SMSU PWC Major Blog

Logo Contest

2012-02-13T15:35:00.000-06:00

Council for Programs in Technical and Scientific Communication is holding a logo contest for its journal, Programmatic Perspectives.

The winner will receive $100. The deadline for submitting logos is April 1, 2012. For more information, visit the CPTSC website.

Ethics in Visual Rhetoric

2012-02-09T13:26:00.000-06:00

We Pop Way Too Many Pills, And The Pills Don’t Even Work

Professional communication is everywhere. This infographic talks about over-medication but also deals with the ethics of visual rhetoric in business and technical communication.

Design is Important Too

2012-01-09T17:05:00.001-06:00

Creating documents that are user-friendly and user-centered is ideal as a professional writer. Design, especially design geared towards end users, is just as important as the actual written content of a document and/or webpage. Check out this article about how to effectively design webpages with easy flow for end users.

Stop Designing Pages and Start Designing Flows
By Morgan Brown

Association for Business Communication (ABC) Writing Contest

2012-01-05T11:08:00.001-06:00

Those of you who like business writing should consider entering the Association for Business Communication’s student writing contest. The contest asks you to write in response to a case.

The 1st place winner will receive $300, the 2nd place winner will receive $200, and the 3rd place winner will receive $100. Entries must be received by Friday, April 20, 2012, to be considered, and the winners will be announced during summer 2012.

For more details, visit ABC's website.

The Value of a Liberal Arts Degree

2012-01-02T12:07:00.001-06:00

The value of a liberal arts degree is often questioned as a degree that offers real job and career paths. The links below are articles showing the value of a humanities degree through real-world experience and evidence.

Humanities Majors Will Be Fine
by Daniel Luzer in his College Guide blog

IT Jobs for Non-Techies
by Elizabeth Murphy in Inside Higher Education

Technical Writer Job Opening

2011-11-05T14:27:00.002-05:00

GeoComm in St. Cloud, Minnesota, wants to hire a technical writer. The position has been posted for awhile. For more details about the job, please visit: http://geo-comm.com/employment.html

Logo Contest

2011-11-03T13:45:00.000-05:00

The Council for Programs in Technical and Scientific Communication (CPTSC) will be holding a Logo Contest for its journal, Programmatic Perspectives which publishes articles about programs in technical and scientific communication. The PWC major at SMSU is an example of just one of the kinds of programs that falls under this Council. To learn more about the Council and the contest visit: www.cptsc.org/pp/

The winner will receive $100. There is also the possibility for two honorable mentions to win $50 each. Logos should be submitted to Tracy Bridgeford (tbbridge2@cox.net) in JPG, GIF, and PNG formats. The best submissions will be posted on the cptsc.org/pp website. Winners will need to submit logos again in their raw format. The executive committee will review and vote on the logos.

The deadline for submitting logos is April 1, 2012. Winners will be announced by the end of January. Questions? Contact Tracy Bridgeford (tbbridge2@cox.net).

Summer Internship Opportunity

2011-10-17T16:11:00.000-05:00

SMSU graduate and editor for Black Rabbit Books, Ms. Wendy Dieker, reports that the publishing house often needs summer interns.

Black Rabbit Books is located in Mankato and focuses on non-fiction books for children. To learn more about the company, be sure to visit their web site at: http://www.blackrabbitbooks.com/our-story.html

To request information about the internship, be sure to contact Ms. Dieker at: wdieker@blackrabbitbooks.com

New Journal On Undergraduate Research Is A Good Publishing Opportunity For PWC Majors

2011-10-14T13:26:00.000-05:00

The new online journal Perspectives on Undergraduate Research and Mentoring (PURM) is now live and can be viewed at: http://www.elon.edu/purm/issue-1-1/

This journal is unique in that it publishes articles that discuss faculty, adminstrator, and student perspectives on undergraduate research. SMSU students who have been involved with the SMSU Undergraduate Research Conference should take a look at this journal and consider crafting an article for publication.

American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME) Internships Available

2011-10-13T15:49:00.000-05:00

Senior PWC majors at SMSU are eligible to apply for a 10-week paid summer internship offered by the American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME). Interns will have the opportunity to work in the editorial offices of a magazine in New York City or Washington, D.C. The application deadline is December 1, 2011. For details about the internship, go to: www.magazine.org/asmeinternship

PWC Graduate's Blog

2011-09-11T21:00:00.000-05:00

Janice Robinson, one of the first two PWC graduates, is now doing animal activist work. Check out her blog at the link below!

http://muddypawstrial.blogspot.com/

Former PWC Student Receives Promotion

2011-08-29T22:02:00.000-05:00

Stephanie Bruns, a PWC graduate, has been working for Priority Integrated Marketing as an Email Marketing Developer since January of 2011. Bruns is in charge of email development and list management. Recently, Bruns received a promotion to Account Executive/Editor and will move permanently to her new position at the end of September. Her new job duties will include writing financial and health articles and editing all of her client's projects including web, print, and email.

Congratulations to Stephanie on her new position. She's a great example of what a PWC major can do after graduation!

Congratulations to PWC majors who received honors for the 2011 Spring Semester!

2011-06-18T09:49:00.001-05:00

Students with a 3.8-4.0 GPA were awarded High Honors.
Students with a 3.5-3.75 GPA were awarded Honors.

High Honors
McKenna Carr
Janna Dorman
Lorien Downing
Dan Gilland
Kylie Jacobsen
Maigan Olson
Ashlinn Thommes
Aubrey Wood

Honors
Amanda Paine

Helpful Guide for Writing on the Web

2011-06-02T15:57:00.001-05:00

Dr. Lori Baker shared with me that a free, online guide for writing for the web is now available from the editors of Writing Spaces. The Web Writing Style Guide 1.0 can be found at http://writingspaces.org/wwsg/title

Be sure to check out this document when you get a chance!

