Introduction to
Professional
Writing
Session 1
Sue Webb
webbsuza@msu.edu
AIM: webbsuza
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 &
schedule

Order Florida Book

Read Peeples

Read 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
technologies for professional writing

To gain fluency in common PW genres

To practice strategies of inquiry vital to
success in PW

To learn effective teaming strategies

To engage in reflective practice, laying a
foundation for a career in professional writing
Let’s Look at the Syllabus
 Goals
 Textbooks
 Policies
 Projects
and procedures
202 Project Timeline
September
October
November
Dec.
Ind. Assessment
Individual Assessment
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
1.
Go to the course home page and look under
“Current Class Materials.” I’ll frequently post
materials here.
2. Right-click for Windows or Option Click for Mac
on the link to download the source file to your
desktop.
3. Fill out the “Initial” questions, save the file as a
.pdf, and send it to me as an e-mail
attachment > webbsuza@msu.edu
Major Project: PW Town Hall
What is it?
A public meeting to discuss Professional Writing
as a career and the future of PW in Michigan
Context:
Michigan’s transforming economy and the
emerging skillset of PW
Your first task:
Drafting letters of invitation to participants in
one of two audience groups: professional
writers or policy makers
Can Michigan Keep You?
Have a look:
Links to some of Governor Granholm’s
Plans for Michigan
What connections, if any, do you see
between these and PW?
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 find
ourselves in for Project 1: Town Hall Invitation Letters.
You’ll need to make a connection between Michigan’s
economic outlook and the expertise/skills of a
professional writer…