Adustments/Work in progress

Thanks to Drew from JOMC 221, I'm adding page snapshots to my web page critique. It's a work in progress, but I plan to have a new version posted soon. In addition, I plan to work on linking within my blog and uploading a word doc, so you don't have to scroll on my blog. Expect more soon.....

Module Week 3 Web Critique

NetLingo.com defines "wired" as "To be connected, online; to be a surfer, or part of the digerati. This term also refers to what happens when cappuccino cowboys drink too many mochas. It's also the name of a popular magazine, Wired, a leading publication that covers all things high-tech, thanks to the team of Kevin Kelly, Louis Rossetto, and Jane Metcalfe." Wired News (aka wired.com) is a product of the afore-mentioned publication. I love perusing this site; there is always something new and exciting to be found. It’s like going through the piles of clothes in my closet and finding something with tags attached that I don’t remember buying. However, for this assignment, I will present a non-biased critique focusing on the following ten criteria: readability, navigation, coverage, considerations, accessibility, timeliness, reliability, accuracy, credibility, and peer review. An explanation of each is listed below.

1. Web design/readability: A technical writer by trade, this is of the utmost importance to me. The presentation of a page is the first impression and must effectively represent its company or organization. If the design is poor, I will probably move on to another site without perusing the site’s contents. Specifics I notice are appropriate white space, text size, style, grouping, page length, and excessive graphics or ads. I also include correct grammar, sentence structure, and spelling in this category.

2. Navigation/search: A good Web site should upload quickly and be easy to use. I should be able to scan the page and locate what I am looking for without hunting. Active links should be direct and take me exactly where I expect to go—not to other links, the wrong place, or “around the bush.” I prefer pages that offer a site search; this saves time and eliminates the need to read the whole site, unless you are reading for pleasure. As users, we have also come to expect the following navigational options: index, contents, hyperlinks, bookmarks, and help files.

3. Coverage: A site should have a clear title and purpose and meet my expectations. If I expect to find specific information that (theoretically) should be there and then it isn’t—I’ll be disappointed in the writers and/or the site as a whole. There should be a wealth of information with equal concentration on quantity and quality. A site should be leading; in other words, it should keep me interested. Articles and such should raise additional questions or have segues to related topics. A site should also be original; redundant information is annoying.

4. Considerations: When creating sites, Web designers should always consider users with special needs. Physical limitations may include users with visual or other disabilities. For example, readers who are color-blind will have difficulty seeing text on a screen or page. That is why color choice and contrast for background and text are so important. Colors also have a cultural and social significance; a designer should research his or her audience for color associations. Other factors are technical limitations. Not every user has the same equipment (type of computer or screen size, access, or speed which can hinder readability).

5. Accessibility: When I say “accessibility,” I mean access to information on a site. One of my biggest pet peeves is finding a great site with pertinent articles that is hampered by a membership or subscription requirement. Some sites restrict you from reading anything but titles and sources (to pull you in), while others may at least let you read the front page headings or announcements. I expect full access to news, articles, and archives.

6. Timeliness: A reputable site will usually update periodically—sometimes even daily—and include the date at the bottom of the page. In the field of technology this is imperative! Readers want the latest news on advances (in hardware, software, popular issues, etc.) and want to know what is happening in the business sector (what products are selling, what companies are merging). A site that is slow to report new information will get lost in the pack, and if the same info is on the site day after day, week after week, I won’t visit it unless looking specifically for archives.

7. Reliability: Though keeping a site updated is expected, reliability is equally important. Excessive downtime is not appropriate; no one likes to visit a site and see an “under construction—come back later” sign. Does that mean five minutes, one hour, or two days? In today’s society of instant gratification, we want things now. If you have to check back with a site, that is terribly inconvenient.

8. Accuracy: Does the information on the site correspond with that of other reliable sources? Is the information clear, correct, and concise? Articles and especially news should cover who, what, when, where, and how. Details are a must.

9. Credibility: Though reputation is not everything, name recognition is helpful. If you trust a site, you may not need to verify facts and figures elsewhere. Especially if a site is consistent over time, I’ll return to it and recommend it to other Internet users.

10. Peer review: This goes hand-in-hand with credibility. Usually peer reviews or reputable sponsors will be listed at the top of a page in full view—much like the sanitation grade in a restaurant. Once you see it, you feel more comfortable. I don’t believe everything I read or hear, but I will give it more or less consideration depending on the source. Peer reviews in professional circles add validity.