Summer Internship Opportunity at Marshall Lyon County Library

2011-05-04T11:56:00.000-05:00

Ms. Lacey Louwagie, Teen Services Librarian, at the Marshall Lyon County Library is looking for a summer intern. The intern's duties would involve working with Ms. Louwagie during the Summer Reading Program (which runs from the end of May to the end of July). The responsibilities of the internship would include: organizing and chaperoning teen events, advising teens on reading selections, updating the teen blog and social media, and other related duties as they arise. If you are interested in this internship, please contact Ms. Louwagie at 507-537-7003, ext. 114.

Editing Job Opportunity

2011-04-20T11:48:00.001-05:00

This job opportunity comes from the Association of Writing Programs and Dr. Neil Smith here at SMSU. Please read on for more details:
Assistant Editor, Amazon. Shopbop.com, a leading voice in online fashion retail, is looking for a technically minded writer with knowledge of fashion terminology & a meticulous, uncompromising eye for detail to assist in the writing & editing of product copy for our web store. Job Responsibilities: write technical descriptions for apparel, shoes, & accessories under tight production timelines & in a fast-paced environment; write & organize brand biographies with each new season; organize information requests & daily product work lists; research & stay up to date on customs requirements & regulations for international shipments. Basic Qualifications: BA in Writing, English, or equivalent; knowledge of technical apparel, accessory, & footwear terminology; excellent writing & copyediting skills with applied experience in both areas; basic HTML knowledge & applied experience; impeccable attention to detail & understanding of subtleties within the language; basic computer skills & proficiency with the Microsoft Office suite. Preferred Qualifications: prior experience as a fashion writer. Submit your resume online: https://us-amazon.icims.com/jobs/... & e-mail a cover letter & 3-5 short writing samples to careers@shopbop.com

Web Designer Job in Marshall

2011-04-19T10:30:00.003-05:00

GoMarshall.Net in Marshall, Minnesota, is advertising for a web designer. For more details about the job, please visit this link: http://www.gomarshall.net/help.htm

Technical Editing Scholarship

2011-03-21T09:27:00.002-05:00

The Technical Editing SIG is offering a scholarship of $800 to a student pursuing an undergraduate degree in Technical Communication (or a related area, such as professional writing). The Technical Editing SIG is accepting scholarship applications for 2011. The deadline for submission is June 12, 2011. Winners will be notified in mid-July 2011.

Students applying for this scholarship are expected to be able to demonstrate their focus on topics related to technical editing through their academic studies, current jobs, special projects, or undergraduate/graduate program.

To be eligible for a scholarship, an applicant must be:

* Enrolled in an undergraduate degree program in Technical Editing or Technical Communication (or a related program, such as Professional Communication)

* Pursuing a career as a Technical Editor

For more information on the scholarship, see the STC Technical Editing Web site.

Complete the online Scholarship Application at the STC Technical Editing Web site.

Norman Mailer Writing Award

2011-03-03T19:09:00.001-06:00

The Norman Mailer Writers Colony and the National Council of Teachers of English are taking submissions for the 2011 Norman Mailer High School and College Writing Awards for Creative Nonfiction.

Prizes
Cash prizes of $5,000 to $10,000 will be awarded to National Winners. Four finalists will be awarded trophies. Sixteen semifinalists in each category will be awarded certificates. Winners receive travel and lodging to attend the Colony's National Award Ceremony.

Submission Guidelines

Category
Norman Mailer produced extraordinary works in many genres, including the category of this year’s award: Creative Nonfiction. Students may submit work in any of the subgenres of creative nonfiction: memoir or autobiography, essay, literary journalism, profiles of people or places, and so on. Whatever its type, the best work will be true material presented with compelling literary merit.

Eligibility, Page Length, and Deadlines
Entries accepted online only from March 1 - April 28, 2011

Submission is open to current full-time students. Maximum 15 single-spaced pages. The winner receives a scholarship to the Norman Mailer Writers Colony during the summer of 2012 and cash award of $10,000.

For complete submission guidelines and judging criteria, or to submit an entry, visit the NCTE website. Please email any questions to nmw@ncte.org.

Interested in Creating Graphic Novels?

2011-02-27T15:29:00.000-06:00

Professional Writing majors at SMSU typically have a wide range of interests and pursue a range of careers after undergraduate work including graduate school. If you have an interest in creating graphic novels, comic strips, cartoons, etc., you might what to check out the Center for Cartoon studies at:
http://www.cartoonstudies.org/
The program offers an MFA as well as certificates in this area of study.

Congratulations to PWC majors who received honors for the 2010 Fall Semester.

2011-02-01T19:23:00.003-06:00

Students with a 3.8-4.0 GPA were awarded with High Honors.
Students with a 3.5-3.75 GPA were awarded with Honors.

High Honors

Stephanie Bruns

Lorien Downing

Kylie Jacobsen

Amanda Paine

Honors

McKenna Carr

Janna Dorman

Katherine Robertson

Kimberly Watkins

Aubrey Wood

Congratulations to English 360 Students Who Participated in the 5th Annual Undergraduate Research Conference!

2010-12-02T08:48:00.000-06:00

Part-time Sports Writing Job at Marshall Independent

2010-11-29T12:58:00.002-06:00

Mr. Joe Brown, the sports editor for the Marshall Independent, is looking for a part-time sports writer. The job would mainly be answering phones about three nights a week. The person would take calls from high school coaches, who phone in the scores of their games and statistics, then write a very short summary of the game. The usual work schedule would be Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8 p.m. to midnight.

While Mr. Brown would prefer someone with journalism experience, he mostly wants to fill the position, so someone could be trained in, too. There's a pretty set formula for writing the game summaries, so it becomes routine quickly.

