The overall argument in Writing for a Web Audience is that it is the responsibility of the writer to make his online texts as accessible as possible to his readers. If looking at the web, and a web reader's ability to peruse multiple texts at a time and simultaneously make the decision whether to stay on your blog or website, it is the responsibility of the writer to make her writing entertaining and more "desirable" than the competition.
By utilizing font styles, colors and sizes (especially no italics because it's hard to read on the computer screen!) a writer must make certain stylistic choices in creating her content. Web consumers don't like to read entire articles, they appreciate organization, they like snazzy titles, and they like a simplistic paragraph structure, i.e., one subject per paragraph. We also need to pay particular attention to our spelling and our grammar! Our website have to sparkle!
So much of this goes against my beliefs in how I personally write. (Not the spelling and the grammar bit, though.) As a fiction writer, I've come to the conclusion that my students don't have to become fiction writers. This may seem like a small revelation, but for me it was huge.
But what students have to learn, with respect to writing, is how to write for their classes. I think students often have a hard time understanding exactly what their professors want from them.
I've had students turn in college-level work with pictures, crazy font selections, watermarks, etc., and I never thought that they were expressing themselves, or that they were trying to convey a message in the presentation of their work that ran alongside their text.
I guess I need to think differently to develop as a teacher. And at the same time, teach my students in a constructive and supportive manner to make stylistic choices about the work they produce.
I think we're inevitably heading towards a school setting that will mimic the internet. I hope it's for the better.
So much of this goes against my beliefs in how I personally write. (Not the spelling and the grammar bit, though.) As a fiction writer, I've come to the conclusion that my students don't have to become fiction writers. This may seem like a small revelation, but for me it was huge.
But what students have to learn, with respect to writing, is how to write for their classes. I think students often have a hard time understanding exactly what their professors want from them.
I've had students turn in college-level work with pictures, crazy font selections, watermarks, etc., and I never thought that they were expressing themselves, or that they were trying to convey a message in the presentation of their work that ran alongside their text.
I guess I need to think differently to develop as a teacher. And at the same time, teach my students in a constructive and supportive manner to make stylistic choices about the work they produce.
I think we're inevitably heading towards a school setting that will mimic the internet. I hope it's for the better.
OMG MFN!! Your snazzy graphic had me rofl! :D It was so catchy! I think its interesting that you never thought of students expressing themselves through the font and graphic choices they make on their papers. I never did either. I think that's because we are natural teachers and although we value self expression, we recognize the importance of teaching our students to create work that is presentable, clear, great in content and works to get an 'A'. Even if it does mean 50 boring black and white papers.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny, but I have also been pretty stringent with my paper guidelines and with a few exceptions, most of my assignments have been traditional pen (or printer) to the paper, Times New Roman font, MLA formatted, etc etc. But with this reading still fresh in my mind, I went to the New York Public Library yesterday to see the exhibition that they are holding for their centennial. Along with some interesting artifacts from great authors and musicians (one of my favorite pieces was a hand-written "Scherzo" from Beethoven) there were some old texts. Illuminated, illustrated, interesting texts. They were beautiful and drew my eye from across the room. Maybe the traditions that we have gotten ourselves into had less to do with educational importance, and more to do with lack of available resources and lack of creativity of previous educators. And maybe, with my concerns about taking too much time from individual classes to instruct students on particulars about the techniques necessary, we can take the lead in our schools and find ways of incorporating all of these into some sort of an interdisciplinary final project. What do you think?
ReplyDeleteI think interdisciplinary is right. But we need a space in order to do so. I can't feel comfortable, right now, telling a student that a 3 minute remix is equivalent to an 8 page MLA style paper. Especially since in 200, 300, and 400 level English classes she will be penalized for everything she writes that isn't "perfect" MLA.
ReplyDeleteWhich is why we need the space...
I can't do this to my students now--tell them to type out essays with crazy fonts and images and colors--but I'm open to it if it becomes an option for them as not only expression, but as quantifiable work. Thanks for commenting you two!!!