Professional Writing and Editing
- Recognize and evaluate ethical, social legal, and political values intertwined in the production and consumption of technical communications.
- Analyze the uses and applications of new communication technologies.
- Acquire historical and critical understanding of rhetorical theories and practices.
- Master research and analytical methods, those related to oral, written, and visual communication.
- Acquire a practical and theoretical understanding of workplace dynamics, including client relations and project management skills.
How will I focus my studies?
Students complete professional writing electives in related subjects to narrow their focus. Elective areas include development and circulation of texts, humanities computing, communication theory, design and production of texts, language theory and online text production
Shana Burleson
Internship: Fitness Information Technology
During Shana’s time as an intern with FiT Publishing, an international publisher in the sport sciences that operates under WVU’s College of Physical Activities and Sport Sciences, she grew in many ways as a professional writer and editor. She completed numerous projects at FiT, such as editing textbooks, press releases, and presentations; writing promotional materials; organizing internal files; and searching for photos to use in books. She cites the valuable skills learned on the job as collaboration/teamwork, written communication, time/project management, initiative, and critical thinking.
While most of her projects at FiT Publishing were focused on some form of editing, Shana was assigned several writing projects as well. In these projects, Shana learned more than how to identify comma errors, check references, and insert formatting into documents—she also learned the important skill of critical thinking. Some of the most important skills Shana developed during her internship came from working for a highly collaborative organization. She observed and followed both official and unofficial protocol to determine the balance between being a team player and taking initiative. She also learned to write in a style other than her own, which she found excellent practice for any writing or editing positions she might hold in the future.