ENGL 101BIntroduction to Rhetorical Studies
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Arts
- Subject
- English
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 7 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 4 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
This course introduces students to rhetoric: the art of persuasion. The history, theory, practice, and impacts of rhetoric will be considered. Students will analyze persuasive artifacts including propaganda, advertisements, political texts, and scientific communications. Students will also act as rhetors (users of rhetoric) to craft persuasive arguments.
Prerequisites
None listed.
Antirequisites
None listed.
Leads to
No course lists it as a requisite.
Fall 2026 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 3726 | 13 / 40 | MW 14:30–15:50 |
| LEC 081 | 3270 | 38 / 40 | Online or by arrangement |
Winter 2027 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 3198 | 0 / 35 | TTh 10:00–11:20 |
| LEC 081 | 3531 | 0 / 35 | Online or by arrangement |
| LEC 701 | 1225 | 16 / 9999 | Online or by arrangement |
| LEC 702 | 1237 | 20 / 9999 | Online or by arrangement |
Reviewed on UW Flow
76% liked it81% easy53% useful
From 105 ratings and 33 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
Math majors looking for a communications elective be warned: the easy rating is not at all accurate, at least for the online section. I generally enjoy and am pretty good at writing, but weekly responses to long texts, two 2000-word essays, and a ~2000-word final are not fun.
Apr 2025 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
birdiest course oat
Jan 2023 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
I took this course online with Michael MacDonald because I needed to fulfill a prereq and my schedule wouldn't work with any other english course. This is actually a really fun course even if you hate English. There are a lot of interesting concepts to learn and it is a fantastic introductory course. There are weekly reading responses. The participation marks make up 30% so assuming you aren't stupid you should get all 30% of those marks. Another 30% is a 2500 word essay and last 40% is a final exam. I spent about 2.5 hours a week on this course and ended with a pretty decent mark. I wouldn't take this as a bird course however because it is hard to get high marks on essays (95+) and the…
Dec 2016 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Yes, this is really easy as an English course
It is also interesting, and it is very discussion based
There are many marks for participation
And there are some marks for group work
If you do not participate in class, or work well in a group, this is not the course for you
There was not much writing, weekly journals that were 1-2 pages in length (double spaced) and 1 final essay, 2000 words, at the end of the term
The midterm was an in class assessment, open book, and you could use your laptop
No final exam
Good course, interesting, just make sure it is something you want to learn about, because if not, it will be dry and boringNov 2016 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
I took this course online during a co-op term. Honestly, it was manageable, but you do have to do weekly reading responses and write two essays over the course of the term. The final required a lot of writing as well, including an essay of its own. The reading responses are pretty manageable if you find a way to summarize the texts, though.
Aug 2026 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
84 posts and comments in 75 threads mention ENGL 101B, November 2015 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.
Fall 2024
How cooked am I next term 33 points, 27 comments
“https://preview.redd.it/sja2uyioa4ae1.png?width=652&format=png&auto=webp&s=da6f9cb5427cd275561128caa48f6851333be88b I am probably going to regret this. Is this too big of a course load?”
u/MapleKerman: “I know a guy who's doing this next term except CS 146 instead of 136 and ENGL 101B instead of PHYS 175. He had a 95 this term. You'll be fine.”
Spring 2024
Anyone taking Engl 101B online right now? 1 point, 2 comments
Winter 2024
Anyone in ENGL 101B? 1 point, 0 comments
u/deffnotstudying: “Is anyone taking introduction to rhetoric studies If yes please dm me i’m so lost😭”
ENGL 101B Final 4 points, 2 comments
u/serenelmuss314: “1B here. Can anyone who has taken this course explain to me briefly shed light on what I would expect in the finals? Are there a lot of rhetorical term definitions, perhaps along with examples/ metaphors in the prompts of questions? …”
ENGL 108D or ENGL 101B? 1 point, 5 comments
u/ExcellentDolphin: “i'm deciding between these 2 communications courses for my elective (to full comms requirement list ii for my cs degree) and wondering if anyone has any input (preferably whichever one is more bird? …”
Fall 2023
I have your grades 132 points, 15 comments
“They gave them to me instead of Quest. Comment course name to receive them”
u/ostentatious-brick: “MATH239 CS246 CS251 STAT231 ENGL101B lets hear em boss”
English Courses 4 points, 2 comments
“I have 1 english course i gotta take for pharmacy school what should i take?”
u/regsergsergserg: “ENGL 101B with Jess van de Kemp is really nice, has great readings and essay topics. Generous marking too”
Bird bird communication course 1 point, 1 comment
u/serenelmuss314: “… and Listening for Academic Purposes EMLS 110R Communicating in Canadian Academic Contexts ENGL 101B Introduction to Rhetorical Studies ENGL 108B Global English Literatures ENGL 108D Digital Lives ENGL 119 Communications in Mathematics and Computer Science ENGL 208B Science …”
Spring 2023
Bird engl course 1 point, 5 comments
u/BigPuzzled2114: “Already done engl 109. Confused between engl101B and engl108D.”
Does ENGL 101B have in-person final exam? 2 points, 3 comments
u/dalbit__: “I want to take english course for online and I am curious about it”
[deleted]: “Copying my comment from another thread: ENGL101B online had 30% worth weekly essays which the proof (Jessica van der Kemp) gave extensive and super insightful feedback. The course is not hard, and it's super helpful for improving writing skills. …”
Improve writing skills 25 points, 12 comments
“As the title says, I want to improve my writing skills, but at the same time I don’t want to get destroyed by assignments and exams. …”
[deleted]: “ENGL101B online had 30% worth weekly essays which the proof (Jessica van der Kemp) gave extensive and super insightful feedback. The course is not hard, and it's super helpful for improving writing skills. Exam was take at home and chill too.”
Winter 2023
the cheater of all cheaters 42 points, 42 comments
“anyone get caught using chatgpt for the writing assignments?”
u/domo_the_great_2020: “I don’t understand University students sometimes. A degree alone isn’t going to help you to get a job, you need to have work experience and skills. …”
u/ZeroooLuck: “… you could argue that communication is an important skill, and yes it is a very important skill, but the courses we need to take like ENGL 109, ENGL 101B, etc. …”
Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026
- Undergraduate Calendar, 2026–27The official entry
- Requirements for Fall 2026Waterloo’s requisite checker
- Schedule of Classes, Fall 2026Instructors, rooms, live seats
- Quest Class SearchWhere you enrol
- Course outlinesSyllabi from past terms (UW login)
- UW FlowStudent ratings and reviews
- WClassesPast sections back to 2004, and who taught them