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Young Harris College has developed a narrowly focused program within the academic curriculum to improve students’ written and spoken communication. The program, entitled Rhetorica: The Art of Writing and Speaking at Young Harris College, was initially developed as the College’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), a component of the reaccreditation process required by all institutions of higher education accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The program’s title, taken from the Latin term for rhetoric, not only emphasizes the program’s encompassment of both writing and speaking, but also signals the program’s ties to the classical foundation of the liberal arts.
The Rhetorica Program includes two main components designed to improve students’ written and spoken communication: Writing and Speaking Intensive Courses and The Center for Writing and Speaking.
Writing and Speaking Intensive Courses
Each semester, professors volunteer to teach writing or speaking Intensive versions of their courses. These courses are indicated in the course schedule with the following abbreviations: W, S, or WS. These courses are not more difficult and do not require more work than “regular” courses. They simply include a papers, presentations, or class discussion as part of the course requirements. In addition to learning the course content, students also improve their writing or speaking skills.
The learning outcomes for Writing and Speaking Intensive courses are as follows.
Learning Outcomes for W Courses
Students will demonstrate the ability to explain, analyze, or argue specific concepts, ideas, or texts.
Students will demonstrate the ability to support their explanations, analyses, or arguments with specific evidence and examples.
Students will demonstrate the ability to convey their explanations, analyses, or arguments effectively by crafting written assignments that are well- organized and clearly written.
Students will demonstrate the ability to write with mechanical and grammatical accuracy.
Students will demonstrate the ability to format their written assignments according to the conventions of the discipline in which they are writing.
Learning Outcomes for S Courses that Include Formal Presentations
Students will demonstrate the ability to deliver well-designed explanations, arguments, or analyses.
Students will demonstrate the ability to make accurate and thorough explanations, arguments, or analyses and support them with relevant, sufficient, and effective evidence.
Students will demonstrate the ability to adapt their message and delivery to a particular audience, situation, purpose, and occasion.
Students will demonstrate the ability to articulate their message fluently and clearly.
Students will demonstrate the ability to use effective nonverbal communication.
Students will demonstrate the ability to manage communication apprehension.
Learning Outcomes for S Courses that Include Class Discussion
Students will demonstrate the ability to offer well-reasoned responses to specific concepts, issues, ideas, or texts related to the course material.
Students will demonstrate the ability to articulate their responses clearly.
Students will demonstrate the ability to respond to other students as well as their professor, and to respect the responses of others.
Students will demonstrate the ability to manage communication apprehension.
Each student who earns a degree from Young Harris College is required to complete a certain number of Writing and Speaking Intensive courses. Course requirements vary depending on the student’s academic program.
Course Requirements
W/S requirements apply only to students who enter the College fall semester 2011 or later.
Each student graduating with a baccalaureate degree must successfully complete at least six WS courses; two W, two S, and two of the students’ choice. Two of theW/S designated courses must be at the 3000/4000-level.
Students who successfully complete a course designated W and S (listed as WS on the course schedule) will receive credit for completing both a W course and an S course. As a result, if a student takes 3 W/S designated courses of which 2 of the courses are at the 3000/4000 level, then the student will have met the requirement.
To complete a course successfully, a student must earn a “C-” or better. Otherwise, the student does not earn WS credit for the course.
All courses used to complete WI/SI requirements must be at least three credit hours, with the following exception. Certain 3000/4000-level courses fewer that three credit hours within a student’s major program of study may be designated as WS courses by the director of the Rhetorica Program and used to fulfill upper-level WS course requirements. Such courses will be designated on the course schedule.
Course Exemptions
The following courses are foundational courses in which students develop the skills necessary for effective writing and speaking in other college courses. These introductory-level courses may not be used to satisfy Rhetorica Program course requirements.
ENGL 1101: Composition
ENGL 1102: Composition and Literature
COMM 1000: Introduction to Human Communication
COMM 1100: Introduction to Public Speaking
Course Requirements for Transfer Students
Students who transfer to the College with fewer than 60 credit hours must fulfill the program requirements provided above.
Students who transfer to the College with 30-59 credit hours or more must fulfill the following requirements.
- Each transfer student of this type must successfully complete two W and two S courses in order to earn a baccalaureate degree.
- At least two of these courses must be a 3000/4000-level course.
- Students who successfully complete a course designated W and S (listed as WS on the course schedule) will receive credit for completing both a W course and an S course.
- To complete a course successfully, a student must earn a “C-” or better. Otherwise, the student does not earn WS credit for the course.
- All courses used to complete WS requirements must be at least three credit hours, with the following exception. Certain 3000/4000-level courses fewer that three credit hours within a student’s major program of study may be designated as WS courses by the director of the Rhetorica Program and used to fulfill upper-level WS course requirements. Such courses will be designated on the course schedule.
Students who transfer to the College with 60 credit hours or more must fulfill the following requirements.
- Each transfer student of this type must successfully complete one W and one S course in order to earn a baccalaureate degree.
- At least one of these courses must be a 3000/4000-level course.
- Students who successfully complete a course designated W and S (listed as WS on the course schedule) will receive credit for completing both a W course and an S course.
- To complete a course successfully, a student must earn a “C-” or better. Otherwise, the student does not earn WS credit for the course.
- All courses used to complete WS requirements must be at least three credit hours, with the following exception. Certain 3000/4000-level courses fewer that three credit hours within a student’s major program of study may be designated as WS courses by the director of the Rhetorica Program and used to fulfill upper-level WS course requirements. Such courses will be designated on the course schedule.
The Center for Writing and Speaking
The Center for Writing and Speaking (CWS) is designed to help students improve their performance on papers, on presentations, and in class discussion. Trained student tutors will review paper drafts, evaluate presentations, and explain discussion strategies to help students improve their performance on these assignments. Students who visit the CWS should bring a copy of the assignment and a draft of the paper or project they are working on.
The CWS is located adjacent to the Pruitt-Barrett Administration Building. For hours and other information, please see the CWS website.
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