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Client-Based Writing Program is preparing students to write professionally in the workplace.<\/h3>\n
F<\/span>or mechanical engineering major Eric Roper, it\u2019s fair to say that writing was not one of his favorite subjects. But as a senior trying to prepare himself for a career that involves writing reports and procedures, he needed to have a basic skill set under his belt. Having been recently ranked among the top 10 in U.S.News & World Report\u2019s list of schools with the highest percentage of students holding internships or co-op positions, Clemson takes pride in offering programs and opportunities to provide students with this type of real-world experience. Richard Gaines, director of Anderson Adult Education Center, has been working with professor Philip Randall\u2019s classes for the past three years, and admires the creativity and commitment displayed through each project and semester. The classes have assisted with a variety of projects, including marketing efforts, boosting morale of students and faculty through building enhancements and surveys, communicating GED requirements and research. In addition to teaching and recruiting clients to participate in the program, Cowden is responsible for recruiting faculty members like Randall and orienting them to an approach unlike most of their other classes. Classes are very much student-centered, as class members work directly with clients. And faculty members collaborate with their students in a variety of ways throughout the process. As the program enters its tenth year, it exhibits the potential for growth in the midst of its success. Cowden would like to expand the program across campus into a wider variety of courses. That has already begun \u201cin little pockets,\u201d she said, including some graduate classes. \u201cI would also love to have more classes collaborating on projects, like having a business writing and marketing class working together.\u201d CLIENT PARTNERS<\/b> Concerned Citizens for Animals Mary\u2019s House
\nThat\u2019s where professor Ashley Cowden\u2019s technical writing class last fall came into play. A part of Clemson\u2019s Client-Based Writing Program, the class provided Roper the opportunity to experience writing and formatting technical documents in a real-life setting, while gaining the knowledge that would prepare him for future technical writing projects he may encounter in the workforce.<\/p>\nWriting class+local client=real-world experience<\/h3>\n
\n[pullquote align=’right’ font=’chunk’ color=’#clemson-orange’]The Client-Based Writing Program pairs business and technical writing classes with local clients, such as nonprofit organizations, public schools, corporations and University departments, that need communication deliverables.[\/pullquote] In teams, students complete deliverables that range from white papers and research reports to brochures, instruction manuals and multimedia presentations.
\nEstablished in 2003, the program has garnered impressive statistics. More than 4,361 students in more than 220 sections of business and technical writing have partnered with clients, and more than 30 writing faculty and 176 clients from the campus and community have participated in the program.
\nCowden, director of the program, has witnessed its development since the beginning.
\n\u201cWe started out doing a lot of environmental projects and sustainability, because that\u2019s where a lot of the funding was and we felt very passionate about that,\u201d she said.
\nSince then, the program has branched out in terms of the clients and projects that it undertakes, developing a strong reputation and a long list of clients ranging from Clemson Dining Services to Anderson Adult Education and Habitat for Humanity.<\/p>\nSolving real problems<\/h3>\n
\n\u201cIt\u2019s been motivating for our students and staff to see the hard work and dedication of the University students,\u201d Gaines said. \u201cBeyond the obvious benefits, there are countless rewards that both groups experience by being challenged and inspired by each other.\u201d
\nA goal of Randall\u2019s is to enable students to excel in business writing while using their talents to positively impact society by solving real problems in the real world.
\n\u201cHelping people get more education so they can qualify for better jobs is helping solve a very big problem,\u201d Randall said. \u201cIt can change life for a person or even an entire family. So the work that Clemson students are doing for adult ed is very important.\u201d<\/p>\nMoving students toward confident communicating<\/h3>\n
\n\u201cIn the beginning of the semester,\u201d Cowden said, \u201cwe\u2019re teaching a lot of the theory, how to perform good audience analysis, what a good proposal sounds like, how to do research, and so on.\u201d Once the class moves forward in the process of actively working with a client, the professors direct students\u2019 attention to the client when they have questions.
\nAnd while Cowden and other faculty members don\u2019t tell students how to solve problems, they do work to guide them toward finding a solution.
