Writing in the Workplace

• Credit value: 30 credits at Level 5
• Convenor: Julia Bell
• Assessment: a 3000-word portfolio (60%) and 1000-word essay (40%)

The written word is everywhere in the workplace, from reports to presentations, emails to social media posts, Chat Bots to advertising. In this module we will examine the ways in which writers work with existing and generated texts - shaping, editing or adapting them. We will explore writing press releases, blurbs, reports and summary documents, and editorial techniques and well as interview techniques. There will be a focus on the ethical questions raised by such work as well as considering the nature of ghost writing and working with AI.

Indicative syllabus

• Synthesising information into a story
• Interview techniques
• Writing to instruct/inform
• Writing to persuade
• Writing press releases and blurbs
• Adapting and transforming texts across platforms
• Writing for social media
• Using AI to generate text
• The role of the ghost writer

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• demonstrate critical and analytical skills in the context of the written word in the workplace
• enhance existing creative skills for writing various kinds of text - from TikTok scripts to reports
• understand the practicalities and ethics of using AI tools to generate text
• synthesise information in the form of reports and interviews
• understand the impact of AI on written culture
• confidently develop ideas and work as part of a creative team
• deepen your knowledge, confidence and understanding of language, storytelling, writing and editing.