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Instructor Sean Lancaster’s goals for his MIS 235 students are that they understand the technical terms and concepts related to MIS and also gain the ability to communicate their solutions to a non-technical audience.
Through working with the Howe Writing Initiative (HWI), Lancaster has improved the assignments he gives to students. What was once a list of questions for students to answer is now a business scenario complete with setting, audience, and purpose. As Lancaster says, “The Howe was instrumental in helping me design my writing assignments to echo the demands of the business world.”
As a result of these changes to his assignments, Lancaster reports improved writing by his students, as well as outcomes that match the course goals. According to Lancaster, “The writing assignments demand that the students critically engage with the material, think through key issues, and communicate their ideas. The HWI has helped my students recognize the value in providing solutions instead of terminology.”
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 our mission to enhance the quality of student writing in the Business School, the Howe Writing Initiative remains dedicated to maintaining Miami’s success in writing-in-the-disciplines.
To schedule an appointment, email us at hwi@muohio.edu, or drop by the HWI office in Laws 204. Our writing center hours for Fall 2007 are:
More information about the ranking of writing-in-the-disciplines programs can be found at the colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com
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