Writing minors explore different forms of writing and enhance their overall writing skills.
With a writing minor, you will improve your communication and critical thinking skills. You will spend time writing creatively and create a portfolio of work.
This broad minor allows you to step outside of your comfort zone to develop skills through writing in a variety of areas, including business communications and writing features, nonfiction, and journalism.
These requirements are from an excerpt from the University Academic Catalog, which outlines the requirements for a student to earn the distinction of being a Castleton University graduate. The complete catalog is available online.
The minor in writing offers students practice at a variety of writing so that they can prepare for writing as a career or writing in their careers. Students can earn a minor in writing by completing 18 credits from the courses listed below. Courses completed for the minor cannot also be counted toward major requirements in other fields. Decisions about adding and dropping courses from the list, about substituting one course for another, and about the possibilities for independent study rest with the English Department, which sponsors this minor and consults with other departments that offer or wish to offer courses within the minor.
| Code | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
BUS 2370 |
Business CommunicationsThe student practices the writing skills required for a successful career in business. Special attention is given to writing letters, memoranda, reports, and resumes. This course provides fundamental skills necessary for the student’s successful completion of future business courses. Restrictions Restrictions: Business Administration majors and minors, Computer Information Systems majors, and Writing minors (English) only Prerequisite: ENG 1061 |
3 |
COM 3060 |
Feature WritingStudents will research and write in-depth features and editorials for newspapers and magazines and maintain a biweekly blog on a topic of their choice. Stories may be selected for submission to the student newspaper and university publications. Prerequisite: COM 1040, COM 2230 or consent of instructor. Fall |
3 |
ENG 2010 |
Expository and Argumentative WritingPrimarily concerned with writing that explains or elaborates and writing that persuades, this course builds upon the foundation laid by ENG 1061.Further emphasis is given grammar and mechanics, development and style, with particular attention paid the skills of critical thinking and the strategies of persuasion. English majors must complete this course their first or second year. Prerequisite: ENG 1061. Every semester |
3 |
ENG 2101 |
Creative WritingAn introduction to creative writing, this course is designed for the beginning writer or student interested in learning about writing original poetry, short stories, or creative non-fiction. This course fulfills an Arts and Aesthetics general education requirement. Prerequisite: ENG 1061 Periodically, Spring 2016 |
3 |
ENG 3060 |
Technical and Professional WritingThis course introduces students to the writing demanded of many liberal arts graduates in their work. Students practice drafting, revising, and editing a variety of documents—including letters, procedures, reports, evaluations, and proposals—for audiences and purposes related to students’ prospective careers in such fields as publishing, the fine arts, the social and natural sciences, history, mathematics, and literature and language. The course emphasizes clarity, concision, and correctness as qualities of effective style. Students use computers as tools for writing. Prerequisite: ENG 1061. Highly recommended: ENG 2010. Fall, odd years |
3 |
ENG 3070 |
Writing Non-FictionStudents practice the art of writing non-fiction that interests and entertains as it informs the reader. After writing short autobiographical pieces and character sketches, students concentrate on topics of their choice. For example, they may write about personal experiences or family histories, interesting individuals, or communities, nature or the environment, or other topics from their major fields of study or prospective careers. While drafting, revising, and editing their work, students apply fundamental strategies for writing effective narration and description. Prerequisite: ENG 1061 recommended: ENG 2010. Periodically |
3 |
ENG 3750 |
Special Topics in WritingThis course enables faculty and students to explore diverse topics in the art and craft of writing, including writing and style, advanced argumentation, and advanced poetry writing. The content of the course is announced at registration. Students may take the course more than once, and additional credits may be applied toward completion of the writing minor when course content is substantially different. Prerequisite: ENG 1061. Highly recommended: at least one WI course. Fall |
3 |
ENG 3690 |
The English Language: GrammarDesigned to investigate the systematic nature of English grammar, this course draws from both structural and transformational linguistics. It analyzes sentence structure—how to identify, expand, and transform the basic sentence patterns; it studies the assorted forms and functions of words, phrases, and clauses; and it examines the relationship between grammar and rhetoric, particularly by way of cohesion, rhythm, emphasis, and punctuation. This course also considers the evolution of English grammar. Prerequisite: ENG 1061. Highly recommended: ENG 2010. Fall |
3 |
ENG 4040 |
Advanced Creative WritingAn advanced course in writing original poetry, short stories, or creative non-fiction, this offering is intended for students with a demonstrated competency in writing, as well as a knowledge of basic elements of literature. Interested students must submit a writing sample to the instructor. Prerequisite: At least junior standing and permission of instructor. Periodically, Spring 2015 |
3 |