Introduction

The second part of the Professional Writing at Purdue project was to interview an instructor and write up a memo. The interview aims to help students learn how to interview, write certain questions, and organize the information after the interview. While interviewing certain instructors at Purdue, it was the project’s goal to make it easier for students just starting out in Professional Writing to understand what it takes to conduct a proper and successful interview.

Background

Jaci Wells is a current graduate student at Purdue University. She previously earned a bachelor degree in English Literature while receiving a minor in history; she earned her masters degree in Rhetoric and Composition before moving on to her Ph.D. Right now she is in her third year writing her dissertation and aiming towards her Ph.D. She also teaches English classes such as 106, 420, and 304, all English Composition classes of different levels. Her dissertation aims to serve the community of Lafayette as a whole. While studying at the graduate level, Jaci’s focus was on the administrative aspect of professional writing. She also did a lot of research with Purdue’s OWL as well as with other online writing labs. Her dissertation aims to set up a writing lab for Lafayette as a community that everyone has access to so that it is easy to use. While uses community service as part of her project, she is also researching how you project is going to fit the needs of her dissertation. After her dissertation is finished, Jaci plans to become a professor of English. Even though she started out in English Literature, and then thought about becoming a social worker, while still using some writing skills, she feels that teaching is what she likes best about writing. She would rather teach someone else how to write, than actually draft legal documents herself. She feels that she can give back to the community better by teaching.

Perspective on PW

Jaci’s definition of professional writing is “composing documents in the workplace that make work happen and facilitate communication within the office.” Her focus of professional writing has been on the administrative and communicative side of writing. After finishing her Ph.D. she plans to focus on teaching students who are not in the English art of Rhetoric. For example, she wants to work with business students to use her writing, teaching, and administrative skills all at once. She plans to incorporate real world applications into her teaching, much like she is incorporating real world applications into her dissertation. Jaci feelings her teaching would better suite adult education since Professional Writing is an advanced division of English. Outside of school and the workplace, Jaci uses professional writing constantly. She believes “rhetoric shapes everything, everyday”. As someone who often works with the community she sends many emails. She also must read everyday things such as the newspaper, leases, financial documents and so forth. Even on online network sites such as facebook and myspace she must present herself professional. She still wants to portray herself as a professional woman and must establish credibility no matter where she is represented.

Conclusions

While interviewing Jaci Wells, I realized you can’t possibly predict how the interview will go. There will always be questions you meant to ask and may have forgotten, or questions you had ready, that didn’t really need to be asked. As a professional writer, one should learn to work on your feet and expect the unexpected. Professional Writing is used everywhere and everyday. Rhetoric is often associated with professional writing; everyone uses rhetoric whether or not they know it. I have found that rhetoric is a natural occurrence that can’t be avoided. Even while conducting the interview rhetoric was being used on both ends.

Questions:

  • What is your educational background/how much school do you have left?
  • What sparked your interest in PW? Did that lead to your career goal?
  • Have you ever thought about choosing a different career goal?
  • What is your focus in PW?
  • How do you achieve that focus, how do you use PW?
  • Do you use PW outside of the workplace? If so, how?
  • Do you have any other interest in English aside from PW?
  • Can you give me your definition of PW?
  • What classes do you teach at Purdue?
  • What have you learned from your students?
  • What is your dissertation about?

Darcie Fuller

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