Muir College
OFFICE: Provost, Muir College, 2126 Humanities and Social Sciences
Building
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 provosts 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, andneedless to saycorrect 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 ones 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.
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.
50. Critical Writing (4) Second course
of sequence in reading and writing which satisfies the Muir College
graduation requirement in writing. Required of all Muir College first-year
students and of transfer students. MCWP 50 focuses on advanced skills
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. Prerequisite: satisfaction of MCWP 40
requirement or completion of TAG or IGETC agreement.
Muir College
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