Overview

Rhetoric 101, 102, and 105 are all courses or course sequences that fulfill the Composition I requirement, a cornerstone of the General Education curriculum at the University of Illinois. These courses are designed for first-year students. Placement in these courses is determined by student academic information, including ACT English/SAT EBRW scores, high school transcript information, and results from the Rhetoric Placement Questionnaire. Students can earn credit for Rhet 105 through AP English exams, IB English Exams, and, as reviewed, courses transferred in from another institution. 

We also offer courses in Advanced Rhetoric and Composition (Rhetoric 233), where students can refine their practice of argumentation and effective use of prose style.

Please note that to protect the integrity of the learning experience, we do not overenroll our Rhetoric courses. We advise students to continue checking the registration system during open enrollment periods, but we are unable accommodate requests for overenrollment for any reason. Similarly, we do not authorize late-add requests.

Use the sidebar menu to find more information about the Rhetoric Program, including contact information, student FAQs and student resources, information for transfer students, and more. 

Course Offerings

Rhetoric 101: Principles of Writing

This course provides instruction in structuring academic, argumentative essays, including how to develop thesis statements and use evidence across different types of writing. This course is the first semester of a two-semester sequence (Rhetoric 101-102) that fulfills the campus Composition I general education requirement. Credit is not given for both RHET 101 and RHET 105. This course includes weekly, individual 30-minute tutorials with the instructor. Prerequisite: Placement in RHET 101. 

After completing Rhetoric 101: Principles of Writing, students will be able to:

  • Distinguish between the conventions of academic and non-academic texts (print and/or multimodal).
  • Summarize, interpret, and evaluate arguments found in non-fiction texts (print and/or multimodal).
  • Compose argument-driven texts that respond to exigent issues, problems, or debates.
  • Reframe their writing in response to different rhetorical situations.
  • Describe and reflect on their own writing processes, including revisions made in consideration of peer and/or instructor feedback.

Rhetoric 102: Principles of Research

Rhetoric 102 offers continued instruction in structuring academic, argumentative essays, concentrating on the use of primary and secondary sources as evidence in research-based arguments. This course is the second semester of a two-semester sequence (RHET 101-102) that fulfills the campus Composition I general education requirement. Credit is not given for both RHET 102 and RHET 105. This course includes weekly, individual 30-minute tutorials with the instructor. Prerequisite: Completion of RHET 101. 

After completing Rhetoric 102: Principles of Research, students will be able to:

  • Composition: Compose well-structured and developed essays or multi-modal texts, considering features such as genre, purpose, audience, and cultural context;  

  • Process: Employ flexible writing processes across multiple pieces of writing, including invention, drafting, and revising strategies; employing rhetorically useful technologies; and revising based on frequent peer and instructor feedback;  

  • Rhetoric: Apply an understanding of rhetorical situations (how audience, purpose, author, genre conventions, and cultural context interact) when analyzing and composing a variety of texts;  

  • Sources: Identify and evaluate a variety of sources from different perspectives; integrate, synthesize, and cite these sources according to the genre and rhetorical situation;  

  • Research: Conduct inquiry-based research by formulating research questions; developing research strategies (utilizing internet and library resources); and crafting a research-based argument that contributes to an academic conversation and;  

  • Reflection: Demonstrate self-awareness of individual writing practices, including an ability to reflect on research, writing, and peer review processes; evaluate prior writing experiences, and apply writing strategies to future writing situations.  

Rhetoric 105: Writing and Research

This course offers instruction in research-based writing and the construction of academic, argumentative essays that use primary and secondary sources as evidence. This course fulfills the campus Composition I general education requirement. Credit is not given for both RHET 105 and any of these other Comp I courses: RHET 101, RHET 102, CMN 111 or CMN 112. Prerequisite: Placement in Rhet 105. The maximum size for this course is 19 students.

After completing Rhetoric 105: Writing and Research, students will be able to:

  • Composition: Compose well-structured and developed essays or multi-modal texts, considering features such as genre, purpose, audience, and cultural context;  

  • Process: Employ flexible writing processes across multiple pieces of writing, including invention, drafting, and revising strategies; employing rhetorically useful technologies; and revising based on frequent peer and instructor feedback;  

  • Rhetoric: Apply an understanding of rhetorical situations (how audience, purpose, author, genre conventions, and cultural context interact) when analyzing and composing a variety of texts;  

  • Sources: Identify and evaluate a variety of sources from different perspectives; integrate, synthesize, and cite these sources according to the genre and rhetorical situation;  

  • Research: Conduct inquiry-based research by formulating research questions; developing research strategies (utilizing internet and library resources); and crafting a research-based argument that contributes to an academic conversation and;  

  • Reflection: Demonstrate self-awareness of individual writing practices, including an ability to reflect on research, writing, and peer review processes; evaluate prior writing experiences, and apply writing strategies to future writing situations.  

Rhetoric 233: Advanced Rhetoric and Composition

This course can be taken to fulfill the campus Advanced Composition general education requirement. Rhetoric 233 introduces the use of multimodal or other non-print resources as evidence in written arguments. The maximum size for this course is 24 students.

After completing Rhetoric 233: Advanced Rhetoric and Composition, students will be able to:

  • Evaluate the effectiveness of claims and advanced rhetorical strategies employed in complex arguments in non-fiction print and/or multimodal texts.
  • Situate their ideas in conversation with relevant discourse communities through appropriate source selection, evaluation, and integration (including proper citation practices).
  • Compose arguments in print and/or multimodal texts for a specific discourse community that synthesize multiple and/or competing perspectives.
  • Engage in writing as a recursive process which includes reflection and response to feedback, and that culminates in publication within a peer community.