Technical and Professional Writing Commons^™

Documenting Teaching Excellence: Applying Universal Design For Learning (Udl) In Communication Courses, Shihua Brazill

Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences Articles

This chapter begins by defining UDL and explaining how it serves both as a guide for course design and a framework for documenting teaching excellence. These sections are organized around the three core UDL principles: multiple means of engagement, multiple means of representation, and multiple means of action/expression. The chapter then explores how each principle can be implemented in communication courses. Drawing from examples across face-to-face and asynchronous online formats, it demonstrates how UDL supports student success and fosters equity. Finally, it addresses implementation challenges and discusses the broader implications of UDL for rethinking effective student-centered pedagogy across disciplines.

Living Our Principles: Designing An Accessible And Inclusive Virtual Conference, Theresa Evans, Kevin E. Depew, Amy Cicchino, Cat Mahaffey

English Faculty Publications

The articles highlights the Global Society of Online Literacy Educators' (GSOLE) innovative approach to virtual conferences, emphasizing their role in fostering professional development in online literacy education. Topics include GSOLE's strategies for engaging worldwide educators across time zones, its commitment to accessibility and anti-racist practices, and efforts to lower costs to include underrepresented and underserved teachers, tutors, and administrators.

A Word From The Writing Team (January 2025), Pam Walter, Mfa, Hemma Murali, Ms

A Word From the Writing Team (Newsletter)

This issue includes:

• New Year and a New Consultant at the OPWPC
• Publication Spotlight
• Attend First Friday Writing Retreats (Online)
• Workshop Series: Write that Baby in 9 Weeks
• Waived fees for open access publishing!
• The OPWPC Canvas Page offers helpful tools

A Case Study Using The Transparency Framework And Artificial Intelligence To Promote Effective Writing And Student Success In A Writing-Intensive Course, Elizabeth A. Brown, Maria Kronenburg, Ashlee Steeley, Diana Tagbor

Health Behavior, Policy & Management Faculty Publications

Program evaluation data suggest that undergraduate students struggle with writing in a clear and concise manner and appropriately citing. Faculty implemented the plan-do study-act cycle to pilot the Transparency in Learning and Teaching (TILT) project framework and to explore the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and discuss approaches to using AI, along with the TILT framework, in a writing-intensive course to identify the pros and cons of using ChatGPT in an online classroom. The TILT framework reinforces adult learning by helping students clearly understand the assignment's purpose and establish a clear relationship between assignment and students' professional lives. Faculty encouraged …

Responding Through Listening: Promoting Listening Skills Through Lightning Talks And 2x2x2 Storytelling, Elizabeth L. Angeli

Journal of Response to Writing

Current scholarship in writing pedagogy and peer review focuses on how and what to write and say. What is often left unaddressed in these discussions are how we listen and how we teach our students to listen, making listening an often overlooked and understudied piece of the peer review and writing response process. Yet, the quality of the feedback we receive and offer is directly tied to how well we listen to what is said and written. To this fill this gap, this teaching article offers two activities, Lighting Talks and 2x2x2 Storytelling, that promote students’ listening skills so that …

A Word From The Writing Team (December 2024), Pam Walter, Mfa

A Word From the Writing Team (Newsletter)

This issue includes:

• Publication Spotlight
• Enter the Annual Theresa and Charles Yeo Writing Prize by December 31, 2024
• Sign up for the December 6th Writing Retreat (Online)
• Write that Baby in 9 Weeks
• The OPWPC Canvas Page offers helpful tools

Leveraging Ai Tools In University Writing Instruction: Enhancing Student Success While Upholding Academic Integrity, Daisuke Akiba, Rebecca Garte

Publications and Research

The emergence of AI-powered Large Language Models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT and Google Gemini, presents both opportunities and challenges for higher education, particularly regarding academic integrity in writing instruction. This exploratory study examines a novel pedagogical approach that integrates LLMs as required feedback tools in a university-level psychology writing assignment. The exclusive online approach emphasizes improvement through revision, requiring students to obtain AI-generated feedback on ungraded initial drafts based on an instructor-provided rubric, with final assessment focused on the quality of subsequent revisions. Analysis of survey data from 39 undergraduate students, incorporating both quantitative measures and qualitative responses, revealed several …

Demystifying Research Paradigms: Navigating Ontology, Epistemology, And Axiology In Research, Lynette Pretorius

