Why good academic writers perform poorly in the workplace: Teaching for transfer across contexts of writing
The Regional Writing Centre (RWC) hosted a one-day symposium to celebrate its 10th year of operation. The symposium contested the notion that writing well in an academic context necessarily prepares graduates for the writing they will do in workplace contexts. Too often, it is observed that graduates do not assess the new writing situation, but remain reliant on the values, purposes, conventions and forms, etc., of academic writing. Graduates’ sense of authorship and audience can often be completely off the mark of what the corporate context requires. Our symposium wished to bring academic and industry audiences together to hear and participate in discussions about the differences in their contexts and the impact of that difference and to come away with an understanding of what it is possible for academics to do to best prepare graduates for non-academic contexts, particularly, workplace contexts.
Opening address
The opening address of the symposium was delivered by our very own Lawrence Cleary, Dr. Íde O'Sullivan and Dr. Aoife Lenihan.
Panel discussion and closing conclusion
Following a series of talks from our Keynote Speakers, there was a panel discussion. The conclusion was delivered by Lawrence Cleary.
Keynote speakers
Tony Donohoe, Head of Education and Social Policy, Ibec
Tony speaks on the importance of writing to business at the Regional Writing Centre's 10th Anniversary Symposium on Writing, 'Why good academic writers perform poorly in the workplace: Teaching for transfer across contexts of writing'.
Barry McLoughlin, Senior Training Consultant, The Communication Clinic
Barry presents his talk: '"Writing for Business- not Academia". An analysis of what employers tell us they don't like about Graduate Writing' at the Regional Writing Centre's 10th Anniversary Symposium on Writing, 'Why good academic writers perform poorly in the workplace: Teaching for transfer across contexts of writing'.
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Anthony Paré, Professor and Head of Language and Literacy Education Department, University of British Columbia
Anthony delivers his speech: 'A writer for all reasons: Transitions in and out of school' at the Regional Writing Centre's 10th Anniversary Symposium on Writing, 'Why good academic writers perform poorly in the workplace: Teaching for transfer across contexts of writing'.
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Susan Norton, PhD, DIT School of Languages, Law & Social Sciences
Susan delivers her speech: 'Writing with radical empathy: Reader response theory as an aid to learner awareness' at the Regional Writing Centre's 10th Anniversary Symposium on Writing, 'Why good academic writers perform poorly in the workplace: Teaching for transfer across contexts of writing'
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Edel Clancy, Director of Communications & Corporate Affairs Musgrave Group
Edel presents on 'The Power of Written Communication: The experience of one of Ireland’s Top 10 Businesses' at the Regional Writing Centre's 10th Anniversary Symposium on Writing, 'Why good academic writers perform poorly in the workplace: Teaching for transfer across contexts of writing'.
Kathleen Blake Yancey, Kellogg W. Hunt Professor of English, Florida State University
Kathleen speaks on 'How Composers Write across Contexts: Teasing out Conditions for Transfer' at the Regional Writing Centre's 10th Anniversary Symposium on Writing, 'Why good academic writers perform poorly in the workplace: Teaching for transfer across contexts of writing'.
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