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 which 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. MCWP 41 is then followed by MCWP 50. Completion of the sequence
allows students to meet the Muir College writing requirement.
Certain exceptionally well-prepared students, particularly transfer
students, may satisfy the MCWP 40 or MCWP 50 requirement 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.
IGETC and TAG certified transfer students: please contact the
Muir Writing Program Office.
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
|