If you are interested in the position, please contact Mr. Joe Brown at: jbrown@marshallindependent.com

PR Internship

2010-11-15T11:04:00.004-06:00

Professor Rick Herder, a new faculty member in the Speech Dept., has a brother, Mr. Brian Herder, with a PR/ad agency in the Twin Cities. His company, Russell Herder, provides services including market research, creative development, interactive and digital, media planning and buying, and public relations.

"We specialize in such industries as healthcare, building materials, destinations, marine, social causes and more. From strategic planning to product introductions, brand building programs to online campaigns, we achieve bottom-line results for our clients."

Check out the website http://www.russellherder.com/ for more information. Click on the contact tab for internship information.

Magazine Editor Internships

2010-11-09T08:15:00.001-06:00

Junior PWC majors at SMSU are eligible to apply for a 10-week summer internship offered by the American Society of Magazine Editors. Interns will have the opportunity to work in the editorial offices of a magazine in New York City or Washington, D.C. Interns will receive $350 a week but will have to pay for their own housing, travel, and food expenses. Interested PWC majors are welcome to meet with Dr. Henning about the application process. The application deadline is December 1, 2010, so interested students should meet with Dr. Henning as soon as possible.

For details about the internship, go to: http://www.magazine.org/asme_internship_program

What can you do with a major in Professional Writing?

2010-11-05T11:54:00.001-05:00

Be Sure to Attend the Southwest Minnesota Writing Gallery's Celebration of Writers and Writing

2010-10-23T14:45:00.002-05:00

What is the Writing Gallery?
With the help of the National Council of Teachers of English, high school and college students in Southwest Minnesota have made an online display of writing -– from letters to lists, memoirs to memos, poems to nonfiction essays, journal entries to technical documents.

How can I participate?
• Everyone is welcome to attend & read the pieces of writing on display in the gallery.

• If you are a Southwest Minnesota high school or college student who would like to be published in the gallery, you are invited to bring a digital copy of a piece of writing to the event. Volunteers will be on hand to assist you in submitting your work.

When and where is the celebration?
• Friday, October 29, 2009, 3 to 4 p.m.
• Charter Hall 102 (Computer Lab)
• Light refreshments will be served outside the computer lab

Literacy Tutor Job Openings

2010-10-17T15:58:00.004-05:00

Literacy Tutor positions for 2011-12 begin next August, and applications are processed starting in December. Positions are located in Southwestern Minnesota and statewide, including Mankato, New Ulm, Redwood Falls, the Twin Cities, St. Cloud, Duluth and many rural locations. Students can learn more at: http://www.minnesotareadingcorps.org/

This year, Minnesota Reading Corps trained nearly 700 tutors to serve in schools around Minnesota, where they will gain professional and significant experience, find direction, and help pay for student loans. Their responsibility is to help ensure that children are on track to read by 3^rd grade.

This year about ten SMSU students were accepted into the program, and are currently diving into their positions at elementary schools and preschools, where they will not only make a difference in children’s lives but also impact their own.

Questions can be directed to Anna Peters at apeters@mnedc.org or 651-251-9075.

The Southwest Minnesota Writing Gallery is NOW Accepting Submissions

2010-09-30T19:59:00.004-05:00

What is The Southwest Minnesota Writing Gallery?

In celebration of the October 20, 2010 Second Annual National Day on Writing, and with the help of NCTE (National Council for Teachers of English), high school and college students in Southwest Minnesota have a place to display a piece of writing of their choice.

Who can participate?

High school and college students in Southwest Minnesota with any kind of writing* may upload ONE piece of writing at http://galleryofwriting.org/galleries/55821. Any kind of writing will work —from word processing to power points, research posters, research papers, photography, audio recording to text messages—and all types of writing—from letters to lists, memoirs to memos, poems to nonfiction essays, journal entries to technical documents.

*All writing submitted should meet the content guidelines found at:http://www.galleryofwriting.org/guidelines.php

How do students participate?

Go to http://galleryofwriting.org/galleries/55821

Create a login

Click on contribute writing and follow the screen-by-screen instructions

If you are under 13 years of age, you will need a parent’s or guardian’s help and email address

You will receive an email from the gallery when your work is accepted

Who can tell me more?

Those with questions about the Southwest Minnesota gallery should contact Dr. Teresa Henning at:teresa.henning@smsu.edu

To contribute writing to the National Writing Gallery, please visit: http://www.galleryofwriting.org

2010-09-19T17:22:00.004-05:00

Congratulations to PWC majors who received honors for the 2010 Spring Semester.
Students with a 3.8-4.0 GPA were awarded with High Honors.
Students with a 3.5-3.75 GPA were awarded with Honors.

High Honors
Janna Dorman

Kylie Jacobsen

Amanda Paine

Jessica Welu

Aubrey Wood

Honors
Lorien Downing

Christine Streff

Jason Zahn

Congratulations 2010 PWC Graduate Christy Streff!

2010-05-08T20:12:00.003-05:00

Congratulations PWC 2010 Graduates: Jessica Welu, Sandy Zeug, and Jason Zahn!

2010-05-08T20:04:00.005-05:00

PWC Major to Intern with Bethany House

2010-04-21T16:22:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to PWC major, Stephanie Bruns, who will be interning for Bethany Publishing House this summer 2010 through their editing intern program!

Congratulations to Who's Who Recipients

2010-04-21T16:15:00.002-05:00

PWC majors Stephanie Bruns, Kylie Jacobsen, and Jessica Welu are recipients of the "Who's Who Among College Students" certificate. Congratulations to these majors!

Technical Writers

2010-04-07T14:45:00.002-05:00

Overview of Technical Writers

Technical writers translate technical jargon into natural language that the broad public can easily understand (iseek.org). Technical writers create manuals that give instructions to customers, technical reports, newsletters, and variety of other documents. Technical writers normally work in information-technology fields, but may also work to solve business communications issues within many different industries (bls.gov). Information regarding working conditions, skills needed, wages, employment growth, employment opportunities, and further reading options can be found below.

