ENG 5314.251: Editing the Professional Publication
(An internship course)

Description: This course is an internship in which students will practice the writing, editing, designing, and proofreading of a professional publication or publications. The service-learning portion of this course requires students to find an appropriate service-learning project that includes a technology component and requires writing, editing, and developing a large print and/or online document. The student becomes a "writing and editing consultant" in his/her internship and its subsequent project. This course meets the requirement for an internship in the Technical Communication program.

Goals: The goals are for students to have an applied learning experience that is a service to others and from which they practice using technology, while they also practice excellent writing and editing. At the completion of the course, students will have provided a useful service to others while having an experience from which they can draw on for future jobs as well as having a print and/or online document for their portfolios. They will have at least one large document (like hardcopies of the webpage or software documentation) and/or several substantial documents to turn in and to include in their personal portfolios. Although I am available to help students, students in the course must be self-starters and can work independently. We will communicate mostly through Blackboard and email, but I will also be available to meet during my office hours.

Required Books and Materials:

• Service-Learning in Technical and Professional Communication by Melody Bowdon and J. Blake Scott. Boston: Allyn & Bacon, 2003.
• Recently published dictionary. Some possibilities are Webster's New World, Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, and Random House Unabridged Dictionary.
  

Recommended Books and Materials:

• Chicago Manual of Style, The. 15th ed. Chicago: U of Chicago, 2003. (This is the most recent edition of this style manual. It is considered the "Bible" of style, so it will remain an important reference text.)

• Gibaldi, Joseph. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. Most recent edition. (Required if you do not own a recent edition of the MLA Handbook.)

Format: This course is one in which students work largely independently but will also be in consultation with me throughout the semester. You must have access to a computer and Internet browsing capabilities. You will be responsible for learning some new technology and/or software on your own. In addition to the required textbook, there may be supplemental readings.

Evaluation:

• Self-direction and willingness to be a member of a virtual community=30 percent
  
• Progress and Usability Reports=15 percent
  
• Final project=30 percent
  
• Final Presentation=10 percent
  

For more information: Contact Dr. Libby Allison.