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Department of English | Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Simon Fraser University Calendar | Spring 2025

Writing and Rhetoric

Certificate

Students in this certificate will investigate the theories and methods of rhetorical analysis and production through a course sequence that reflects the interdisciplinary vitality of the field, drawing together studies of rhetoric in English, philosophy, linguistics, and communications.

Program Requirements

A cumulative grade point average of 2.0 is required in the courses used for the certificate.

Students successfully complete a minimum total of 18 units, including

ENGL 214 - History and Principles of Rhetoric (3)

Introduction to the history and principles of rhetoric, and their application to the creation and analysis of written, visual, and other forms of persuasion. Prerequisite: 12 units or one 100-division English course.

and any two of

CMNS 304W - Communication in Everyday Life (4)

An examination of a range of theories of everyday language focused on specific forms of discursive practice, including gossip, humour, religion, and sarcasm. Prerequisite: 17 CMNS units with a minimum grade of C- or 45 units with a minimum CGPA of 2.00. Writing.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
D100 Byron Hauck
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 8:30–11:20 a.m.
Burnaby
D101 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 9:30–10:20 a.m.
Burnaby
D102 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 10:30–11:20 a.m.
Burnaby
D103 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 1:30–2:20 p.m.
Burnaby
D104 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 2:30–3:20 p.m.
Burnaby
D105 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 9:30–10:20 a.m.
Burnaby
D106 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 10:30–11:20 a.m.
Burnaby
D107 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 1:30–2:20 p.m.
Burnaby
D108 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 2:30–3:20 p.m.
Burnaby
ENGL 199W - Writing to Persuade (3)

An introduction to reading and writing from a rhetorical perspective. The course treats reading and writing as activities that take place in particular circumstances and situations, in contrast to the traditional emphasis on decontextualized, formal features of texts. It prepares students for reading and writing challenges they are likely to encounter within and beyond the classroom. Prerequisite: 12 units. Students with credit for ENGL 199 may not take this course for further credit. Writing.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
D100 Sean Zwagerman
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Tue, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
Burnaby
D101 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 2:30–3:20 p.m.
Burnaby
OL01 Alys Avalos Rivera
Online
ENGL 371 - Writing: Theory and Practice (4)

Students will engage in theoretically informed practice of writing in various non-academic genres. Emphasis will be placed on the kinds of writing that students are likely to use after graduation. Prerequisite: 30 units or two 200-division English courses. Recommended: One of English 199, 199W, or 214. This course may be repeated for credit if a different topic is taught, though students who obtained credit for English 371 prior to Summer 2015 may not take this couse for further credit.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
D100 Alys Avalos Rivera
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Tue, Thu, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
Burnaby
ENGL 375 - Studies in Rhetoric (4)

Advanced study in the theory and/or history of rhetoric. Prerequisite: 30 units or two 200-division English courses. Recommended: One of English 199, 199W, or 214. The course may be repeated for credit if a different topic is taught, though students who obtained credit for English 375 prior to Summer 2015 may not take this course for further credit.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
D100 Sean Zwagerman
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Tue, Thu, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Burnaby
LING 160 - Language, Culture and Society (3)

Examines the relationship between language use and social structure. Considers how social factors such as gender, class, age, and ethnicity may be reflected in language use, as well as "big picture" topics that include multilingualism, dialect variation, language policy and linguistic stereotypes. Encourages students to think critically about the social dimensions of language. Open to all students. Breadth-Social Sciences.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
A320 TBD
A970 TBD
D900 Ivelina Koleva Tchizmarova
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
Surrey
LING 200 - Foundations of English Grammar (3)

Provides a practical overview of English grammar based on linguistic principles. Explores fundamentals of English sentence structure, grammatical categories and grammatical analysis through lectures and hands-on work in the classroom. Develops skills that are applicable in language analysis, writing and communication. Open to all students.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
D100 Ivelina Koleva Tchizmarova
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
Burnaby
PHIL 110 - Introduction to Logic and Reasoning (3)

An introduction to the theory of deductive reasoning. We consider deductive arguments in philosophy, in everyday life, and in mathematical proofs, and discuss what distinguishes valid inferences from fallacies. The course will cover propositional logic and first-order logic. Open to all students. Quantitative.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
D100 Thomas Donaldson
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Burnaby
D101 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 9:30–10:20 a.m.
Burnaby
D102 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 9:30–10:20 a.m.
Burnaby
D104 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 12:30–1:20 p.m.
Burnaby
D105 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 12:30–1:20 p.m.
Burnaby
D106 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 1:30–2:20 p.m.
Burnaby
D107 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 1:30–2:20 p.m.
Burnaby
D109 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 12:30–1:20 p.m.
Burnaby
D110 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 1:30–2:20 p.m.
Burnaby
PHIL 344 - Topics in the Philosophy of Language (3)

An introduction to the major philosophic theories of language. Topics to be considered include the relationship between language and mind, language and the world, language and society. Students may repeat this course for further credit under a different topic. Prerequisite: Either one of: PHIL 201 or 203; or both of PHIL 100, 100W, or 300, and COGS 200.

