Howe to Write Well

To schedule an appointment, email the Howe Writing Initiative (HWI) staff at hwi@muohio.edu, or drop by the HWI office in Laws 204. Visit www.fsb.muohio.edu/hwi for the center's hours and additional resources.

More information about the ranking of writing-in-the-disciplines programs can be found at US News and World Report

Calyn Gelinas had plenty of material for her summary of a lecture entitled “The World is Flat.” As she drafted her summary, however, Calyn found that she wanted some expert feedback in order to make sure she was including appropriate information and correctly formatting the summary as a memo.

Fortunately for Calyn, a member of the Howe Writing Initiative visited her MIS 235 class. She knew that help was available and relied on the Howe for feedback on drafts of her memo as she prepared her assignment. She has since returned for help on other class assignments as well.

The Howe Writing Initiative in the Farmer School of Business has played a crucial role in enhancing business students’ writing through individual conferences and classroom visits. US News and World Report now includes Miami as one of 28 schools nationwide with “outstanding” programs in writing-in-the-disciplines in its recent publication of America’s Best Colleges 2008.

About Miami and the other schools included in the writing in the disciplines list, US News writes, “These colleges typically make the writing process a priority at all levels of instruction and across the curriculum. Students are encouraged to produce and refine various forms of writing for different audiences in different disciplines.”

Within the first three weeks of the 2007-2008 school year alone, the HWI assistant directors—under the direction of Roger and Joyce L. Howe Professor Kate Ronald—conducted 18 classroom visits, discussing the principles of effective business writing with students and their professors.

The HWI also works closely with business faculty in designing and refining effective writing assignments. Because of this close interaction with faculty, the members of the HWI are often familiar with the writing assignments that students bring in for individual conferences.

Through their mission to enhance the quality of student writing in the Farmer School, the Howe Writing Initiative remains dedicated to maintaining Miami’s success in writing-in-the-disciplines.

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