Marketing and creative writing is an odd mix.  They go together like pork chops and marshmallows.  I mention this because our professor made it clear this week that not only are we learning about marketing, but this is a writing class as well.  I am writing this post because of a situation I ran into near the end of my 4-year program at Kaplan.  The cases are similar, but the outcome will be very different.

Near the end of my degree program at Kaplan, I had a class (I don’t remember what class it was) where the teacher was focused on the writing quality of the work we turned in.  She didn’t grade much of anything having to do with the subject matter.  After putting in a lot of time and effort to turn in quality work, I was told that my margins weren’t correct.  Needless to say, I blew a gasket!

After talking to the teacher (with no constructive feedback from her) and then complaining to the administration (with no resolution from them), I somewhat abandoned my efforts to turn in a good paper and just spent my time making sure the margins were 1” on each side and everything was double spaced.  What a colossal disappointment on my end.

Eventually I was able to balance the need to learn the subject matter and pacify what I considered to be a worthless instructor who had no idea how to actually teach the subject matter.  In the end, I got a “B” if my memory serves me correctly.

I am now in a marketing class where the professor is focusing on writing skills in a big time way.  The difference between this time and the last time is that (1) The professor announced up front what was expected, and (2) she is also teaching the marketing material and providing some great feedback on both marketing and writing.  As someone who loves to write, I am in heaven.

I love to write and I am always looking for ways to improve.  To have a professor who is both very engaged in the marketing side and the writing/communications side is a bonus for me.  The fact that we knew what to expect is great.  I don’t think it’s fair to let students go into a class blindly like what happened with that one class at Kaplan.  I guess that’s the difference between undergrad and grad school.  There’s a certain level of respect here.  At the same time, there is also a demand for excellence on all levels.

So, here’s to a great mix of marketing and writing!  I am having a blast.