PUB 210W - Professional Writing Workshop (3)

University-level skills and practice in writing clear, concise, logical, and direct text suited to particular purposes. Students will learn to assess the rhetorical situation (audience, purpose, occasion) and identify the appropriate style, tone and format of writing for the situation, in writing reports, instructions, proposals, and presentations in both print and online environments. Students who have credit for PUB 210 may not take PUB 210W for further credit. Writing.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
D100 Scott Steedman
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
Vancouver
PUB 212 - Public Relations and Public Engagement (3)

A critical and applied approach to theories and practices of professional public engagement, with a focus on public relations. This course is problem-centred and issues-driven, and emphasizes the development of knowledge and skills of effective and strategic professional public engagement across a wide range of current and emerging media technologies, platforms, and communication environments. Prerequisite: 25 units; PUB 210W highly recommended.

and two of

CMNS 432 - Political Communication, Public Opinion and Political Marketing (4)

Examines the core paradox of the political discourse in a democratic society today. Despite rising levels of education and citizen access to 24-hour news, public affairs and contemporary forms of satire, voting turnout in most advanced democracies is declining. We look at how politics is defined and meaning is mediated within the communicative public sphere during and between elections. Prerequisite: 26 CMNS units with a minimum grade of C- or 60 units with a minimum CGPA of 2.00. Students with credit for CMNS 486 under this topic may not take this course for further credit.

CMNS 447 - Negotiation and Dialogue as Communication (4)

This course provides frameworks and tools with which to understand and evaluate negotiation as a form of communication. The objective of the course is to provide an understanding of the role of communication in the negotiating process, and the consequences of different kinds of negotiation strategies in intercultural, international, competitive, and conflictual situations. It combines theoretical discussion with practical case studies, involves guest negotiators and analysts, and provides an appreciation of the world-wide scale and importance of negotiation as a basis for clarifying relationships. Prerequisite: 26 CMNS units with a minimum grade of C- or 60 units with a minimum CGPA of 2.00.

CMNS 452 - Race and the Media (4)

Examines the contemporary construction and maintenance of race and ethnicity, through movies, music, and the Internet. Provides grounding in scholarship on media, race, ethnicity, and identity. Explores the historical role of entertainment in racialization. Investigates contemporary issues and forms of media and race. Prerequisite: 26 CMNS units with a minimum grade of C- or 60 units with a minimum CGPA of 2.00. Students who have taken CMNS 486 with subtitle "Race and the Media" cannot take this course for further credit.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
D100 Kirsten McAllister
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
Burnaby
D101 Kirsten McAllister
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 5:30–6:20 p.m.
Burnaby
ENGL 470W - Seminar in the English Language (4)

Advanced seminar in linguistic, pragmatic, historical and social theories of the English language. Prerequisite: 45 units including at least one upper division English course, or permission of instructor. Reserved for English honours, major, joint major and minor students. The course may be repeated for credit if a different topic is taught, though students who obtained credit for English 470W prior to Summer 2015 may not take this course for further credit. Students with credit for ENGL 470 may not take this course for further credit. Writing.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
E100 Alys Avalos Rivera
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Tue, Thu, 4:30–6:20 p.m.
Burnaby
ENGL 475W - Seminar in Rhetoric (4)

Advanced seminar in a particular topic, approach, or author in the field of rhetoric and writing. The course may be repeated for credit if a different topic is taught. Prerequisite: 45 units. Strongly recommended: ENGL 214 or 375. Reserved for English honours, major, joint major and minor students. Students with credit for ENGL 475 may not take this course for further credit. Students who obtained credit for ENGL 475W prior to Summer 2015 may not take this course for further credit. Writing.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
D100 Peter Cramer
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Fri, 12:30–4:20 p.m.
Burnaby

Of the 18 required units, a minimum of nine must be in the Department of English. Substitutions may be approved on a case-by-case basis by the advisor.