Rowan University

Department of Writing Arts

Internship (Dr. Drew Kopp)
Academic Year 2015-2016
Fall 2015: Michael Fotos & Sara Skipp
Spring 2016: Michael Fotos*, Sara Skipp*, Sarah Knapp, & Rachel Saltzman
*this intern was a paid intern that semester and an unpaid intern the previous semester.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Rowan University Official Course Catalog Entry:
Under professional supervision in the field, students practice theories and skills learned
in the classroom. Students keep a detailed log of working hours, prepare an extensive
portfolio, write an analytical critique of the practicum, and are evaluated by their faculty
supervisor.
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Fall 2015 Project Objectives:

Website:

General Writing Arts Website for student and faculty usage

Writing Center Website for tutor usage
Creating a blog section (The Bulletin Board) that features writing student interests like
job opportunities, publication opportunities, and fellowship opportunities

Videos:

Introductory Video for the Writing Arts Department

Writing Center videos
Various Writing Arts Faculty videos

Interviews:

Celeste DelRusso
Rachael Shapiro
Andrea Quinn
Rachel Saltzman
Samantha Steele
Michael Fotos
Christopher Castro
Kelsey Borell
Gabby Lund
Dan McCall
Brianna Robertson

Newsletter:

Further refining The Writers Insider to reach a broader audience that includes faculty and
students
Documentation of current events within the Writing Arts Department

Generation of relevant information

Conversion into an online publication in addition to a physical edition

Other:
Further defining and establishing the Rowan University Writing Arts Club
Hosting events such as National Novel Writing Month & Scientific Writing Workshop
Participating in and covering events such as Introduction to Writing Arts presentations, Rhythm
& Prose, and Writing Arts Faculty Candidate talks
Seeking out future interns

Spring 2016 Project Objectives:

Website:
Minor updates and maintenance

Videos:
Editing of Writing Center video drafts
Filming of Writing, Research and Technology professors and students
Glassworks Magazine interviews
Intern interviews

Interviews:
Michael Fotos
Rachael Shapiro
Stephen Royek
Patricia Dove
Andrew Davison
Cate Harpool
Jennifer Courtney
Katherine Budris
Rachel Carly
Marya Hornbacher
Gracemarie Mike
Rachel Saltzman
Sarah Knapp
Karen Teller
Newsletter:
Continued creation of both digital and print versions.
Increase access to both students and faculty.
Synchronize print interviews and videos.

Other:
Creation of Masters of Arts in Writing Website
Seeking out future interns
Maintaining the Rowan Writing Arts Club

Project Summaries:
Writing Arts Department Website:
The main goal of the Department of Writing Arts website is to present in a clear and
concise fashion all of the courses, requirements, opportunities, etc. within the major. It
was specifically created as an alternative to Rowan Universitys website, which is not
frequently updated and not in direct control of the Writing Arts Department. Throughout
the 2015-2016 academic year, several updates and general maintenance tasks were
performed on the website to keep it as current as possible.
Program Pages (containing: Undergraduate, 4+1 [B.A. and M.A.], and Graduate).
This page used to feature Scholarships & Awards, which now has its own tab.

Course Pages: All department courses used to be on one tab, but three new tabs were created to
distinguish types of courses from each other. Each tab contains sub-tabs of individual courses
and their descriptions. As many courses can fulfill overlapping credits, some of them belong in
more than one section on the website. All course pages (including the sub-pages) were updated to
include the course description, the number of credits earned, the prerequisites, a link to the
official Rowan catalog entry, the course CRN, and a video highlighting the key aspects of the
course.
1. Required Courses: (containing: Introduction to Writing Arts; Communication
Theory or How Writers Read; Creative Writing 1 or Writing Childrens Stories;
The Writers Mind; Writing, Research & Technology; Senior Seminar: Evaluating

Writing; Free Electives; Liberal Studies; and Writing Arts Portfolio Seminar).
Two new subpages were created to distinguish Communication Theory from How
Writers Read, and Creative Writing 1 from Writing Childrens Stories. The new
tabs, respectively, are Methods Choice and Creative Choice.

2. Elements of Language: (containing: Linguistics; Semantics; American English

Grammar; and Introduction to Anthropological Linguistics).
3. New Media Writing & Publishing: (containing: Writing for the Workplace;
Professions in Writing Arts; Participatory Media; Fiction to Film;
Photojournalism; Publication Layout & Design; Online Journalism 1; The
Publishing Industry; Media Law; Applied Media Aesthetics; Introduction to New
Media; and Internship/Practicum).
4. Creative Writing: (containing: Creative Writing 1; Writing Childrens Stories;
Creative Writing 2; Writing Fiction; Writing Poetry; Fundamentals of Playwriting;
Writing With Style; Tutoring Writing; Professions in Writing Arts; The Publishing
Industry; Film Scenario Writing; and Internship/Practicum).
5. Technical & Professional Writing: (containing: Introduction to Technical Writing;
Writing for the Workplace; Tutoring Writing; Professions in Writing Arts;
Rhetorical Theory; The Publishing Industry; Introduction to New Media; and
Internship/Practicum).

