courses have long been

recognized

as innovative, and with the university's W requirements, student interest in these

courses

has grown considerably in recent years, attracting students from across almost all

faculties and disciplines.

2. Curriculum Requirements

The certificate consists

of a minimum of 24 units: ENGL

214

(History and Principles of

Rhetoric), and six other courses from a list of 13 optional courses in two categories from the

Departments

of English, Communication, and Linguistics. These courses cover a diverse range of

topics and

speCific approaches, while nevertheless offering a consistent focus on the rhetorical

analysis

of written communication and the theory and practice of effective writing.

3. Course Structure

The courses required

for the certificate are diverse in format, ranging from 17 student

writing seminars to 30 student lectures. Many of the courses are "writing intensive," and thus

have lower student-to-faculty ratios.

4. Research

Implications

Writing and rhetoric is the research focus of several English Department faculty members

involved in teaching courses in

the certificate. In general, the particular research interests of

the existing tenure-track faculty teaching in the program will inform the particular course

curricula.

Writing and rhetoric continues to be one of the few "growth areas" in the humanities,

and

the certificate will no doubt contribute to research by introducing new students to

concentrated study in the area.

If.

LEARNING

METHODOLOGIES

Diverse learning methodologies will be in place in the different courses and departments

involved

in the Certificate Program. The writing and writing intensive courses in the program

emphasize experiential learning (where

writng is mastered through extensive and diverse

practice).

As noted above, writing is still one of the most highly employable skills-particularly

the information economy-and specific training in negotiation, political and legal

communication

is provided by the certificate.

FACULTY

The Certificate in Writing and Rhetoric relies upon existing tenure-track faculty currently

teaching the designated courses from the various

diSciplines identified. No additional faculty

members are required.

PROGRAM

CONSULTATIONS

AND

EVALUATIONS

The Notice of Intent was sent to all FASS Undergraduate Chairs, and the particulars of the

program were discussed

with the Undergraduate Chairs of the participating departments.

Without exception, the proposal met with their approval. The Departments of Communication

and linguistics made several content suggestions which were readily accepted.

The Undergraduate Chair of the Department of English will consult regularly with the

Undergraduate

Chairs of the participating departments, and will meet with them annually to

review the program. The Undergraduate Chair of English (as nominal director of the program)

will maintain membership on

the Provincial English Articulation Committee, where issues

specifically relating to the teaching of writing are often raised.

ADMISSION

The admission requirements are the standard SFU requirements. Students would apply to the

Department

of English Student Advisor for admission.

APPENDIX A: Calendar Description

CERTIFICATE IN WRITING AND RHETORIC

In pursuing this certificate, students investigate the theories and methods of rhetorical analysis and

production

throug~

a course sequence that reflects the interdisciplinary vitality of the field, drawing

together studies

of rhetoric in English, philosophy, linguistics, and communications.

Admission Requirements

Normal requirements

for admission to Simon Fraser University apply. Prior to formal approval into the

certificate program, students must complete

two of the

follo~ing

courses:

•

ENGL 199W-3

•

LING 200-3

• CMNS 200-3

PHil 110-3

Course Requirements

Introduction to University Writing

Introduction to the Description of English Grammar

Effective

Communication

Introduction to logic and Reasoning

Successful completion

of seven courses for a minimum of 24 units,

including:

•

ENGL 214-3

plus four of:

•

ENGL 210W-3

•

ENGL 371-4

•

ENGL 375-4

•

LING 160-3

•

LING 295-3

• CMNS 304W-4

•

CMNS 331-4

•

CMNS 332-4

plus

two of:

• ENGl470W-4

• ENGl475W-4

•

CMNS 432-4

History and Principles

of Rhetoric

Writing and Critical Thinking

Writing: Theory and Practice

Studies in Rhetoric

Language,

Culture, and Society

language and

the law

Communication in Everyday life

News Discourse and Political Communication

Communication

and Rhetoric

Studies in

the English language

Topics in Rhetoric

Public Opinion,

Propaganda and Political Communication

CMNS447-4

•

CMNS 452

Negotiation and Dialogue as Communication

Race and the Media

Of the seven required courses, no more than four may be in anyone department, while a minimum of

three must be in English. Substitutions may be approved on a case-by-case basis by the Student Advisor.

cumulative grade point average of 2.0 is required in the courses used for the certificate.

'1.

APPENDIX C: Faculty Teaching in the Program

English:

Rick Coe

Peter Cramer

Marlene Sawatski

Michelle Valiquette

Sean Zwaggerman

Communication:

Bob Anderson

Peter Chow-White

Bob Hackett

Linguistics:

Clifford Burgess

Juan

Sosa

Maite Taboada