Alumni Web
A WRTC-sponsored website for alumni.The site offers alumni a place to reconnect with their classmates and learn about the new features of the department.
Friendly City Readings
The Friendly City Readings is the visiting writers series of the School of Writing, Rhetoric & Technical Communication at James Madison University. The series hosts writers who represent the rhetorical diversity of contemporary writing, and seeks to promote awareness of writing as a viable profession across academic disciplines. All readings are free and open to the general public.
The most recent particpant was acclaimed writer Eleanor Henderson, who returned to James Madison University to read from her work in March 2012. Professor Henderson taught in the School of Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication (WRTC) at James Madison University from 2006 to 2010 while completing her first novel. That book, Ten Thousand Saints, made The New York Times' short list of the year's ten best books.
Graduate Student Symposium
Each April, WRTC sponsors a Graduate Student Symposium focused on the broad theme of communication. Graduate students from a variety of disciplines travel to JMU to share their work during this event. The symposium
- Provides a forum for WRTC graduate students to showcase their research
- Fosters a supportive environment for graduate students to present research
- Allows graduate students to interact with peers from a variety of disciplines and schools
The third annual Graduate Student Symposium took place in April 2012. The keynote address was given by Dr. Kirk St. Amant of East Carolina University.
NEW: Harry Potter Symposium
The first Replacing Wands with Quills: A Harry Potter Symposium for Muggle Scholars was held in November 2011 on the campus of JMU. This symposium brought together scholars from numerous disciplines-Law, Philosophy, Political Science, Education, Library Science, and Literary Studies-for a day and a half of exploring, examining, and explaining their attraction to all things Harry Potter.
JMU Student Chapter of the Rhetoric Society of America
The Rhetoric Society of America is the umbrella organization for scholars and teachers in every discipline who are interested in rhetoric, the art of effective communication. RSA defines rhetoric quite broadly and therefore also addresses a range of current issues related to the persuasive dimension of language and visual symbols. The JMU RSA Student Chapter was established in the fall of 2010, providing a forum for gathering locally as rhetoricians, supporting the study and practice of rhetoric, and providing professional and scholarly development opportunities.
JMU Student Chapter of the Society for Technical Communication
The Society for Technical Communication offers a unique opportunity for members to seek recognition for their work and obtain professional contacts. STC is comprised of over 23,000 individual members throughout the world, making it the largest organization of its kind. The JMU STC Student Chapter was established in the fall of 1999, offering students a venue for exploring networking and applied skills.
Lexia (formerly e-Vision)
Lexia is a student-produced electronic journal that publishes innovative texts produced in GWRTC and WRTC courses. It is one of the only journals in the country that publishes undergraduate work in the disciplines of writing, rhetoric and technical communication. Students on the editorial board enroll in WRTC 328: Practicum and are responsible for developing the criteria used to evaluate essays, reading and discussing each submission, and working individually with winning essayists to polish their work for publication.
Madison Writing Awards (formerly Write On!)
The Madison Writing Awards (MWA) is a University-wide competition that celebrates writing across-the-curriculum in all academic programs. These awards reflect the commitment of James Madison University, the College of Arts and Letters, and the School of Writing, Rhetoric, and Technical Communication to prepare students for educated and enlightened global citizenship through the outlet of rhetoric.
The latest MWA end-of-year awards ceremony was held in March 2012, with 24 students winning prizes for their writing in classes during the 2011 calendar year.
Student Gallery
A gallery of work created by WRTC majors, minors and graduate students.
