WDM Fall 2012 Proposal

Introduction

In NMAC 3108, Writing for Digital Media, students explore the ways to write for websites, blogs, and other forms of digital media. Digital media is defined as different platforms through which people communicate electronically.

With the advent of e-readers, iPads, and other innovations of the Digital Age, it is important that students prepare themselves for the specific writing style necessary to successfully write for various forms of digital media.

Project Details

1. Contact
   1. Social Media
      1. Twitter
      2. About Me
   2. Visual CV and Linked In
2. Writing
   1. Good Writing
   2. Identification
3. Layout
   1. Design
   2. Graphics
   3. Navigation
   4. Scanability
   5. Usability
   6. Relevance and Support

-Contact (Sarah Joiner):Credibility, Accountability, Types of contact

-Design (Rebecca Lynch)

-Expertise (Josh Hager)

-Good Writing (Hollidae Strozier)

-Identification (Savannah McDaniels)

-Graphics (Brandon Fluellen)

-Navigation/Usability (Katie Nix)

-Relevance/Support (Steven Lewis)

• Dates on every page
• Content links

-Scanability (Victoria Masa)

• Visually formatting information online
• Using headers and subheads and links

-Twitter (Leslie Smith/Tara Scroggins):

• Will discuss the importance of connections and effective writing through social media such as Twitter, particularly for student-based environments
• Will highlight the use of hashtags and their importance to connect similar material on the site.

-About.me (Amelia Hall):

• Simple
• Scannable
• Easy to use

-Wordpress (Katie Hotchkiss)

• Very interactive
• Easy to customize

-Visual CV (Lily)

-Linkedln (Emily)

Timeline

Individual Submission due 11/05/12 Individual Submission Workshop 11/07/12 Final Individual Submission 11/19/12 Group Submission due 11/26/12 Group Submission Workshop 11/28/12 Final Group Discussion and Revision 12/03/12 Final Wiki Project due 12/05/12

Revisions

Conclusion

Social media sites like Twitter, "About Me" pages, and online resume sites like Visual CV create an opportunity to facilitate better writing. Proper navigation, contact information, good writing, usability, relevant links, support, and a strong identification are necessary in order to exhibit professionalism when writing for the digital age.

A site made with these key elements in mind ensures credible writing directed towards the appropriate audience. Design, graphics, and scan-ability are vital to the process of writing for the screen. Paying close attention to these elements creates a visually appealing work of web writing that will attract readers.

References

1. Lynch, Patrick J., Horton, Sarah. (2009). “Web Style Guide Online, 3rd Edition”. Web Style Guide. Retrieved 29 Oct 2012.