Working Conditions

Interpersonal relations are needed for technical writers, as they will be communicating with scientists, engineers, and others who need their information written down. Technical writers must also write weekly memos or letters, as well as be in contact with editors daily (iseek.org).

Technical writers must be precise in their work as many people are relying on their documents for correct information. Technical writers use computers on a a daily basis and should be familiar with a variety of software. Technical writers must be able to make decisions alone and must meet strict deadlines (iseek.org).

Most technical writers work with a set schedule of 40 hours per week, but may work some overtime on certain projects. Overtime could include nights and weekends (iseek.org).

Skills Needed

Technical writers need a bachelor's degree in some related field such as English, journalism, or Professional Writing and Communication (bls.gov). A degree and experience in a specialized technical field may also be required for technical writers.

Technical writers need to have communication skills, problem-solving skills, personal and time management skills, and be able to work with others (iseek.org). Technical writers must also have knowledge of the English language, computers and electronics, and engineering and technology (iseek.org).

Wages

Wages are over the median at $31.00 an hour in Minnesota (iseek.org).

Wages range from $66,540 in a computer systems design and related services job to $71,590 as a software publisher (bls.gov).

Employment Growth

The employment growth for technical writers is 12.8% in Minnesota and 19.5% nationally from 2006-2016 (iseek.org).

Internship and Job Opportunities

Mustang Jobs.com

InternshipPrograms.com

Monster.com Listings

Society for Technical Communication Listings

Further Reading

Society for Technical Communication

Congratulations to Sandy Zeug!

2010-02-17T12:58:00.001-06:00

Congratulations to Sandy Zeug who has accepted a position at Excel Chiropractic in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, after two interviews.

Ms. Zeug will graduate this spring 2010 with a Professional Writing and Communication degree from SMSU. Her duties as Chiropractor's Assistant (CA)include handling phone calls, appointments, customer files, and insurance information and dealing with each patient one-on-one. Since Ms. Zeug is still in school for this spring 2010 term, she is currently working part-time at Excel and is undergoing extensive company training. Once her degree and training are complete, she will be employed full-time with Excel.

Congratulations to Kylie Jacobsen

2010-02-02T16:08:00.001-06:00

Congratulations to PWC major, Kylie Jacobsen, on winning the Minnesota Odd Fellow Foundation Scholarship!

Congratulations PWC Majors

2010-01-19T21:58:00.003-06:00

Congratulations to PWC majors who received honors for the 2009 Fall Semester.
Students with a 3.8-4.0 GPA were awarded with High Honors.
Students with a 3.5-3.75 GPA were award with Honors.

High Honors
Lorien Downing

Jasmine Maki

Jessica Welu

Honors
Stephanie Bruns

Janna Dorman

Aubrey Wood

Jason Zahn

Business Writing Contest

2010-01-13T13:48:00.002-06:00

Association for Business Communication (ABC) Writing Contest

Those of you who like business writing should consider entering the Association for Business Communication’s student writing contest.

The contest asks you to write in response to a case. Entries are due Friday, April 23, 2010, and first, second, and third place winners receive money.

For more details, visit this site: http://businesscommunication.org/awardsNew/student/abcStudentAward2010ContestNew.html

Congratulations to English 360 Students Who Participated in the 4th Annual Research Conference at SMSU!

2009-12-03T08:54:00.000-06:00

Public Relations Specialist

2009-11-24T13:06:00.000-06:00

Overview

Public relations specialists help organizations create a positive image in the public eye (iseek.org). PR specialists inform the public of organizations' goals, products, and achievements. PR specialists prepare press releases, prepare reports and write proposals for companies, represent employers at projects, keep contact between client and public (bls.gov) Information regarding working conditions, skills needed, wages, employment growth, employment opportunities, and further reading options can be found below.

Working Conditions

Working conditions include interpersonal relations because PR specialists are constantly working with coworkers and clients, must communicate through memos and newsletter, and deal with conflict/resolution situations (iseek.org).

Work over 40 hours a week and may be on call for events. May have to travel, but usually have set hours (iseek.org).

Must be able to make decisions without management and must be correct because errors could cause customers to discontinue their service (iseek.org).

Skills Needed

PR specialists need a bachelor’s degree in something related such as journalism, PWC, or public relations to compete with others vying for the same job (bls.gov).

PR specialists need knowledge of the English language, communication and media, sales and marketing, customer service, management and administration, computers and electronics, and psychology (iseek.org).

Wages

Wages are above the median at $28.26 in Minnesota (iseek.org).

Wages range from $43,000 at colleges and universities to $53,000 in a management position in 2006 (bls.gov).

Employment Growth

The employment growth for PR specialists is 14.5% in Minnesota from 2006-2016 (iseek.org).

Internship Opportunities

MustangJobs.com

InternshipPrograms.com

CreativeJobsCentral.com

Job Openings

MustangJobs.com

Public Relations Society of America

Public Information Job on Monster

For Further Reading

Bureau of Labor Statistics

International Public Relations Association

International Association of Business Communications

iSeek.org

Institute for Public Relations

Reception for Writing Gallery and Writing Center Open House

2009-10-20T15:41:00.003-05:00

Writers attending the Writing Center Open House/Writing Gallery Opening view their work online.

Magazine Editor Internships

2009-10-19T14:34:00.001-05:00

Junior PWC majors at SMSU are eligible to apply for a 10-week summer internship offered by the American Society of Magazine Editors. Interns will have the opportunity to work in the editorial offices of a magazine in New York City or Washington, D.C. Interns will receive $425 a week but will have to pay for their own housing, travel, and food expenses.

