Project Summary

To familiarize themselves with the scene of Professional Writing @ Purdue University, students are asked to research and report on the professional writing major and an instructor in the professional writing program. This project asks students to work individually and in groups in describing and profiling their major. Students will compose both memos and a formal report in mapping their discipline for themselves.

Deliverables

Memo: What is Professional Writing?

Following discussion during the first week of class, students will produce 600-700 word memos defining professional writing. The memo should describe their major and its goals, what students expect, as well as describe opportunities they expect will open for them.

Memo Due: 1/15 (post to blog and select category as "What is PW? Memo")

Memo: Who Teaches Professional Writing?

During the first two weeks of class, students will talk with professional writing instructors at Purdue (students will be assigned an instructor). Students will compose a short memo (700-800 words) describing who this teacher is, what their interests are, and how they came to be at Purdue. Memos should be organized into coherent sections (headers should be used to arrange the document) such as "Introduction," "Background," "Perspective on PW," and "Conclusions." Remember to include, at the end of the memo (like an Appendix), a list of your interview questions. Through this project component, students will gain experience interviewing an SME, or subject matter expert.

Memo Due: 1/27 (post to blog and select category as "Who Teaches PW? Memo")

Report: Profile a Professional Writing Instructor

During class, in groups, students will compile a collaborative report that describes (or “maps”) a typical professional writing instructor at Purdue. Students will be writing an audience-centered document; that is, they need to figure out how this report might be used, and tailor it for the intended reader. Consider: how would posting the profile to the professional writing website change it?

Report Due: 1/29 (in-class)

Grade Breakdown

The Professional Writing @ Purdue Project accounts for 15% of the total course grade. Individual components of the project are worth the following:

  • Memo: What is Professional Writing? – 25%
  • Memo: Who Teaches Professional Writing? – 25%
  • Report: Profile a Professional Writing Instructor – 50%
  • Total – 100%

Grade Guidelines

  • successful memos and reports are polished and professional; that is, they are free of errors that make the document less accessible and less credible
  • successful memos and reports provide relevant information in a coherent narrative; they do not simply list information about the subject
  • successful memos and reports give the reader a clear picture and a solid understanding of the subject of the document

Portions of this project and its guidelines adopted from Michael Salvo @ Purdue University

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