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Course Descriptions
ENG 5300 Language Problems in a Multicultural Environment
An introduction to the study of multicultural language and linguistics with descriptive, psychological, social and semantic emphases.
ENG 5300 Language in Institutional Settings
What forms of talk do juries find convincing? How do doctors and patients negotiate decisions about care? What do interactions between teachers and students tell us about power? How do citizens negotiate and resist discursive practices particular to governmental institutions? In what ways does talk both reflect and shape institutional and ideological contexts? These are just some of the questions we'll address in this graduate-level seminar. Specifically, we'll use theories, methods, and findings from qualitative research to examine the role played by language in constituting, shaping, and reinforcing the cultural practices embodied in major western institutions. The focus will be on the mutual influence of language and context in areas such as education, medicine, government, law, and business. The course will draw upon theoretical and empirical attempts to understand language and interaction in specific institutional contexts.
ENG 5310 Studies in English Language and Linguistics
A study of the English language with special attention to phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, dialectology, sociolinguistics, normal language acquisition, and/or writing and spelling systems. Repeatable with different emphases for up to nine hours of English credit.
ENG 5311 Foundations in Technical Communication
This course introduces students to theoretical approaches and rhetorical principles of communicating and writing that can be applied to any writing activity in the technical and scientific professions. The course includes an exploration of the role technology plays in enhancing and influencing writing and communicating and an examination of issues related to the practical writing expectations of professional communicators.
ENG 5312 Editing the Professional Publication
The editing, design, layout, and proofreading of a professional publication. This course is an internship.
ENG 5313 Computers and Writing
Computers have revolutionized writing, writing processes, and the teaching of writing. In fact, many first-year and advanced writing courses are now taught exclusively in computer classrooms. This course will explore the impact of computers on writing theory and writing pedagogy, as well as the social and political implications of teaching writing in a networked environment. Our time will be devoted to discussion of and practice with specific technologies, including network-based writing tools and hypertext. This course is highly recommended for those who plan to teach writing at the university level.
ENG 5313 Technical Editing
This course prepares students to become information editors. Students will learn how reading research helps determine effective information editing, and they will develop expertise not only in conventional editing skills such as proper grammar, punctuation, and style but also in appropriate ways to present documents for readers. In addition, students will be introduced to FrameMaker, a software tool for creating online and paper documents.
ENG 5313 Visual Rhetoric
This course is about using visual design as a practical communication tool in a wide range of forms such as paragraphs, tables, pictures, charts, maps, and icons. The course will cover a variety of medium such as paper documents, hypertext, and websites. Students will explore how the rhetorical contexts of a communication act determine what and which visuals are most effective. In addition, students will be introduced to sophisticated software tools used by technical communicators. See samples of student work.
ENG 5313 Research Methods
This course will introduce students to methods of designing and conducting empirical research in technical communication/workplace settings. Topics will include usability testing and methods (surveys, interviews, think-aloud protocols, other forms of lab-based research), as well as case studies and workplace ethnographies.
ENG 5314 Narrative in Technical Communication
This course introduces students to theory in narrative and theoretical applications to nonfiction, particularly in technical and professional communication. Students will explore the problem of defining what narrative is in technical communication, why narrative is important for communicating in the technical and professional fields, and how and where narrative strategies can be found in paper documents, visuals, and online.
ENG 5314 Proposal Writing
The course will engage students in searching for public and private funding sources and writing grant proposals for real-world funding needs. They will use print and electronic tools for identifying funding sources, preparing proposals, and making professional presentations.
ENG 5314 Software Documentation
In this course students explore the process used to develop computer-related information, online and paper, for non-expert users/readers/viewers and learn how research informs that process. As students follow the document development process, they plan, write, develop, edit, and test their own documentation for software programs.
ENG 5314 Literature and Technology
A study of one or more literary genres over several historical periods or from a variety of cultural perspectives. The course focuses on genres such as the following: the epic, the novel, the story, the lyric, the pastoral, and the romance. Repeatable with different emphases for up to nine hours of English credit. The Literature and Technology offering focuses on the interaction between the two conventions.
ENG 5314 Technology of the Book
This seminar will explore the varied technologies of book production that have enabled communication from the invention of writing to the electronic revolution. The course draws from history, literature, marketing, technology, mass communication, sociology, art, cultural anthropology, and journalism fields. Activities will include organized field trips to view rare book collections at the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center and elsewhere.
ENG 5383 Rhetorical Theory for Technical Communicators
In this course, we will examine classical and modern rhetorical theories most relevant to technical communication as a discipline and as a set of practices. Emphasis will be placed on the dynamic, reciprocal nature of research, theory, and practice in technical communication—on the ways in which 1) research informs theory and practice and, 2) practice interrogates and shapes research and theory.
Rhetoric Project Website
ENG 5399A Thesis
This course represents a student's initial thesis enrollment. No thesis credit is awarded until student has completed the thesis in English 5399B. Departmental approval required.
ENG 5399B Thesis
This course represents a student's continuing thesis enrollments. The student continues to enroll in this course until the thesis is submitted for binding. Departmental approval required.
