This course introduces students to genres of writing in the humanities and social sciences (HSS). Students will explore various multimodal materials from a wide range of HSS texts. They will develop a range of academic discourse skills necessary for undertaking coursework in RIT’s University Writing Program. Course assignments and discussions will also address bias in language. Students will compose a variety of texts to strengthen their knowledge of HSS genres and contexts. Assignments include summaries, reaction papers, journal entries, presentations, and formal essays.

Critical Reading and Writing is a one semester, three-credit course limited to 15 students per section. This course is designed to help students develop the literacy practices they will need to be successful in their First-Year Writing course. Students will read, understand, interpret, and synthesize a variety of texts. Assignments are designed to challenge students intellectually, culturally and rhetorically. Through inquiry-based assignment sequences, students will improve their writing by developing academic research and literacy practices that will be further strengthened in First-Year Writing. Particular attention will be given to critical reading, academic writing conventions, and revision. Small class size promotes frequent student-instructor and student-student interaction. The course also emphasizes the principles of intellectual property and academic integrity in academic writing. This course fulfills a Gen Ed free elective.