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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Writing Program Intern

💰 $15 - $25 / hour

WritingCommunicationsInternshipEducationContent Development

🎯 Role Definition

The Writing Program Intern is an entry-level educational and communications role focused on supporting a writing center, academic writing program, or organizational writing initiatives. This role combines hands-on tutoring, curriculum and workshop development, content creation, program administration, assessment and data collection, and stakeholder communication to improve learner outcomes and program reach. The ideal candidate demonstrates strong writing and editing skills, familiarity with writing pedagogy and assessment, and the ability to translate feedback into clear curricular resources and measurable program improvements.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Undergraduate or graduate student in English, Rhetoric, Composition, Creative Writing, or Education
  • Peer writing tutor or student assistant in a writing center
  • Communications or content intern with experience in copywriting

Advancement To:

  • Writing Center Coordinator / Assistant Director
  • Curriculum Developer or Instructional Designer
  • Academic Program Manager (Writing/Composition)
  • Content Strategist or Editorial Assistant

Lateral Moves:

  • Teaching Assistant (College Composition)
  • Communications Specialist
  • Student Success or Academic Advising roles

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Develop, revise, and deliver targeted writing workshops and lesson plans for diverse audiences (undergraduates, graduates, or community learners) that align with program learning outcomes and incorporate evidence-based composition pedagogy.
  • Provide one-on-one and small-group writing consultations, offering actionable, reader-focused feedback on organization, thesis development, evidence use, style, citation, and revision strategies.
  • Design and maintain rubrics, assignment sheets, and formative assessment tools that measure writing progress and inform iterative changes to curriculum and tutoring practices.
  • Create, edit, and proofread high-quality written content for program websites, newsletters, syllabi, handouts, blog posts, and social media channels to increase program visibility and student engagement.
  • Support the development and curation of online instructional resources (e.g., writing guides, example essays, video tutorials) and upload/organize materials in the learning management system (Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle).
  • Collaborate with faculty and program staff to align writing program offerings with course objectives, integrate writing across the curriculum, and scaffold writing instruction across multiple course levels.
  • Contribute to program assessment by collecting, coding, and analyzing pre/post writing samples, survey data, and usage metrics to produce regular reports on student outcomes and program effectiveness.
  • Assist in recruiting, training, and mentoring peer tutors or volunteer writing mentors by designing training modules, observing sessions, and providing feedback to improve tutoring quality and consistency.
  • Coordinate and promote writing events (e.g., writing days, pop-up tutoring, writing retreats, publication showcases) from logistics planning through on-site execution and post-event assessment.
  • Conduct research on best practices in writing pedagogy and learning technology to recommend and pilot new instructional strategies, digital tools, or assessment methods for program adoption.
  • Edit and prepare materials for publication or dissemination, ensuring adherence to style guides (APA, MLA, Chicago) and institutional brand voice while maintaining accessibility and inclusivity.
  • Maintain accurate records of tutoring sessions, workshop attendance, curricular revisions, and student feedback using program databases and CRM systems to support funding reports and continuous improvement efforts.
  • Support grant writing and reporting by drafting sections of proposals or progress reports that describe program pedagogy, outreach strategies, impact metrics, and future needs.
  • Facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration with faculty in STEM, social sciences, and humanities to design discipline-specific writing modules and assignment scaffolds that support student success in major coursework.
  • Implement and monitor equitable tutoring practices, incorporating culturally responsive pedagogy and sensitivity to diverse linguistic backgrounds and learning needs.
  • Produce short-form multimedia content (recorded microlectures, screencasts, infographics) that supplements in-person instruction and supports asynchronous learners.
  • Participate in program meetings, curriculum committees, and outreach initiatives to provide frontline insight into student challenges and to help prioritize program improvements.
  • Support internal marketing efforts by drafting email campaigns, social posts, and promotional copy that highlight service offerings, deadlines, and tutor availability to maximize utilization.
  • Troubleshoot routine LMS, scheduling, and resource access issues for students and tutors; escalate technical problems and document resolutions for knowledge-base entries.
  • Synthesize student feedback, assessment findings, and usage data into actionable recommendations for program leadership and contribute to strategic planning conversations.
  • Serve as a point of contact for prospective students and faculty partners, responding to inquiries about services, scheduling, and program policies with timely, professional communication.
  • Prepare and present summary findings from workshops, pilot programs, or assessment cycles to stakeholders to support data-driven decision-making and showcase program impact.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis.
  • Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap.
  • Collaborate with business units to translate data needs into engineering requirements.
  • Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the data engineering team.
  • Maintain and update content inventories and curriculum version control to ensure materials are current and compliant with institutional guidelines.
  • Assist with program administrative duties such as scheduling, billing for external partners, and managing workshop registration systems.
  • Engage in professional development activities (webinars, conferences) to stay current on composition research and instructional technologies.
  • Provide transcription and archival support for recorded consultations and workshops to build a searchable resource library.
  • Support alumni outreach initiatives to gather testimonials, success stories, and longitudinal data about writing program impact.
  • Help pilot new outreach channels (podcasts, newsletters) to build community and increase program engagement.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Advanced writing and editing skills with demonstrated ability to produce clear, persuasive, audience-centered copy and instructional materials.
  • Familiarity with composition theory, writing pedagogy, and formative assessment practices (e.g., rubrics, conferencing models).
  • Experience using learning management systems (Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle) and content management systems (WordPress) to publish instructional materials.
  • Proficiency with Google Workspace and Microsoft Office for document production, collaboration, and data tracking.
  • Basic data literacy: experience collecting, cleaning, and interpreting survey and writing-sample data; familiarity with Excel/Sheets and basic statistics.
  • Competence in citation styles (MLA, APA, Chicago) and academic integrity practices for drafting guides and plagiarism prevention resources.
  • Experience with scheduling and booking systems (Calendly, Microsoft Bookings) and virtual meeting tools (Zoom, Teams) for tutoring coordination.
  • Hands-on experience producing short-form multimedia (screen recordings, captioned videos) and familiarity with basic editing tools (Loom, Camtasia, iMovie).
  • SEO-friendly content writing skills and ability to target keywords, headings, and meta content for higher discoverability of program resources.
  • Ability to design formative assessments and create clear grading criteria and feedback templates for consistent tutor practice.

