Course Descriptions for Fall 2025 Offerings

WR 200.01: Intro to Creative Nonfiction

Counts as a Peace and Justice Minor Studies elective.

Instructor:  Prof. Jane Satterfield 
TTH 3:05-4:20pm

Creative nonfiction is true stories artfully told. Nonfiction writers hail from all disciplines and walks of life; they top bestseller charts with styles that range from the traditional to the experimental. They pay witness to and advocate for the common good. In Introduction to Creative Nonfiction, you’ll learn strategies successful writers use to protest, persuade, and entertain while drawing on the dynamic energy of great fiction.  
 
We’ll read personal essays and profiles with a special focus on today’s cutting-edge flash nonfiction to help you explore outlets for your publishing future. Our class will offer a supportive atmosphere where you can receive feedback and cultivate creativity. By semester’s end, you’ll have a portfolio of work that showcases your unique take on stories that matter most to you. 
 
Whether you want to preserve the people and places and things you love, share your discoveries with the world, or speak out for social justice, our class will help you harness the power of real-life stories to reach a wider audience in the classroom, in the workplace, and beyond. All majors and levels of experience welcome! 

WR 200.02: Intro to Creative Nonfiction

Instructor: Dr. Tiffany Curtis
MWF 10:00-10:50

We will focus on the use of sensory details and on new ways to utilize research to help discuss the artistic potential of nonfiction. Reading assignments will emphasize a range of craft techniques and help to refine research skills. The atmosphere of the class is supportive and conducive to experimenting with different rhetorical strategies. A variety of in-class assignments will prompt you to try new writing approaches and continue to advance your work. The design of the class allows you to write multiple drafts and produce well-crafted, well-researched, imaginative essays.

WR 220: Introduction to Rhetoric

Instructor: Dr. Martin Camper
MW 3:00-4:15

We know that great speakers and writers—from Cesar Chavez to Shirley Chisholm—are able to persuade their audiences to change their beliefs and actions. But how? To answer this question, we will mine the rich tradition of classical rhetoric, developed by Greco-Roman language theorists, such as Aristotle and Cicero. As you will learn, rhetoric is more than the verbal spin of politicians, though we’ll certainly examine political discourse. Rhetoric is the art of writing and speaking to move people to enact change. Rhetorical theory also reveals how we are constantly persuading other people and being persuaded ourselves; many students find this course alters their view of the world. As a diversity-justice designated course, we will be especially concerned with the connections between persuasion, diversity, identity, and power in the United States. Through the close analysis and production of non-fiction texts, you will learn and practice how to produce prose that is sensitive to diverse audiences and capable of addressing complex social issues in a variety of academic, public, civic, and professional settings. 

WR 230: Introduction to Poetry and Fiction

Instructor: Prof. Karen Fish
TTH 4:30-5:45

This is a foundational course for those with little or no experience with fiction and/or poetry. You might simply want to “try it out.” I find it impossible to teach writing without teaching close reading. This semester you will read like a writer and gradually learn how to notice the many technical choices that authors make. Reading closely can give us ideas and provide context. I am interested in inspiring you and fostering an atmosphere where it is enjoyable to experiment and practice, rewrite and revise. Writing is finally about studying good writing and finding things worth writing about.

WR 244: Fundamentals of Film

Instructor: Dr. Brian Murray
TTH 3:05-4:20pm

In Fundamentals of Film, students watch and analyze movies that represent different eras and countries, and reflect a variety of styles and genres, including Comedy, Horror and Science Fiction, Film Noir and “New Wave.” We will also become acquainted with the language of film—with the wide variety of shots, angles and special effects that over the years have made movies highly popular and critically acclaimed. Along the way, we will also discuss and write about such related topics as violence and censorship, as well as the technological and economic factors likely to change the way movies are made and watched in the future. Course requirements include weekly written responses and a critical essay on a related film topic of the student’s choice.  Fundamentals of Film also counts toward the Film Studies minor.

