University of Maryland Global Campus

WRTG 112: Applied Writing and Communication

A study guide to UMGC's WRTG 112, the second course in the communication series, focused on research, genre awareness and arguing for specific audiences.

Updated October 2026 · 5 min read

WRTG 112 at the University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) is the second course in the WRTG 111 and WRTG 112 communication series. UMGC lists it as 3 credits and as fulfilling the general education requirement in communications.

UMGC's title is Applied Writing and Communication, and this guide uses that name. The course moves from general skills to communication within specific disciplinary, academic or professional contexts. Students often find the shift to audience-specific genres harder than general essay writing.

Course at a Glance

ItemDetails
UniversityUniversity of Maryland Global Campus
Code and titleWRTG 112 Applied Writing and Communication
LevelUndergraduate, 3 credits
RequirementGeneral education: communications
SeriesSecond course in WRTG 111 and WRTG 112
Credit noteCredit is allowed for only one of ENGL 101, ENGL 101X, WRTG 101, WRTG 101S, WRTG 101X or WRTG 112X

What WRTG 112 Covers

Topic from the catalogueWhat it means in practice
Critical engagement within specific contextsWriting for a discipline, academic setting or profession
Multimodal communicationWritten, visual and verbal skills
Problem negotiation and strategic researchDefining a problem and researching it purposefully
Genre awarenessRecognising conventions of different document types
Evaluating sourcesJudging credibility and relevance
Leveraging AI for writing contextsUsing AI tools appropriately where permitted
Constructing argumentsBuilding claims with reasons and evidence

Key Concepts Explained

Genre Awareness

Genres are types of documents with shared conventions, such as a proposal, report or academic article. Recognising the conventions helps you meet the reader's expectations of structure, tone and evidence.

Illustration (invented task, method only): A recommendation for a new software tool could be a short memo for a manager or a longer report for a committee. The memo leads with the recommendation and a few reasons; the report adds background, options, criteria and appendices.

Strategic Research

Strategic research starts with a clear question and a plan: what do I need to know, where is it likely to be found, and how will I judge it? Keep a note of search terms and reasons for choosing sources.

Arguing for an Audience

An argument has a claim, reasons and evidence, and responds to likely objections. Shape the level of detail and tone to the audience that will read it.

Typical Assignments and How to Approach Them

UMGC sets exact tasks in each section. The formats below are general guidance only.

Assignment typeWhat it testsHow to approach it
Problem or proposal documentStrategic research and argumentDefine the problem, show evidence and recommend a response
Genre analysisRecognising conventionsCompare examples and describe what makes them work
Multimodal presentationCombining written, visual and verbal skillsPlan a clear structure and keep slides readable
Source evaluationJudging credibilityUse clear criteria and explain your decisions

How WRTG 112 Builds on WRTG 111

WRTG 111 introduces general communication skills and responsible source use. WRTG 112 applies them to specific contexts and adds strategic research and genre awareness. Your habits from the first course, such as planning for audience and integrating sources, remain essential.

Planning Strategic Research

StepAction
Define the problemState the issue and why it matters to your audience
Plan sourcesList the kinds of evidence you need
EvaluateCheck author, purpose, date and method
DecideChoose the strongest and explain the choice

What a Strong WRTG 112 Submission Looks Like

A strong submission fits its genre: the structure, tone and level of detail suit the stated audience. The argument is clear, the research is purposeful, and sources are evaluated rather than just listed.

It also shows awareness of counterarguments, and any use of AI follows the assignment instructions and is handled responsibly.

A Note on the Course Title

Students and older guides sometimes call WRTG 112 "Academic Writing II". UMGC's current title is Applied Writing and Communication, so use that name when searching for official information or citing the course.

Questions to Ask Your Instructor

Ask which genres you will write in, whether you may choose a discipline or professional context, what the policy on AI use is, and how multimodal work is graded. Early clarity saves effort, especially on research tasks.

Where Students Get Stuck

Study Tips for WRTG 112

How We Help with WRTG 112

Send the prompt, rubric, sources and any draft. A writing tutor can explain genres, prepare a model for a comparable task, or review your draft for argument, source use and audience fit. See also our research paper help guide.

GradeEssays is independent and not affiliated with UMGC. Our work is a study and reference aid; submit your own work under UMGC's academic integrity policy and your instructor's AI rules. Orders are written from scratch, include free revisions within the original scope for 14 days, and are refunded in full if late.

Strengthen Your WRTG 112 Argument

Share the assignment and draft. We review argument, sources and audience fit, or prepare a model to study.

Start My WRTG 112 Help

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the official title of WRTG 112?

UMGC lists it as Applied Writing and Communication.

How many credits is WRTG 112?

Three credits.

Is it part of a series?

Yes, it is the second course in WRTG 111 and WRTG 112.

Does it satisfy general education?

Yes, it fulfils the general education requirement in communications.

What is genre awareness?

Understanding the conventions of different types of documents so you can write for specific audiences.

Can you help me plan my research and argument?

Yes. We can help you structure the work and check sources, while you submit your own final work.