OVERVIEW

Your third major assignment for this course is to compose a digital essaya piece of writing that is

COMPOSED AND DESIGNED to be read on the screen rather than on a printed page TO MAKE A

FINAL POINT TO A TARGET AUDIENCE about the issue youve been researching.

What happens when text moves from page to screen? First, the digital text becomes unfixed and
interactive. The reader can change it, become writer. The center of Western culture since the
Renaissancereally since the great Alexandrian editors of Homerthe fixed, authoritative,
canonical text, simply explodes into the ether.
~ Richard Lanham, The Electronic Word

DIGITAL WRITING --

Read this (if for no other reason than it has examples).

WHAT TO KNOW
So the question to begin with is: What new possibilities does writing for the screen open up?
Clearly, one thing you can do as a digital writer is to combine modes of expression, mix your prose
with images, hyperlinks, videos, and audio files. You can also experiment with structure.

This raises the question of what it means to compose a digital essay. For the purposes of this
assignment, heres what Id like to emphasize:

A digital essay is multimodal. While work as a digital writer should be rooted in writing -- to
write an essay that draws on the resources of the web -- you will also make strategic use of
images and video as well as various elements of graphic design (headings, borders, layout,
spacing, font size and color).

A digital essay is a coherent whole. The elements of a digital essay (images, links, colors,
vidoes, sections, sources, text, graphs) need to purposefully and noticeably crafted/designed
to work together as parts of a cohesive structure.

A digital essay is intertextual. Digital writing lets you see something about writing and research
that can often be overlooked through print texts writing is a conversation, and texts within
that conversation are linked.
 When you quote or reference another text you demonstrate how your ideas are based
off of other preexisting opinions; this a a form of intertext.
You can link readers out to other texts; you can draw links between your text and
others through tangible, direct ways.
You can create a more visual example of how the texts you are using are part of a
conversation, how they are related, linked, and interdependent.

Digital composition allows the reader to add another layer(s) or dimension(s) to his work. It
asks you to make new and complicated decisions as writers and designers. In the digital space, not
only do writers make decisions on the textual level, but they also must carefully consider:

the rhetorical situation- considering context, communicating purpose, appealing to

audience (establishing an image or credibility, connecting with them, and being logical and
credible with reasons and evidence), appropriately using genre features
layout, structure, and genre
multimedia enhancements
connections and reflections
how to compose for, and read texts composed in, public spaces
how to create purpose and authority

USING AFFORDANCES OF THE WEB (or digital tools)

An affordance is an aspect of an environment, technology, or object that allows an individual to do
something. For examples, an affordance of writing is that it allows us to make our thoughts visible to
ourselvesto note something down on a page. An affordance of print is that it allows us to circulate
our thoughts to a much larger readershipto publish. And some of the affordances of the web an
ability to combine modes of expressionto mix prose with still images, hyperlinks, sound
files, and videos. So another way of putting this is to say that your task here is to compose a digital
essay in which you do things you could not do (or could not do as well) if you were limited to print or
simply text.

COMMON DIGITAL TOOLS AND WAYS TO USE THEM

Images: You can use description to replace images to connect with readers when you dont have
images. Images can be used to make excellent emotional appeals. Well, you actually (in this case) can use
images. Where can you use images to show readers examples and illustrations that your words cannot
do justice?

Videos: You have a similar affordance here as images, except consider events or situations that
it might be helpful for readers to watch firsthand instead of read your version of the events.
Infographics: Graphs and charts either found or created can make excellent v isual
evidence and can also provide a visual aid help readers connect the dots.
Hyperlinks: Hyperlinks can be highly gestural for readers. Essentially, you can guide
readers out to places they can read more about certain issues, terms, people, and events you
 are bringing up. Readers can be linked to your sources, to helpful information, and to other
interesting reading. Hyperlinks can be used to guide readers to where you want them to go
next for more reading and continued exploration.

COMPOSING YOUR ESSAY: MAKING YOUR POINT

Let me start by saying that you do not have to end your research with an answer, but...

You should still be able to have something to say about some aspect of the issue youve been
looking into.
You might want to bring readers attention to something, to clear up a misconception, to
convince readers to take a certain action, etc.
You also do not have to use this essay to discuss everything you know, think, or have read
about the issue.

Be selective and focused. Why?

1. YOUR ESSAY MUST BE COHESIVE AND EFFECTIVE.

2. YOU MUST USE YOUR OWN RHETORICAL KNOWLEDGE TO MAKE CHOICES YOUR
PURPOSE, YOUR AUDIENCE, YOUR GENRE, YOUR CONTENT, AND YOUR
ORGANIZATION.

