Frequently Asked Questions
General Information
FAQs of Current Students
FAQs of Prospective Students
FAQs about RPW and PTW
General Information
How will the transition from the Department of English to the Department of Rhetoric and Professional Writing affect me?
The Department of Rhetoric and Professional Writing and the SVSU administration have worked to make the transition for PTW students to the new department as smooth as possible. Two changes are immediately evident.
- Course prefixes change from ENGL to RPW.
- The name of the degree-granting department changes to Rhetoric and Professional Writing.
The credentials themselves remain the same. Thus you still earn a Bachelor of Arts or a Minor in Professional and Technical Writing. If you have further questions, speak with Dr. Bill Williamson, the Coordinator of PTW. For contact information, see his [Faculty profile].
Who do I see about RPW questions, concerns, or actions?
If you need to see the Chair of the Department of Rhetoric and Professional Writing, see Dr. Bill Williamson. This includes general and administrative questions, registering complaints and grievances, seeking departmental signatures or approval, and other such issues. For Dr. Williamson's contact information, see his [Faculty profile].
Where are the RPW faculty offices located?
Most of the RPW faculty offices are located on the second floor of the Zahnow Library, right behind the Student Technology Center. [view map].
FAQs of Current Students
Who do I talk to if I have questions about PTW programs?
If you have questions about the PTW programs, speak with the Program Coordinator, Dr. Bill Williamson. For contact information, see his [Faculty profile].
What is the standard course cycle?
Students who like to plan ahead want to know when PTW courses are typically offered. For more on this topic, see [PTW Advising].
When should I do an internship?
The PTW program recommends that students apply for internship placement as soon as they are ready to do so. Most students are ready for such experience after they have completed their first full year of coursework in the program. For more information, see [PTW Advising, PTW Internships].
Who do I see if I have questions about internships?
If you have questions about the PTW internships, speak with the Internship Coordinator, Dr. Beth Jorgensen. For contact information, see his [Faculty profile].
Where can I work on projects for my classes?
The Student Technology Center, located on the second floor of the Zahnow Library (room 214) serves SVSU students who need assistance with computing technologies. It is also an open lab for PTW students who need access to the special computing technologies required for projects in PTW courses. For more information about the Center, see [Student Technology Center]. [view map].
What professional development opportunities are available to me in PTW?
PTW students engage in a range of campus and community activities as part of their general professional development. PTW students work on campus publications (e.g., Cardinal Sins, Valley Vanguard), participate in student organizations. Most students are active in the department's own professional organization — the Association of Professional and Technical Writers (APTW). For more information about the APTW, see the organization's Facebook page.
Where can I locate links to resources related to RPW and PTW?
Explanation.
FAQs of Prospective Students
What can I do with a Professional and Technical Writing degree?
Professional and technical writers work anywhere that people need to provide information about their companies and organizations, products, issues, or anything else worth writing about. For more information, see [PTW Careers].
What kind of projects do students complete in the PTW program?
Students showcase projects they have completed during their time in the PTW program on the page [Student Perspectives on PTW]. Still other projects are featured under [RPW News and Events].
What are the qualities and characteristics of a successful professional or technical writer?
Professional and Technical Writing is a complex activity. Professionals in the field who enjoy long-term career success tend to display the following qualities and characteristics.
- Capable of reading and interpreting a variety of texts, especially those for professional contexts.
- Capable of writing a variety of texts, especially analyses or professional/technical documents,
- Able to articulate or recast complex ideas for different audiences, purposes, and contexts.
- Comfortable working with computers and other communication technologies.
- Adept at learning computer software, and programming and mark-up languages (e.g., html, xml).
- Attend to details, especially those that reflect professionalism and consistency in writing, design, and project planning.
- Interested in learning about knowledge and new developments in other professional fields, especially technical and scientific fields (and any others within which he or she might be interested in working).
What do I do if I want to declare a PTW major or minor?
To declare Professional and Technical Writing as your major or minor, visit the Office of the Registrar (Wickes 151). This action requires that you complete and submit a form. For more information about the Registrar, see the [Office of the Registrar].
FAQs about RPW and PTW
What is rhetoric?
In the Department of Rhetoric and Professional Writing, we use rhetoric as a theoretical framework or way of thinking about how to approach and address the problems we are trying to solve. For more explanation of the connections between rhetoric and professional and technical writing, see [What Is Rhetoric?]
What is Professional and Technical Writing?
In the Department of Rhetoric and Professional Writing, we use rhetoric as a theoretical framework or way of thinking about how to approach and address the problems we are trying to solve. For more explanation of the connections between rhetoric and professional and technical writing, see [What Is Rhetoric?]