The Qualitative Report

A sound understanding of research paradigms is crucial for developing coherent and philosophically grounded research designs, particularly in the humanities and social sciences. This paper offers an accessible overview of the most common research paradigms: positivism, post-positivism, constructivism, social constructionism, interpretivism, pragmatism, and critical realism. These paradigms differ in their approaches to ontology (the nature of reality), epistemology (the nature of knowledge), and axiology (the role of values in research). The paper also discusses the methodological and ethical implications of these paradigms. Reflexivity and ethical responsibility are emphasised, where researchers must account for how their own biases and values influence …

Data Security In The Apple Ecosystem: An Evaluation, Kayrene Woods

Cybersecurity Undergraduate Research Showcase

This study provides a comprehensive evaluation of data security within the Apple ecosystem, focusing on the company’s privacy policies, user perceptions, and the effectiveness of its App Store review processes. Employing an interdisciplinary methodology, the research examines Apple’s commitment to data protection, emphasizing transparency and user trust. A survey of user experiences revealed varying levels of engagement and understanding of Apple’s privacy practices, with only 32.8% of respondents having read the Privacy Policy and mixed opinions on its clarity. Additionally, concerns persist about third-party app security, with 39.7% of users expressing apprehension and skepticism about Apple’s App Store review process. …

Teaching Technical Writing Through Designing And Running Escape Rooms, Marijel (Maggie) Melo, Antonnet Johnson

Dialogue: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Popular Culture and Pedagogy

While many instructors recognize how the integration of popular culture and student interests can enhance student engagement and learning, this pedagogical approach remains rare in technical writing courses. In this article, we provide an end-to-end outline of an escape room project assigned to junior and senior level undergraduates, including an overview of our pedagogical rationale, institutional context, instructional materials, and synthesis of work produced by students. By collaborating on a range of technical documentation, students learn through experience that can be leveraged beyond the classroom and in their professional pursuits. Moreover, we aim to provide teachers with an example of …

Pity The Poor Reader, Charles H. Haddad

School of Communication and Journalism Faculty Publications

I conceived my book “Pity the Poor Reader” as an un-textbook, an irreverent “Elements of style.” Like Elements, it’s designed to complement textbooks. Pity is concise, memorable and portable. Under 300 pages, Pity serves as an aspiring writer’s keepsake. Concision lies at the heart of Pity. The key concepts of writing well are distilled into irreverent, memorable lines and axioms. Many of them are organized as lists that are easily printed and taped to a wall or a computer. Indeed, in testing the book with my university students, I’ve found that many of them did print out its list of …

Pity The Poor Reader, Charles H. Haddad

School of Communication and Journalism Faculty Publications

I conceived my book “Pity the Poor Reader” as an un-textbook, an irreverent “Elements of style.” Like Elements, it’s designed to complement textbooks. Pity is concise, memorable and portable. Under 300 pages, Pity serves as an aspiring writer’s keepsake. Concision lies at the heart of Pity. The key concepts of writing well are distilled into irreverent, memorable lines and axioms. Many of them are organized as lists that are easily printed and taped to a wall or a computer. Indeed, in testing the book with my university students, I’ve found that many of them did print out its list of …

A Word From The Writing Team (November 2024), Pam Walter, Mfa

A Word From the Writing Team (Newsletter)

This issue includes:

• Publication Spotlight
• Attend our Friday Writing Retreat online
• Check out Biorender’s resources to build better graphics
• And check out Proofig to secure your graphics
• The Theresa and Charles Yeo Writing Prize deadline is December 31st
• The OPWPC Canvas Page offers helpful tools

A Word From The Writing Team (October 2024), Pam Walter, Mfa

A Word From the Writing Team (Newsletter)

This issue includes:

• Publication Spotlight
• Call is Open for Submission to the Theresa and Charles Yeo Writing Prize
• Mark Your Calendars: First Friday Writing Retreats Are Back!
• Are you looking for grant funding? We have resources for that
• We are seeking a Research Communication Specialist
• Jefferson has no-fee agreements with specific publishers
• Sign up for the OPWPC Canvas Page

A Word From The Writing Team (September 2024), Pam Walter, Mfa

A Word From the Writing Team (Newsletter)

This issue includes:

• Publication Spotlight
• Mark Your Calendars: First Friday Writing Retreats Are Back!
• Jefferson has funding agreements with specific publishers
• For FY24-25, the Open Access Publishing Fund process has changed
• The OPWPC Canvas Page offers helpful tools

Beyond Gaming: Using Discord To Increase Communication In Your Courses, Christine I. Kugelmann, Carolyn Glasshoff

