Writing Specialist

Northeastern University•Boston, MA

About The Position

The College of Professional Studies (CPS) at Northeastern University invites applications for a part-time, non-tenure-track Writing Specialist in the CPS Online Writing Laboratory (OWL). OWL is a 1-credit lab course attached to other CPS courses. It provides individualized writing coaching through feedback based on best practices in the teaching of writing and composition. Students submit drafts, receive analysis, praise, and strategies for improvement, revise their work, and submit final drafts for grading in the accompanying course. OWL may expand into other programs. The Writing Specialist may be assigned to an OWL associated with undergraduate first-year English courses or an intensive writing course in the graduate Organizational Communications program. This is a renewable, non-tenure-track position with a flexible work schedule that includes required evening hours.

Requirements

Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing or Composition, or a Master of Arts (MA) in English, Communications, or a related field.
3–5 years of experience working with students in collegiate composition or other writing courses.
Knowledge of theories of writing as a process.
Experience responding to writing through an organized process that addresses all writing skills, particularly higher-order writing skills.
Knowledge of theories that support student autonomy by asking students to respond to and assess their own writing.

Nice To Haves

Experience in writing centers.
Professional writing experience.

Responsibilities

Teach OWL lab courses throughout the academic year.
Teach 1-credit laboratory courses connected to five English courses and one Organizational Communications course.
Participate in a six-week online training course for writing specialists before assignment to courses.
Respond to student writing by writing an individual letter of analysis for each student who submits drafts to the OWL.
Assign participating students a grade of U or S at the end of each term.
Collaborate and communicate with faculty assigned to the courses accompanied by the OWL labs.
Maintain technological proficiency in Northeastern University's online platform, including Canvas and the OWL labs, and use it to communicate with students and faculty.
Stay up to date and in contact with the academic director and faculty members regarding course and program content and student concerns, including plagiarism.