Rhetoric and Composition/Writing for the Web

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Contents 1 Writing For The Web 2 Formality 2.1 Use of and Establishing Personality 2.2 Engaging in Online Conversation 2.3 Use of Active Voice 2.4 Responses and Flaming 3 Formatting 3.1 Readability 3.2 Hierarchies of Thought 3.3 Visual Appeal 3.4 Conventions Unique to the Web (Abbreviations, Leet, Smilies) 4 Utility 4.1 Purpose, Relevance and Exigency 4.2 Use of Archives 4.3 Copyright 5 Establishing Connections 5.1 Maintaining a Website 5.2 Writing to be Found and Linked 5.3 Establishing a Virtual Reputation or Persona 6 Advice for Writing in Various Venues on the Web 6.1 Blogs 6.2 Chats 6.3 Discussion Boards 6.4 Emails 6.5 Games and Simulations 6.6 Podcasts 6.7 Social Networking Sites (Myspace, Facebook, etc.) 6.8 Tags 7 Useful Links

[edit] Writing For The Web

With the advent of the Internet, and the various new modes in which people can now communicate, more recent and perhaps even revolutionary forms of writing have emerged. This section of the Rhetoric and Composition Wikibook will try to address the modes and concerns that are most effective and efficient for writing that will be on the Web.

[edit] Formality

Many readers and writers alike feel that the process of writing on the Web is both a blessing and a curse. The speed, utility, and flexibility of such writing is clearly a benefit. Yet, and perhaps as a result, formal writing style, developed voice, and common literary conventions seem, at times, to be edging gradually towards extinction. The point is that we, as communicators, should still make use of consideration, forethought, reflection and careful editing. This increases the likelihood that we are not misunderstood, disregarded, ridiculed or neglected.

The following entries will attempt to provide some tips to consider when composing a piece of writing that will be presented or transmitted on the Internet.

[edit] Use of and Establishing Personality

Writing for the web generally allows more freedom to let your personality shine through than writing for print publications. Because oftentimes readers are allowed to comment or give immediate feedback, a sense of intimacy is created between writer and reader that allows for a casual, personal tone – your readers become your online friends. This has its positives and negatives. One positive is that you end up with a more creative, relaxed piece of prose. A negative is that it is easier to become lax on mechanics and the level of formality still necessary in effective writing.

Because of the abundance of online writing, it becomes necessary to create a unique personality. Readers are only a click away from disregarding your online writing if they find it stale or difficult to read.

Remember that because your audience on the web is so large, it is easier to find readers who will care about what you have to say. Don’t be afraid to be bold and let your personality shine through – your audience will come to you if you have something interesting to say.

[edit] Engaging in Online Conversation

There are a number of ways to engage in online conversation. For instance, there are mailing lists, discussion boards,forums, blogs,chat rooms and instant messaging. There are differences and rules when writing for each venue because each one serves its own purpose.

Mailing lists often allow users to keep contact with one another through emails. Individual users can use mailing lists for both their personal and professional life to keep updated on industry events, job listings, blog subscriptions, particular interests such as recipes, hobbies, fashion, etc. You can often subscribe to mailing lists on individual/professional websites.

Discussion boards are great for keeping up with current events, engaging in a dialogue about popular topics, solving technical problems and meeting new people. There are hundreds of thousands of discussion boards on the web and they can be found anywhere from a personal to a professional website. Once you find a discussion board, review its popularity. You know it’s popular if the same users are returning to comment on what others have said about them.

Chat and instant messaging allow for immediate online communication with one or many users. Chat allows users to enter certain domains (depending on their interests) and then begin conversations with a number of users simultaneously. If a user then decides that he/she enjoys talking to one person from this chat room, they then may decide to engage in an instant message conversation, which is a one on one conversation either with someone you do or do not know.

Although these are only three types of online discussion, there are others depending on what sites you visit. Also, remember if you wish to engage in online conversation, there are rules of online etiquette that need to be followed. The sections below offer advice on other various parts of writing for the web.

