Welcome to Western Carolina University's Writing, Rhetoric, and Critical Studies (WRCS - pronounced WORKS) program, which consists of a two-course sequence (ENGL 101 in your freshman year and ENGL 202 in your sophomore year) that is required by the university's Liberal Studies Program.
Critical Studies and Rhetoric are about more than writing. They are about ideas, philosophy, history, psychology, politics, and economics; in short, they are about the world. It’s about what you are passionate about and how you can convey that passion to others. In other words, these courses are about your major, your life, and the lives of other people. What you learn in your two WRCS courses will prepare you for the rest of your college experiences and for the successful working and personal lives that lie ahead of you.
For more information, contact Director of WRCS Dr. Travis Rountree by phone at 828.227.3273 or by email at trountree@wcu.edu.
English 101: Writing and Rhetoric
Introduction to rhetoric and college-level writing, reading, and thinking. Students develop individual writing processes, research, and self-assessment strategies which will inform all their communication.
English 202: Writing and Critical Inquiry
Research-based course in rhetoric and scholarly writing. Students engage in interdisciplinary inquiries, solve complex problems, and develop arguments, synthesizing their ideas with ideas of others.
Each year, WRCS faculty choose the best of several essays authored by students in English 101 and 202 and publish those essays in Ink: Chronicles in Composition. Ink gives you access to a collection of writing by students who a semester before were in your seat. As you exit composition class, Ink gives you the opportunity to publish your work, and compete for one of three cash prizes awarded to the best of the best.
Inside Ink you’ll find writing about family and friends and conversations about cultural and personal identity. You’ll read rhetorical analyses and well-researched essays. You’ll discover varying models for good writing, research, documentation, and editing. But the one thing these pieces of writing have in common is a strong voice. We hope you’ll read these essays and be inspired to test out your own voice during your composition class this year.
Not sure where to start that project for English 101 or 202? Why not begin your initial brainstorming and general research with help from our WRCS Research Guide? By partnering with Hunter Library, we've developed a "one-stop" portal to help you quickly access the information you need to be a successful writer in WRCS and beyond!
Any one of the following links below can help you begin your project. And if you find that you still need help, don't forget to contact your English 101 or English 202 instructor for more information.
Office of Educational Outreach/Continuing Education
Need some basic instruction in computer skills or keyboarding? Contact the Office
of Continuing Education at 227-7397 to request a mini-course.