Muir College

Courses

199. Muir Special Project (4-16)
A course of independent work on a research or creative project to satisfy a Muir graduation requirement. (Only Muir students who have had Muir Special Project proposals approved may enroll in this course.) Students wishing to enroll must submit a written request with a description of the project. (Muir students must submit the Muir Special Project 199 form to the major adviser and to the Office of the Provost by the seventh week of the quarter prior to the quarter in which the 199 is to be undertaken. For information on other requirements, consult the provost's office.) Prerequisites: upper-division status, approval by project adviser and by provost. (Letter grades only.)

The Writing Program

OFFICE: 2346 Humanities and Social Sciences Building, Muir College
(858) 534-2522.

Director: Barbara Tomlinson, Ph.D., Professor of Literature

The Muir College Writing Program is a sequence of courses in critical thinking and the writing of expository prose. During these courses, students must advance beyond the basic competency expected at entrance to understand and write discourse acceptable at the university level. Even when faced with challenging topics, students must demonstrate the ability to comprehend texts at more than a superficial level; their writing must exhibit focused theses, systematic methods of analysis and argumentation, awareness of the needs of their audience, strong organization and development, clear presentation of ideas, appropriate syntax and diction, and—needless to say—correct grammar and usage.

To achieve these ends, the courses focus on principles of analysis and reasoned argumentation. Through close reading of texts, students learn both to identify underlying issues, assumptions, and values, and to identify rhetorical strategies by which these are conveyed or revealed. Students also learn to monitor and adapt their own writing processes. Since the ability to evaluate one's own writing and carry out appropriate revision strategies is particularly crucial to effective writing, all students are required to revise their papers several times. Attention is devoted to developing skill in evaluation and revision in discussion sections and in individual conferences with instructors. Sections of MCWP 50 vary in theme and content, giving students the opportunity to write in areas that interest them or that may be relevant to their major fields. (Descriptions of the MCWP 50 sections are available each quarter in the Muir Writing Program office during preregistration.)

Students are required to take both MCWP 40 and MCWP 50 for a letter grade in their first year of residence at the college. All transfer students, upon satisfaction of Subject A, must take MCWP 40 and MCWP 50 in their first year of residence. In cases where more than one quarter of practice is needed to prepare a student for MCWP 50, an IP grade is given in MCWP 40, and the student takes MCWP 41. Completion of the sequence allows students to meet the Muir College writing requirement.

Certain exceptionally well-prepared students, particularly transfer students, may satisfy MCWP 40 or MCWP 50 by examination. The Muir challenge examinations are given at the beginning of fall and winter quarters only. Students may not take the challenge in the same quarter in which they expect to graduate.

Writing Courses

40. Critical Writing (4)
First course of sequence in university reading and writing which satisfies the Muir College graduation requirement in writing. Required of all Muir College first-year students and of transfer students who have not completed a comparable course elsewhere. MCWP 40 introduces students to the basic elements of argument and analysis. Students engage in close reading of texts, weekly writing and revision, and individual conferences. Course must be taken for a letter grade. Those who need additional work to prepare for MCWP 50 will be given a grade of IP and will be required to take MCWP 41. Prerequisite: satisfaction of the Subject A requirement.

41. Special Study in Writing (4)
An individualized writing class including both class discussion and tutorials. Students confer individually with instructors on a regular weekly basis to talk about writing problems. The course is designed for students who have taken MCWP 40 or its equivalent but need additional writing practice to prepare for MCWP 50. MCWP 41 does not satisfy the first part of the Muir Writing requirement. MCWP 41 must be taken for a letter grade and must be taken within two quarters of MCWP 40. Prerequisite: MCWP 40 or its equivalent.