\n\u201cThe client comes and says, \u2018Here\u2019s my problem, and here\u2019s what I think I need.\u2019 I know in my head how I would do it, and I try to ask students questions to help them get there, but I try to let them figure that out on their own,\u201d she said.
\nAnd watching them succeed is especially rewarding, according to Cowden and Randall.
\n\u201cWatching these students do amazing things for a client is exciting,\u201d Randall said. \u201cI often think, \u2018I get to do this!\u2019 I find it that enjoyable. It\u2019s the best way to teach, in my opinion.\u201d
\nCowden views the program as one of the more unique experiences offered at Clemson.
\n\u201cYou have to meet real client expectations, and it\u2019s not just for a grade,\u201d Cowden said. [pullquote align=’left’ font=’chunk’ color=’#clemson-orange’]\u201cThese skills give our students more confidence to be able to ask tough questions, give a client feedback, and feel more confident in their communication ability.\u201d[\/pullquote]<\/p>\nBuilding r\u00e9sum\u00e9s while building character<\/h3>\n
\nIn all its efforts, the Client-Based Program is motivating business and technical majors to develop writing skills that will be useful in their careers. And with these new skills, students are building r\u00e9sum\u00e9s while also building character through using their knowledge for the betterment of the Clemson community and surrounding areas.
\n\u201cThe IPTAY project we worked on not only gave me experience in writing technical documents, but it also gave me a chance to give back to the University,\u201d Roper said. \u201cAnd the experience will definitely benefit me in my career, because it\u2019s given me an effective approach for writing technical reports and procedures.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>
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\nIn addition to on-campus clients, the Client-Based Writing Program has worked with the following off-campus organizations:<\/b>
\nAMECO division of Fluor Corp.
\nAmerican Haitian Project
\nAnderson County Board of Education
\nAnderson County Department of Health \u00a0 \u00a0 and Environmental Control
\nAnderson County Museum
\nAnderson County Transportation
\nAnderson Emergency Food Bank
\nAnderson Free Clinic
\nAnderson-Oconee Speech and Hearing\u00a0 \u00a0 Clinic
\nAnderson Services Association
\nAnderson Sunshine House
\nBetty Griffin House
\nCancer Association of Anderson
\nCarolina Farm Stewardship Association
\nCity of Clemson
\nClean Start
\nClemson Child Development Center
\nClemson Elementary School
\nCode Elementary School<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>
\n
\nCYT-Upstate
\nDoclink
\nDining for Women
\nFoothills Conservancy for the\u00a0 \u00a0 Performing Arts
\nFoothills YMCA
\nFrazee Dream Center
\nGignilliat Park Academy
\nGreenville County Library
\nGreenville Humane Society
\nHabitat for Humanity
\nHappy Hooves
\nHelping Hands of Clemson
\nHope Academy
\nImpact
\nIva Recreation
\nKeep America Beautiful
\nLittlejohn Community Center<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>
\n
\nMcCants Middle School
\nMichelin Tire Co. Research and\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Development
\nOconee County Foster Parent Association
\nOconee County Track Team
\nOconee Pediatrics
\nParenting Place
\nPendleton Historic Foundation
\nPickens County YMCA
\nSharing Inc.
\nSouth Carolina Urban and Community Forestry Program
\nUnited Way of Pickens County
\nUpstate South Carolina Red Cross
\nWe Stand for Kids<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":6951,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[259,738,1150,2690,2928,3123],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-8244","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-features","tag-ashley-cowen","tag-client-based-writing","tag-faculty","tag-spring-2013","tag-technical-writing","tag-u-s-news-world-report"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/clemson.world\/archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2013\/09\/slider-2013s-training-tigers.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/clemson.world\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8244","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/clemson.world\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/clemson.world\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clemson.world\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clemson.world\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8244"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/clemson.world\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8244\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clemson.world\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6951"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/clemson.world\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8244"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clemson.world\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8244"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clemson.world\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8244"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clemson.world\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=8244"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}