This paper gives suitably-qualified students majoring in Writing Studies, or taking Writing Studies as a Post Graduate Diploma (PGDip), the opportunity to work as an intern in a professional environment where excellent writing is part of core business.

This Writing Studies internship requires eighty hours of full-time equivalent work experience in a professional writing environment. The hours and specific writing tasks will be determined by mutual agreement between the student and the workplace mentor.

Students may identify their own mentor organization in consultation with the paper's on-campus convenor.

The on-campus convenor makes contact with the potential mentor and explains the roles, expectations and responsibilities. If the potential mentor agrees to host the student, the convenor facilitates a three-way meeting with the student, the mentor, and the convenor. The three parties sign an agreement outlining respective responsibilities and expectations. At this meeting, the mentor, the student and the convenor discuss when and where the 80 hours will be completed, the general kind of writing tasks that will be completed, the requirements for the student's workplace log and final report, and the expectation of a final report from the mentor.

The on-campus convenor acts as a point of contact for the student and the mentor.

At the conclusion of the internship, the paper convenor receives the student's workplace log and final report, examples of completed professional writing as relevant, and the mentor's final report. The convenor assesses and grades the student's achievement on the basis of these materials.

• To be eligible to enrol, students must have completed at least 60 points at 200 level or above in Writing Studies with at least a B+ average.
• This paper fulfills the University of Waikato's requirement that students must complete 15 points of Work Integrated Learning at 300-level. Students may only include one Work Placement / internship in their programme of study.

Assessment is based on the following:

• A workplace log of 3-5 dated entries (1000-1500 words total): 20% of final mark
• A summative report on the workplace experience in structured, well-organised and mechanically correct prose (approx 1500 words): 30% of final mark.
• A portfolio of representative writing generated during the placement (approx 3000 words) 30% of final mark.
• Mentor's report: 20% of final mark (due within four weeks of the conclusion of the work placement)
  

The workplace log and the summative report should be submitted to the Paper Convenor either electronically or as hard copy.

The portfolio of writing should be submitted as hard copy, or via a link to web-based publication as relevant.