COMS 235: Writing for Public Relations
Prerequisites: COMS 225 or permission of the instructor
Credit hours (3)
Detailed Description of Course
Provides students with the theory and technical knowledge necessary to produce messages
as professional communicators. Students will develop skills in a variety of writing
formats and learn to utilize desktop publishing and graphics software in the production
of messages.
Note(s): Writing Intensive and Applied Learning designated course.
Detailed Description of Conduct of Course
This course is an intensive workshop in public relations writing, Since most formal organizational communications begin or intersect with the written word, most practitioners see writing as the foundation of professional public relations practice. Thus, practitioners must be polished and capable writers, skilled in diverse forms and styles of writing and capable of working quickly. As stated in course goal 2, students will produce written documents essential to the public relations industry. Students will learn to generate public relations materials in a variety of formats, including RFPs, backgrounders, fact sheets, news releases, pitch memos, brochures, position papers, speeches, communication plans, etc. for real clients. This also helps to accomplish course goal 1, to understand the nature and purpose of a variety of key public relations documents
This course is a combination of discussions along with in-class and out-of-class writing assignments that will simulate the realities of the professional writing environment faced by public relations professionals. This learner-centered course will primarily use class discussion and hands-on instruction to engage in the learning process. This course will emphasize interactivity and collaboration and classes will move in a seminar format much like the collaborations that operate in the professional world. This direct relates to course goal 3, critically analyze written public relations documents. This course is outcomes-based, and students will be evaluated primarily on their ability to transfer the theory and knowledge shared in class into workable documents.
Students must learn how to assess other’s work as well as their own to and to be critical of the work completed to interpret the effectiveness of the work to assist the client in written communication tactics. This course includes:
Goals and Objectives of the Course
By completion of the course students will:
1) Understand the nature and purpose of a variety of key public relations documents
2) Produce written documents essential to the public relations industry
3) Critically analyze written public relations documents
4) Write more clearly and professionally
5) Create a professional portfolio
Assessment Measures
Assignments are graded via rubrics appropriate to each type of writing assignment.
Tests are also used to assess objective knowledge of writing conventions and industry
standards. A final portfolio of all written work is the culminating assignment, also
graded by rubric.
Other Course Information
PR writing students spend the back half of the semester reviewing, editing, and rewriting
each of the writing assignments they have completed, ultimately turning them in as
their "portfolio" at the end of the semester.
Review and Approval
April 19, 2016
March 01, 2021
April 6, 2026