[edit] Use of Active Voice

Web documents, unless intended otherwise should remain in the active voice. Please refer to the Active vs. Passive voice section of this Wikibook below for more in depth explanation.

• Rhetoric and Composition/Active and Passive Voice

[edit] Responses and Flaming

Flaming is responding to someone online in an aggressive, insulting manner. It is the equivalent of a verbal lashing and often happens in chats or discussion boards. It seems easier to participate in this kind of behavior online because there is freedom to openly express opinions with little supervision, repercussions often aren’t immediate, and the dispute is not face-to-face. Although the instinct to participate in flaming may take over when provoked by the diverse opinions brought about by the nature of online conversation, it is in poor taste and will destroy your credibility. Flaming is also a poor argument tool; it would be better to refrain and stick to facts or well-planned logical responses.

[edit] Formatting

The readability, visual appeal and overall appearance of a page are all important. The less professional and more haphazard a document, article, or web page seems to be, the greater the likelihood that readers will call into question the ability and authority of the writer. Documents on the web should also in some way recognize the nature of the Internet itself. As Marshall McLuhan observed, "The Media is the Message." Given the ever increasing body of knowledge that one can access on the Web, readers should be able to scan Web documents, so as to quickly pull out the information that is most interesting or vital to them, thereby allowing them to avoid or ignore material that is not.

[edit] Readability

Brevity is best. Enough said.

Many documents are organized in a structure in which the most vital information comes first, followed by ever increasing detail as the argument progresses. This is referred to as a "pyramid structure". However, this format may also be inverted, in which specific details come first, and then the larger perspective follows. When considering the layout of any document on the Web, a writer should consider this.

Many readers of documents enjoy bulleted lists.

They have benefits. Bulleted lists are:

• Easy and quick to read
• Concise
• Key Points
• People like dots

However, bulleted lists can also have drawbacks:

• Many readers won't enjoy the content of your list if such points are too long and drawn out, particularly if you go on and on about nothing of importance and basically defeat the point of having a list in the first place ...
• If there are too many items on any list, readers may become overwhelmed
• Repetition
• Repetition
• Lists can become tiresome
• A list may not be the right format for your message

[edit] Hierarchies of Thought

When constructing a Web document, you should consider the hierarchies of through which you will be constructing. Ideas should be grouped in some sort of hierarchy, and not randomly (unless of course that is your expressed intent). Headings and subheading should be clear and easily understandable to your readers so that they can easily understand how the various ideas relate to each other in terms of order and importance. Having page that serves as a menu, table of contents or an index (such as the one at the top of this page) is generally a good idea. Headings and subheadings should be ranked in terms of size and placement on the page in a way that also allows the reader to skim and scan for the information they require.

In regards to linkages, the amount and placement of links should be functional. Too many links can make a document appear cluttered, or it may be that in an attempt to copy or highlight a chunk of text, the reader inadvertently activates a link which they did not intend to. This is annoying in the extreme. Also, links should direct users to sites which you will find useful, not simply just those that you like personally. The definitions of obscure terms can be linked, such as in Wikipedia, however, excesses of this can be distracting and break up the overall flow of the text.

[edit] Visual Appeal

• It should be noted here, that as of yet, this page is lacking visual appeal, and we are aware of this... it is a work in progress. Thank you.

Font Usage

Fonts should be selected such that they are readable and that they suit your message.

Fonts which are exceedingly complex or detailed should usually be avoided, as should fonts that most users don't have in their library.

Although most browsers allow users to alter the size, bigger is often better...

Color Usage

The goal in the use of color is to express artistic style, intent and contrast.

For more information on color usage and design, check out the information at this link: Colors

Avoiding Clutter

Clutter should be avoided at all times. If a page is to jumbled or busy, readers may disregard it entirely.

Pointless and flashing animation (such as those seen in many Web advertisements) is particularly distracting.

Less is more.

