Application Process
Background
The Writing Internship in English is a course that allows you to apply your coursework, research, and writing skills in a “real-world” setting. You will also have the opportunity to develop skills and experience that will be valuable to you in the professional marketplace. You can choose a placement in one of the following fields: publishing, public relations/advertising/corporate communications, technical writing, and not-for-profits. Most of our internships are unpaid.
1-4 credits per semester (up to a total of 9 credits; can be taken at the same internship or a different one)
| Fall & Spring Semesters | Summer Semesters |
| 1 credit: 1 credit: under 5 hours/ week at the placement | 1 credit: 80 hours total during the summer |
| 2 credits: 5-10 hours | 2 credits: 80-160 hours total |
| 3 credits: 10-15 hours | 3 credits: 160-240 hours total |
| 4 credits: 15-20 hours | 4 credits: 240-320 hours total |
Prerequisites
Undergraduate: English major with junior standing; successful completion of one 400-level writing course; approval of the instructor and faculty screening committee.
Graduate: Enrolled in English graduate program; successful completion of one semester of graduate course work; approval of the instructor and faculty screening committee.
Course Requirements
Undergraduate
- Attendance at an orientation meeting, a mid-semester meeting, and an end-of-semester seminar with the other interns to discuss educational and professional aspects of internship.
- Submission of monthly progress reports (1-2 pages) describing tasks and accomplishments, areas for improvement, and ways internship experience is contributing to connections between academic studies and a professional career.
- Submission of a six-to-eight-page final analytical report summarizing what you have learned during the internship.
- Successful completion of the internship and a satisfactory evaluation from your on-site supervisor.
Graduate
- Attendance at an orientation meeting, a mid-semester meeting, and an end-of-semester seminar with the other interns to discuss educational and professional aspects of internship.
- Submission of monthly progress reports (3-4 pages) describing tasks and accomplishments, areas for improvement, and ways internship experience is contributing to connections between academic studies and a professional career..
- Submission of a ten-to-fifteen-page final analytical report summarizing what you have learned during the internship, linking that knowledge to graduate coursework, and discussing the impact of your internship experience on your long-term career plans.
- Successful completion of the internship and a satisfactory evaluation from your on-site supervisor.
Application Materials
Undergraduate: Completion of application including brief editing test; writing sample; two faculty references (preferably English Department faculty); interview with Carolyn Washburne; resume and cover letter.
Graduate: Completion of application including longer editing test; writing sample; two faculty references (preferably English Department faculty); interview with Carolyn Washburne; resume and cover letter.
Application Instructions
Application Cover Sheet
Editing Test
Intern Evaluation Form
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Application Steps (Undergraduate and Graduate)
- See "Application Materials" above and fill out the needed forms.
- Arrange for two faculty recommendations. Have faculty return their recommendations directly to the instructor or email them to her.
- Return the completed application materials to the instructor (faculty mailboxes, Curtin Hall, 4th floor).
- Note: Do not contact any potential placements until you have met with the instructor.
Selection Process (Undergraduate and Graduate)
1. UWM screening of application and arrangement of placement:
- Make an appointment with the instructor to review your application and potential placements. Before the appointment, select four or five possible placements from the list of Available Placements, found with the other internship materials on the Department of English Web site.
- Your application will be screened by the Department of English Faculty Internship Committee, and your references and eligibility checked.
- You will be notified as soon as possible whether or not you are accepted.
- After notification of acceptance, contact the placements you and the instructor have selected and arrange for an interview.
2. Placement screening:
- Complete the interview at potential placement.
- When you have been accepted by the placement, work out the details of days, hours, etc.
3.
Both you and the placement will be asked to sign an Employment Agreement spelling out the terms of your internship.
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Instructor
Carolyn Kott Washburne, Adjunct Assistant Professor, 574 Curtin Hall
Department of English
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
P.O. Box 413 . Milwaukee, WI 53201-0413
(414) 229-2709
(414) 229-2643
E-mail: ckw@uwm.edu