English 4300 - Seminar in Professional Writing

Seminar In Professional Writing, 3 hrs. Fall; W & S designators. A capstone experience. Emphasis on strengthening and revising students examples of professional writing and presentation options, including the creation of an interactive professional writing portfolio. Intense study of the current state of the profession. Prerequisites: ENG 3090, plus 6 semester hours of credit in the professional writing concentration.

This course is the capstone experience for students majoring in the English BA program with a Concentration in Professional Writing. You will derive the greatest benefit from this course if you take it during your final year in the program when you will be able to draw on the experience and training gained from the Professional Writing and other related classes that you will have completed.

A major part of the course involves planning and developing a professional writing portfolio and resume. For this project, materials created in other Professional Writing classes, appropriate materials prepared for courses outside the Concentration and during your internship experience will be showcased to demonstrate your skills in such areas as business and technical writing, document layout and design, newsletter and brochure production, web work, and editing.

Over the semester, you will also gain a deeper understanding of what it means to be a working writing professional, not only from assigned readings but also by having the opportunity to listen to and interact with a number of seasoned professional writers from a variety of working environments.

Other topics covered in the course include strengthening your research and oral presentation skills, career planning and job seeking, graduate programs in professional writing, workplace ethics and challenges, and the many important roles a professional writer plays in business, industry, and the professions.

This is a hands-on course in which you will learn by doing. The course will be conducted as a seminar in which you will be expected to participate actively.

Designators: Writing and Speaking

Prerequisites: English 3090 AND 6 semester hours of earned credit in the Professional Writing Concentration

Required course for the BA in English with a Concentration in Professional Writing

For more information about this course, please contact the instructor, Dr. Wendy Winn (winnwl@appstate.edu).