Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

This online WR 121 course is the first in the transfer College Composition sequence and provides the opportunity to engage in the study and practice of critical thinking, reading, and writing. In WR 121 students learn to apply key rhetorical concepts flexibly and collaboratively throughout the writing and inquiry processes. The course focuses on analysis and composition across varied rhetorical situations and in multiple genres, such as expository writing, a fundamental writing form appropriate to college and professional work. WR 121 includes writing for both oneself and for external audiences, and provides self-guided learning opportunities alongside more structured activities for practice with support as needed. Finally, the course also offers broad preparation for both academic writing and professional communication and is part of Oregon Common Course Numbering. WR 121 and WR 121Z are equivalent. Prerequisites: WR 115 and RD 115 or IRW 115 or equivalent placement. Audit available. Please see the "Course Content and Outcomes Guide" page for PCC's official description of the course purpose and goals. 

This course is fully online with no weekly class meetings via Zoom.

The themes of the class are "Epiphanies, Transformations, and Paradigm Shifts". All readings will be linked in the weekly course modules. In addition to weekly assignments such as response papers, peer reviews, two brief quizzes, and discussions, you will write three major essays. The first is a 4-page personal narrative about a moment of epiphany that transformed your life in some way; the second will be a 4-page thesis-driven analysis of a film or short story that hinges on a moment or moments of epiphany; the third and final essay will be a 5-page expository research paper that explores a cultural epiphany or paradigm shift. Expect to work through multiple drafts of these essay and participate in peer evaluation.

Attendance: 

Students in this course are expected to enter the course at least three times a week to check announcements and email, study the learning materials, complete assignments, and work on projects. For each credit hour, a student should expect to spend at least 3 hours each week during a 10-week course. You can expect to spend at least 12 hours per week on this 4-credit course.

In order to remain in the course and not be dropped on Tuesday of Week 2, students must complete ALL of the Week 1 assignments.