Interested PWC majors should meet with Dr. Henning as the application process is somewhat involved, and the school may only recommend one student. The application deadline is December 1, 2009, so interested students should meet with Dr. Henning as soon as possible.

For details about the internship, go to: http://www.magazine.org/asme/internships/aboutinternship/index.aspx

Telling Women's Stories Essay Contest

2009-10-08T14:10:00.002-05:00

Contest sponsor: Women's Studies Committee

Eligible writers: SMSU students, on campus or online, male or female

Entry: Story or essay that focuses on a woman or women

Length: 5-10 pages, typed, double-spaced, 12-pt. type

Submission: One copy to Prof. Susan McLean, English Dept., BA216; include author's name, address, phone number, e-mail; identify as entry for Women's Stories Contest; one entry per author

Judging: Blind review by members of Women's Studies Committee

Prizes: Gift certificates: $50–first prize, $30–second prize, $20–third prize; public reading of winning entries by authors; and certificate acknowledging award

Deadline for submissions: Thursday, November 19, 2009, at 4:00 p.m.

Contact Prof. Susan McLean with any questions about the contest at 537-7231 or Susan.McLean@SMSU.edu

Construction Writers Association Scholarship

2009-10-05T12:52:00.000-05:00

Dr. Lyn Brodersen (Dean of the College of Arts, Letters, and Science at Southwest Minnesota State) contacted me this morning about an important scholarship opportunity from the Construction Writers Association. As their website indicates, the association "is awarding scholarship(s) titled Build A Future Scholarship to undergraduate students who demonstrate outstanding skills, aptitude and motivation in the fields of journalism, communications, and public relations as they apply to the fields of architecture, engineering, or construction."

The site also notes that "The monetary award is $2,000 (US Dollars) and it is open to students pursuing studies in any of the above fields. In addition to the monetary award, this scholarship includes a full conference registration to the CWA Annual Conference and a travel stipend up to $500 (US Dollars). The total value is $3,500 (US Dollars)."

If you are interest in applying for the scholarship, please visit this site for details:
http://www.constructionwriters.org/awards/scholarship/#n

Gallery of Writing - Southwest Minnesota Writing Gallery

2009-09-24T15:15:00.002-05:00

High school and undergraduate students in Southwest Minnesota can get one piece of their writing published by uploading it to the:

Gallery of Writing - Southwest Minnesota Writing Gallery

Shared via AddThis

Congratulations to...

2009-09-15T15:14:00.001-05:00

Jessica Welu, PWC and Creative Writing Major, who is one of three SMSU English majors to win this year's Gala Scholarship.

Congratulations PWC Majors

2009-09-05T22:11:00.007-05:00

Congratulations to PWC majors who received honors for the 2009 Spring Semester.
Students with a 3.8-4.0 GPA were awarded with High Honors.

Students with a 3.5-3.75 GPA were award with Honors.

High Honors

Janna Dorman

Lorien Downing

Kylie Jacobsen

Barbara Sullivan

Jessica Welu

Sandy Zeug

Honors

Stephanie Bruns

Brandon DeVries

Meet Sandy Zeug

2009-09-01T17:24:00.003-05:00

Sandy Zeug is a senior PWC major from Lucan, MN who...

dreams of being a receptionist or secretary for a medical facility.
is focusing for a career in Sioux Falls after graduation.
loves reading The Hatchet by Gary Paulsen.
looks up to both her parents because they have taught her morals and values.
enjoys technical writing over creative writing.
considers her greatest accomplishment running a half marathon.

By Stephanie Bruns

Meet Stephanie Bruns

2009-09-01T17:20:00.002-05:00

Stephanie Bruns is a junior PWC major from Champlin, MN who...

dreams of being a book editor for a publishing company.
wants to get an internship with a publishing company in hopes of being hired after the internship.
enjoys reading her favorite book, The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien.
picked SMSU because it was a back-up plan that eventually became the number one plan. She loves the people that go here, the professors, classes, and her involvement in golf.
considers her greatest accomplishment living in France for six weeks, not knowing the language, and still surviving!

By Sandy Zeug

Meet Christy Streff

2009-09-01T17:16:00.002-05:00

Christy Streff is a senior PWC major from Canby, MN who...

hopes to someday teach at the college level and plans on attending graduate school when she graduates.
would like to work in the journalistic or magazine field if she does not attend graduate school.
enjoys writing about people, which explains her preferred reading genere, non-fiction.
supports herself through college by working at a local pharmacy and dreams of someday moving to a big city like Chicago.

By Michaela Speer

Meet Janice Robinson

2009-09-01T17:10:00.002-05:00

Janice Robinson is a senior PWC major from Marshall, MN who...

dreams of working for Merideth Publishing or work in a university setting.
plans to keep her job at SMSU.
wants to focus her education on adapting her education to her work.
likes to read mystery books and magazines about household improvement and gardening.
enjoys writing feature articles.
finally finishing college at the age of 53.

By Jessica Welu

Meet Jessica Welu

2009-09-01T17:07:00.003-05:00

Jessica Welu is a senior PWC major from Pipestone, MN who...

dreams of becoming a travel writer.
plans to get a job as a writer.
wants to focus her education on writing in different genres.
reads dark satire and suspense novels and travel magazines in her spare time.
enjoys writing in a creative way.
considers her accomplishment to be traveling to France and Italy.

By Jason Zahn

Meet Jason Zahn

2009-09-01T16:59:00.003-05:00

Jason Zahn is a senior who...

dreams of becoming a college professor of Spanish.
plans to get a job at a university (of course!).
wants to focus his education on professional writing during his last year at SMSU.
likes to read philosophy and science fiction and his favorite magazine is Bon Appetit in his spare time.
enjoys writing creative non-fiction.
considers his greatest accomplishment knowing three languages.

