Linguistics and the Art of Writing

Institution: Carleton University (Carleton University)
Category: Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Language: English

Course Description

Writing is something worth thinking about. It's a mode of self-expression, a means of connecting to others across time and space, and a critical component of the dissemination of knowledge. Whether you choose to study Computer Science, Engineering, Health Science or English Literature, throughout your student career, you will do a lot of writing. The thoughtful cultivation of strong writing skills could be the most important investment you make in your future success as a student. But more importantly, the journey to becoming a writer is fun and rewarding!

This course will expose students to professional, academic and creative writing genres through well-scaffolded writing exercises and peer collaboration. The course will provide students with an overview of the field of linguistics, allowing them to consider the many layers of meaning hidden within writing.

Building a conscious awareness of language from the ground up, students will move from consideration of word choice, to sentence structure, to the construction of well-reasoned paragraphs and finally, to the organization of texts as coherent wholes. At the end of the week, students will bring home a portfolio of five short, carefully crafted, pieces of writing, each of a different genre (encompassing modes of persuasive, journalistic, academic and creative writing).

Class-time will be devoted to short lectures, scaffolded writing exercises, writing workshops, and revision.
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