Writing Program Courses
Courses in or affiliated with the UC Merced Writing Program
For current schedule of course offerings, navigate to
Writing 1 (Academic Writing): An intensive exploration of the writing process, focusing on the analysis of college-level texts, and on expository writing and revision. Our guiding theme is cultural and linguistic diversity.
Writing 10 (Reading & Composition): Intensive practice in critical reading and writing, focusing on effective use of language, analysis, argumentation and organization, as well as strategies for creation, revision and editing.
Core 1 (General Education, Introduction to Interdisciplinary Inquiry): An innovative survey approach to study across the academic disciplines, wherein students are introduced to the sciences, humanities, and the arts, and pursue a variety of quantitative and qualitative analyses--foremost among which are written explications that demonstrate and apply their studies.
Writing 25 (Creative Writing): Workshop-oriented instruction in the artistic nuances of literary genres such as fiction and poetry.
Writing 30 (Professional Writing): Writing for business, including practice in technical writing, professional correspondence, public relations, and journalistic contexts.
Writing 100 (Advanced Composition): Upper-division composition for juniors and seniors designed to polish their written expression and prepare them for applying their education in professional and postgraduate contexts.
Writing 105 (Language and Style): Introduction to basic principles of language study, including the key distinction between classifying and explaining grammatical forms and functions. Building on such grammatical principles, students analyze texts of various genres and formats, ranging from literary to conversational to disciplinary discourse.
Writing 110 (Tutoring in Writing): Introduction to writing pedagogy, for students training to be tutors in the Student Advocacy and Learning Center.
Writing 116 (Writing for the Natural Sciences): Intensive practice in the principles of audience-oriented writing with respect to the presentation of scientific subject matter (in research, public policy, journalism, and grant proposals).
Writing 117 (Writing for the Social Sciences and Humanities): Intensive practice in developing writing and analytical abilities in a manner appropriate for upper division coursework, independent research and writing projects, graduate school, and professional activity. Students read and critique theory, conduct library research, propose and/or conduct primary research, and learn the formal conventions of different genres of writing in the social sciences and humanities.
Writing 118 (Management Communication): Students will analyze and demonstrate effective managerial communication skills, with an emphasis on public speaking, presentations, and writing. Topics include business ethics, media relations, intercultural communication, interviewing, persuasion, and the visual representation of data. Extensive work in impromptu oral and written communication in various managerial, organizational, interpersonal situations.
Writing 119 (Writing for Engineering): Intensive practice in the presentation of technical subject matter. Students survey the range of audiences to which engineering communities respond, and explore respective variations in the style and logic of written discourse within the profession. Assignments may include technical reports, design projects, memo reports, project proposals, press releases, oral presentations, collaborative projects, and general client-based writing.