Other Second-Semester Writing Classes
When given a choice of courses from which to select a second writing class to satisfy degree requirements, students may wish to refer to this list to help clarify the content of these courses. Be sure to contact your advisor to be sure of the requirements for your degree program. Here are some of the alternatives to W231:
School of Business
X204: Pre-requisite: W131 or equivalent. This course looks at the use of correct English in preparation of letters, memoranda and reports, with special attention to such topics as visual aids, proposals, presentations, and persuasive messages. For more information, contact the School of Business at 274-2466.
Department of English
W132: The course stresses argumentation and research concurrently, with a secondary emphasis on critical evaluation in both reading and writing. Evaluation is based on a portfolio of the student's work. For more information, contact the English Department for more information.
TCM 220: Primarily for students in technology majors. Students explore the roles of written communication in organizational contexts, learn to identify and analyze audiences, and prepare two types of documents frequently used in technical organizations: reports for decision-making and instructions.
TCM 320: Primarily for majors from the School of Science. Requires junior standing or consent of instructor. Students learn a reader-centered approach to document design and production. Assignments help students prepare for post-baccalaureate work in an academic discipline or in industry. They include reading and analysis of discipline-specific documents and development of several documents for organizational audiences.
All of the TCM writing courses require English W131 (or the equivalent) as a pre-requisite. In all of the courses, students are expected to select and/or adapt situations and topics for their writing assignments from their workplace or other experiences. Instructors assist students in finding appropriate topics and information; however, the courses do not provide direct instruction on research methodologies or strategies for technical investigation. TCM 360 is limited to engineering majors. TCM 340 deals primarily with external communications. TCM 350 is an upper-level course in document design that requires a basic TCM course as a pre-requisite, although W231 may sometimes fulfill that requirement. For more information regarding TCM contact: et_tcm@iupui.edu