WR 325 Professional Writing 

Instructor: Professor Peggy O’Neill, PhD
WR 325.01-MW 3:00-4:15pm 
WR 325.02-MW 4:30-5:45pm 

Each discipline—and profession—has its own standards for writing, but one requirement they share is the ability to write clear prose that meets readers’ needs and expectations. This course is specifically designed to help students bridge the gap between academic writing and professional writing, regardless of the students’ major or career goals. To help students develop the skills they need when faced with a new or unfamiliar writing task, we will rely on the basic rhetorical framework of audience and purpose. 

The workplace documents you will complete in this class include cover letters, résumés, memos, reports, and proposals. The job search document assignment will help you apply for internships, co-ops, and positions in your field. You may also create documents for application to graduate school. The report on workplace writing will help you understand the unique requirements of writing in your discipline/field, and it will include research, including in your field to discover more about the writing you will do in your career.

Most of the assignments will be individual but we will have at least one group project. For the capstone assignment, you will compose a report on an issue facing your discipline. This issue could be a topic in forensic science, education, medicine, business, communication or any other field. All students will present on their capstone assignment at the end of the semester. This course counts toward the Writing major and minor as well as the Forensics major or minor, the Management Consulting minor, and the minor in Innovation and Entrepreneurship.  

WR 327 Civic Literacy

Instructor: Dr. Andrea Leary
MWF 11:00-11:50

Civic Literacy focuses literacy and justice. We will take a look at our own literacy and its effect on our lives, while examining the opportunities it can afford us. We will think critically about the link between literacy and choice, literacy and freedom, literacy and justice. How does literacy affect our choices? Our freedom? What impact does illiteracy have on the individual? The community? What types of literacies are useful and/or necessary? We are going to have fantastic, in-depth discussions and we will work as a team to accomplish some real-world writing projects. 

Frederick Douglass once said, “Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.” When he taught himself to read and write, he decided to work toward creating a more just world. Because our mission at a Jesuit university demands civic engagement, we, too, will use our literacy to serve. Our class will be working to advocate for and with non-profits working to strengthen literacy opportunities in our community. Most of your writing will be service-writing, which will move out of the classroom. You’ll also have the option of mentoring a local high school junior with SquashWise, the Writing Department’s community partner, to complete their Common App essays. You will leave this course with material that is published and portfolio-ready, with plenty of critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and teamwork skills, all great for your resume. 

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world.” Margaret Mead

WR 333: Writing Fiction 

Instructor: Dr. Marian Crotty
TTH 10:50-12:05pm
  
This course is an introduction to writing short stories. We’ll read a variety of short stories and study how they are put together. You'll learn to write dialogue, manipulate time and point of view, and experiment with voice and language. By the end of the semester, you’ll have a revised short story of your own. This course is designed to foster your creativity and give you the technical skills needed to transform your ideas in the art. Throughout the semester, you’ll also exchange writing with your classmates and encourage each other along the way. Recommended Prereq: WR230  

WR 342: Advanced Poetry

Instructor:  Prof. Karen Fish
TTH 1:40 – 2:55 PM

You don't have to want to be a poet to take this class—just someone interested in experimenting and playing around with language. This class is for anyone interested in writing poems and deepening and expanding their knowledge of modern poetics.  
 
We will look at the work of modern poets and gain context. I find it impossible to teach writing without teaching close reading. While a student isn’t required to have had the 300 level Writing Poetry before signing up for this class, it is advisable to have taken WR230 Introduction to Poetry and Fiction as a prerequisite. For me, the aim is to foster a creative environment that is supportive and conducive for you to generate new work. I am interested in creating an atmosphere where it is enjoyable to experiment and practice, rewrite and revise. Writing is finally about studying good writing and finding things worth writing about. 

WR 343: Special Topics: Film Genres

Instructor: Dr. Brian Murray
TTH 4:30-5:45am

This course explores the art and craft of contemporary essay writing, focusing on diverse styles and approaches that define the genre today. Students will engage with a variety of essays from prominent contemporary writers, analyzing themes, structures, and techniques that bring ideas to life on the page. 
Through a combination of readings, writing exercises, and peer critiques, participants will develop their unique voices and enhance their writing skills. Topics covered will include personal narrative, critical analysis, cultural commentary, and experimental forms. The course aims to foster a deeper understanding of the essay as a versatile form of expression, encouraging students to articulate their thoughts and experiences creatively and critically.

