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Writing, Research, and Discourse Studies, Faculty of Arts

WRDS: Writing, Research, and Discourse Studies


  1. WRDS 150 (3) Writing and Research in the Disciplines

    Writing and reading in disciplines across the academy, focusing on practices that research disciplines share and those that differentiate them. This course is not eligible for Credit/D/Fail grading.

  2. WRDS 200 (3) Writing and Communication Foundations

    Key principles of writing and communication and issues currently debated in the field of Writing Studies. The role of writing and communication in making knowledge, constructing identity, and exercising power. Restricted to students with second year standing or above.

  3. WRDS 250 (3) Evaluating Knowledge Production and Mobilization

    Critical and practical questions about how discourse communities construct and mobilize knowledge. The evaluation of knowledge as information/misinformation. How the evaluation of information is shaped by discursive contexts, rhetorical goals, and communication forms.

    Prerequisite: One of ASTU 100, ASTU 101, WRDS 150, WRDS 350.

  4. WRDS 350 (3) Knowledge-Making in the Disciplines

    An advanced scholarly research and writing course that allows students to build on their existing knowledge of academic research and writing practices by studying specific features of scholarly writing relevant to their own interests and disciplines. This course is not eligible for Credit/D/Fail grading.

    Prerequisite: Restricted to students with at least 3rd-year standing.

  5. WRDS 360 (3) Knowledge Popularization: Research Writing in New Media

    Rhetorical purposes, moves and features of new media genres that use or transform research for public audiences. Provides opportunities for students to analyze, critically assess, and produce these genres themselves. Restricted to students with third year standing or above. Prerequisites: 3 credits from one of Arts One, ASTU 100, ASTU 101, WRDS 150, WRDS 350, ENGL 100, SCIE 113, SCIE 300, CHEM 300, APSC 176, LFS 150, FRST 150, COMM 196.

  6. WRDS 370 (3) Research Writing and Marginalization

    Examines how marginalized groups are positioned in research writing. Focuses on the role of power, knowledge, and ethics in shaping language features and textual structures of research writing.

    Prerequisite: Third year standing and 3 credits from one of WRDS 150, WRDS 350, ENGL 100, SCIE 113, SCIE 300, CHEM 300, APSC 176, LFS 150, FRST 150, COMM 196, Arts One, ASTU 100, ASTU 101.

  7. WRDS 390 (3) Writing Disability

    Explores Disability theories, to understand their connections to writing and discourse studies.

    Prerequisite: Third year standing and 3 credits from one of WRDS 150, WRDS 350, ENGL 100, SCIE 113, SCIE 300, CHEM 300, APSC 176, LFS 150, FRST 150, COMM 196, Arts One, ASTU 100, ASTU 101.

  8. WRDS 400 (3) Writing and Communication Capstone

    Critical assessment of approaches to writing and communication. Key principles of the field applied to public and professional domains relevant to students' future work, studies, service, or work. Restricted to students enrolled in the Minor in Writing and Communication.

    Prerequisite: WRDS 200 and 6 credits of WRDS courses at the 300-or 400-level

  9. WRDS 450 (3) Writing Practices for Publics & Publications

    Writing processes and strategies conducive to developing larger, long-term research projects into genres of writing intended to publicly engage with scholars, activists, and intellectuals. Restricted to students with third year standing or above.

    Prerequisite: 3 credits from one of WRDS 150, WRDS 350, ENGL 100, SCIE 113, SCIE 300, CHEM 300, APSC 176, LFS 150, FRST 150, COMM 196, Arts One, ASTU 100, ASTU 101.

  10. WRDS 498 (3-6) Special Topics in Writing Studies

    In-depth study of selected topics in Writing Studies. Topics vary year-by-year. Restricted to students with third-year standing or higher.

    Prerequisite: 3 credits from one of WRDS 150, WRDS 350, ENGL 100, SCIE 113, SCIE 300, CHEM 300, APSC 176, LFS 150, FRST 150, COMM 196, Arts One, ASTU 100, ASTU 101, CAP 100, CAP 101

  11. WRDS 499 (3-6) Directed Studies in Writing Studies

    Individual project on a topic of interest in Writing Studies, completed under the guidance and supervision of a UBC faculty member with relevant expertise. Restricted to students with third-year standing or higher and approval from the WRDS Chair.

    Prerequisite: 3 credits from one of WRDS 150, WRDS 350, ENGL 100, SCIE 113, SCIE 300, CHEM 300, APSC 176, LFS 150, FRST 150, COMM 196, Arts One, ASTU 100, ASTU 101, CAP 100, CAP 101.


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