I am now more thoughtful in my writing- even when composing emails and writing quick notes. The courses re-stimulated my pride in my work, which had been eroded after years of corporate work.”
Justine, Writing and Communication Skills for the Workplace student
Justine has a background in marketing and communications as well as degrees in foreign languages and teaching. She has worked in a variety of industries with many responsibilities including promotions, advertising, events, technical writing and data analysis, sometimes all of this while managing a team. The common denominator in all of her work has been the need to communicate ideas and information clearly and convincingly to others.
Which writing courses have you taken, and why did you choose those particular courses?
I recently earned the Mirco-certificate in Writing and Communication Skills for the Workplace: Grammar and Style by completing Copy Editing and Proofreading, Writing Well: Grammar, Writing Well: Style and Advanced Style. At first, I took these courses to sharpen my technical writing - then continued because I enjoyed the work as a brain-stimulus and creative outlet.
What were you hoping to gain from the courses?
In my work, I compose and review a lot of written material that is intended for public consumption. I also coach analysts in technical writing. I thought it important to keep my skills sharp as I realize that writing norms change from decade to decade – and it has been a while since I graduated! I am glad I did the courses because some of the “rules” I have been following were a bit dated.
What did you enjoy most about your experience in the courses?
Apart from the material, which was engaging, I mostly enjoyed my instructors! They all came from such interesting backgrounds, and all had very applied, working knowledge. They were genuine and clearly had a passion for writing. They also shared a lot of life experiences and industry resources.
How did the instructor or your classmates support your learning in the courses?
The instructors were very responsive to questions, and they encouraged online discussion. One even sent me journal links to which I could send my written work should I wish to pursue writing in the long-term. This instructor also encouraged me to sign up for Writing Well: Storytelling, which I will! The other participants were varied - coming from all sorts of industries and providing insights and windows into their different areas. Their questions were very valuable to my learning.
Were there any lessons or techniques from the courses that you found particularly helpful?
The classes, as a whole, gave me the concepts and vocabulary to discuss some finer technical aspects of language so that I can explain myself and my choices to others. For example, being introduced to Orwell's essay "Politics and the English Language", helped me to justify some of my stylistic choices.
How has your writing improved or transformed since taking the courses?
I am now more thoughtful in my writing- even when composing emails and writing quick notes. The courses re-stimulated my pride in my work, which had been eroded after years of corporate work.
With the increasing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, why do you think it’s important to take writing courses?
AI is useful for the basics, but for now, it does not provide very creative solutions, in my opinion. The final written product is only part of what makes writing important. Writing is thinking. The writing process forces us to sort our thoughts well enough to transform ideas into words so that we can share them with others. Writing is like exercise for our brains. If we stop exercising our brains, it is comparable to being sedentary- use it or lose it!
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