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The Baylor Lariat

Professional writing and rhetoric major builds versatile, creative writers

Julianne Fullerton

By Julianne Fullerton | Reporter

Housed in Baylor’s English department , professional writing and rhetoric (PWR) is a small but mighty major of 59 students that prepares them to learn the versatility of writing and how to apply it in their professional lives .

Dr. Sara Dye, lecturer in English, defined rhetoric as the “art, discipline and craft of communicating effectively.” Within the major, she said students learn how to utilize rhetoric in practical ways.

“If you think about what you encounter on a day-to-day basis, everything is rhetorical,” Dye said. “One of the things that I think we do in the professional writing and rhetoric major is emphasize that we are surrounded by rhetoric and that being aware of all of the ways in which people are communicating with us and we are communicating with other people … can help us be more effective and ethical communicators.”

Dye said upon graduation, students with PWR degrees go on to do “anything and everything.”

“Everyone needs writers; everyone needs people who can communicate clearly and effectively and efficiently,” Dye said. “There are seemingly endless career options for people who have writing degrees. I think that a PWR degree sets you up to really do just about anything, because you will write no matter what you do for a career.”

Dye said she wishes all students knew exactly how much writing they’re going to do in their futures. Regardless of their field, Dye said employers always look for strong written and verbal communication skills.

“PWR as a major can prepare you to excel in almost any, if not all, possible career paths, because what you do as a writer is you think about, ‘How do I accomplish whatever purpose I have in front of me?'” Dye said. “One thing that we are doing is developing the critical thinking and writing skills that enable you to walk into a variety of contexts, a variety of disciplines, a variety of careers and be able to communicate effectively in them.”

Although he didn’t know what he wanted to do coming out of high school, Dallas sophomore Luke Babler said he has learned just how “pervasive” writing is. He said he even calls writing a “cultural thermometer,” because it gives insight into a person.

“Math, it’s humans defining concepts that are outside of ourselves, but writing is inherently from within,” Babler said. “The single best way to tell anything about anyone is how they write, which I think is fascinating.”

Through PWR, Babler said he has found a new interest in wanting to work collaboratively.

“What these classes have taught me the most is how much I like to work with people,” Babler said. “There’s a kind of misconception that writing is done by the starving artist, a loner type, and that’s just simply not true.”

Babler said he has confidence that he will be able to succeed despite living in a constantly shifting technological era.

“Truly, if you know how to be a good communicator, then there’s very little that you cannot figure out,” Babler said. “In these PWR classes, I may not know exactly what I want to do yet, but I do know that whatever I’m going to do, I’m going to be able to adapt to it.”

Kennesaw, Ga., senior Elle Jansick said she originally came to Baylor to pursue interior design, with PWR as her secondary major. However, soon after, she decided to fully pursue PWR.

“I never thought that I was going to pursue writing professionally; I thought it was just always like a hobby,” Jansick said. “Once I found out about the program, it really opened my eyes to how versatile the program is, and I was really excited to get to jump in.”

Jansick said her motivation to write stems from how she “unapologetically” believes in storytelling.

“I think that the more time that I spend in creative circles and creative careers and with our peers and cohort, I think that I know that I was put on this Earth to help tell stories,” Jansick said. “And I don’t think that’s always going to be on pen and paper. I think sometimes it’s going to be through art mediums.”

Jansick said she considers her PWR major to be the “best choice” she has made. Now that she is doing an internship with Magnolia , she said she is able to combine her passions and skills to create visual storytelling.

“As far as writing goes, it works in because we’re visually storytelling, and so that always starts with an idea,” Jansick said. “It starts with writing. It starts with drafting out a concept. Getting to see that aspect translate into something that I’m doing — which is much more tactical — but know that it all goes back to storytelling has been really cool.”

As for her future career plans, Jansick said she would love to continue with Magnolia and find a position on their visual display merchandising team. In addition, she said she would love to freelance write.

“For me, everything starts with words,” Jansick said. “Before I sketch, I write it out. I think that creating a visual element for people can go in tandem with a well-written piece, and I think getting to be on both sides of that coin is really, really cool.”

Jansick said she encourages all students to add a PWR class to their course schedule at Baylor.

“I think that if you have the ability and you want to work in any kind of creative field or any field where you’re going to tell stories, and you can add this, it’s the best asset you can do,” Jansick said.

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Julianne Fullerton is a junior Journalism and Professional Writing and Rhetoric double major from the Houston area. She loves the editorial side of the writing process, which is why she enjoys being a Copy Editor. She loves going for walks, taking naps, going on Sonic runs, having game nights and traveling.

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COMMENTS

  1. Creative Writing | Undergraduate Admissions - Baylor University

    Creative Writing. To minor in creative writing, students must complete 18 hours of study within the English department. There are two tracks within the creative writing minorpoetry and fiction.

  2. Creative Writing Minor | English | Baylor University

    To minor in Creative Writing, students must complete 18 hours of study within in the English department. There are two tracks within the Creative Writing minor: poetry and fiction.

  3. Creative Writing Minor - Baylor University

    Required Courses. Twelve semester hours from the following workshop courses: 12. CW 3300. Creative Writing: Poetry. CW 3302. Poetry of Illness and Imagination. CW 3310. Topics in Poetry.

  4. English | Baylor University

    We offer majors in English Literature, Linguistics, or Professional Writing and Rhetoric. We also offer a minor in Creative Writing. Our students work with top scholars in their fields and benefit from small, discussion-oriented classes.

  5. Graduate | English | Baylor University

    Creative Writing. Baylor has a growing creative writing faculty, and while the M.A. degree remains a literature degree, students may take up to two classes in creative writing over the two-year period and write a creative thesis in addition to their courses in literature.

  6. Faculty & Staff | English | Baylor University

    Dr. Ginger Hanchey. Senior Lecturer Director of the Core Undergraduate Program Director for Literature & Creative Writing. [email protected]. Carroll Science 109. (254) 710-4593.

  7. Faculty & Staff | Great Texts | Baylor University

    Sarah-Jane Murray, Ph.D. Professor of Great Texts and Creative Writing. SJ_Murray@Baylor.edu. Draper 249.10. (254) 710-7854.

  8. Professional writing and rhetoric major ... - The Baylor Lariat

    Housed in Baylor’s English department, professional writing and rhetoric (PWR) is a small but mighty major of 59 students that prepares them to learn the versatility of writing and how to apply it in their professional lives.

  9. Professional Writing & Rhetoric | English - Baylor University

    Professional Writing & Rhetoric (PWR) at Baylor University prepares students to become effective communicators in diverse environments, for diverse disciplines, in a variety of workplaces and careers, and in a range of media.

  10. University Writing Center | Baylor University

    At the University Writing Center (UWC), we offer free personal consulting in all areas of writing and composing at any stage of the writing process. Whether you want a reader for a final draft, to brainstorm ideas, or to discuss an entire assignment, the UWC can help.