Soft Skills

  • Strong oral and interpersonal communication skills for working with students, faculty, and cross-functional stakeholders.
  • Empathetic coaching presence with patience and the ability to meet learners at their level while promoting higher-order revision strategies.
  • Excellent time management and organizational skills to balance tutoring, content development, events, and reporting duties.
  • Attention to detail and high standards for accuracy in proofreading, citation, and data record-keeping.
  • Collaborative mindset and adaptability to work on interdisciplinary initiatives and respond to changing academic calendars.
  • Problem-solving orientation with the ability to synthesize feedback and propose iterative improvements.
  • Cultural competence and commitment to inclusive instructional practices supporting multilingual and first-generation students.
  • Professional discretion in handling confidential student records, FERPA-compliant communications, and sensitive assessment data.
  • Initiative and self-direction in identifying opportunities for program growth and piloting small-scale innovations.
  • Growth mindset and receptiveness to feedback from supervisors, faculty partners, and tutor colleagues.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Currently enrolled in or recently graduated from a Bachelor's program in English, Rhetoric & Composition, Creative Writing, Education, Communications, or a related field.

Preferred Education:

  • Coursework or graduate study in Rhetoric and Composition, Applied Linguistics, Educational Design, or a Master’s degree in a related area.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • English, Rhetoric, Composition, Creative Writing
  • Education, Instructional Design
  • Communications, Journalism
  • Applied Linguistics, TESOL

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 0–2 years (student, peer tutor, or early-career professional experience)

Preferred:

  • 1+ year of tutoring, writing center experience, teaching assistance, or content creation experience with demonstrated results (e.g., improved assignment grades, workshop attendance growth, published instructional materials).
  • Experience using LMS platforms and basic data collection/assessment methods.
  • Familiarity with academic citation standards, accessibility practices, and SEO-friendly content production.
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