By the end of the course, students will have produced a portfolio of original essays, improved their editing and revision skills, and gained confidence in sharing their work in a supportive workshop environment. 

This course is suitable for anyone interested in improving their essay writing skills, whether for personal expression, academic purposes, or professional development.

WR 354: Writing about the Environment

Counts as an elective for minors in Peace and Justice and Environmental Studies 
Instructor:  Prof. Jane Satterfield 
TTH 12:15 – 1:30 PM
 
In this course, we’ll consider how writers respond to the environment at this historical tipping point. We’ll read creative nonfiction, stories, and poems that reflect a diversity of voices and perspectives on topics such as climate change, human migration/dislocation, resource extraction, sustainability, habitat loss, as well as our relationship to animals and the larger non-human world. How can writing raise awareness of environmental fragility? Continue to celebrate nature’s beauty? Reinvent our relationship to the natural world? What assumptions do we hold about who gets to write about the Earth and why? How can our writing about our living world promote healing, stewardship, and social justice? Through reading and discussions, we’ll discuss these questions and more. 

Students can expect to examine the storytelling strategies environmental writers use in creative and investigative pieces and practice using these in short and longer pieces that reflect their own passions and professional goals. Our community of writers will offer supportive feedback to charge your environmental imagination as well as your publishing future. No scientific expertise required: all majors and levels of experience welcome!

WR 355: Travel Writing

Instructor: Dr. Marian Crotty
Asynchronous Online

In this section of Travel Writing, you will read contemporary travel writing and use these essays as inspiration for your own writing. Throughout the course, you will maintain a travel blog of photographs and writing that documents your experiences studying abroad or exploring Baltimore. You will also connect online with other Loyola students and learn about each other’s locations by reading and responding to each other’s writing. I hope this class will encourage you to more fully immerse yourself in your surroundings by prompting you to explore your location and to reflect upon the challenges and rewards of travel.

 

WR 400: Senior Seminar

Required capstone for Writing majors and minors

Instructor: Prof. Jane Satterfield
TTH 4:30-5:45pm

Essays, it’s been said, are a kind of public letter. Creative writers rely on them to expand their range and reach a broader audience. In this section of Senior Seminar, we’ll explore how writers turn the essay’s rich traditions toward new purposes. Informal/personal essays will help you draw on interests and skills you’ve cultivated as majors and minors. As we discuss well-crafted essays by established practitioners, we’ll consider ways of wrestling with an idea, deploying first-hand observation, and using voice to create an engaging persona. Our community of writers will offer supportive feedback to charge your imagination and publishing future. Reading and discussion topics may include travel, food, media culture, music, and more.

WR 402: Writing Internship 

Restricted to junior and senior writing majors, interdisciplinary writing majors, or writing minors. Written or electronic permission of the internship coordinator or department chair.

Instructor: Dr. Andrea Leary

You have taken the classes, completed the assignments, and polished your writing.  You’ve worked hard in each writing class to hone the skills you need to make your mark in the workplace. Taking the internship class will give you that extra edge. Not only will you gain valuable work experience in this course, you will leave with a professional portfolio, a potential supervisor recommendation, and opportunities for reflection and discernment. 

WR402, the three-credit internship class, allows you polish your resume, locate a workplace that fits your future goals, and learn in that environment for 120 hours during the semester (essentially 8-10 hours per week). Because this is a class, you will be asked to do some reading and writing on your experiences, but we will not meet in a classroom in order to allow you ample time at your internship. Instead, much of our communication will occur online, as we discuss your goals, challenges, and successes. You will work with The Successful Internship:  Personal, Professional, and Civic Development in Experiential Learning as a text, which will give you advice along with the opportunity to apply that advice to your experiences in your workplace. In addition, you will have the chance to read your classmates’ reflections and offer advice there as well. 

Classroom learning builds your foundation. Combine classroom learning with an internship, and you’ll have the experience you need to help you land that first job.