Critique of Wired News (www.wired.com)



At First Glance

Wired.com can be a bit overwhelming. The number of animated ads vary daily; presently a banner of moving smilies graces the top of the page. They are smiling, crying, frowning, and sticking out their tongues at me--hoping that I will click and download them to my AOL IM. Unlike many of the better sites out there, Wired does not offer a motto or defining statement to identify its purpose. The designer assumes the reader knows this is a site about technology-related news. The color scheme and contrast are suitable making the site aesthetically pleasing. There is an option to resize text, which shows consideration for the visually challenged reader. The sidebar to the left of the screen reiterates the topic buttons found at the top; both provide links to articles about new technology, business, culture, and politics. The right margin contains excessive white space, which could be used to showcase other links or even ads in moderation. The top stories are located in the middle and contain headlines, lead-ins, and brief summaries. Today’s headlines include an array of interesting titles such as A Century of Einstein, Cybersex: Seek and Ye Shall Find, Government IT Blunders Common, Activists Urge Open-source, and Teen Gets Prison for Blaster; it seems that there is something for everyone. Each headline is accompanied by an icon; unfortunately, there is no legend, and the significance of these icons is unclear.

Organization and Content

The search query is easily located in the top margin above the topic tags and the text indicator; the reader also has the choice of searching through the archives, which date back to the year 2000. Wired offers an extensive variety of articles covering everything imaginable from portable gaming to virtual reality to the history of Web browsers. The list is endless (though not literally); one could certainly become immersed and spend days reading if he or she had the time and were so inclined. The articles are pertinent and come from legitimate sources such as BBC, New Scientist, and the Washington Post to name a few. They are accurate and reliable, which establishes credibility, which in turn promotes return visitors. Information is layered mostly by the use of headings and links. Visuals are used sparingly and usually only to emphasize and attract the reader to the headlines. The designer of Wired focuses on text rather than graphics. Since this is a news site, the reader expects up-to-date info and breaking news. You will get that with this site.

Recommendations and Summary

Wired.com is an informative site catering to the technology enthusiast. I would not recommend it to a novice Internet user due to the multiple layers and the sheer amount of information; however, navigation is user-friendly, and the designer clearly considered user limitations in the development stages.

As previously mentioned, the site has excessive white space and needs a legend to identify icons. More conservative ads would prove less distracting, though the animated smilies were appropriate for the intended audience. Overall, I give this site an A+.

Final Draft/Workshop: Picture Perfect?

Thanks, Michelle for your constructive and useful feedback! Here is the fruit of our labor.

Picture Perfect?

Do you know Ana, Mia, or Ed? When you see these names on the Internet, they are usually referring to the underground lifestyles of people, mostly female, starving to be beautiful. Ana is Anorexia. Mia is Bulimia. Ed stands for eating disorder. According to Eating Disorder Statistics 7 million girls and women (and 1 million males) struggle with eating disorders in the United States alone. Ten percent of persons afflicted reported onset at 10 years old and under; 86 percent by age 20. Though anorexia and bulimia are more widely acknowledged, other types of disorders include compulsive and binge eating, body dysmorphic disorder, and over exercise. Twenty percent of people suffering from a serious eating disorder will die; that equals 50,000 individuals in the average lifetime. New communication technologies including websites, blogs, and chatrooms are enabling a new generation the ability to discuss and promote their "lifestyles" freely and anonymously.

Is beauty really in the eye of the beholder? Is that what the media is selling us? Nikki Katz suggests that the media influences females especially, instilling in us a desire to look like the models featured in fashion mags. Not only do the covers show "perfect 10s," but the pages of these publications are filled with articles concerning "keeping fit, getting toned, losing those last few pounds or other weight-loss nonsense." Is it then surprising to us that Pro-Ana and Mia sites litter the Web with names like Ana World, The Anorexic Files, Fat Like Me, and Starving Beauty? The content is shocking and not for the squeamish. Pictures called "triggers" of super thin models, emaciated bodies, and of the girls themselves are posted in galleries. Anorexia, which is preferred over Bulimia by most, is promoted as "a lifestyle, not a disease." The sites provide a forum that promotes to normalize and encourage starving and vomiting in an effort to stay thin. To gain a pound is considered a sin; "thinspirational" awards are given to those who can lose the most weight. Tips are offered to help deceive parents and avoid having meals with family and friends; BMI (Body Mass Index) calculators are explained, and "safe foods" (e.g. celery, egg whites, black coffee) are listed. Message boards allow members to share and compare accomplishments further encouraging this cult-like mentality. The surprising part is that the supporters of the Pro-Ana movement are not in denial as you might think; they are advocates of the lifestyle and its acceptance by society. They claim not to be victims. They are not hiding but fighting for what they believe in. The scary part is that the visitor counters are exploding. The numbers rank in the thousands. This new virtual community is growing at an alarming rate. What can we do to stop this trend?