By Janice Robinson

Meet Michaela Speer

2009-09-01T16:44:00.004-05:00

Michaela is a senior from Wisconsin who...

dreams of being an assistant editor for a magazine that focuses on the arts.
recently has become passionate about local organic farming practices.
enjoys reading books by world authors.
loves the magazines Gourmet and Real Simple.
is focusing her major on magazine writing.
looks up to anyone who is motivated and hardworking.
works part time during college at Bagels and Brew in Marshall.
spent two weeks in India.
already has a bachelor's degree in Communication from University of Wisconsin - Whitewater.

By Christine Streff

The Problem With PowerPoint

2009-08-19T20:34:00.005-05:00

Dr. Jim Zarzana, English Department Chair at Southwest Minnesota State University, saw this story on the BBC News website and thought we would enjoy it. The article's title is "The Problem with PowerPoint." Its lead begins: "If you work in an office in the Western world, you will probably have sat through a PowerPoint presentation. But there's a problem. They're boring." The full article can be found at:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/8207849.stm

Submit Your Work to the Southwest Minnesota Writing Gallery

2009-08-13T11:40:00.005-05:00

The Southwest Minnesota Writing Gallery is NOW Accepting Submissions.

What is The Southwest Minnesota Writing Gallery?
In celebration of the October 20, 2009 National Day on Writing, and with the help of NCTE (National Council for Teachers of English), high school and college students in Southwest Minnesota have a place to display a piece of writing of their choice.

Who can participate?
High school and college students in Southwest Minnesota with any kind of writing* may upload ONE piece of writing at http://galleryofwriting.org/galleries/55821. Any kind of writing will work —from word processing to photography, audio recording to text messages—and all types of writing—from letters to lists, memoirs to memos, poems to nonfiction essays, journal entries to technical documents.

*All writing submitted should meet the content guidelines found at: http://www.galleryofwriting.org/guidelines.php

How do students participate?
1. Go to http://galleryofwriting.org/galleries/55821
2. Create a login
3. Click on contribute writing and follow the screen-by-screen instructions
4. If you are under 13 years of age, you will need a parent’s or guardian’s help and email address
5. You will receive an email from the gallery when your work is accepted

Who can tell me more?
Those with questions about the Southwest Minnesota gallery should contact Dr. Teresa Henning at: http://www.blogger.com/teresa.henning@smsu.edu

To find out more about the National Day on Writing, please visit: http://www.ncte.org/dayonwriting

To contribute writing to the National Writing Gallery, please visit: http://www.galleryofwriting.org/

A Twibe for Editors & Writers

2009-04-24T13:10:00.004-05:00

Dr. Judy Wilson here in the English Department told me about a Twibe a friend of hers, Janice Campbell, started. The focus in Janice Campbell's words is “If you write or edit professionally, this is your group!”
The link is here: http://www.twibes.com/group/writers-editors

Meet Kylie Jacobsen

2009-04-06T23:49:00.004-05:00

Kylie Jacobsen is a freshman PWC major from Hutchinson, MN who...

dreams of becoming a novelist one day.

plans to work at a newspaper, mostly likely in her hometown, after graduating from SMSU.

wants to focus her education on journalism, as well as learn more about editing.

reads one of her many favorite books, 1984 by George Orwell, in her free time.

enjoys writing historical fiction.

considers her greatest accomplishment landing the internship at her hometown newspaper this coming summer.

Norman Mailer High School and College Writing Awards

2009-03-30T12:32:00.004-05:00

I have just received information about the Norman Mailer High School and College Writing Awards. This year's award focuses on creative nonfiction which the award defines as "any of the subgenres of creative nonfiction: memoir or autobiography, essay, literary journalism, profiles of people or places, and so on."

Award amounts range from $5,000 to $10, 000!!!!

Submissions are due anytime between March 23, 2009 and May 15, 2009.

For more information, please visit this link: http://www.ncte.org/awards/student/nmwa

Good luck writers! I hope someone from SMSU at least makes honorable mention.

Help with Techncial Writing

2009-03-23T14:15:00.004-05:00

If you would like to learn more about technical writing or need more help with a technical assignment, Amy Bennett suggests that you check out this website for free insights into technical writing: http://www.technicalwritingzone.com/

Meta4Magazine Writing Opportunity

2009-03-08T14:34:00.005-05:00

I received the following writing opportunity via email early in the week. The magazine sounds like it has more of a literary focus, but I thought some of those with double majors would find this one of interest. Here are the details from the editors themselves:

"Please excuse our intrusion to announce Meta4 Magazine, a new onlineliterary journal. We're currently seeking submissions from writers of allstripes. We humbly ask for your readership, that you share the site withyour students, and that you'll consider contributing some of your own workto this new venture. Thank you for your time."
http://www.meta4magazine.org/
Kurt Milberger & Joel Kopplin, Editors for Meta4 Magazine

Positive Impacts of Undergraduate Research

2009-02-22T14:31:00.018-06:00

The following slide show includes pictures of SMSU students who participated in the 2008 Undergraduate Research Conference and makes some comments about why research is important. Included in the pictures are students who took Business Communications, or Scientific and Technical Writing, or Rhetoric: The Essay with Prof. Henning.

