Dr. Ellis researches and teaches creative nonfiction and editorial and publishing skills, creativity and revision in rhetoric and writing, literary criticism, creative nonfiction and fiction, and improvisational musical performance. Research in American fiction centers on spatial constraint and gender in putatively masculinist narratives. Research in compositional pedagogy examines cloud storage replacements of course management systems to expand 'social computing' models of learning in physical classrooms. Alternative pedagogy and praxis teaches specific computer techniques for research, writing, and revision enabling students to become life-long practitioners of critical inquiry through their own research, composition, and editing.
keywords
creative nonfiction, composition pedagogy and theory, rhetoric and composition, literary criticism, american literature, western american literature, fiction, creative writing
WRTG 1150 - First-Year Writing and Rhetoric
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2018 / Fall 2018 / Fall 2019 / Fall 2020 / Spring 2021 / Fall 2024
Rhetorically informed introduction to college writing. Focuses on rhetorical analysis, argument, inquiry and information literacy. Taught as a writing workshop, the course emphasizes practicing writing strategies for all phases of the writing process. For placement criteria, see the arts and sciences advising office. May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours.
WRTG 1250 - Advanced First-Year Writing and Rhetoric
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2020 / Fall 2021 / Spring 2022 / Fall 2023
Advanced version of WRTG 1150 intended for more experienced writers, this course meets the same goals and fulflls the same requirements as WRTG 1150 but at a more challenging level. Focuses on rhetorical analysis, argument, inquiry, and information literacy. Taught as a writing workshop, the course emphasizes practicing writing strategies for all phases of the writing process. For placement criteria, see the arts and sciences advising office. May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours.
WRTG 2020 - Introduction to Creative Nonfiction
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2021
Explores from both the reader's and writer's perspectives the forms of creative nonfiction, including personal essay and memoir. Students will read and write extensively within this genre, develop skill in revision and peer critique and learn how to submit work for publication. Does not fulfill core requirements. Department enforced prerequisite: WRTG 1150 or equivalent (completion of lower-division writing requirement).
WRTG 2930 - Internship in Writing and Rhetoric
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2020 / Fall 2020 / Spring 2021 / Fall 2021 / Spring 2022 / Fall 2022 / Spring 2023 / Fall 2023 / Spring 2024 / Fall 2024
Provides academically supervised opportunity for undergraduate students to engage in writing and rhetoric as a practical and productive art. Students may work in a variety of organizations (public/government/civic/private) on writing-intensive projects related to their career goals, and thereby connect classroom theory to real-world practice. Prior approval of PWR internship coordinator required.
WRTG 3020 - Topics in Writing
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2018 / Summer 2018 / Fall 2018 / Spring 2019 / Summer 2019 / Fall 2019 / Spring 2020 / Summer 2020 / Summer 2021 / Spring 2022 / Fall 2022 / Spring 2023 / Fall 2023 / Fall 2024
Through sustained inquiry into a selected topic or issue, students will practice advanced forms of academic writing. Emphasizes analysis, criticism and argument. Taught as a writing seminar, places a premium on substantive, thoughtful revision. May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours. Department enforced prerequisite: WRTG 1150 or equivalent (completion of lower-division writing requirement).
WRTG 3090 - Open Topics in Writing: Advanced
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2019 / Spring 2020 / Spring 2021 / Spring 2022 / Fall 2022 / Spring 2023 / Fall 2023 / Spring 2024 / Fall 2024
Advanced topics course providing intensive, specialized writing instruction in selected topics. Check with the program for semester offerings. May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours if the topics are different. Does not fulfill core requirements. Department enforced prerequisite: WRTG 3007 or WRTG 3020 WRTG 3030 or WRTG 3035 or WRTG 3040 or instructor consent required.
WRTG 3930 - Internship in Writing and Rhetoric
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2020 / Fall 2020 / Spring 2021 / Fall 2021 / Spring 2022 / Fall 2022 / Spring 2023 / Fall 2023 / Spring 2024 / Fall 2024
Provides academically supervised opportunity for undergraduate students to engage in writing and rhetoric as a practical and productive art. Students may work in a variety of organizations (public/government/civic/private) on writing-intensive projects related to their career goals, and thereby connect classroom theory to real-world practice. Prior approval of PWR internship coordinator required.
