What happened to ATL?

As of July 1, 2003, the Department of American Thought and Language is the Department of Writing, Rhetoric, and American Cultures (WRAC). Part of the College of Arts & Letters at Michigan State University, WRAC offers Tier I writing courses, a BA in Professional Writing, and a BA in American Studies.

The change in name and mission will not affect students who have completed their first-year writing requirement--the Tier I writing requirement, which is fulfilled by successful completion of one 100-level ATL course (e.g., ATL 110, ATL 125, ATL 140).

Why “WRAC?”

Writing comes first in the name, to represent our primary focus of instruction and research. “Writing” is the common thread of practice that connects all responsibilities of the department and the learning experiences of the students.

Rhetoric, the second term, identifies the disciplinary perspective of that practice--and also serves as the middle term connecting “writing” and “culture.” Rhetoric is its own established field of study with two interrelated branches (speech and writing). As both an ancient and modern art, rhetoric refers to strategies for producing effective discourse--that is, discourse that meets the needs of an audience in a particular context. Our use of this term in conjunction with “writing” establishes our connection to emerging rhetoric and composition programs across the country.

American cultures recognizes the American Studies specialties in the Department and places us at the forefront of national trends that connect the study of writing to the study of culture (for example, current programs at Syracuse University and the University of Texas). American cultures are the dynamics, the sites, the groups, the contexts out of which writing arises. The name “Writing, Rhetoric, and American Cultures” well represents the current constitution of our faculty. It represents our historic roots as a Department as well as acknowledging its new mission and direction.

What does WRAC do?

The overall goal of the Department of Writing, Rhetoric, and American Cultures is to prepare students for the kinds of writing they will be called upon to produce in the university and in their personal, professional, and civic lives. In all its courses, the Department views writing as key to students’ intellectual development and as inherently linked to other aspects of communication.

Effective writing demands both rhetorical knowledge and cultural understanding. Rhetorical knowledge involves an awareness of strategies appropriate to the context, beginning with attention to audience and aim and extending to knowledge about genre and style, modes of inquiry and development, and argumentative and persuasive techniques. Writing practices are culturally situated and need to be understood and studied with an awareness of their larger cultural and intercultural contexts.

In its degree programs, the Department places special emphasis on the rhetorical, cultural, cognitive, and technological contexts within which writing is created and distributed. Various tracks within these programs allow students to explore the rhetorical nature of cultures and communities and the cultural and community contexts within which writing takes place and is shaped.

Why Tier I? What about Tier II?

Tier I writing courses are designed to improve students’ ability to read carefully and critically; to collect, analyze, and share information; and to develop arguments and present ideas to others in clear, effective, and persuasive prose in a variety of genres. Analysis of verbal and visual texts helps students develop their knowledge of the cultural heritages of the United States, of public issues, and of principles of writing.

The University Tier II Writing requirement is met later in the student's curriculum, within the student's major. Please direct questions about the Tier II writing requirement to the advising staff within the specific department for the major in which you are enrolled, or in which you plan to enroll.

Why Professional Writing?

The undergraduate degree in Professional Writing is for students interested in specializing in writing as an area of expertise and developing advanced writing skills, with emphasis on writing in digital environments (e.g., web authoring, multimedia writing); on writing for/in diverse disciplines, communities, and cultures; and on editing and publishing. This writing degree program emphasizes the organizational, disciplinary, and cultural contexts for writing.

Why American Studies?

The undergraduate degree in American Studies offers students the opportunity to examine American culture in all its diversity from an interdisciplinary perspective. Students can fashion their own major by combining disciplines. Film studies, history, music, literature, architecture, television and visual arts (painting, photography, multimedia)are all areas available for focused investigation.