Course description for Engcmp 1902
Independent Study in Public and Professional Writing
(1 to 6 credits)
The independent study option permits students in good academic standing to design Public and Professional Writing (PPW) courses of their own with the approval of a department faculty member. The independent study must integrate both the theory and practice of some aspect of public and/or professional writing, and the student must conduct research that will allow him or her to contextualize the writing forms and content being studied. Students typically write at least 30 pages (or 7,500 words) over the course of the term, and revision plays a significant role in the student's work. In addition, the student and sponsoring faculty member define a reading list and other required research, which may include interviews or surveys. The student and faculty member will agree on other work, such as essays or documents and a journal or other response to the research. Whenever possible, the student will create a final document that can be used by an intended audience or in a professional portfolio.

Please note that the study proposed must not duplicate the content of regularly offered courses. The purpose of this option is to complement a student's program by permitting him or her to design a course not covered by the curriculum. It is not designed to permit students to avoid taking regularly offered courses. This course is offered during Fall and Spring terms. Prerequisite: Students must have completed their composition requirement (Engcmp 200 or its equivalent) and at least 6 credits above the 300-level in the English department before taking this class.

PPW Independent Study Guidelines

The independent study in PPW option is designed to allow students to pursue topics in PPW for which we don't currently have classes. It is "independent" because you will define and pursue the class on your own. You will work with a sponsor (usually either the Director or Associate Director of PPW) to define your project, then you'll keep your faculty sponsor apprised of your work throughout the term, share your work with other students pursuing IS, and present the results of your IS to other students and faculty at the PPW end-of-term event.

The PPW independent study is only open to students who have a proven record of academic success and responsibility. We typically require junior or senior status.

At any time, you can make an appointment with a tutor at the Writing Center to discuss your writing (412-624-6556). Revision needs to be a part of your work in the IS.

Required Components

1. Define a course of study that fits the number of credits you want. You may complete an independent study for 1 to 6 credits. Your work needs to reflect the number of credits you are getting. For example, a 3-credit independent study (the most common choice) would be about the same amount of work as a 3-credit PPW class. For a 3-credit class independent study, plan to write at least 7,000 words over the course of the term.

2. Complete the A&S independent study form, available from the Director of PPW in M-2 Thaw Hall. The form requires a brief description of the project you are proposing, what you expect to learn from it, the reading and research you will do, the products you will create as a result of your study, and the ways in which your sponsor will engage with your work.

3. In addition to a practical set of goals for your study, define a larger set of things that you will learn about and reflect on. (In other words, be able to answer the "so what?" question.) Before you get started, you will also create a detailed syllabus with dates by which reading and writing projects will be completed. (If you have a good reason for changing your syllabus during the term, that's fine, but you need to let your sponsor know and explain how you plan to adapt your syllabus to accomplish your course's goals.) Make sure that the Director of PPW has both the A&S IS form and your syllabus before the end of the add/drop period.

4. Schedule regular meetings (at least monthly) with your faculty sponsor. It is not the sponsor's responsibility to track you down and find out what you are doing.

5. Attend monthly meetings with other independent studiers. This is an opportunity to share your research with others.

6. Submit a progress report of at least 350 words to your primary academic sponsor via email by the last day of each of the first three months of the term and by the last day of undergrad classes for the last month of the term.

7. Create a final portfolio that includes writing samples as well as a memo that reflects on and evaluates your work over the term. What was surprising? What worked and why? What didn't work? Why not? Please reflect on your process as well as the actual content. If you were going to offer this as a class to other students, what would you do differently and why?

We may request electronic copies of your portfolio pieces so that we can share them with other students.

Materials Submitted as Part of an Independent Study Portfolio

Stephanie Selah's Project on Publishing (Spring 2007)
Becca Lehner's Project on Event Planning (Spring 2009)
Niki Kalemnous's Project on Professional Meeting Management (Spring 2009)
Mark Wanczak's Project on Social Media (Spring 2009)