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Discord is a versatile, free communication platform that supports text, voice, and video interactions within customizable servers. This tutorial shows how to integrate Discord into educational settings, highlighting its ability to facilitate instantaneous communication and secure information sharing. By organizing course-related discussions into distinct channels, educators can enhance student engagement and collaboration. The platform’s compatibility with various devices, including mobile phones, tablets, laptops, and desktops, ensures accessibility for all users. Additionally, Discord’s web-based option provides flexibility for those who prefer not to download the app. To comply with FERPA regulations, educators can set clear guidelines on the appropriate use of …

A Word From The Writing Team (August 2024), Pam Walter, Mfa

A Word From the Writing Team (Newsletter)

This issue includes:

• Publication Spotlight
• Come to the Book Launch Party on August 8th at William Way
• Join Us for Summer Writing Time
• For FY24-25, the Open Access Publishing Fund process is changing
• Jefferson has funding agreements with specific publishers
• The OPWPC Canvas Page offers helpful tools

Teachers’ Self-Reported Practices Of Teaching Academic Writing In Pakistani Universities, Hafiz Yar

Language, Literacy, and Sociocultural Studies ETDs

This study has explored teachers’ self-reported practices of teaching academic writing in Pakistani universities. The English language based developmental literacy courses in Pakistani undergraduate degrees are offered as part of the curricula rather than through specialized language centers. The three-course progression of developmental English literacy in Pakistani undergraduate curricula aims to develop academic writing proficiency besides effective business communication and technical report writing skills.

This study has used generic qualitative research methodology (Caelli et al., 2003; Kahlke, 2014; Kostere & Kostere, 2021), snowball sampling for participant recruitment, and a combination of survey and one-to-one semi structured interviews for data collection. …

A Word From The Writing Team (July 2024), Pam Walter, Mfa

A Word From the Writing Team (Newsletter)

This issue includes:

• Publication Spotlight
• Join Us for Summer Writing Time
• For FY24-25, the Open Access Publishing Fund Process is Changing
• Jefferson has Funding Agreements with Specific Publishers
• The OPWPC Canvas Page Offers Helpful Tools
• Scott Memorial Library Archive Renovations are Done!

Style Guide For Afit Dissertations, Theses, And Graduate Research Papers, Graduate School Of Engineering And Management, Air Force Institute Of Technology

AFIT Documents

A primary component of graduate education at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) is the scholarly presentation of research results. In most programs graduates must submit a dissertation, thesis, or graduate research paper as the final step in fulfilling degree requirements. These documents make a statement about the student and the quality of the student’s research, the student’s department, and AFIT’s academic standards. Therefore, the purpose of this guide is to help students present their research results in a form that is acceptable to AFIT.

The student’s research committee will guide the intellectual content of a student’s research manuscript …

A Word From The Writing Team (June 2024), Pam Walter, Mfa

A Word From the Writing Team (Newsletter)

This issue includes:

• Publication Spotlight
• Sign up for the 16th Annual Jefferson Faculty Days: June 5 & 6
• Don’t Forget Summer Writing Time!
• Jefferson Held a Symposium on AI And Research Integrity – And Recorded It
• Jefferson's AI Library Guide is Available on the Library Website
• The OPWPC Canvas Page Offers Helpful Tools
• Scott Memorial Library Archive Renovations are Done—Come See!

A Word From The Writing Team (May 2024), Pam Walter, Mfa, Liz Declan, Ma, Mfa

A Word From the Writing Team (Newsletter)

This issue includes:

• Join Us for Our Virtual Writing Retreat on May 3rd
• Save the Date for the 16th Annual Jefferson Faculty Days: June 5th & 6th
• Scott Memorial Library Archive Renovations Are Done—Come See!
• Thomas Jefferson University Has Updated Its Mission Statement
• Publication Spotlight
• Jefferson's AI Library Guide is Available on the Library Website
• The OPWPC Canvas Page Offers Helpful Tools

Bedeviled Beauty: My Journey Through White American Theater Institutions, J'Aila C. Price

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Game console: Oculus Quest

World: American Theater Institutions

Player: Minority

Place: United States

Level: “Ain’t no way.”

