PRO: Professional Research Opportunities

By Christoforos Sassaris, MA '22 The PRO helped me to better understand the field of librarianship and the steps that I should take to become employable in the near future. I learned about the history, current state, and future prospects of the field through interviewing several librarians at Villanova University, West Chester University, Haverford College, Bryn Mawr College, and other institutions. Reading recent articles in both scholarly and popular outlets also helped me to understand the future prospects of librarianship and the problems that librarians face. Moreover, I furthered my skills and knowledge in special collections and archival librarianship by attending three workshops at Historic Sugartown’s book bindery and reading books like John Carter’s ABC for Book Collectors. Similarly, I acquired new technological skills, and a deeper knowledge of digital humanities, by volunteering on two digital projects at Falvey Memorial Library. Examining recent job listi

Daniella M. Snyder An English Major's Place in a Museum: Museum Communication and Marketing This Professional Research Option project explores the field of museum communications and marketing, and particular emphasis is placed on communication trends in the field currently. A career in museum communications varies depending on the kind of institution (public, private, for-profit, non-profit, large, small, non partisan, etc.) as well as the museum’s specific values, goals, and mission. Therefore, because of these idiosyncrasies, the most valuable component to my research was the field interviews I conducted with nearly a dozen working professionals in the Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. area. Alongside these field interviews, this project includes a discussion regarding trends in the museum communications field, sample job listings, a cover letter and a resume. Finally, and most importantly, this research paper posits the benefits of entering this field with a master’s de

Maria Klecko Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) for Adults at U.S. Colleges for Academic Purposes This Professional Research Option project explores Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) for adults, with a particular focus on educating students in community colleges and universities for academic purposes in the United States. TESOL is an expansive field that covers many age groups, English proficiency levels, and contexts. This paper details the history of the field in general, including its origins and methodologies, as well as the origins of English for Academic Purposes (EAP). It also includes an explanation of the English proficiency levels and the four skills English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) educators teach: listening, speaking, reading, and writing, in addition to grammar instruction. There is an overview of the field today, too, including current issues, requirements, prospects, and various community colleges and universitie

Cara Koontz Public Relations In a recent article for the Huffington Post, Barry Kluger, a self-identified “PR veteran” with over 35 years of experience wrote, “my job is to make my clients relevant” (“Relevant Matters”). “Relevance,” according to Kluger, can be associated with words like “connected, useful, and helpful.”  What do we make of this association? Of relevance and public relations? How does a public relations specialist “connect” their client and to whom do they connect them? This paper will explore the ways in which public relations makes relevant the given proceedings of a particular client or organization. Specifically, our research will take a “political bent,” as we exam how public relations exists in the sphere of government and politics. We will evaluate the evolution of public relations, the skills necessary for such a profession, and the current trajectory of the field. Implicitly, this paper hopes to identify the ways in which a degree in English might serve a

Michelle Callaghan Writing for the Web This research project investigates writing content for the internet. The project presents the history of content writing jobs and the relevancy of the MA in English for said jobs. It also outlines distinctions between the numerous job titles that encompass similar marketable skills in the content world. Content writing, copywriting, content editing, copyediting, proofreading, and social media management are just a few of many titles used in the industry, and in order to navigate job postings and interviews, knowing the differences between these job titles is an easy way to get a head start on the job search. The presented research also provides a foundation for the content writing candidate to present his or herself as capable of the entire spectrum of skills sought by companies and agencies. This project also offers alternatives to the corporate advertising world for graduate students seeking employment as content writers who may be wary of

AJ DeBonis Copywriting for Graduate Students in English Literature One of the intended uses of this PRO project is to orient students in English literature to the field of copywriting as a possible profession. Copywriting involves creating content for the purposes of advertising and marketing, and can include writing for a variety of print and online outlets. The first section delineates the basic goals and nature of copywriting, projected employment and salary prospects, and reasons for pursuing or avoiding the field. The second section provides a very, very brief history of copywriting, while the third section discusses copywriting for the internet, including some of the skills and applications that will be useful to budding copywriters. The fourth section examines two of my own areas of interest within the field: marketing psychology and storied branding. The fifth and final section considers what students of English literature have to offer to the profession and provides a few

Mary Weatherup Public Radio This project provides in-depth information for graduate students of English literature who may be interested in pursuing a career in the field of public radio. It includes a history of public radio, an analysis of its voice and mission, and an overview of the current state of the industry, with particular emphasis on the advent of digital media. The report then goes into detail about job prospects and internship opportunities, both at NPR and member stations, and provides information relevant to candidates applying for these positions. It includes interviews with two professionals in the industry, specifically detailing their perspective on what students of English literature can offer public radio. The report concludes with the assessment that a graduate degree in English literature is excellent preparation for a job in public radio, as these students possess the interest, skills and training necessary to create effective pieces of public

Lauren Greaves The Past, Present, and Future of Book Editing This Professional Research project details the evolution of book publishing. It looks back at some of the major changes that have already occurred and have affected how books are distributed and read and it also looks ahead to the future of the publishing industry. Finally, this project describes my own experience as an editorial intern for an independent publishing company.

Villanova's Professional Research Option is an opportunity for graduate students to explore a professional field over the course of a semester and write a report to summarize their findings. This is a great opportunity for students to explore a profession that appeals to them in the process of deciding on a career.   Abstract: In light of currently expanding digitized media distribution and the growing commercialization of social networking practices, this project sought to explore the career potential of professional blog writing through both self-hosted platforms and contractual blog contributing under established media outlets. After summarizing the historical progression of blogging since it began in the 1990s, this investigation also brings blogging up to speed by reporting on some of its current statistical uses and  trends. It then investigates the relationship between education and blogging, a link that is itself inherently uncertain because of the self-mediate

This paper explores the roles and responsibilities of today’s English educator (both the secondary teacher and the university professor). It first provides a general historical overview of how literature has functioned and served society over the last several centuries. By chronicling the various literary movements since the 18th century, we can begin to understand how English situates itself in modern schooling and how the social and political systems and statuses of the world over history have dictated how literature can serve society. The study then explores different facets, duties, and skills of the actual teaching role and position as literary educator. By synthesizing current educational pedagogy and literary theory along with incorporating commentary from several interviews with professionals in the field, we explore the teacher’s moral sensibility, her competence as a “social being,” her improvisational and spiritual performance skills, and the all important ability to model