Apr 18, 2024  
2020-2021 Undergraduate Academic Catalog 
    
2020-2021 Undergraduate Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

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TC 2010 - Writing for Digital Media

3 lecture hours 0 lab hours 3 credits


Course Description
This course introduces students to theory and practice of writing for digital contexts. Students will learn how to create text that is clear, direct, and effective in a variety of web-based environments. Through readings and classroom discussion, students will improve their ability to analyze digital texts and evaluate their quality. This course uses a writing workshop approach with significant focus on discussion of student work. Projects include creating and localizing content for websites, editing for more readable style and structure, writing UX microcopy to create consistent design across platforms, improving SEO for websites and social media, and customizing content for specific social media channels. Students cannot get credit for both TC 4320  Publishing Across Media and TC 2010 Writing for Digital Media. (prereq: GS 1001  or GS 1010H , GS 1002  or GS 1020H , and GS 1003  or GS 1030H )
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  • Understand and apply best practices of writing for the digital world
  • Employ strong UX writing style 
  • Create content and publishing strategies for social media, websites, and other UX copy (e.g., email design)
  • Understand translation issues
  • Demonstrate ability to localize UX copy to different markets
  • Create effective calls to action, including copy on call-to-action buttons

Prerequisites by Topic
  • Basic knowledge of thesis statements
  • Ability to summarize text for the main point
  • Knowledge of report structure and document design
  • Experience with visual design

Course Topics
  • Writing style (including consistency, clarity, correctness, conciseness; also global English)
  • Writing UX copy: best practices for functionality, brand building, and relationship management
  • Creating calls to action
  • Optimizing search engine optimization (SEO) in headings, topic sentences, key words, and first paragraph
  • Content optimization for web/social media
  • Adjusting/localizing writing style to fit audience needs/expectations
  • Writing/editing workshops

 


Coordinator
Dr. Katherine Wikoff



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