writing at the research university unc

Welcome to ENGL 105, Writing at the Research University!

In this course, undergraduate students at UNC-Chapel Hill will investigate how writing works across the disciplines at the research university (specifically the Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, and Humanities). They work to discover how different disciplines frame research questions, evaluate evidence, and make knowledge claims. In order to accomplish the objectives set for this course, students cannot think about writing as merely an assignment that satisfies a list of requirements to achieve a grade. Thinking about writing only as a means to this end renders it artificial, solitary, and static.

Instead, the course pushes students to view writing as dynamic and problem-based. In this class, students participate in writing activities that call upon them to think about and place themselves in realistic rhetorical situations. Their writing becomes dynamic by actively responding to practical situations common to academic communities and engaging with those communities. They are encouraged to view their writing, and themselves as writers, as works in progress. This course is more than a series of essays for grades; it is a progression of encounters with rhetorical situations and genres that prepares students to be effective writers and communicators in college and in their professional lives after college.

This site is designed for Section 050 of English 105 for the spring 2020 semester, taught by Paul Blom at UNC-Chapel Hill . The site is intended to showcase students’ final drafts of each of their unit projects from across the semester. Additionally, one student will post to our course blog each week, reflecting on the week’s material and work . Please explore the site, visit the course’s online syllabus or download the course syllabus , read about the students , and contact me if you have additional questions.

To see the students’ work in a specific unit/discipline ( Natural Sciences , Social Sciences , or Humanities ), choose the appropriate category in the “Categories” drop-down menu or visit that particular page on the site.

For other information, you are also encouraged to view the Course Blog Post Assignment Prompt or the extra credit assignment prompt on Writing in Business .

Thank you for your time and consideration!

NOTE: As of March 2020, due to the COVID-19 global pandemic , UNC has asked that almost all courses move to being taught online for the rest of the Spring 2020 semester, including this course. We will work hard to maintain educational continuity and achieve our course goals and learning outcomes while also maintaining the practice of social distancing for everyone’s safety. I commend my students for their fortitude and dedication during this difficult time and wish them all the best. —Paul Blom

To acknowledge the unprecedented event we are experiencing, an event worthy of careful and critical reflection, I have offered my current students extra credit to submit their own reflection on their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. To read the posts they submitted, click here .

Final Week Reflection

We have finally come to the end of a very long and strange semester. In addition to the end of the semester, it is the conclusion of our first year at Carolina. What a whirlwind it has been! I’ve … Read more

The Story of an Hour

Personal Interpretation: The Story of an Hour Written by Kate Chopin, the story is about things happened in an hour. The story took place in the late nineteenth century. At that time, women were men’s possession in marriage. … Read more

How “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings” Commentates on Society

“A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings” is a short story written by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. The story was published in the year 1955. In the story, a winged man crashes onto the property of a young family. Because they … Read more

Perceiving Magic Where Nature Lies

Transcript To be accused of witchcraft is to receive an execution sentence. These accusations served to systematically root out female power and autonomy, as well as those that posed a threat to the structures and systems of … Read more

Course Syllabus

Engl 105: writing at the research university, online syllabus.

Section 079 – Fall 2020 – T, Th – 1:15pm-2:30pm – Friday Center , Room 1062

Section 091 – Fall 2020 – T, Th – 3:00pm-4:15pm – Kenan Labs , Room B125

Unless otherwise specified, attend class via the Zoom link posted to Sakai under “Resources.”

Each section has been provided a unique link. Do not share this link with anyone outside of your specific class section.

“Words—so innocent and powerless as they are, as standing in a dictionary, how potent for good and evil they become in the hands of one who knows how to combine them.”

—Nathaniel Hawthorne

Please Note :

I reserve the right to make changes to this syllabus as needed, including assignment due dates or reading assignments as listed in the Course Schedule . It is very likely that small secondary readings will be added to various days listed in the schedule. These changes will be announced and shared with the entire class as early as possible.

For every class session, I will post a lesson plan as a Google Doc on Sakai at Resources>In-Class Activities. You do not need to access these before each class, but you should have access to them during that class session and should refer to them afterwards, especially if you miss that class. The end of each lesson plan will list homework for the next class session. You should always refer to that document for any adjustments, additions, etc. to the Course Schedule listed in this syllabus.

Note: This online iteration of the syllabus and schedule is the unofficial version of the course syllabi for Sections 079 and 091 of ENGL 105, Fall 2020, taught by Paul Blom at UNC . Some information, such as contact info or the links to our Zoom meeting rooms, has been redacted from this public, online version of the syllabus. The official syllabus for each specific section has been formally submitted to the University and is also available as a Word document on our Sakai course site under “Resources.” If you are a student, be sure to refer to the official version of the syllabus that has been shared with you for specific information such as links to Zoom meeting rooms, etc.

All students are responsible for knowing and abiding by all policies, dates, and other expectations listed in the official syllabus.

For more information about the course, especially a showcase of student work, explore the rest of this website.

Be sure to read the syllabus in its entirety by reading all of the items in the drop-down menu.

Next syllabus item: About Your Instructor

ENGL 105: Writing at the Research University

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Spring 2024, Section 104

About the Course

Welcome to engl 105, writing at the research university, section 104 .

In this interdisciplinary English composition course (housed within UNC’s Writing Program , part of UNC’s Department of English and Comparative Literature ), we will investigate how writing works across the disciplines at the research university (specifically the natural sciences , the social sciences , and the humanities ). We will analyze the rhetorical and stylistic conventions of various discourse communities, and students will learn how to use these standards to effectively communicate their ideas. They will discover how different disciplines frame research questions, evaluate evidence, and make knowledge claims. The work in this class will help prepare students for the various types of academic and professional writing challenges they will encounter as students at UNC and beyond.

In order to accomplish the objectives set for this course, students should not think about writing as merely an assignment that satisfies a list of requirements to achieve a grade. Thinking about writing only as a means to this end renders it artificial, solitary, and static. Instead, I want students to view writing as dynamic and problem-based. In this class, students will participate in writing activities that call upon them to think about and place themselves in realistic rhetorical situations and view their writing as a response to such situations. Their writing will become dynamic by actively responding to practical situations common to academic and professional communities and engaging with those communities.

We will work to develop strong writing and research skills, which will serve students well in college and beyond, regardless of the major or career they ultimately decide to pursue. I encourage my students to view their writing—and themselves as writers—as works in progress. This course is more than a series of essays for grades; it is a progression of encounters with rhetorical situations and genres that will prepare students to be an effective writer and communicator in college and in their professional lives after college.

This site is designed for section 104 of English 105 for the spring 2024 semester, taught by Paul Blom at UNC-Chapel Hill . The site is intended to showcase students’ final drafts of each of their unit projects from across the semester. Additionally, at least one student from each course section will post to our course blog each week, reflecting on the week’s material and work .

Please explore the site, visit the course’s online syllabus , read about the students , and contact me if you have additional questions.

To see the students’ work in a specific unit/discipline ( Natural Sciences , Social Sciences , or Humanities ), or to read their weekly reflections , visit the appropriate page in the main menu. Be sure to check back regularly for the latest posts showcasing the students’ work.

For other information, you are also encouraged to view the extra credit assignment prompt on Writing in Business .

Thank you for your time and consideration and for supporting the important work these students are doing!

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