TEXT & GENRE- REQUIREMENTS & CHOICES

1. PURPOSE-- You should have a solid and identifiable point that is targeted primarily at an
audience that you can describe. This is who you are designing and composing your essay
for; it is who you want to reach. Your work--

2. GENRE-- You have some limitations with your genre. You are writing a digital essay, but
word essay can be open to interpretation, especially when its digital.

You can write an essay, compose on online magazine article, create a webpage
or website... there are many ways to compose for the screen.

NOTE: If you have other ideas for genres, I am open to those ideas. Your prose
can be spoken as long as they are planned and you submit the planning. You
can also create your own videos or visuals to use within the text.

3. LENGTH-- Im not giving you a solid length requirement, but rather an average. A strong
digital essay should have around 2000 words (about 7 pages).

This includes necessary captions and headings, but does not include the Works
Cited section.
 You may go over if you need to, but you cannot compose a strong piece with
much less than this.

4. SECTIONS-- You must have a minimum of 3 VISUALLY DISTINGUISHABLE BODY

SECTIONS.

Your sections--

should be arranged in a purposeful order the focus on different aspects of your

argument (background, history, refuting points, making points.).

must synthesize sources.

Sections should make a point (like a mini-essay), not revolve

around a single source.

SECTIONS WILL UTILIZE MULTIPLE PARAGRAPHS AND SOURCES

Sections WILL INTRODUCE THE FOCUS FOR THAT SECTION.

5. INTRO & CONCLUSION -- Make careful choices about introduction and conclusion.

Your intro and conclusion should engage readers with the issue and leave them
with something to do or think about. Intros and conclusions are hard.

Intro- Dont just dive in with bland info; start with something to hook them right
off the bat.

Conclusions- Dont just reiterate what the readers has already read at the end.
Leave them with a final question, scenario, point, suggestion something
thought-provoking that would plant a seed or stick with them.)

6. DESIGN & MODES-- It should be designed with multiple layers (images, colors, layouts,
videos, hyperlinks) that considers multiple modes, rhetorical appeals, intertextually, and
digital tools.

The layers of your work should ultimately come together like a puzzle, with all
the pieces and strategies working together and creating a coherent, whole
message.

RESEARCH REQUIREMENTS & OPTIONS

1. You can use any information from previous assignments to build on.
2. You should also get whatever new information you need.
3. You need to effectively utilize a minimum of EIGHT different sources to make your point.
How, when, and to what degree you use them is a rhetorical choice. You may use more
if needed.
Anything used for decoration does not count toward the minimum. It must be
something discussed within the text.
Remember that you should not make claims without evidence. Be careful of
generalizations, unsupportable or sweeping statements, and other poor logic
choices.
4. You should use your discussion of sources to demonstrate expertise and nuance
regarding the issue with accurate paraphrasing; purposeful inclusion and discussion of
information and perspectives, insightful examples; and personal commentary, analysis,
synthesis, and questioning.
5. You should synthesize sources by looking for connections and ways sources can be
used together.
Tip: Try not to focus on using a particular source in a particular section and
limiting its use. Information within a single source can be used in multiple
sections and in combination with multiple sources.
6. You should offer readers necessary background info, accurate information, clear
reasons, fair consideration of multiple perspectives, a purposeful organizational pattern,
different types of evidence, and smooth integration of outside material.
7. You need to pull from more than one genre and/or type of information to make your point
(news, studies, websites, interviews, expert opinions, graphs, statistics, hypothetical
situations, specific examples, etc.)
8. You need to cite both in-text (with hyperlinks, context for the source, and signal phrases)
and at the end using bibliographic citations in the format of your choice... But you should
know this already from previous assignments.

KEEP IN MIND AS YOU DRAFT

Be a good host to your sources by introducing information and authors.
Explain the relevance and meaning of information.
Use evidence for all claims.
Address other perspectives fairly.
Synthesize your sources.
Be fair to all sides and avoid overly emotional language.
Think about the rhetorical appeals.
Pay attention to multiple modes and design.
Use digital affordances.
Open and close your essay with something impactful.
 Cite your sources internally using hyperlinks and author signals.
Cite your sources at the end using bibliographic citations.
Take risks.

PURPOSES AND GOALS OF THE ASSIGNMENT

THIS ASSIGNMENT BRINGS EVERYTHING TOGETHER WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON--

1. PUSH CRITICAL READING & THINKINGYou will synthesize your sources and looking for
connections. You will be integrating, evaluating, explaining, analyzing, and perhaps even raising
new questions. You are now entering the conversation in a new way.

