Technical Writing I: Listicle

This is a listicle that I had to devise as an in-class assignment for my Technical Writing I class. The listicle was not submitted to the Department Chair of the History and Philosophy department since it was only work for class. In the listicle, I propose an idea to provide students--undergraduate, incoming, and undeclared students--with a monthly newsletter that provides insight and information on the different types of careers for students with a history degree. 

November 17, 2016

Dear Dr. Burg:

My name is Kayla Morales; I was a former student of yours in your Intro to Public History class in the Fall Semester of 2015. I am majoring in History with a concentration in Public History, and I hope to pursue a career in the public history field in the near future—most particularly as an archivist. I strongly feel that there are many desirable skills that are acquired from majoring in history, such as interpretation, analytical, communication, and writing skills. These skills are a necessity for almost every job, and I feel that there are some incoming college students, especially undeclared students, who may feel hesitant about becoming a history major. The main reason I feel that some may feel hesitant about attaining a liberal arts degree is possibly, because society tends to portray liberal arts degrees as something that will not be marketable or entirely useful in the workforce.

Therefore, in order to encourage people and students to pursue a liberal arts degree, like history, I think it would be a great idea for the History and Philosophy Department to devise a monthly or yearly newsletter for incoming and undeclared students that addresses the skills that are attained by majoring in history, as well as the many jobs that history majors can or could pursue. I feel that this will help many students to gain insight on fresh and positive perspectives from experts in the field, like professors and former students who have successfully found jobs with a history degree.

The newsletter should include the following:

·       The reasons why a liberal arts degree can be useful in the workforce.

·       The jobs available for history majors. For example:

-        Archivist

-     Communication Specialists 

-        Curator

-        Librarians

-        Professor

-        Teacher

-        Journalism

-        Writers/Editors

-        Documentary Editors

-        Lawyers/Paralegals 

·       Letters from Ship graduates that have pursued a degree in history.

·       Information about the Career & Community Engagement Center (CCEC), and the services that they offer to Ship students.

·       The valuable skills attained from being a history major.

·       Statistics and studies on the amount of students that pursue a liberal arts degree, the amount of students who attain a job with their liberal arts degree, and the average salary of a graduated liberal arts major, etc.

·       The importance of history and why it needs to be studied in college.

I think this would be a great idea and an asset for the History and Philosophy Department to do, and it can be beneficial for students. I wanted to introduce the idea to you, since you are the Department Chair, but to also get your input and feedback on this idea of creating this monthly newsletter.

Also, I would like to discuss this idea of mine further with you in person; I am available at any time during the week. You can email me at km1691@ship.edu on the times that work best for you.

Thank you for taking the time to read my email about this idea that I think would be great to do. It will certainly help students to not be afraid about majoring in history, because the newsletter will show that a history degree is not useless—but marketable and imperative to have.

Respectfully yours,

Kayla Morales