Engineering Co-ops in Writing Center �Coops�?�

Abstract

At a large university in the midwest of the United States, the Writing Center frequently works with advanced undergraduate engineering students who must produce reports based on their work within organizations outside of the university.  These coop reports typically ask students to do little more than imitate previous coop reports,which are available to them.  In stressing imitation, the School of Engineering loses an opportunity to help their students become better writers and more critical thinkers. The author offers several variations in the coop report assignment which could contribute to these desirable goals.