[edit] Conventions Unique to the Web (Abbreviations, Leet, Smilies)

[edit] Utility

While surfing the Internet, and it may not be readily apparent, but the best information is that which is useful and serves a purpose. The purposes of various web documents range over the broad spectrum of human communication. These texts might be trying to amuse, to sell something, to establish a dialogue, to inform or educate, to make some sort of artistic statement, or any number of other goals. Those sites and documents which lack utility therefore are less visited, less supported, and as a result less linked and more frequently disconnected.

Information which is not useful will most often have decreasing sense of purpose, and as a result readers and content will become lost. A useful Internet page or document is one which not only persists, but is also regularly updated and contains recent or new material. Good sites and documents will also utilize archiving systems to record data and design, and also to track the changes made to that data over time. Organizing, cataloguing, archiving and disseminating useful information allow readers/users to find a text later, and also to see the connections within and between sources. In addition, web content has been deemed as intellectual property, so there are also issues of permission to use information and possible copyright infringement which must be considered.

[edit] Purpose, Relevance and Exigency

[edit] Use of Archives

[edit] Copyright

[edit] Establishing Connections

All good public web documents should be well connected and accessible to readers. All good private web documents should be safely and securely delivered (and probably encrypted). However, regardless of what type of document you might be working on, it has the the ability to go a great many places, and be read by an even greater number of people. And so, regardless if you want your document to be public or not, you should consider who it is you will be writing for and also who might conceivably find or stumble across your work.

You should also realize that in the act of writing on the Web that you are, in a sense, creating a virtual representation of yourself as a writer. Your readers may not know you in person, but they will begin to know what you feel, how you think. They will form an opinion of you and your writing over time... and that can either be a positive or a negative one. You are building a reputation of your own design and need to establish the sorts of reputations and connections that are both interesting and useful for you.

[edit] Maintaining a Website

Creating a website is only half the battle, you also have to maintain and update it regularly if you want to keep your visitors. If your site is current and has new information, people are more likely to visit it. Not updating your site is a good way to lose them.

Maintaining your site means that, among other things specific to your site, all your features work, all your images load, and all your links connect users to the proper place. Any changes you make could affect your site in different places, so if you do make a change, double check that everything else is still functional.

Another very important aspect of maintaining you site is updating your content. This may be as simple as changing or adding links. You could also add new information or features. But, this doesn’t always mean getting rid of the old.

Remember, the simpler you keep your site, the easier it will be to maintain. Creating complicated gimmicks will only mean more maintenance and more work for you.

An easy and user-friendly way to maintain your site is to allow user feedback. If something is not working, they will be the first to let you know. Take this feedback seriously, and, if possible, try to respond and thank the user. Evaluate the suggestion and, if you decide to implement it, contact the person who suggested it and recommend they return to see the change. A “What’s New” section may be helpful to let other users know what has been updated.

Put in a plan of action for updating and maintaining your site. For example:

• First, decide how much time you want to spend on maintenance per month and schedule a routine time to do it so that you won’t forget. For a small site, you should dedicate at least two to five hours a month on maintenance.
• Next, discover what your users are doing and saying. What kind of feedback are they leaving? What areas of your site are they most visiting? Do certain parts of your site that used to have a lot of activity seeing less activity? If your site is hosted by a web hosting site, it should provide this information for you.
• Make the changes.
• As with everything, proofread and spell-check before you upload your changes.
• Think about future enhancements like guest-books, graphics, a search engine, etc. Maybe set up a poll to see what your visitors would like added and then make sure to consider their feedback.

[edit] Writing to be Found and Linked

[edit] Establishing a Virtual Reputation or Persona

Establishing a web persona or virtual reputation can be beneficial to both your professional and social life. It allows old friends and colleagues to contact you and see what you have been up to throughout the years. It also allows potential employers and/or clients to get a sense of your personality, accomplishments, etc. before deciding to work with you. It is probably not a good thing, career-wise, if you are not on the web; however, the same may be true if your name gets too many hits. Although you want to have a web identity, you do not want to have a mistaken one.

It is fairly simple to establish a web identity. First, you need to have an email account. Make sure that this account is separate from either your work or school address. This is in case you graduate, leave your job or other unforeseen circumstances (such as technological problems) arise.