2. RHETORICAL KNOWLEDGE Think about the individual writing situation. You are in charge of
your own purpose, your own target audience, and -in many ways- your own genre use. You have
to consider what you want to happen, who you want to target, and how you will communicate it.

3. KNOWLEDGE OF CONVENTIONS Genre. Genre. Genre. Youll have to research (read about
or look at examples of) the genre you are using and figure out the conventions and expectations
and how to use them. You should also keep in mind conventions and expectations of the
academic community. You will also be citing, framing research, and engaging in the conventions
of academic writing and thinking as well.

4. COMPOSING PROCESSES We will be brainstorming and drafting and revising and all of the
same super fun stuff that we always do. Continue to engage in the process and figure out what
kind of process methods work for you. Pay attention to how you go about the act of writing and
pulling your ideas together and what kinds of things you do well and also struggle with or need to
work on.

5. CRITICAL REFLECTION You must review your own work and research in order to examine
what youve been thinking and learning and to determine what your purpose should be, who your
audience should be, and what further evidence you might need.

HELP WITH BRAINSTORMING AND DECISION-MAKING

DEVELOPING & WORKING WITHIN YOUR RHETORICAL SITUATION--

The following section is meant to help you understand how to brainstorm for, and work with,
different components of your writing situation-- to figure out what genre you will use, to select
and develop content and research, and to choose and design for a specific audience.
 Deciding the Purpose or End Game of your Essay

For this assignment, your purpose is your own depending on what you want to say. Here are some ways
to determine what your purpose might be.

Do you want to raise awareness or concern about something for a particular audience?
Do you want to persuade a particular audience to change their opinion about some aspect of
your issue?
Do you want to persuade a particular audience to change their behavior or actions?
Do you want to clear up a misconception you think an audience might about your issue?
Do you want to propose a solution to an existing problem or a policy change?

Selecting Your Audience

As with purpose, you must determine your own target audience. Remember that the target audience is
who you are designing this piece for not everyone who is interested or could have access. The
audience you choose will determine what content needs to be there, how the writing should sound,
which web tools and examples will be most beneficial, how your theme, color scheme, font, and layout
will appear.

Meeting Your Audiences Needs (Genre, Content, and Communication Choices)--

In order to help you consider your audiences needs, think about the following.

1. What is your audiences current opinion about the issue? Why do they hold this opinion?
2. What is their stake in the issue? What specific concerns does this audience have?
3. How can you address their specific concerns? What reasons will be specific to this audience?
4. What kind of evidence or genre will the audience value most?
5. What is their knowledge level? Are there any specific terms or ideas that you will need to explain?
6. Where would you like to link this particular audience to for further reading or action?
7. What kind of visuals & examples will be most appealing and relevant to this audience? Which genre
will be the most appealing?
8. How can you connect with my readers and get them involved emotionally?

HELP WITH ORGANIZING, DEVELOPING, & PRESENTING YOUR MESSAGE

Here are a few tips to help you outline/draft how to present your information--
1. Start with a hook. Spend some time getting the audience engaged right off the bat. Dont just dive in.
2. Know w hat background knowledge your audience will need about the problem. Readers often
need a section of the essay early on that gives them background knowledge or convinces them that
the problem exists. (You may consult your proposal for this.)
3. Know what your message or your "take-away point" is (your thesis). Word this as clear as you can
on your draft to help keep you focused. This can come up at the beginning or be left for the end, but it
should be clear.
4. Know what kind of claim (your message) you are making. This can tell you a lot about how to
organize the information.
5. Know what reasons (list them out) you will need to give your audience in order to get them to
accept your message. Use these reasons to order your essay and create sections.
6. Make space to deal with varied ideas or information. This can be done in a section of the essay or
dispersed throughout. If your audience
7. Plan for actual sections (for background information, for each reason, to address other perspectives,
for possible solutions, etc.) not just paragraphs.
a. For well-known issues, its usually a good a idea to address other views right off the bat.
b. For issues where you are raising awareness, other views can be handled later in the essay.
8. Plan for multiple sources to be used within each section.
9. Think about what NEW information, images, videos, examples, etc. you might need to add to
your essay. You might need to find a new piece of evidence to develop a particular section.
Remember each point you bring up or section you have should utilize several sources.
10. Think about creative ways to end the essay-- story, question, quote, call-to-action, point.