Spring 2026 - ENGL 199W D100
Writing to Persuade (3)
Class Number: 2218
Delivery Method: In Person
Overview
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Course Times + Location:
Jan 5 – Apr 10, 2026: Wed, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
Burnaby
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Instructor:
Peter Cramer
pcramer@sfu.ca
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Prerequisites:
12 units.
Description
CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:
An introduction to reading and writing from a rhetorical perspective. The course treats reading and writing as activities that take place in particular circumstances and situations, in contrast to the traditional emphasis on decontextualized, formal features of texts. It prepares students for reading and writing challenges they are likely to encounter within and beyond the classroom. Students with credit for ENGL 199 may not take this course for further credit. Writing.
COURSE DETAILS:
Learning how to write persuasively has traditionally been about constructing arguments, how to marshal reasons and evidence that will move audiences closer to the writer's position. This narrow focus on the writer's argument, however, leaves aside some of the most important and challenging writing tasks undertaken by expert writers who aim to persuade. The preoccupation with argument-making is likely a byproduct of the conversation metaphor, a ubiquitous model that encourages writers to imagine themselves as if they were speakers addressing co-present interlocutors and audiences. While this simplifies the task for novice writers, it also rushes past many of the practical realities that make most written argument different from speaking. Writers who publish scholarly and public policy arguments respond to others and address audiences at distances in space and time so cannot provide or receive prompt, real-time feedback about contributions to a debate. Expert writers navigate this distance by designing texts that portray the larger landscape of debate for readers in hopes of guiding them and shaping their understanding. This course introduces students to these expert writing practices. In the course students learn a set of specific rhetorical techniques for analyzing arguments and synthesizing debates, and they practice synthesizing a public policy debate together in class. Writing assignments and class discussions emphasize planning, the most important and difficult part of the writing process, the one associated with rhetorical invention.
Grading
- Spans Chart 10%
- Argument Analysis Paper 30%
- Synthesis Tree 10%
- State of the Debate Paper 40%
- Participation 10%
Materials
REQUIRED READING:
Selected articles, available on Canvas.
REQUIRED READING NOTES:
Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.
Department Undergraduate Notes:
IMPORTANT NOTE Re 300 and 400 level courses: 75% of spaces in 300 level English courses, and 100% of spaces in 400 level English courses, are reserved for declared English Major, Minor, Extended Minor, Joint Major, and Honours students only, until open enrollment begins.
For all On-Campus Courses, please note the following:
- To receive credit for the course, students must complete all requirements.
- Tutorials/Seminars WILL be held the first week of classes.
- When choosing your schedule, remember to check "Show lab/tutorial sections" to see all Lecture/Seminar/Tutorial times required.
Registrar Notes:
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS
At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.
To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit:
- SFU’s Academic Integrity Policy: S10-01 Policy
- SFU’s Academic Integrity website, which includes helpful videos and tips in plain language: Academic Integrity at SFU
RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION
Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.