There are several different email archives to choose from. Some of the best known and popular archives are Gmail, Yahoo Mail and Hotmail. When you sign up for any of these archives, remember to choose a name for your account that is appropriate. Although your friends may find a name like ‘Big_Daddy’ or ‘Foxy_Lady’ humorous and/or suitable for you, potential employers and clients will not. If you are having trouble with finding a name you like, the email service will often give you suggestions based off of your information (like your name, year you were born, etc.) when you sign up for the service.

Once you have signed up for your email service, the second thing you need to do is check to see if your name is taken as a domain. You could simply type ‘yourfullname.com’ into the browser or search engine to see if anything pops up, or you could visit the site BetterWhoIs.com and then register. Although it’s possible to have another suffix such as -.net, -.org, etc., these may be more expensive and more difficult for users to remember.

Now that you have an email account and domain name, it is time to establish yourself on the web. An easy way to do this is through blogs. Blogs are immensely popular because they are constantly evolving and are voyeuristic by nature. You can use sites such as Blogger, LiveJournal and WordPress to begin your blog and then export those to your website.

When you sign-up for your blog, you’ll need to have a username, an avatar (a picture of you or one you find suitable) and to pick a theme for your blog. Once you have done this you can moderate who comments on or views your blog and/or allow other users to subscribe to your blog.

Now you have an established web persona. Just remember, that this persona or identity needs to be updated on a regular basis to remain interesting and correct. Even if you only blog a couple times a week, this should be enough to keep your domain current. Also, if you would like to use this web persona simply as a professional site, there are other ways to keep in contact with old friends and colleagues. You can do this through various social networking sites.

[edit] Advice for Writing in Various Venues on the Web

[edit] Blogs

Ideally a blog is an informal and low stakes online writing venue where you are able to make your opinion known or workshop ideas. For some, the freedom of a blog can be paralyzing. Especially if you think too much about your audience -- who they are, and how they will react to what you write. The following are some tips for writing a blog:

Remember that people like blogs. We are generally voyeuristic by nature and like to see the thought process at work. People also like that blogs are written by a real person with a unique personality. Don’t worry about your audience and making your blog perfect, instead write the blog for yourself and concentrate on expressing your opinion and ideas the way only you can.

Make your blog even more interesting by linking to pages that support your opinion or that you simply find amusing and would like to share.

Like a title on a paper, the headline for your blog should be interesting and creative. You could use a funny comment, a non sequitur, a quote or any other text that stands out and creates interest. Also like a paper title, make sure your headline at least hints at what your blog will be about.

Once a reader finds a blog they like, they are usual loyal and like to return to see what new things the blogger has to say. Often this has a lot to do with the style of the writer, so once you find a style you like to blog in, try to stick to it.

Don’t forget that with all writing, editing is key. Don’t forget to edit your blog. Re-read your post and check for errors.

[edit] Chats

While intiating conversation in a online chatroom, the main goals are to be polite, interested/-ing, safe and aware of the parameters of the particular chatroom. While chats may seem very free and public spaces, most are privately owned, and may be logged, moderated and or monitored by site administrators, law enforcement officials, criminals and other entities.

Good things to do while in a chatroom:

• Protect yourself and your identity: Create a good pseudonym or screen name for yourself. It should be short and easy to type. However, do not divulge any personal information, in doing so you will protect yourself from sexual predators, identity thieves and other potential criminals. Use discretion at all times.

• Respect others. Treat others as least as well (if not better) than you want to be treated. While some chatters might engage in insulting, derogatory, rude, or disruptive behavior, you should refrain from replying with such. The better move is to ignore them completely or find another (and more moderated) place to chat. Many chatrooms feature software which allows you to block incoming messages from certain parties, and you may choose to use this to limit or end your interaction with hostile persons.

• Be kind to newcomers. New or naive readers may be unaware or inconsiderate of the established norms within a chat or online community. Be patient, kind and try to help these newcomers understand the parameters of the virtual space.

