Miami Writing Institute

Red banner with window in on the left with orange sun, blue steps, green plants and red mountains

Rethink What it Means to Be a Good Writer

This thought-provoking course was created by Miami's nationally known Howe Center for Writing Excellence (HCWE) and offered through Miami Professional Education. One look through this window, and you'll see writing in a whole new light.

Since 1996, the HCWE has been working with faculty and student writers of all kinds in the Miami University community. With the Miami Writing Institute (MWI), the HCWE team is excited to widen opportunities to learn about writing to even more of the Miami family, including alumni and staff. The MWI is an opportunity to continue learning about writing and engage with practice that helps you become a better writer.

Course Information

  • Self-paced
  • 10–12 weeks
  • 2-3 hrs/week time commitment
  • Summer enrollment is closed. Check back in late August to enroll in the Fall session.
  • Open to and free for all starting June 2022

Register for Our Summer 2022 Session Today

Debunk Common Writing Myths

You will explore four common myths about writing through questions like: What does it mean to write? Who is a writer? How do we define good writing? Along the way, you'll gain practical strategies to become a more effective communicator in the contexts that matter to you.

A colorful, mid-century themed graphic overviewing the myths of the Miami Writing Institute, including: Myth 1: Writing Is Just Words and Rhetoric is Empty Speech, Myth 2: Good Writing is Just Good Writing, Myth 3: Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones but Words Will Never Hurt Me, and Myth 4: Writing is Solitary and Some People are Just Born Good Writers.

Red wall with curved window looking our on a blue sky, red rounded mountains and orange ground Experience a New View of Writing

Learn from Miami faculty, working professionals, and Miami alumni through examples, interactive activities, and practitioner commentary. Analyze your own professional writing, and challenge your understanding of what writing is and how it works.

 

Red wall with curved blue sky, and with three large plant leaves Elevate Your View

Step up to a completely new approach that goes beyond the mechanics of writing. Learn why good writing is more than correct, error-free, clear, or concise writing. The Howe Center for Writing Excellence faculty and staff will guide you through a journey that debunks common misconceptions about writing.

White Cat shape sitting on red window background on orange table with blue wallGet Curious

Each myth includes a variety of highly engaging elements designed to spark your curiosity. This course encourages you to get curious and explore the content, from visualizations and interactive content to case studies and side quests. Throughout, you'll hear from Miami faculty, Miami alumni, and working professionals.

Red wall with curved blue sky, and with three large plant leaves Grow Professionally

Whether you're just starting your career or are a seasoned professional, this course will meet you where you are. You'll learn how to harness the concepts of rhetoric to communicate your ideas, expertise, and point-of-view more powerfully. This knowledge applies to every position in every field and aspect of life — from writing a text to developing a business proposal.

Download Rhetorical Action Cards

After completing the institute, you’ll be eligible to download and print our exclusive set of Rhetorical Action Cards. Beautifully designed, these cards will help you remember and apply the principles you've learned in your daily life.

A mockup of a set of flashcards that describe principles from the Miami Writing Institute

Begin Your Journey Toward a New View on Writing

Register for Our Summer 2022 Session Today

Frequently Asked Questions: Miami Writing Institute (MWI)

Enrollment and Course Completion Questions

When does the MWI start and end?

It opens June 1, 2022, and closes  August 1, 2022.

Do I have to be present at certain times for the MWI?

No. The course is asynchronous (there are no face to face sessions with other students or instructors)

How much time will I need to spend?

The MWI is self-paced; you can spend as much time on it as you like in a given week. You can expect to spend 2–3 hours/module for a total of about 12 hours, but this will vary on your pace and interest in some of the optional readings and activities.

Once you have created an account on the Professional Education site, you should receive a follow-up registration email. Where is this registration email? I can’t find it.

Make sure you check your spam folder for the Professional Education registration email. If you continue to have problems registering, email professionaled@miamioh.edu for help.

Can you confirm if I’m registered for the course?

If you’re not sure you’re registered, email professionaled@miamioh.edu to check.

Can I still complete the course after it closes, if I don't care about receiving the rhetorical action cards?

No, the course will be closed to all learners after the end date.

When will I receive the Rhetorical Action Cards?

You can expect your Rhetorical Action Cards to arrive after the course has closed.

Content Questions

Does this course pertain to creative writing?

This course relates to all sorts of professional and civic writing, but it is not a guide to creative writing (fiction, poetry, etc.). If you’d like to take a creative writing class, we recommend checking out offerings from the English department. 

Course Navigation Questions

Some of the images are cut off when I’m viewing the course content. How do I fix this?

There are a number of reasons this could be happening, but here are a few things you can try: If you’re using some kind of mobile device (like a phone or iPad), switch to a laptop or desktop computer. Another option you can try is, if you’re not using Google Chrome as your browser, try switching to Google Chrome (we’ve noticed that there are some problems with using Safari or other browsers).

I can’t find the right answers and pass a quiz to keep going with the myth. What should I do?

Carefully reach the questions on each quiz, as sometimes it asks you to check all that apply, meaning there is more than one right answer to a question. The quiz about H&R Block in Myth 1, for example, has questions that require multiple answers.Myth01 Example with select all that apply circled in green

When I try to start a unit, the content isn’t loading full screen—how do I change this?

There is a short lag time between starting a unit and when the content opens full screen. You can wait a few seconds for it to load, or, alternatively, you can click the “Fullscreen” button (see below) to view the content in full screen.Image of the screen that indicates that the full screen button is below "Welcome to the Miami Writing Institute"

I finished a myth, but I can’t figure out how to move on to the next myth/unit.

There are multiple ways you can move on to the next unit. First, click “Exit Fullscreen” if you are still in fullscreen mode. Then, you should either be able to click “Next” at the bottom of the page or select the next myth in the left-hand sidebar. (See Below)Image that shows how to move from myth to myth

How do I get back to a unit that I’ve already completed?

To move from a unit you’re in to a unit you’ve already completed, click “Exit Fullscreen” and then select the previous unit from the menu on the left-hand side of the screen. (See Below) Image shows location and how to exit full screen

I went back to look at a unit I completed previously, but the “Continue” buttons are gone. How do I get back to the content in the unit?

If you find that your “Continue” buttons have disappeared, you can still navigate the content using the navigation on the left-hand side of the screen. Alternatively, you can keep scrolling down until a prompt for the next lesson appears. (See below)Image showing how to continue on the with the left had navigation

I logged out of the MWI, but I can’t log back in.

There are a couple different things that might be going on. First, make sure that you’re using the same email to log in that you used to initially register for the course. If that doesn’t work, try resetting your password by clicking on “Forgot password?” on the login page.

Contact Us

For issues with registration or other technical problems, email professionaled@miamioh.edu to reach the Miami Online support team. 


For questions about course content (e.g., activities, units, etc.) or course rewards (i.e., Rhetorical Action Cards), email the MWI team at mwi@miamioh.edu, and we'll respond to your question promptly.