Everyone in this class is an expert in language and rhetoric (i.e., the use of symbols to make knowledge, coordinate activity, and to impact others). You have been doing language and rhetoric all of your life—and writing most of your life. You know some stuff—A LOT.

Our purpose in this class is to further develop that expertise in your writing to put you in position to succeed in present and future college classes, but also to succeed in any area of your life where you use language and rhetoric—which is pretty much every area of your life. We will do this by reading, writing, and reading and responding to each other’s writing.

Writing is meant to be read. Therefore, most (if not all) of your writing will be respectfully read by myself and the rest of class. We are always at least one of your audiences. Write some things we would want to read, things that will interest us, things that will challenge us. This will be a community of writers that will praise and push you toward the next draft (i.e., constructive criticism).

When I give you feedback on your writing, I’ll make comments as I read and then I’ll write a brief endnote for some things for you to think about. It’s a writing lesson, meant for you to think more about writing. The time and effort I put into commenting on your drafts is all LOVE. I’m not trying to make you feel bad or make any kind of judgment of you as a person. Usually, I will be praising something I see that I thought was well-done while also suggesting that you can make it better rather than saying something is only “good” or “bad”.

Finally, I know this is a very strange and scary time. Your health and well-being are always going to come first here. Let me know what you need and I will do everything I can to help you out.