In professional writing, meaning is not something that can be made in isolation - it is inherited by the interpretive communities that engage with it. Stanley Fish’s concept of the interpretive community states that, whether it is academic or professional, the community shapes the ways in which texts are comprehended and valued. As such, it is possible to analyze how the expectations for writing are determined by the standards of the community that receives it, and thus write text that will be acceptable in accordance with the established norms. This project focuses on applying Fish’s ideas to student portfolios in order to offer skills to writers that will allow them to tailor their work to their professional field, demonstrating how harnessing the power of the pen can ensure writers are not just heard but understood.
Sadie Sawyers is a senior majoring in English and Writing Studies with a concentration in Professional Writing, and minoring in Health Humanities and Psychology. She is also a consultant at the Salem College Writing Center. Originally from King, North Carolina, she hopes that wherever life takes her, she has the opportunity to grow and share the valuable knowledge and skills that her professors have bestowed upon her.