Writing

Resources, Strengths, Career Paths, Skills

Although our 21st-century ways of communicating are rapidly changing, writing remains an invaluable craft. The ability to communicate effectively will help you win your first job and, once you're there, will help you advance the way you'd like to. Students who minor in Writing learn to research issues thoroughly, to compose persuasive arguments on any subject, and to present themselves in their writing as knowledgeable, committed, and confident. They also learn to revise and proofread thoroughly until they are sure they are putting their best foot forward. “Writing [is] the study of misunderstanding and its remedies.”

I.A Richards
Author of The Philosophy of Rhetoric
“A good piece of writing closes the gap between you and the reader.”

Linda Flower
Professor of English at Carnegie-Mellon University		 The Writing Minor would serve a student in any major. Writing about any subject is the best way to fully understand that subject, so writing skills usually translate into better grades in courses in your major and elsewhere. Strong writers, by paying special attention to the needs of their readers, to organization, and to cause-and-effect relationships, are able to solve both academic and professional problems effectively. Strong writers also take seriously the quality of their work, and in turn they are looked upon as employees who can be trusted with difficult assignments.
Transferable Skills
Students who minor in Writing develop valued skills, which are essential in a variety of career paths. A minor in Writing promotes:
  • Organizational skills
  • Time management skills
  • Research techniques
  • Flexibility
  • Grammatical, technical, and thoughtful writing
  • The acceptance of criticism
  • Critical and analytical thinking
  • Evaluation and judgment of arguments and their conclusions
  • Establishing a professional relationship between you and your reader.
 Career Paths
A minor in Writing does not provide a specific or constraining trajectory for students, but it does provide students with the fundamentals necessary for a multitude of careers. A strong writer can excel in these fields:
  • Communications
  • Business
  • Education
  • Research
  • Publishing
  • Journalism
  • Government, public policy and law
  • New media, such as social media and blogging

Resources & Professional Associations: There are numerous academic and professional organizations for students interested in connecting with other writing professionals. Here is a small list to help get you started:

Notice that all of these websites have written material.

SBU’s Student Organizations
Consider joining on-campus clubs that are looking for writers, including groups such as literary magazines, political organizations and student papers that frequently publish and distribute content. On-campus student organizations are a great way to meet people with similar interests who may be able to connect you with professionals in your field. Visit the Stony Brook University Student Activities website for more information.

Additional Information: For additional information on the Writing minor visit the Program in Writing and Rhetoric’s web page: http://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/writrhet/

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