Introduction toProfessional Writing

Sue WebbSue Webb

webbsuza@msu.eduwebbsuza@msu.edu

AIM: webbsuzaAIM: webbsuza

Session 1

COURSE HOMEPAGE

www.msu.edu/~webbsuza/WRA202.html

Today in Class…

Introductions

Syllabus

Goals

Policies

Projects

Schedule

Getting Started: Individual Assessment

Town Hall Project

For Next Time

Familiarize yourself with syllabus & Familiarize yourself with syllabus & scheduleschedule

Order Florida BookOrder Florida Book

Read PeeplesRead Peeples

Read GurackRead Gurack

Introduce Yourself

Give us your name, major (track in the major) etc.

A description of your writing experience, including other writing courses you have taken

Tell us if you are from Michigan, what part, and if you plan to stay (or would consider staying) in Michigan when you graduate…

Course Goals To learn basic principles, skills, and To learn basic principles, skills, and

technologies for professional writingtechnologies for professional writing

To gain fluency in common PW genresTo gain fluency in common PW genres

To practice strategies of inquiry vital to To practice strategies of inquiry vital to success in PWsuccess in PW

To learn effective teaming strategiesTo learn effective teaming strategies

To engage in reflective practice, laying a To engage in reflective practice, laying a foundation for a career in professional writingfoundation for a career in professional writing

Let’s Look at the Syllabus

GoalsTextbooksPolicies and proceduresProjects

202 Project Timeline

September October November Dec.

Invitation Letter

Press Release

Employment Docs

Report

Town Hall Planning

To do well, you’ll need to be consistently writing and revising throughout the semester. Plan for 2 hours or so outside of class for each hour in class.

Individual Assessment Ind. Assessment

Individual Assessment

1.1. Go to the course home page and look under Go to the course home page and look under “Current Class Materials.” I’ll frequently post “Current Class Materials.” I’ll frequently post materials here.materials here.

2. Right-click for Windows or Option Click for Mac 2. Right-click for Windows or Option Click for Mac on the link to download the source file to your on the link to download the source file to your desktop. desktop.

3. Fill out the “Initial” questions, save the file as 3. Fill out the “Initial” questions, save the file as a .pdf, and send it to me as an e-mail a .pdf, and send it to me as an e-mail attachment > webbsuza@msu.eduattachment > webbsuza@msu.edu

Major Project: PW Town Hall

What is it?A public meeting to discuss Professional Writing A public meeting to discuss Professional Writing as a career and the future of PW in Michiganas a career and the future of PW in Michigan

Context:Michigan’s transforming economy and theMichigan’s transforming economy and theemerging skillset of PWemerging skillset of PW

Your first task:Drafting letters of invitation to participants inDrafting letters of invitation to participants inone of two audience groups: professionalone of two audience groups: professionalwriters or policy makerswriters or policy makers

Can Michigan Keep You?

Have a look:

Links to some of Governor Granholm’sLinks to some of Governor Granholm’sPlans for MichiganPlans for Michigan

What connections, if any, do you seeWhat connections, if any, do you seebetween these and PW?between these and PW?

Of course…this begs the Of course…this begs the question…What is PW?

For Next Time…

1. Familiarize yourself with syllabus & schedule

2. Order the Richard Florida Book

3. Finish up and submit your Initial Individual Assessment

4. Read Peeples & Gurak pieces in Angel

We will start discussing the rhetorical situation we findourselves in for Project 1: Town Hall Invitation Letters.

You’ll need to make a connection between Michigan’seconomic outlook and the expertise/skills of aprofessional writer…