• If you have just connected to a chat, be sure to know what the topic of discussion is before you dive in. Read, wait and listen and give others a chance to talk. Also, either a general "hello" message to the group, or a specific greeting or questions to a specific person who you have had previous and positive contact with is usually a good way to start.

Bad practices to avoid while in a chatroom:

• Do NOT TYPE IN ALL CAPITALS or Bold face letters. Such behavior is equivalent to yelling. It may attract people's attention, but more than likely you will be ignored, reprimanded or booted from the chat.

• Avoid asking intrusive questions of other people, particularly those regarding personal information, for the same reason as those listed above. You may well be curious about the particulars of a person's life, realize that privacy is there right, and they have no duty to divulge any such information to you. Also, should they do so, realize that this information may be fabricated and/or false.

• Avoid caustic, obscene and sexually implicit language.

• If you are typing longer messages, break them down into shorter, more readible chunks, or alternately, take your conversation into email correspondence with more lengthy content and dialogue.

[edit] Discussion Boards

Discussion boards are an online forum for conversation. Usually they are organized in threads by date, subject, or both. Discussion boards are typically formed around a single specific topic (for example: current events, computer games, even book covers have their own discussion boards), but multiple conversations regarding that topic can and should develop. Because users of the discussion board return often to follow-up on their posts, a virtual community develops.

On an online discussion board your goal is to stimulate others to join your conversation. The trick is to encourage active and meaningful debate. Steer clear of “yes” or “no” questions, instead ask open-ended questions that will spark further threads of the discussion. Tell an personal anecdote relevant to the discussion and try to get others to do so as well. Try not to get too far off-topic and if you find that others are not progressing the debate in any meaningful way, steer the conversation back to the original subject. Keep the conversation interesting and moving.

Make sure that if you are responding to a question on the discussion board you include specific information. Saying, “I don’t know” is not very helpful. At the very least give an idea of where the information they are looking for may be found.

Try to be concise. Readers want to know your point and don’t want to sit through a boring and unnecessary display of your expertise on the topic of debate. Attribute all your sources. Finally, don’t forget to spell-check, words spelt incorrectly hurt your credibility.

Make sure that when you join a discussion board you read and follow their rules of conduct.

The following are some common things to remember when posting on discussion boards:

• Even though lively discussion and debate is encouraged, attacking an individual is not. Do not personally attack others. Messages that are profane, racist, demeaning, threatening, about illegal topics, or generally offensive (you may have to use your common sense about what you think is “offensive” considering the topic of discussion and the other members participating in the conversation) are usually prohibited and can be erased by the discussion leader. If you don’t want it said to or about you, don’t say it to or about others. Members who post those type of messages will often be kicked out of the discussion.

• Keep your posts consistent with the theme of the topic and the purpose of the thread of discussion.

• Most discussion boards require that you use your name or handle when posting. It is responsible to attach a name to what you are saying. If you don’t want to put your name behind something you post, reconsider whether or not it is something you really want to say or something that really needs to be said to move the discussion along. In some discussion boards anonymous posts will be deleted by the discussion leader. Also, make sure your username is not offensive or meant to intimidate others.

• Do not use discussion board to advance your personal agenda. For example, don’t advertise or promote surveys, contest or chain letters in a discussion board.

• When quoting information from others give the source and a link when possible. If you do link to another site, make sure it is relevant to the discussion.

• Don’t post the same thing more than once. This is “spamming” and is usually not allowed.

[edit] Emails

Email is short for electronic mail. They are a form of rapid communication used in both business and in everyday life. There are four main parts when formatting your email messages: guide words, salutation, body and closing lines. The order of these formats vary depending on your email provider.

Guide Words The guide words include: To,'From,'Subject,'Cc,'Bcc,and Attached.