Yes, Freedom of Speech allows this to happen. Having and discussing an eating disorder is not illegal, but it is an issue of public safety. Where should the line be drawn? What if your daughter or sister was saying, "Ana is my best friend," or "I will be all bones and just beautiful?" Anyone can gain admission to the sites and acceptance into the community regardless of age or history. The fact is that eating disorders are deadly and potentially fatal. Something must be done to combat the increasing number of sites. Although the American Government made an attempt to restrict these sites, they were defeated by the ACLU and the Freedom of Speech argument. Some Internet companies including Yahoo! and Lycos have blocked Pro-Ana material, but the sites persist under pseudonyms and are still extensively available via other search engines and Web providers. It is up to all of us—family members and friends of present, recovering, and potential victims to push awareness and education. These sites must be restricted or at the least, monitored; we must continue the fight against eating disorders and help those who are dying to be thin.

There is no excellent beauty that hath not some strangeness in the proportion. ~ Sir Francis Bacon

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and it may be necessary from time to time to give a stupid or misinformed beholder a black eye. ~ Miss Piggy

JOMC 221 Exercises

Better late than never as they say :(

Module 1: Exercises 1-6

Ex. 1.1 Be brief (sound familiar?)

People shouldn’t fear anything except being fearful, and we should stick together on this so we can’t be defeated.
The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. ~ FDR

The male gender is so different from the female gender that it is almost as if the two are from completely different planets altogether.
Men are from Mars. Women are from Venus.

Before there was anything else, the all-powerful omniscient, omnipresent being of all beings created out of nothing both what we know of today as the earth and that which we do not yet know of - the heavens.
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. (Gen 1:1)

Ex. 1.2 Be precise

Ambiguous/Ambivalent
Her reply was ambiguous and led to further confusion.
She was ambivalent about moving across the country to attend college.

Apprise/Appraise
The committee apprised the members of the change in leadership.
You should have the property appraised to calculate its worth.

Healthy/Healthful
Living a healthy lifestyle will lengthen your lifespan.
Eating right and exercising regularly are ways to ensure a healthful existence.

Disinterested/Uninterested
By the end of the meeting, I was disinterested in the outcome.
All the participants seemed uninterested and anxious to leave.

Conscience/Conscious
Beware of those without a conscience.
I made a conscious effort to pay attention.

Affect/Effect
Your lack of attendance will affect your final grade negatively.
The medication you are taking has minor side effects.

Ex. 1.3 Be active (and descriptive)

The labor leaders were frustrated by the latest offer, which forced them to go through with the strike.
After three excruciating hours of deliberation, the labor leaders were frustrated by the latest offer by the administration. Out of necessity, they banded together and proceeded with the strike as promised.

She walked into the room without saying a word, sat down and looked at me.
My mother, with tear-stained cheeks and disheveled hair, walked into the room without saying a word. She sat down heavily into the armchair and looked at me with a knowing look.

Ex. 1.4, 1.5 Be imaginative

Examples of boring clichés:
Head over heels. It could be worse. Smooth as a baby’s bottom. Haste makes waste. No pain, no gain. When it rains, it pours. Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today. Easy as pie. Long in the tooth. Over the hill.

Analogies:
Lured by money traps and online predators, a new Internet user is like Little Red Riding Hood in the forest; The Big Bad Wolf is lurking around every corner.

A brave new world, the Internet is an endless book waiting to be read.

Ex. 1.6 Be consistent

US Airways promises a bounty of flights that are on time, have convenient connections and offer a well-balanced in-flight meal.
US Airways promises a bounty of on time flights, convenient connections, and well-balanced in-flight meals.

Heroes in movies are always wealthy, always get the girl, wear high fashion and usually arrive at the scene about two seconds after the bad guy has left.
Heroes in movies, who are always wealthy, get the girl, wear high fashion, and arrive at the scene about two seconds after the bad guy leaves.

Speaking of movies, telephones in movies are always knocked over if they wake up a character, never ring more than three times before getting answered, and get restored by frantically tapping on the cradle, and shouting, “Hello? Hello?”

