COR1100 Writing and Reasoning (WR)

COR1100 Writing and Reasoning

Writing & Reasoning is a compulsory module in the Capabilities pillar of SMU’s Core Curriculum. At its heart is a belief that communicating genuinely and clearly is a vital human skill, not only in professional contexts, but also in our everyday lives.

Through authentic communication problems students learn to read critically, formulate a position convincingly using appropriate evidence, and convey their ideas persuasively on a range of topics. Students clarify goals and contexts for their writing while identifying relevant audiences and using appropriate genres for their communication. 

Students will learn to write clearly, coherently, and concisely about issues that matter. The strategies learnt transfer well to other academic, business, and professional settings.

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

● Conduct inquiry into and research on issues to develop informed opinions;

● Craft logical arguments to support their opinions and curate relevant evidence from a variety of sources to substantiate their arguments and positions effectively;

● Select, analyse and evaluate sources for credibility and reliability;

● Create well-structured plans with a logical flow for their writing, and ensure clarity, conciseness, and coherence throughout their work;

● Employ varying strategies to persuade, inform and/or entertain, adapting their tone and style appropriately for the context, audience and purpose of writing;

● Synthesise information from multiple sources, integrating ideas and evidence cohesively while maintaining proper citation practices; and

● Use an appropriate referencing style.

CEC launched our first-year writing competition in August 2023, celebrating the best opinion pieces written by our WR students.

Please click here to view the exemption criteria for Academic Year 2024.