Jobs that Pay

2009-02-13T15:21:00.004-06:00

PWC major Janice Robinson sent me another hot tip. Career Builder recently did an article on 25 jobs that pay $25 an hour. Writer/editor is listed as one of the jobs. Here's the article link if you would like more information: http://msn.careerbuilder.com/Article/MSN-1801-Salaries-and-Promotions-25-Jobs-that-Pay-25-an-Hour/?sc_extcmp=JS_1801_home1&SiteId=cbmsnhp41801&ArticleID=1801&gt1=23000&cbRecursionCnt=1&cbsid=f566e8b1008a4fb4b50a6dd6cb8d6db5-287773251-VE-4

On Indices (Indexes)

2009-02-10T11:52:00.009-06:00

The Context
In my rant on pages numbers, I raised the issue of making a text easy for readers to use. I argued that page numbers are a nicety that helps readers use the text. I am now beginning to think that Indexes (Indices) do the same thing for readers, and I am noticing that not all texts have them.
My Beef
I tend to read lots of nonfiction texts that are really collections of essays. I am finding that more recently texts of this sort are not providing readers with an index. Personally, I think that readers of these kinds of texts would really find an index useful, but I imagine that editors of such texts don't always have the time or the money to do extensive indices.
Rant On
So, what do you think? Are indexes (indices) useful to readers? What can editors of collections of essays do to produce an index easily and cheaply?

2009-02-04T13:39:00.007-06:00

Magazine Writing Opportunity

Have you been looking for a magazine to write for? PWC major, Janice Robinson, suggests that you consider writing for Womeninc. Their website has a submit a story idea link. Robinson says that they pay 0.15 a word. I couldn't find that information on their website, but writing for their magazine might be good experience for those of you who are interested. Here's the link so that you can check them out for yourselves: http://www.women-inc.com/

Changes in MLA Format

2009-02-02T14:27:00.002-06:00

The MLA Handbook for Writers will be going to a 7th edition sometime this spring. Several websites are offering overviews of the changes. If you are really into MLA manuscript format, check out these links:
Purdue University Online Writing Center:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/557/15/
Library at Northern Michigan University:
http://library.nmu.edu/guides/userguides/style_mla_scholar.htm

A Celebration of Success Video

2009-01-29T11:33:00.006-06:00

This video was created from pictures Janna and I both took to celebrate SMSU student accomplishments.

Business Writing Contest

2009-01-27T11:49:00.002-06:00

As I receive them, I will include on the blog information about student writing contests related to professional writing.

Association for Business Communication (ABC) Writing Contest
Those of you who like business writing should consider entering the Association for Business Communication’s student writing contest.
The contest asks you to write in response to a case. Entries are due Friday, April 24, 2009, and first, second, and third place winners receive money.
For more details, visit this site: http://www.businesscommunication.org/awards/student/ABCStudentAward2009Contest.html

Meet Dan Gilland

2009-01-26T16:30:00.001-06:00

Dan is a freshman PWC Major from Morgan, MN who...

dreams of becoming a sports journalist for a large newspaper or magazine.
plans to get a job at a newspaper or magazine and start building his resume after graduating from SMSU.
wants to focus his education on journalism and improve his technical writing.
reads his favorite book To Kill a Mockingbird and his favorite magazine Sports Illustrated in his spare time.
enjoys writing in a journalistic way, especially writing feature and profile stories.
considers his greatest accomplishment placing 6th at the state tournament with his golf team.

On Page Numbers

2009-01-26T14:20:00.000-06:00

The Context
In technical writing and technical editing we talk a lot about making a text easy for readers to use. In Johnson-Sheehan’s Technical Communication Today (2/e), he suggests that readers “raid” a text for information. I pretty much buy that metaphor when it comes to technical documents, and students and I spend a lot of time discussing strategies for enabling readers to use text easily and quickly. Just a few topics we discuss include: how to use graphics, diagrams, headings, and idea arrangement (e.g., how to create a hierarchy of information with most needed items first). However, lately, I have also been discussing page numbers.
My Beef
Lots of places are trying to do documentation on the cheap by creating PDF documents that users can download from the web. As a user, I find those documents handy and sometimes print them off. However, the last few documents I have printed have been long and got messed up at the shared printer. Imagine my chagrin when I discovered the documents did not have page numbers! Yes, I could have added them before printing, but shouldn’t they be there already? Aren’t page numbers a good way to make a document more usable? Do we too often take something like page numbers for granted?
Rant On
What do you think? Do page numbers even matter? Or do you have a different more annoying pet peeve related to writing to rant on about?

Meet Janna Dorman

2009-01-12T14:00:00.008-06:00

Janna Dorman is a freshman PWC major from Marshall, MN who...

dreams of becoming a book editor for a publishing company.

plans to attend graduate school after she graduates from SMSU.

wants to focus her education on editing.

reads her favorite book The Book Thief in her spare time.

enjoys writing technically more than creatively.

considers her greatest accomplishment to be raising over $1000 and $1000lbs. of food for the local food shelf.

PWC Professional Activites

2009-01-12T14:00:00.007-06:00

PWC Majors are getting ahead with internships & speaking opportunities.

Dan Gilland
Intern, Marshall Independent
Spring 2009

Lorien Downing
Speaker, Rotary Club
February 2009

Janice Robinson
Interviewed for Womeninc Magazine
February 2009

Jessica Welu
Intern, Lyon County Library
Spring 2009

Jason Zahn
Intern, Spur
Spring 2009

Tara Adolph
Intern, Chamber of Commerce (Marshall)
Spring 2009
PWC Minor

Kylie Jacobsen
Intern, Hutch Leader
Summer 2009

Congratulations PWC Majors

2009-01-12T14:00:00.006-06:00

Congratulations to PWC Majors who received honors for Fall Semester.

Students with a 3.8-4.0 GPA were awarded with High Honors.
Students with a 3.5-3.75 GPA were award with Honors.

High Honors:
Janna Dorman
Lorien Downing
Dan Gilland
Mallory Gould
Kylie Jacobsen
Jason Zahn

Honors:
Emi Kawakami
Jessica Welu
Sandy Zeug

PWC Featured Career: Technical Editing

2009-01-12T14:00:00.002-06:00

What is a Technical Editor?
Technical editors make sure that technical documents are concise and easily understandable. Technical documents usually inform people how to perform a specific task. Technical editors help to make the format as well as the content of a technical piece of writing easy to read and comprehend.