Telephones in movies are always knocked over if they wake up a character, never ring more than three times before getting answered, and get restored by the character frantically tapping on the cradle, and shouting, “Hello? Hello?”

Workshop Essay

Do you know Ana, Mia, or Ed? When you see these names on the Internet, they are usually referring to the underground lifestyles of people, mostly female, starving to be beautiful. Ana is Anorexia. Mia is Bulimia. Ed stands for eating disorder. Pro-Ana and Mia sites litter the Web with names like Ana World, The Anorexic Files, Fat Like Me, and Starving Beauty; the content is shocking and not for the squeamish. Pictures called "triggers" of super thin models, emaciated bodies, and of the girls themselves are posted in galleries. Anorexia, which is preferred over Bulimia by most, is promoted as "a lifestyle, not a disease." The sites provide a forum that promotes to normalize and encourage starving and vomiting in an effort to stay thin. To gain a pound is considered a sin; "thinspirational" awards are given to those who can lose the most weight. Tips are offered to help deceive parents and avoid having meals with family and friends; BMI (Body Mass Index) calculators are explained, and "safe foods" (e.g. celery, egg whites, black coffee) are listed. Message boards allow members to share and compare accomplishments further encouraging this cult-like mentality. The surprising part is that the supporters of the Pro-Ana movement are not in denial as you might think; they are advocates of the lifestyle and its acceptance by society. They claim not to be victims. They are not hiding but fighting for what they believe in. The scary part is that the visitor counters are exploding. The numbers rank in the thousands.

Yes, Freedom of Speech allows this to happen. Having and discussing an eating disorder is not illegal, but it is an issue of public safety. Where should the line be drawn? What if your daughter or sister was saying, "Ana is my best friend," or "I will be all bones and just beautiful?" Anyone can gain admission to the sites and acceptance into the community regardless of age or history. The fact is that eating disorders are deadly and potentially fatal. Something must be done to combat the increasing number of sites. Although the American Government made an attempt to restrict these sites, they were defeated by the ACLU and the Freedom of Speech argument. Some Internet companies including Yahoo! and Lycos have blocked Pro-Ana material, but the sites persist under pseudonyms and are still extensively available via other search engines and Web providers. It is up to the public and Internet users to push awareness and education to abolish this growing trend.

About Me

About Me section

You can access information about me on my Web site at Christy's World as well as see pics of me, my students and colleagues, and of course my doggy. However, below is my bio. From this you will get the gist of WHO I AM. My qualifications and experience are listed, and info is provided on my interests, which coincide with the purpose of this site. Enjoy, and feel free to ask questions or comment.

Bio
Christy Kinnion is a native North Carolinian and is currently employed as an English Instructor at Lenoir Community College in Kinston. Her teaching experience includes Professional Research and Reporting, Expository Writing, Argument and Literature-Based Research, Applied Communications, and Student Success in both the traditional classroom and via distance education. Christy also develops grants and was recently awarded a grassroots grant by the Community Council for the Arts to fund a Poetry Alive performance in May 2004. Christy serves on various committees at LCC including the Arts & Sciences Scholarship Committee, Fine Arts Committee, and Technology Subcommittee. She thoroughly enjoys teaching and was recently recognized as honored faculty by the Omicron Rho Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa.

Christy graduated from East Carolina University with a BA and MA in English with a concentration in Technical and Professional Communication. Additional areas of study included International Communication and teaching in the 2-year college. While pursuing her education, Christy accepted various contract opportunities and was employed as a documentation specialist, marketing writer, and copywriter/editor. While in graduate school, Christy was hired full-time as a technical writer for a major manufacturing facility in eastern NC where she worked for two years. She also began teaching part-time in the community college system, which led to her current position.

Christy is presently pursuing the certificate in Technology and Communication offered by UNC-Chapel Hill and hopes to learn more about digital media, Internet concepts, and the effects of technology on society. She is considering a PhD in Communication in the future and aspires to teach at the university level or become a consultant.

JOMC 221 Writing for Digital Media

Hello all! I sincerely apologize for my tardiness. I was awaiting info on the course and was somehow left out of the loop. I promise to catch up. More to come.

ck

Welcome Greene County students!

English 111 GC

Please click on the links below to access both the department and class syllabi. To reduce the amount of paper used, hard copies will not be printed. You may bookmark or save these documents for later use.

Departmental Syllabus
Class Syllabus

Looking forward to a great semester!