Author: Callie McNorton

Study Abroad Spotlight – Identities@Guatemala: Human Rights & Activism in the Americas

Pictured Above: Students at the Museum at Parque Intercultural in Xela. Dr. Saravia’s great aunt is part of this mural created by the HIJ@S group in Guatemala. Have you been looking for a study abroad opportunity? DePaul’s Identities Abroad programs are “short-term study abroad programs on topics related to multiculturalism in a U.S. context, which then visit a destination abroad for 8-12 days at the end of the quarter to examine the topic from an international perspective.” WRD faculty member Dr. Lydia Saravia will be teaching LSP 200: Human Rights & Activism in the Americas in the Autumn Quarter. According to its

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Course Spotlight – WRD 266: Leveling Up: The Social Rhetoric of Video Games

This upcoming Autumn Quarter, Professor Alan Ackmann is teaching WRD 266: Leveling Up: The Social Rhetoric of Video Games. From the arcade to the internet, video games have been evolving since their inception. This course has been a student favorite in the past and Professor Ackmann’s approach remains tried and true. To learn more about what to expect in the Autumn, read his 2023 interview with WRD alumni Grace Von Lehman. What is the main focus of this course? AA: The course’s main objective is to think about video games as rhetorical artifacts—they are usually thought of as more trivial

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Course Spotlight – WRD 376: Field Work in Arts Writing: Food Writing

Do you like food? Do you, at the very least, have some sort of relationship with food? If so, WRD 376 Field Work in Arts Writing: Food Writing may be a course you take next quarter. Professor Carolyn Vos will urge students to “explore how physical, emotional, and cultural dimensions of food can help shape compelling narratives.”  Over the course of the quarter, students will have a chance to engage with fieldwork and come to understand the intersection between storytelling identity and culture. The first assignment of the quarter requires that students go to an art museum and engage with

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Course Spotlight – WRD 309: Persuasion in the Age of TikTok

From conspiratorial rabbit holes to makeup tutorials, Americans are trapped within algorithms and a constant influx of information. College aged students have found themselves at the genesis of the social media age, and while it affects everyone, it can be overwhelming to face political and social issues online. Professor Poncin Reeves wants to equip students to engage in thoughtful dialogue around meaningful and sometimes controversial topics. WRD 390: Persuasion in the Age of TikTok will address how “democracy encounters the information deluge of social media.” Crosslisted as LSP 275: Lived Civics, The Social Contract and Public Life, this course will

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Why you should apply to an Internship

According to Forbes, Interns are almost 25% more likely than non-interns to start a full-time position within 6 months of graduation. The article goes on to suggest that even if you don’t secure a job from the company you intern for, there are still invaluable experiences to be had and professional connections to be made. An internship can count as a course credit and the WRD department has many resources to help you succeed during the duration of the internship. Amber Corkey and myself, Callie McNorton, are both MAWRD students who have utilized internships to seek professional growth and gain

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Alumni Spotlight – Ella Yates

Do you remember when WRD alum Ella Yates sang the National Anthem at Wrigley Field earlier this year? We sure do! Not only is she an accomplished singer, she also excelled during her time at DePaul until her recent graduation in June. With a Bachelor of Arts in Writing, Rhetoric and Discourse, a minor in Creative Writing, and the William E. Hay Leadership Accelerator Certification, Ella continues to succeed outside of school. Learn more about her time at DePaul and how she applies what she learned in WRD in the real world.  Why did you decide to pursue a degree

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Student Spotlight – Amber Corkey

Amber Corkey is no stranger to WRD as a 5th year student completing the combined degree program. A graduate of the undergraduate program, Amber will soon complete the MAWRD degree with a Professional and Digital Writing concentration and a SWAN (Strategic Writing and Advancement for Nonprofits) certification. Not only is Amber a tutor and Professional Development Student Manager at the Writing Center, they also hold the title of Chief Copy Editor and Newsletter Editor at The DePaulia. Read on to learn more about this star student, their plans for the future, and what experiences have impacted them the most during

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Course Spotlight – WRD 360: Topics in Rhetoric: Cults & Rhetoric of Community

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? 

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Course Spotlight – WRD 371: Mentoring Youth in Community Groups

*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

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Course Spotlight – WRD 210: Cultural Rhetorics

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

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