WRDS 450: Writing Practices for Publics and Publication, is a new course being offered in the upcoming 2026 Winter Term.
In a world where virality is the standard by which the quality of a work is often judged, Dr. Alexis McGee wants to help her students discover the value of long-form writing projects. Her new course WRDS 450: Writing Practices for Publics and Publication, is designed to equip upper-level undergraduate students with the necessary skills to hone their writing and prepare them for their next phase of life, school, or career.
For many students, the process of writing for publics and publications can seem quite daunting. This course works to demystify that process and familiarize students with writing over time and to prepare them for their future academic or professional careers.
Students bring research focus or interests that they would like to expand upon to the course. It is unique in that it places emphasis on the process of writing for public consumption rather than on producing a final product. Though the course lasts only a semester, the students are encouraged to start with a work already in progress and continue their projects beyond the end of term.
Dr. McGee wants students to stand on level ground with professors and view themselves as scholars and knowledge-makers.
The focus on writing for public and publications also enables the students’ writing to evolve outside the confines of assignment instructions and classroom expectations. Here, students will be taught how to take ownership of their writing while simultaneously engaging the public; finding common ground between their own interests and that of the public.
WRDS 450 is a perfect transitional course for students with the aim of furthering their academic and professional careers.
Writing Practices for Publics and Publications is an interdisciplinary course, perfect for students from across a wide range of disciplines who are looking to publish their research in academic journals or want to craft a writing sample for graduate school applications. The focus is to teach students how to refine their arguments, write about a topic for a sustained period of time and lay the foundations for a project that will likely continue beyond the course. Dr. McGee hopes that this course will give students with a better understanding of the work and time that goes into writing.
WRDS 450 will be taught by Dr. Alexis McGee in Winter Term 2. Classes will be held every Tuesday and Thursday from 11:00 to 12:30 pm at Buchanan B309, from January 05 to April 08.