Writing, Rhetoric, and Digital Studies (WRD) 110 and 111 prepare students for writing and research at UK and beyond. All sections of WRD 110/111 and WRD 112 use our homegrown textbook Town Branch Writing Collection (https://store.van-griner.com/content/town-branch-writing-collection-sixth-edition) and our student reader, The Engaged Citizen (http://store.van-griner.com/content/engaged-citizen). 

WRD 110 focuses on critical inquiry and research. Throughout the course, students are encouraged to explore their place in the broader community and engage in reflective thinking and analysis. WRD 110 asks students to write and speak effectively about local issue not only for their classmates but also for audiences beyond the classroom. WRD 110 places special emphasis on the skills of conducting primary and secondary research, as well as how to use visuals and online resources to enhance writing and oral presentations. Over the course of the semester, class members can expect to work independently, with a partner, or with a small group of classmates to investigate, share findings, and compose presentations of their research, as well as to practice and evaluate interpersonal and team dynamics in action.

WRD 111 focuses on rhetorical analysis, deliberation, and argumentation. Students use their sharpened research skills in order to explore issues of public concern and to propose solutions based on well-developed arguments. To learn to analyze a public issue using rhetorical analysis, the entire class will explore together one contemporary social issue and related texts about it. A significant component of the class will consist of learning to use visual and digital resources, first to enhance written and oral presentations and later to communicate mass mediated messages to various public audiences.  Over the course of the semester, class members can expect to work independently, with a partner, and in a small group (team) to investigate, share findings, and compose and deliver presentations, as well as to practice and evaluate interpersonal and team dynamics in action.

WRD 112 is an accelerated version of the standard two-semester composition and communication sequence. The course focuses on developing integrated oral, written, and visual communication skills through an emphasis on research and rhetorical inquiry. In WRD 112, students work together to to sharpen their abilities to conduct undergraduate research. By the end of this course, students will be able to research and use analog and digital resources to compose, communicate, and deliver their work with the latest technologies.