Writing Center: This tab directly links to the departments Rowan Writing Center page,
which is separate from the Writing Center portal used by tutors. The website features a
home page; a staff page complete with photos, tutoring hours, and contact information; a
page listing hours of operation; a tab linking to the website used to register for and make
appointments; an events page; and a style guides page (featuring APA, MLA, and
Chicago style).
Writing Arts Club: The department website no longer provides all of the information; the
Writing Arts Club now has its own website, but the email contact remains the same.
Alumni Pages: The alumni pages are now separated by graduate and undergraduate. The main
tab has links to both graduate and undergraduate activities and programs; both the graduate and
undergraduate subpages feature the work of accomplished students.
Scholarships And Awards: No major updates were made, but the page was updated with each
recent award or scholarship recipient. The 2016 Denise Gess Literary Awards winners, the 2016
Excellence in Writing Arts Medallion Award winner, and the 2016 Toni Libro Graduate
Medallion Award winner are the newest additions.
Department Newsletters: Some prior issues of the Department Newsletter were added into a subpage. Past and current issues of The Writers Insider, the new newsletter, are readily available in
their own sub-page.
While this website is aesthetically pleasing and current, there is still room for more information.
Only a few course tabs have video accompaniment. The course catalogue descriptions are the
bare minimum of what incoming Rowan students might find attractive. Future interns should
work on videos for more of the course and maybe include actually examples of the kinds of texts
that they will be writing and engaging with.

Videos:

Introduction for the Writing Arts Department: Despite the Writing Arts Departments
display of course-focused videos, there was no real introduction to what the department
actually consists of.
Writing Center: Prior to this year, there were no videos featuring the Writing Center;
students and faculty were aware of this handy tutoring space, but it was not well
advertised. This years interns created many videos to explain what the Writing Center
can do to help anyone with their writing difficulties. Completed videos include a general
tour of Rowans Writing Center and featuring commentary from Director Celeste
DelRusso, Assistant Director Andrew Davison, as well as various tutors and tutees. It is
possible for more Writing Center videos to be made with the amount of raw footage still
available.
Various Writing Arts Faculty:
Writing, Research and Technology:
Glassworks Magazine: This video corresponds with the Masters in Writing Arts course
Editing the Literary Journal. Just as past interns created videos discussing undergraduate
writing arts classes, this years interns began interviewing graduate course faculty and
students. The completed version of this video includes commentary from Glassworks
Magazine staff and student interns like Katherine Budris, Patricia Dove, Stephen Royek,
and Michael Fotos. Other graduate course videos can be made by future interns as a way
to encourage future students to apply for the Masters Program.
Internship:

Interviews:
Many members if the writing arts community were asked to participate in interviews that would
be edited together to showcase several features of the department. Interns were tasked with
producing an Introductory Video for the Writing Arts Department, a general Writing Center
Video, a Glassworks Magazine Video Collection, and collections of Writing Center employees,
Writing Arts Faculty, and Writing, Research and Technology professors and students. In addition
to these interviews, all current interns interviewed each other. The raw footage can be used and
edited by future interns.
Celeste DelRusso: Director of the Writing Center. Interviewed multiple times by Michael Fotos,
Sara Skipp, and Rachel Saltzman. Her interviews pertained to the videos for the Writing Center,
including the origin of writing centers, how writing center policies function differently from
traditional tutoring, and the future of the Rowan Writing Center.
Rachael Shapiro: Writing, Research & Technology and Introduction to Writing Arts Professor.
Interviewed multiple times by Michael Fotos, Sara Skipp, Sarah Knapp, and Rachel Saltzman.
Her interviews revolved around her assuming a new position as a writing professor, lessons and
projects for her classes, and the future of writing technologies.