This thesis explores the contrast between the Westernized philosophies ingrained in my education and my identity as a Black female artist. It sheds light on the difficulties of pursuing higher education in the arts and the gaps that arise from limited exposure to culturally diverse Black resources, revealing the systemic issues in Western performance education. The paper also discusses the insights gained from my journey as a Black female artist, focusing on my thesis performance of Blood at the Root, which is …

A Word From The Writing Team (April 2024), Pam Walter, Mfa, Liz Declan, Ma, Mfa

A Word From the Writing Team (Newsletter)

This issue includes:

• Join Us for Our Virtual Writing Retreat on April 5th
• Attend a Packback Workshop
• Check Out the Spring 2024 Research Support Newsletter
• Learn about the Ethics of AI at Jefferson's Research Compliance Symposium
• Attend a Reception for the Drs. Theresa and Charles Yeo Writing Prize Winners on April 25th
• Publication Spotlight
• Jefferson's AI Library Guide is Available on the Library Website
• The OPWPC Canvas Page Offers Helpful Tools
• Scott Memorial Library Archive Renovations are Almost Done!
• Wiley Open Access Fees Waived for Jefferson Authors

La Voz Del Autor En El Discurso Médico Y Sus Implicaciones En Ele, David Sanchez-Jimenez

Publications and Research

La demanda de profesionales de la salud que pueden prestar atención lingüísticamente concordante al paciente en contextos multilingües explica el aumento de los cursos de español médico en el currículo de pregrado y posgrado en instituciones universitarias de Estados Unidos en las últimas décadas. El aprendizaje de los estudiantes matriculados en estos cursos requiere el conocimiento de las características retórico-discursivas propias de los principales géneros discursivos que estudian durante su carrera para fines específicos en el campo de la salud los alumnos universitarios de español, cuyo fin último será el de replicarlos eficazmente en su práctica profesional. Por ello, en …

A Word From The Writing Team (March 2024), Pam Walter, Mfa, Liz Declan, Ma, Mfa

A Word From the Writing Team (Newsletter)

This issue includes:

• Join Us for Our Virtual Writing Retreat on March 1^st
• Attend Inclusive Writing and Language Workshop at EF
• Come and Judge the Jefferson Science Slam
• Publication Spotlight
• Jefferson's AI Library Guide is Available
• The OPWPC Canvas Page Offers Helpful Tools
• Scott Memorial Library Renovations Continue
• Wiley Open Access Fees Waived for Jefferson Authors

A Word From The Writing Team (February 2024), Pam Walter, Mfa, Liz Declan, Ma, Mfa

A Word From the Writing Team (Newsletter)

This issue includes:

• Join Us for Our Virtual Writing Retreat This Friday
• Upcoming Biorender Workshop for Building Graphical Abstracts
• Publication Spotlight
• Co-Authorship and OA Fees: Do Your Homework!
• The OPWPC Canvas Page Offers Helpful Tools
• Scott Memorial Library Renovations Continue
• Wiley Open Access Fees Waived for Jefferson Authors

Employers’ Perceptions Of Microcredentials On Entry-Level Résumés In Technical And Professional Communication, Jordan Booth, Timothy Ponce, Amy Hodges

2024 Spring Honors Capstone Projects - Archive

Increasingly, higher education institutions are investing in a booming microcredentialing industry. These flexible, self-paced courses often promise to improve learners’ hireability through teaching skills that meet market and employer demands. This paper investigates the perceptions of microcredentials within the context of hiring entry-level workers who recently graduated from undergraduate technical and professional writing academic programs. Our qualitative research study reports on the findings from 4 interviews with hiring managers and recruiters in a U.S. metropolitan area. In the guided interview protocol, participants were asked to reflect on their reactions to two sample résumés that included different qualifying credentials. The findings …

A Word From The Writing Team (January 2024), Pam Walter, Mfa, Liz Declan, Ma, Mfa

A Word From the Writing Team (Newsletter)

This issue includes:

• Virtual Writing Retreats Return in February
• The OPWPC Canvas Page Offers Helpful Tools
• Academic Commons Will Host a Presentation on Refugee Health in Philadelphia
• Publication Spotlight
• The OPWPC Helps with Scholarly Communication and Publication
• Scott Memorial Library Renovations Continue
• Wiley Open Access Fees Waived for Jefferson Authors

Pacific Writing: College Writing For Pacific's Core 2 Seminar, Eric Sonstroem

Pacific Open Texts

Core 2 is Pacific's new reading, critical thinking, and writing-instruction seminar for first- or second-year students. All sections will include some common elements, like reading long-form narrative prose and writing instruction, and all sections will feature expository, thesis-driven writing in response to the course readings. Sections are taught by a variety of faculty from across the university.