Job Duties
Technical editors perform many job duties:

· Suggest format to communicate messages effectively (Information taken from editorsforum.org)

· Rewrite and restructure text to fit the format (editorsforum.org)

· Review all aspects of production and making sure that standards stay consistent throughout documents (editorsforum.org)

· Ensure communication between all members of production (editorsforum.org)

· Delete content that is outdated or does not enhance the meaning of the passage
(editorsforum.org)

Job Outlook
From 2006 – 2016, the number of employment opportunities in editing should rise 2.3% nationally.

The number of employment opportunities in Minnesota is expected to fall 2.4%.

· National average hourly wage is $27.32
· Minnesota average hourly wage is $25.04
· Seven County Mlps – St. Paul, MN average hourly wage is $25.98
· Southwestern average hourly wage is $17.55
(Information from iseek.org)

“Employment of salaried writers and editors is expected to increase as demand grows for web-based publications... Online publications and services are growing in number and sophistication, spurring the demand for writers and editors, especially those with Web experience.” -The Bureau of Labor Statistics

Example Job Ad
RTI is an independent organization dedicated to conducting innovative, multidisciplinary research that improves the human condition. With a worldwide staff of more than 4,000 people, RTI offers innovative research and development and a full spectrum of multidisciplinary services on an International level.

Job Description

The Program Development Office within the Social and Statistical Sciences Division at RTI International is seeking an experienced editor to provide publications support to research staff in the production of technical reports, white papers, proposals, journal articles, presentation materials, guidelines documents, outreach materials, newsletters, and brochures in a fast-paced, deadline-driven setting.

This position requires extensive knowledge of:

• fundamental principles, terminology, and methodology of technical editing and/or writing and document organization
• style guides and/or other writing conventions
• grammar and punctuation rules
• word processing, graphics, and printing processes and software for document roduction.

In addition, qualified candidates must demonstrate effective communication skills including but not limited to:

• providing diplomatic and constructive comments to clients
• providing project leadership on publications teams
• developing and maintaining strong client base
• observing detail
• managing and prioritizing multiple tasks
• making sound judgment to analyze tasks and determining appropriate level of effort required for completion.
• independently organizing and prioritizing work
• adapting to changes in priorities, workload, and workflow.

Responsibilities

• Editing complex technical reports for heavy reorganization and rewriting as required, with attention to grammar, style, format, and consistency according to appropriate style guide or knowledge of client
• Writing or assembling new material from client-supplied information
• Coordinating all phases of document production, using a thorough knowledge of publication processes
• Coordinating proposal production efforts
• Developing style guidelines as needed

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in English or related writing discipline
• Five years of editing/writing experience
OR
• Master’s degree in related discipline
• Four years of relevant experience

Editors are needed everywhere, in every field of expertise!

SMSU PWC Major Blog

Logo Contest

Ethics in Visual Rhetoric

Design is Important Too

Association for Business Communication (ABC) Writing Contest

The Value of a Liberal Arts Degree

Technical Writer Job Opening

Logo Contest

Summer Internship Opportunity

New Journal On Undergraduate Research Is A Good Publishing Opportunity For PWC Majors

American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME) Internships Available

PWC Graduate's Blog

Former PWC Student Receives Promotion

Congratulations to PWC majors who received honors for the 2011 Spring Semester!

Helpful Guide for Writing on the Web

Summer Internship Opportunity at Marshall Lyon County Library

Editing Job Opportunity

Web Designer Job in Marshall

Technical Editing Scholarship

Norman Mailer Writing Award

Interested in Creating Graphic Novels?

Top Interview Questions for Technical Writers

Congratulations to PWC majors who received honors for the 2010 Fall Semester.

Congratulations to English 360 Students Who Participated in the 5th Annual Undergraduate Research Conference!

Part-time Sports Writing Job at Marshall Independent

PR Internship

Magazine Editor Internships

What can you do with a major in Professional Writing?

Be Sure to Attend the Southwest Minnesota Writing Gallery's Celebration of Writers and Writing

Literacy Tutor Job Openings

The Southwest Minnesota Writing Gallery is NOW Accepting Submissions

Congratulations 2010 PWC Graduate Christy Streff!

Congratulations PWC 2010 Graduates: Jessica Welu, Sandy Zeug, and Jason Zahn!

PWC Major to Intern with Bethany House

Congratulations to Who's Who Recipients

Technical Writers

Congratulations to Sandy Zeug!

Congratulations to Kylie Jacobsen

Congratulations PWC Majors

Business Writing Contest

Congratulations to English 360 Students Who Participated in the 4th Annual Research Conference at SMSU!

Public Relations Specialist

Reception for Writing Gallery and Writing Center Open House

Magazine Editor Internships

Telling Women's Stories Essay Contest

Construction Writers Association Scholarship

Gallery of Writing - Southwest Minnesota Writing Gallery

Congratulations to...

Congratulations PWC Majors

Meet Sandy Zeug

Meet Stephanie Bruns

Meet Christy Streff

Meet Janice Robinson

Meet Jessica Welu

Meet Jason Zahn

Meet Michaela Speer

The Problem With PowerPoint

Submit Your Work to the Southwest Minnesota Writing Gallery

A Twibe for Editors & Writers

Meet Kylie Jacobsen

Norman Mailer High School and College Writing Awards

Help with Techncial Writing

Meta4Magazine Writing Opportunity

Positive Impacts of Undergraduate Research

Jobs that Pay

On Indices (Indexes)

Changes in MLA Format

A Celebration of Success Video

Business Writing Contest

Meet Dan Gilland

On Page Numbers

Meet Janna Dorman

PWC Professional Activites

Congratulations PWC Majors

PWC Featured Career: Technical Editing