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Community Writing Project
The Community Writing Project (CWP) within the Program in Writing and Rhetoric is one of the oldest national service-learning programs in writing and rhetoric. CWP students research and produce written, spoken, visual and / or multimedia projects that directly benefit area nonprofit or governmental agencies with which they work. The project gives students opportunities to work outside an academic setting in rhetorical situations of practical consequence. Ultimately their work will reach audiences beyond their teachers and serve tangible purposes for community audiences and for the students themselves.
What kinds of assignments do CWP students undertake?
Many assignments in CWP-designated PWR sections are directed toward academic audiences, just as in standard PWR classes. However, CWP students also produce a wide variety of practical documents and presentations for community audiences.
- CWP in PWR 1: In PWR 1 sections with CWP designations, at least one major academic assignment is replaced by a community writing assignment. CWP students in PWR 1 may research and write newspaper or newsletter articles, web pages, brochures, fact sheets, training manuals, teaching materials or grant proposals.
- CWP in PWR 2: In addition to written documents, spoken, video or multimedia projects produced for community agencies, up to half of the PWR 2 coursework CWP students generate may be community-based.
Most community projects in PWR 1 and all such projects in PWR 2 require primary, or field, research as well as secondary, or library, research. Some CWP projects are individually accomplished, although many are undertaken collaboratively with peers.
How are CWP assignments arranged?
The PWR instructors teaching CWP sections select participating agencies that match their goals and course themes. They do this with the help of the Community Writing Coordinator and in cooperation with the Haas Center for Public Service. By the second or third week of the quarter, students choose agencies whose missions and projects are of interest to them. Typically, instructors expect that students will work on their community projects between five and eight weeks of the academic quarter while completing other assigned work.
CWP students are responsible for setting up initial meetings with their agency mentors to clarify tasks and set deadlines for community projects. They also coordinate with peer partners to divide the work of collaborative projects. Students meet periodically with agency mentors and peer collaborators as projects progress.
How does CWP benefit students?
CWP students have a unique opportunity to develop broad-based, flexible skills in research methods, rhetorical analysis and rhetorical practice while simultaneously performing public service.
Unlike most conventional academic assignments, a CWP article, website, speech, documentary film, other practical document and / or performance informs and persuades beyond the classroom. Consequently, it has the potential for greater public impact.
These Community Writing Projects are similar to the practical documents and presentations that most students will undertake in the world of work after they graduate. Due to their collaborative nature, these projects will require that students develop the audience awareness and flexibility they need to be adult writers.
CWP assignments may also introduce a first- or second-year student to the world of public service. Students report that their projects foster a can-do attitude. They see community nonprofit and governmental agencies (plus the social, political issues and the rhetoric surrounding them) from the inside out. They begin to understand the impact one committed person can have as they make real contributions to their communities as Community Writing interns. The practical nature of CWP assignments and their capacity to promote social change powerfully motivates student learning, enlivening and enriching students’ approach to academic work.
How does CWP benefit community agencies and the people they serve?
The Community Writing Project worked with over 250 Bay Area community nonprofits, pairing PWR students with organizations needing help with research, writing, and speaking tasks. While students benefit educationally from their participation in the Community Writing Project, participating agencies benefit in tangible ways as well. Since so many nonprofit organizations are critically underfunded and understaffed, CWP students make a substantial contribution to fulfilling agencies' missions.
Community organizations working with Stanford CWP students are consistently pleased by the high quality materials that students produce. Agency staff report that they appreciate the enthusiasm and fresh perspectives that Stanford students bring to their work for the agencies. In addition, the agencies relish their roles as mentors and coaches for students as they fulfill their community projects.
How do I sign up for a CWP section?
Students can list CWP sections in their Section Preference Forms as part of the PWR course enrollment process. For complete information go to the PWR Courses and Registration page.
Whom do I contact for more information about the Community Writing Project?
Students with questions about the project (or nonprofit / governmental agency representatives interested in CWP intern placement) can contact the project coordinator by email, post or phone.
Nancy Buffington
Coordinator, Community Writing Project
Program in Writing and Rhetoric
Sweet Hall, Third Floor
Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-3069
650-723-0063