WRIT:4001 - Guided Capstone Portfolio is an online, portfolio-based class offered during spring semesters that allows students the chance to direct their own academic, professional, and creative learning experience by asking them to think critically about where they’ve come from and where they’re headed. In this course, students will be guided by a series of prompts, readings, and targeted assignments that will lead to a shared final goal: an online portfolio of writing that highlights the work created (and the skills gained) while pursuing the certificate in writing.

Though specific content will be unique to each student’s individual project, every enrolled member of this course will be required to: draft a capstone “roadmap” proposal, substantially revise one portfolio piece to underscore improved writing skills, draft one entirely new piece of writing that connects to the larger themes of the portfolio, create a web-based hosting platform for the capstone project, complete a “Capstone Introduction” reflection that prepares readers to engage with the portfolio, and submit a link to the final project by the last day of classes.

In addition to these requirements, throughout the term students will be asked to read and respond to published pieces, participate in peer-review activities, and generate multiple reflections as they progress with their project. Students can expect to get feedback from their instructor on revisions and drafts, and the instructor will also be available for on-campus and online office hours.

This is an exciting and rewarding class, but it’s important to remind students that the value of their experience (and their grade) will depend greatly on their own commitment to meet deadlines and participate to their fullest extent.

Required Forms

• Registration Permission Form (WRIT:4001)

WRIT:4000 - Independent Capstone Project is an independent writing project of the student's choosing, guided by a faculty mentor. It is available online or on campus. The Independent Capstone Project gives certificate in writing students the opportunity to work one-on-one with a UI faculty mentor on a substantial writing project of their choice. Students find a mentor, write and submit a brief "Project Proposal and Mentor Agreement" (see below), and enroll in WRIT:4000 - Independent Writing Project for 1, 2, or 3 s.h.

Past projects include screenplays, collections of poetry, policy reports, songs for rock and hip-hop albums, linked essays, graphic novels, and even professional handbooks for small businesses and nonprofit organizations. Students have also used their capstone projects to help showcase their talents prior to entering the job market—students have edited and printed anthologies, designed websites, and even learned to record and disseminate podcasts—all with the goal of learning skills they know will benefit their future careers.

Program Option B may be combined with an honors thesis or other senior project as long as combining is allowed by the home department, both mentors agree, and the proposed combination is approved by the director of the certificate in writing. Students interested in this option must submit a "Combined Project Agreement" (see below).

Required Forms and Deadlines

Students and potential mentors should review the Student and Mentor Guide for more information about requirements, expectations, and deadlines.

• Combined Project Agreement (WRIT:4000)
• Project Proposal and Mentor Agreement (WRIT:4000)
• Midterm Progress Report (WRIT:4000)
• Introduction Requirements (WRIT:4000)
• Grading Rubric (WRIT:4000)

NOTE: You must save fillable forms to your local hard drive BEFORE filling them in electronically, otherwise your information will not be saved.

All forms should be emailed to magid-writing@uiowa.edu unless they are unable to be digitized. If that's the case, physical copies are accepted at the Magid Center in 24 Phillips Hall.

Fall 2023:

Spring 2024:

WRIT:3900 - Writing: Undergraduate Internship provides departmental oversight for students completing a writing-related internship and guides students through a series of reflections on their internship experience and how it relates to their academic, professional, and creative goals.

For this option, students will be required to arrange/secure their own internship with a writing-related organization. The Magid Center uses the same minimum requirements for an internship as the UI Pomerantz Career Center:

• Professional experience which relates to writing (i.e. in publishing, marketing, grant-writing, etc.)
• At least 80% professional work
• Occupies at least one academic term (fall, spring or summer)
• Requires continuous supervision by a professional in the field (not a student)
• Must participate in the internship and take the course during the same semester
• Must work a minimum of 6 weeks at the internship site
• 1-3 satisfactory/unsatisfactory credit hours available based on number of hours working in internship
  • 1 credit hour for 75 hours of internship experience
  • 2 credit hours for 150 hours of internship experience
  • 3 credit hours for 225 hours of internship experience

In addition to securing the internship, students must enroll in WRIT:3900 - Writing: Undergraduate Internship for 1-3 s.h. This provides departmental oversight for the internship and guides students through a series of reflections on their internship experience and how it relates to their academic, professional, and creative goals. Note that tuition is charged for credit earned; more information can be found on the Registrar's website.

Students wishing to fulfill the capstone requirement by completing a writing-related internship should make an appointment with Danny Khalastchi, Director of the Certificate in Writing, to receive permission to enroll in WRIT:3900. Appointments can be made via the scheduler in MyUI, or by calling our front desk at 319-384-1328.

Required Forms

• Capstone Internship Application and Semester Hour Verification (WRIT:3900)
• Midterm Evaluation (WRIT:3900)
• Supervisor's Final Evaluation (WRIT:3900)

Students may petition to take an additional approved 3 s.h. course from among the certificate in writing's core and elective course pool as their capstone. To ensure that the degree audit is properly updated, students must submit the "Program Option D - Course Petition Form" (see below) and receive approval to count it toward the capstone requirement before enrolling in the course.

In addition to completing an extra writing course, students are required to complete the "Program Option D - Final Reflection Assignment" (see below).

Required Forms

• Course Petition Form (Program Option D)
• Final Reflection Assignment (Program Option D)