• To: The recipient's email addresss is included here. If the receiver's name is included enclose address in angle brackets.
• From: Your name and address should be written on this line, if the program does not insert for you automatically.
• Subject: The subject line gives the receiver a clear description of your message.
  • The subject line should summarize the central idea of your email as well as provide quick identification. It is usually written in abbreviated style, omitting articles (a, an, the), and does not need to be a complete sentence. Good subject lines are often attention-getting and are often written in verb form.
    • Effective Subject Lines
      • Three Promotional Items to Showcase at Our Next Trade Show
      • Beefing Up Our Messaging Capabilities
      • Staff Meeting to Discuss Summer Vacation Schedules
    • Ineffective Subject Lines
      • Trade Show
      • New Software
      • Meeting
• Cc (Carbon or courtesy copy): Any other receiver's address should be written on this line.
• Bcc (Blind carbon copy): This line sends a copy of the message to another recipient without the addressee's knowledge.
• Attached: Attachments are optional and can include everything from business reports to papers to photographs. If using an attachment, be sure to clarify its purpose in the body of the email.

Salutation. Unlike a memo, it is often necessary to include a salutation in an email. This is because emails are more like letters than memos. Therefore, a salutation, such as Dear Beth,'Hi Beth,'Greetings, or just Beth, is appropriate.

Body. The body of an email should be typed in both with uppercase and lowercase characters and never restricted to one or the other. In addition, you should never use bold or italics when writing an email. They may create a string of control characters that may cause chaos in the recipient's computer. Also, the body/subject of the email should be kept to one topic with the total message being under three screens in length. To assist you, many email programs include basic editing features, such as cut, paste, word wrap and copy.

Closing Lines. If you are writing from within an organization, closing lines and/or names may be omitted. This is because the recipient should recognize them from identification in the opening lines. However, for outside messages, writers may include lines such as Sincerely or All the best along with their names and email address. If the recipient is unlikely to know you, it's wise to include your title and organization at the end of the message.

EXAMPLE EMAIL

To: Hugh Beerman <hbeerman@hotmail.com>

From: Arnold Enuff <arnoldenuff_21@gmail.com>

Cc:

Bcc:

Subject: Business Internship for Summer 2007

Attachment(s):

Dear Mr. Beerman:

I would like to inquire about the business internship being offered by your company this upcoming summer. The company's website gives some very general information regarding the position; however, I would like to know more about some of the specifics.

• Do you need to have any specialized training in order to apply for the position?

• Would an internship this summer give me an advantage with possibly joining your company in the future?

• What would be the general hours of the position?

• Is this a paid or unpaid internship?

If you could get back to me with this or any other pertinent information, I would be extremely grateful. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Arnold Enuff arnoldenuff_21@gmail.com

[edit] Games and Simulations

Games such as World of Warcraft, Warhammer Online, and other massively multiplayer online role playing games (MMORPG) have their own terminology spoken by players in game. In these games players make use of abbreviations and acronyms in order to communicate more efficiently. Quick communication can mean the difference between success and failure.

Generally, conversation in these games is casual, but there are a few rules. Never type in all capital letters, this is seen as bad form by players of the game. Also, avoid swearing. Most of these games have built in filters, but many players do not use them and some are offended by strong language.

There are literally hundreds of acronyms, slang terms, and abbreviations in online games so be patient; it will take some time to learn them. Always remember it is just a game and the main goal is to have fun.

[edit] Podcasts

Podcasts are electronic audio or video files that are available for download from many internet sites. The files can be played back on computers or portable media players.

Originally podcasts were intended to be used as a type of personal radio program. However, today podcasts can contain television programs, class lectures, meetings, or almost anything that can be voice or video recorded. The main advantage of podcasting is that it allows access to information whenever it is convenient to the listener.

The audience for podcasts can vary greatly depending on the purpose, so it is vital that you are aware of exactly who your audience is and how they expect you to use language. Colloquial language may be appropriate for some podcast but not others. For instance, a podcast from a morning radio show may be very informal, but a podcast intending to train people to use a computer program would be more formal. Generally podcasts are read from a script. So, the revising and editing are vital to produce a high quality product. Also, it is a good idea to rehearse the script in advance in order to minimize mistakes in the recording process.

