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Two topics classes will be offered for Spring Term 2009:

Engcmp 550 Topics in PPW: Professional Writing in Global Contexts will be taught by Pam O’Brien. It will meet Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 2:30 to 3:45, and its class number is 35926. This is a new class being offered for the first time. In Professional Writing in Global Contexts, you will consider English and the various possibilities for its use on a global scale. Readings will introduce you to English as a world language and will critique its possible ramifications such as whether this practice can lead to what some critics are calling "linguistic imperialism" and "intellectual colonialism." On a more practical side, we will also focus on creating and presenting documents for a global audience. You will learn about the differences in international audiences and how to communicate successfully with those audiences. This course will enable you to write with respect for another country's business, cultural, religious and social environment as well as its history and traditions.

Engcmp 1250 Advanced Topics in Public and Professional Writing: Professional Editing in Context will be taught by Peter Oresick. It will meet Tuesday nights from 6 to 8:30, and its class number is 32120. This is the second time we have offered this class. It was very popular with the students who took it last spring. The topic of this class is Professional Editing in Context. This course focuses on editing as a professional activity. We will explore the whole range of editorial work, including developmental editing, substantive editing, copyediting, and proofreading. Special attention will be given to the editor as the person who mediates the relationship between author and reader. Students will learn about the editing process and will edit texts, reflect on the process, and hone their ability to work on language at the sentence level. The course will introduce students to the Chicago Manual of Style as well as other styles. Students will engage in research related to editing and their career plans and will assemble a portfolio for the class. This advanced course is intended for students who are pursuing the PPW Certificate, as well as other students interested in careers in writing, editing, or publishing.

If you are considering a PPW independent study, consult our IS page for a course description and guidelines.

What would the Service-Learning in PPW program offer you? Students registered in a PPW course volunteer for 30 hours over the course of the term at a nonprofit of their choice. They work in animal shelters, health care settings, tutorial centers, soup kitchens, advocacy nonprofits, or in any other kind of nonproft. Students get an extra credit for meeting in a group weekly, reflecting on their experience, and doing some short writing assignments. It's a good way to learn more about how writing functions in the nonprofit sector. Students who have participated in Service-Learning in PPW have said that they had great experiences. You can read about their experiences on the SL perspectives page. If you are taking a PPW class this coming Fall term, you have this opportunity, too. Visit the Service-Learning in PPW page for details and instructions.

We have seats open in our internship classes for Spring Term. If you are interested in a PPW Internship, apply soon. Internship Coordinator Pam O'Brien can help you figure out where you might work and can help you make connections, but you need to start the ball rolling. For information, see our internship page or e-mail Pam O'Brien. You can also download our PPW Guide to Internship Sites.

What is a PPW internship like? If you would like to learn more about the internship opportunities we can offer, read profiles of interns from previous terms.

Download the PPW newsletter, Write Now! Write Now provides program news, profiles of students and faculty, announcements, and stories about public and professional writing. The next issue will be released soon.

If you are preparing your application to the PPW Certificate program and want some tips on constructing a resume, please visit the Purdue Online Writing Lab site for lots of information. You are also welcome, of course, to make an appointment at Pitt's Writing Center to get some support as you work on your application materials.