Writing Internship Program

Since 1996, The Writing Internship Program (WIP) has offered a writing-intensive experience to students, blending classroom writing experience with on-the-job skills training.

As a cooperative between students, businesses/sites, and Kent State’s Department of English, the WIP has several interrelated goals:

Expand students interests and experiences as a writer
Develop an in-depth understanding of audience and purpose
Learn about the functions and uses of discourse
Gain valuable on-the-job skills and contacts, prior to graduation, and
Enable students' to build their resume/professional credentials

Businesses/sites acquire energetic, smart, and able workers with fresh ideas. And, the department receives an opportunity to work with site supervisors on and off campus, often leading to procuring jobs for our student interns.
Given these facts, we would like to invite you to learn more about the Writing Internship Program by exploring the website or contacting our office for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Prerequisites

The Writing Internship Program (WIP) Three (3) credit-hour course satisfies the requirement for an upper-level writing intensive course. All majors who have taken at least one of the following prerequisite courses, or advisor recommendation, or a 3.0 GPA in their major/s may apply:

Writing in Business (ENG 30061)
Principles of Technical Writing (ENG 30062)
Professional Writing (ENG 30063)
Argumentative Prose Writing (ENG 30064)
Writing in the Public Sphere (ENG 30066)
Senior Seminar (ENG 49091)

What to expect as a writing intern?

You will spend approximately 10 hours per week at your internship site as a member of the writing staff.
You may work individually or as a team, depending on your site supervisor/s needs.
You will work closely with your site supervisor, who maintains contact with the WIP.
Your duties will vary but expect to be involved in writing in all stages of development, from research and organizing, to drafting and revising, to distribution.

How can I measure my success?

Experience has shown that those interns who generate ideas, show initiative, and seek additional responsibilities will profit more from their internships than students who wait to be told what to do. While a great deal of your work will eventually be substantive writing and editing, you may be asked to perform assignments you regard as routine or boring, especially at first. It is best to cheerfully accept these assignments. Evidence of an intern’s ability to handle routine tasks quickly and accurately is often necessary before the intern is given more assignments.

Where can I intern?

Internship sites may change from semester to semester, depending on the site’s needs and the potential intern’s interests and skill sets. Below is a list of some previous and current internship sites:

Kent Campus On-Site:

College of Business
Department of Modern and Classical Language Studies
Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Division of Research & Economic Development
ESL Center - Department of English
Department of English
Honors College
Jewish Studies Program
Office of Global Education
Office of Experiential Education and Civic Engagement
Office of Undergraduate Studies and Research
School of Arts
School of Multidisciplinary Social Studies and Humanities
The Fashion School and Museum
University Library
University Communications & Marketing
Wick Poetry Center
WKSU
Women’s Center
Writing Commons

Off-site Internship Opportunities:

British American Chamber of Commerce
Family & Community Services
Geauga Campus - Listening Eye Magazine

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