News from DePaul University's Department of Writing, Rhetoric, and Discourse
October 20 marked another National Day of Writing. The Stanford Hume Center
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Andrea Hamler is a soon to be graduate of the MAWRD program
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Did you know that the WRD Department offers two Combined Degree Programs that can help you save time and money while you earn your Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees? Learn more about the advantages of these programs to see if a Combined BA/MA is right for you.
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October 20 marked another National Day of Writing. The Stanford Hume Center of Writing and Speaking calls it “a day to recognize and celebrate writing in all its forms.” On October 21, The WRD department teamed up with The Writing Center to celebrate. Writing Center tutors were set up in Arts and Letters Hall on DePaul’s Lincoln Park Campus. Students, faculty, and staff were all welcome to engage with fun prompts, yummy treats, and good conversation. Four prompts were offered for those willing to participate: Check out some of the amazing responses we got! Thank you to all that came out
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Andrea Hamler is a soon to be graduate of the MAWRD program with a concentration in Professional and Digital Writing and an addition of the Strategic Writing and Advacement for Nonprofits (SWAN) certification. She completed an independent study looking into a rhetorical analysis of religious discourse communities and their relation to anti-environmental political discourse. She has roots in math and science tutoring, and her strengths include storytelling and understanding of contemporary evangelical Christian discourse. We got to talk to Andrea about her experiences during her time at DePaul and what her next steps might look like post grad! How did you initially
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WRD 540 Teaching Writing is a great introduction to those interested in teaching writing after they graduate, it’s in the name! This class gives students tools to understand different methodologies for teaching composition and looks at modern theories of rhetoric, reading, and language acquisition. Dr. Erin Workman has been teaching this course for the last few years and here she provides a new perspective on the course that will be offered this Winter Quarter 2025. Are there any differences since the last spotlight last Fall? Everything covered in last year’s spotlight is still relevant, including the hybrid modality with weeks
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Our journey as writers often begins as storytellers. Through this medium, we can tell all kinds of stories about our identity, research, likes, dislikes, and the list goes on! However, sometimes we must listen to outside perspectives–stories from those who we might not usually think to seek. Dr. Monica Reyes, who has an expansive background in work involving displacement and migration studies, is teaching WRD 365: Migration and Storytelling this Winter Quarter 2025. By examining a range of texts—including personal narratives, news articles, opinion pieces, and legal documents—students will evaluate the ethical, cultural, and political aspects of communicating, whether through
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**responses edited for clarity 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 young
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**originally posted May 19, 2022 by Amanda Finn; information is still accurate for WQ 25 There has long been an argument about whether or not graphic novels or comic books should be considered literature. Regardless of which side of the argument you may be on, it is a fascinating conversation to be sure. Professor Alan Ackmann is taking on an adjacent discourse in the upcoming course WRD 287 – The Comic Book as Visual Argument. This class will dig into the rhetorical nature of comics and explore the ways in which they add to conversations. Read on to learn more about
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In a social context where people must consistently navigate their rights, or lack thereof, it is important to understand how rights claims function as a specific rhetorical tool. This Winter Quarter 2025, Dr. Jason Schneider will be exploring rights rhetoric by teaching WRD 289: Writing about Rights so students can gain a deeper understanding of the role language plays in shaping social and political movements. Read on to hear from Dr. Schneider as to what students should expect from the course and learn why you should enroll! What are your goals for the course and what can students hope to
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With the emergence of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, professional writers worldwide have been wondering how this technology will affect their field. While AI is certainly controversial, prompting strikes from the likes of the Writer’s Guild of America to protect writers’ jobs and eliciting petitions signed by thousands advocating to “Pause Giant AI Experiments,” one thing is certain: new technology is notoriously difficult to stop in its tracks. With a pragmatic view of AI’s continuous march, Margaret Poncin Reeves, Senior Professional Lecturer in the WRD department, looks to see how writers can adapt to new AI technologies and remain relevant
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This Thursday, June 6 @ 2:00–4:00pm (Central) in SAC 301 and on Zoom, join the WRD department for presentations by MAWRD students Nan Denette, Andrea Hamler, Lara Diaz, and Christian Woodley. Nan, Andrea, and Christian will be presenting their research from their independent studies completed during Spring Quarter 2024. Nan and Lara will share their experiences in the MAWRD program in their final exit requirement presentation. Additionally, several students completed Professional Portfolios highlighting their work in MAWRD; here, Bee Browning shares their perspective on the portfolio process as well. Get a Sneak Peek of the Presentations We checked in with
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Recently, MAWRD student Reina Ashley Nomura completed an Independent Study as part of their coursework in the Teaching Writing and Language Concentration. With knowledge gained in the study, Reina went on to present at DePaul’s 2024 Teaching and Learning Conference and is currently working on a research proposal they plan to submit to the university’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) soon. Reina’s work focuses on critical university studies, using rhetoric and writing pedagogy scholarship to understand the experiences of faculty and staff in higher education and how these impact teaching and learning. We chatted with Reina about their experience and how
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