 Andrea Quinn: English Major and Writing Center Tutor. Interviewed by Michael Fotos. Like
many of the other writing center interviews, she was asked about her perspective as a writing
tutor and how students can benefit from coming to the Writing Center.
Rachel Saltzman: Writing Arts Major, Writing Arts Department Intern, and Writing Center
Tutor. Interviewed multiple times by Michael Fotos and Sarah Knapp. Her interview responses
contributed to the many videos about the Writing Center, and included internship commentary.
Samantha Steele: Public Relations & Advertising Major and Writing Center tutor. Interviewed
by Michael Fotos. Corresponded with the tutor interviews.
Michael Fotos: Writing Arts Graduate, Writing Arts Department intern, Writing Center tutor,
and Glassworks Magazine intern. Interviewed multiple times by Sara Skipp, Sarah Knapp, and
Rachel Saltzman. He participated in interviews relating to the Writing Center, Glassworks
Magazine, and internship commentary.
Christopher Castro: Biology Major and Writing Center tutor. Interviewed by Michael Fotos.
His perspectives on working in the Writing Center were used in the tutor videos.
Kelsey Borell:
Gabby Lund:
Dan McCall: Rowan University Alumni and former Writing Center tutor.
Brianna Robertson:
Stephen Royek: Former Senior Editor and Intern for Glassworks Magazine.
Patricia Dove: Associate Editor and Intern for Glassworks Magazine.
Andrew Davison: Assistant Director of the Writing Center and Writing, Research and
Technology professor.
Cate Harpool: Writing Center tutor, Teaching Experience Program student, and College
Composition instructor. Interviewed multiple times by Michael Fotos and Sara Skipp.
Her interviews are featured in both Writing Center and TEP videos.
Jennifer Courtney: Introduction to Writing Arts Instructor and Teaching Experience
Program Mentor and Instructor. Interviews conducted by Sara Skipp. Her numerous
contributions to the formation and development of the TEP allowed the interns to
interview her about the program at length.
Katherine Budris: Writing Arts Faculty and Editor-in-Chief of Glassworks Magazine.
Interviewed by Sarah Knapp and Rachel Saltzman. Her commentary, which focuses on
her roles and experiences in Glassworks, were used in the Glassworks Magazine video
put together by Sarah Knapp.
Rachel Carly: Teaching Experience Program student and College Composition
instructor. Her comments on the demands and rewards of the TEP can be used by future
interns to create a video about the TEP.
Marya Hornbacher:
Gracemarie Mike:
Sarah Knapp: Intern for the Writing Arts Department and Writing Arts student.
Interviewed by Michael Fotos and Rachel Saltzman. Her contributions to the internship
and her insight into the program can be viewed and used by future interns.
Karen Teller: Teaching Experience Program student and College Composition instructor.
Interviewed by Sara Skipp. Her insight into the inner workings of the TEP was featured
in the Spring 2016 edition of The Writers Insider.

Newsletter:

The Department Newsletter, titled The Writers Insider, was continuously worked on by Sara
Skipp in both the Fall 2015 and Spring 2016 semesters. Each issue featured interviews with
members of the local and global writing community, special writing events happening at Rowan,
as well as information on various writing programs that students and faculty can participate in.
The Writers Insider was originally produced in digital form only. One of the possible goals for
this year was for interns to produce both a digital and print copy, but only the Spring 2016 issue
was made for and distributed at the 2016 College of Communications & Creative Arts Showcase.

Future interns should be interested in establishing a solid readership of The Writers Insider so
writing students can become more familiar with their on and off-campus affiliates. A printed
version is another option that can increase distribution.

Other:
The Writing Arts Club was picked up as a project by Michael Fotos in an attempt to recruit
more members and make the club active again. Part of that process included appointing club
member positions (President, Vice President, Recording Secretary, Graduate Mentor, and
Writers), generating writing activities, and mandating a website that features all of the members.
The club Mission Statement was redesigned, new goals were introduced, and club members were
encouraged to share their work on the website. Rachel Saltzman also became involved with the
clubs functions and activities, and was promoted to Recording Secretary when the former left
the position.

The Rowan University Writing Arts Club was more active during the Fall 2015 semester because
of the large amount of work put into it by Michael and Rachel. However, the club has problems
standing on its own. This might be due to the interns running too much of the show and not
letting the members test their leadership abilities, or perhaps not enough responsibility was held
by club staff members. Attendance declined as the Spring 2016 semester started, and overall the
club became dysfunctional and ill-prepared for each meeting (Thursday evenings from 7:308:30). Future interns should think about fostering independence in club members so that interns
and Graduate Mentors do not end up leading the club on their own. Most importantly, the Rowan
Writing Arts Club has the potential to become a recognized club by the Student Government
Association if the club garners more members and participates in many more campus-wide
activities. Future intern participation would greatly increase the chances of this happening.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------This years interns were tasked with the creation of a Masters of Writing Arts Website. The
Master Programs featured on the official Rowan University website is disorganized, confusing,
and generally not known about in the student population. A sleeker, easier to access website was
proposed to attract future and current writing students to Rowans developing Masters Programs.
The new website features all of the graduate courses, similar to the way the Department website
is set up. A major highlight of the website is the special graduate programs section, with detailed
explanations of the 4+1 and TEP programs.

The website was modified several times before it resembled this clean-cut aesthetic. Dr. Kopp would like
for there to be more pictures, especially ones photographed by interns that display an educated, writerly
appeal.

All interns for the 2015-2016 academic year contributed to the production of this website, though Sarah
Knapp and Rachel Saltzman took charge of this project. The current layout is simple and effective, but
there are still modifications to be made in regards to replacing stock photos with relevant images,
transcribing the Masters of Writing Arts Core Values, and any other miscellaneous edits. Future interns
will be responsible to updating and maintaining this website. It will be publicly shared among writing
faculty and students when the interns and Dr. Kopp feel it is complete.

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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------A personal statement from current interns:

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Moving Forward:
Although many goals and projects were completed, there are still loose ends for next years
interns to tangle with. As of May 1, 2016, the intern-created Masters in Writing Arts website is
still under construction. Future interns will be tasked with uploading: relevant photos (not stock
footage) in an aesthetically pleasing arrangement; the revised and simplified edition of the
Masters in Writing Arts Core Values; and the general upkeep of the website must be maintained
as more content is added.