[edit] Social Networking Sites (Myspace, Facebook, etc.)

Sites such as MySpace, Facebook, Bebo, Multiply and others allow personal users to keep in touch with old friends as well as meet new ones. However, these sites are also sometimes used as a place to start job networking, for locating and advertising for roommates/apartments/etc. and for meeting potential significant others. These sites often allow users to create a space that is unique to their own personality, letting them share their thoughts, photos, interests, activities, favorite movies, books, television shows and music. Also, in many sites, users have the option to join groups that pertain to their particular interests and to meet other users who share those interests.

Although social networks allow users to put their address and phone numbers online, it is ill advised. Placing sensitive information online only makes it easier for hackers and others to steal personal information and for online predators to secure a new target. Also, try to refrain from posting information and/or photographs that could be detrimental to your professional life. Recruiters and employers are now often checking social networking sites to size up potential employees and/or clients.

If you would like to include certain photographs or certain information that could be used against you, you do have options. Many of these sites allow you to choose your own privacy setting to secure your personal information. There is an open door setting, which allows anyone and everyone to see your site, a "friends only" setting, which obviously only allows your friends to access your information and other settings as well. Also, some of these sites let users block other individuals from adding you as a friend. Instead users may have to know your last name, enter in a password or know your email address in order to add you. That said, if you have a limited profile, even if the other user does know your information, you are often asked to confirm your relationship with that person before they can access all of your information.

The following are descriptions and links to four popular social networks in the United States and around the world.

MySpace - The MySpace headquarters is located in Beverly Hills, CA, and run by Fox Interactive Media whose headquarters run out of New York City. MySpace allows users to share blogs, bulletins, photos, groups, music and videos in various networks. It also lets users choose their own background, layouts and play music and videos on their individual profiles. Anyone can join MySpace and it is free to use. For more information or to join please visit the MySpace website: MySpace.

Facebook – Facebook first appeared in 2004. Created by former Harvard student, Mark Zuckerberg, the site, “the facebook,” as it was originally called, was started as a social project before it exploded into the popular network it is today. Originally Facebook only allowed college students to join; however, due to the rise in popularity, individual users are now allowed to join networks relating to their high school, college, occupation and/or town or city they live or have formerly lived in. Facebook is like MySpace in that it allows users to write notes (blog), share photos, give electronic gifts, join groups and various networks as well as utilize several other applications to connect with friends and personalize their space. These applications include, but are not limited to: movie trivia, 10-second interviews, quotes from comedians and popular television shows, rock-papers-scissors and sports team applications. For more information or to join this network, please visit the Facebook website: Facebook.

Bebo – Bebo is a social network run out of San Francisco, CA, by Bebo Incorporated. The site lets users connect with old friends and make new ones. Users are allowed to share photos, interests or, as it says on their website, “just hang out.” Bebo allows users to chat with one another while they are online as well as answer polls, quizzes and respond to blogs. For more information on Bebo or to join this network, please visit the Bebo website: Bebo

Multiply – Although Multiply is much like the other social networking sites in that it allows users to share blogs, photos, etc., what it prides itself on is continual updating of information. Anytime a user changes a blog, adds photos or information to their individual site, all of the users in that person’s network is notified. In turn, Multiply also provides a thread to allow users to provide feedback on the newly posted information. In addition, one feature that is different from other sites is that Multiply provides a space to share movie and restaurant reviews with other users as well as schedule social and business events on a calendar. For more information or to join this network, please visit the Multiply website: Multiply

Aside from the social network sites that allow users to share all sorts of information (blogs, pictures, videos and personal information), there are sites that simply allow users to network through blogs and picture and video sharing. These sites give the user more anonymity. You may just have an avatar (user picture) and username opposed to sharing your real name, pictures, interests, etc. Some of these sites include: LiveJournal,Blogger, You Tube, Flickr, Drop Shots andMetaTube.

[edit] Tags

[edit] Useful Links

Here is another interesting wikibook about Writing for the Web:

• Authoring Webpages/How to write for the web

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