An introduction to the study of multicultural language and linguistics with descriptive, psychological, social and semantic emphases.
ENG 5300 Language in Institutional Settings
What forms of talk do juries find convincing? How do doctors and patients negotiate decisions about care? What do interactions between teachers and students tell us about power? How do citizens negotiate and resist discursive practices particular to governmental institutions? In what ways does talk both reflect and shape institutional and ideological contexts? These are just some of the questions we'll address in this graduate-level seminar. Specifically, we'll use theories, methods, and findings from qualitative research to examine the role played by language in constituting, shaping, and reinforcing the cultural practices embodied in major western institutions. The focus will be on the mutual influence of language and context in areas such as education, medicine, government, law, and business. The course will draw upon theoretical and empirical attempts to understand language and interaction in specific institutional contexts.
ENG 5310 Studies in English Language and Linguistics
A study of the English language with special attention to phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, dialectology, sociolinguistics, normal language acquisition, and/or writing and spelling systems. Repeatable with different emphases for up to nine hours of English credit.
ENG 5311 Foundations in Technical Communication
This course introduces students to theoretical approaches and rhetorical principles of communicating and writing that can be applied to any writing activity in the technical and scientific professions. The course includes an exploration of the role technology plays in enhancing and influencing writing and communicating and an examination of issues related to the practical writing expectations of professional communicators.
ENG 5312 Editing the Professional Publication
The editing, design, layout, and proofreading of a professional publication. This course is an internship.
ENG 5313 Computers and Writing
Computers have revolutionized writing, writing processes, and the teaching of writing. In fact, many first-year and advanced writing courses are now taught exclusively in computer classrooms. This course will explore the impact of computers on writing theory and writing pedagogy, as well as the social and political implications of teaching writing in a networked environment. Our time will be devoted to discussion of and practice with specific technologies, including network-based writing tools and hypertext. This course is highly recommended for those who plan to teach writing at the university level.
ENG 5313 Technical Editing
This course prepares students to become information editors. Students will learn how reading research helps determine effective information editing, and they will develop expertise not only in conventional editing skills such as proper grammar, punctuation, and style but also in appropriate ways to present documents for readers. In addition, students will be introduced to FrameMaker, a software tool for creating online and paper documents.
ENG 5313 Visual Rhetoric
This course is about using visual design as a practical communication tool in a wide range of forms such as paragraphs, tables, pictures, charts, maps, and icons. The course will cover a variety of medium such as paper documents, hypertext, and websites. Students will explore how the rhetorical contexts of a communication act determine what and which visuals are most effective. In addition, students will be introduced to sophisticated software tools used by technical communicators. See samples of student work.
ENG 5313 Research Methods
This course will introduce students to methods of designing and conducting empirical research in technical communication/workplace settings. Topics will include usability testing and methods (surveys, interviews, think-aloud protocols, other forms of lab-based research), as well as case studies and workplace ethnographies.
ENG 5314 Narrative in Technical Communication
This course introduces students to theory in narrative and theoretical applications to nonfiction, particularly in technical and professional communication. Students will explore the problem of defining what narrative is in technical communication, why narrative is important for communicating in the technical and professional fields, and how and where narrative strategies can be found in paper documents, visuals, and online.
ENG 5314 Proposal Writing
The course will engage students in searching for public and private funding sources and writing grant proposals for real-world funding needs. They will use print and electronic tools for identifying funding sources, preparing proposals, and making professional presentations.
ENG 5314 Software Documentation
In this course students explore the process used to develop computer-related information, online and paper, for non-expert users/readers/viewers and learn how research informs that process. As students follow the document development process, they plan, write, develop, edit, and test their own documentation for software programs.
ENG 5314 Literature and Technology
A study of one or more literary genres over several historical periods or from a variety of cultural perspectives. The course focuses on genres such as the following: the epic, the novel, the story, the lyric, the pastoral, and the romance. Repeatable with different emphases for up to nine hours of English credit. The Literature and Technology offering focuses on the interaction between the two conventions.
ENG 5314 Technology of the Book
This seminar will explore the varied technologies of book production that have enabled communication from the invention of writing to the electronic revolution. The course draws from history, literature, marketing, technology, mass communication, sociology, art, cultural anthropology, and journalism fields. Activities will include organized field trips to view rare book collections at the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center and elsewhere.
ENG 5383 Rhetorical Theory for Technical Communicators
In this course, we will examine classical and modern rhetorical theories most relevant to technical communication as a discipline and as a set of practices. Emphasis will be placed on the dynamic, reciprocal nature of research, theory, and practice in technical communication—on the ways in which 1) research informs theory and practice and, 2) practice interrogates and shapes research and theory.
Rhetoric Project Website
ENG 5399A Thesis
This course represents a student's initial thesis enrollment. No thesis credit is awarded until student has completed the thesis in English 5399B. Departmental approval required.
ENG 5399B Thesis
This course represents a student's continuing thesis enrollments. The student continues to enroll in this course until the thesis is submitted for binding. Departmental approval required.