Web Writing

It is almost amazing how much I feel that I have learned about Web writing this semester. I have been looking at pages for as long as I can remember, yet I never considered what was so different about them than the average book. I never realized that it is so important for writers to make small paragraphs with simpler sentences to keep the attention of the fast paced Internet readers. Moreover, the indent "thing" that we were constantly forgetting to do all the way up until third grade, is just out the window when writing for the Web.
The small amount of time it takes Web writing to be produced is also an amazing feature. A mistake can be corrected in matter of seconds, and as things are happening, they can be documented and saved forever for millions of people to read.
I think the most significant difference is how sentences are broken down to be simpler and more efficient to read. It seems that with how much information that the Web has to offer today, that the writing would be complex with long paragraphs. However the paragraphs are fairly short, yet there is still a never-ending supply of information given through Web-writing because of the ability to add and edit it so easily. For instance, there is no way to change an edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica that may be in thousands of elementary school. However, if there is a piece of wrong information on the Web, it can be quickly reported and changed.

Niches

Since I am a communications major, I am very familiar with studying the different niches in society in order to be able to appeal to each one, or even more challenging, more than one at a time. I am guilty of belonging to a number of different niches that I admit to. I also am most influenced by advertising through my peers and not so much what I see on T.V. I even find myself buying food based on what my friends and roommate have that I like as opposed to what I see advertised around me. Of course, my friends are I belong to a young adult "girly" niche ourselves!
This new advertising through appealing to the niches is very important for Web writing. Not only is there more reason to create even more sites because of the lessening of the mass media groups, but there are many more things to talk about. The Web writing and design has to become specific to its topics and morals because too broad of a message may not be appealing. The Web is also such an easy technology to use for obtaining information and connecting with others like you, in your own niches, that it will continue being popularly used because of its instant gratification.
The Web and all of it's writing is a technology that I feel will be able to benefit from the niches all over the world.

Current Web Style

Just like everything else that dominates in society, there is also a certain style that is more popular than others in Web design. In other words, certain design tactics and features are more appealing to viewers. The motivation behind new stylish designs are how easy and useful they are to any one that may fall upon the site. Logically, the easier a site is, the more often it will be used. Some of these styles include; big and little text, simple layouts, 3D effects, cute icons, soft backgrounds, and strong colors used sparingly.
Unlike some "fashionable" styles in today's world, these effects seem to actually be beneficial and helpful to Web design. All of the ideas make the Web more appealing to read and an overall more attractive look. The big and little texts will draw attention to sites with a lot of information giving people an easier time finding the information they are seeking. Simple layouts and soft backgrounds are self-explanatory, they are uncomplicated. The 3D effects, cute icons, and some strong colors give the site the ability to attract all different walks of users in their own unique ways
I look forward to using all these tactics in the group project, especially with the hopes that our modern look will out do our competition! I am excited to use 3D effects and icons that I know will attract exactly the kind of audience we want.

Cartoon

The old Daffy Duck cartoon surprisingly has a lot to do with the Web. Firstly, the most obvious relation is the one between Daffy's outfits, lines, and actions and his backgrounds. To me, Daffy's background represents simply the background and graphics of a website. They must coincide with the text and messages that the writer is trying to convey. For instance, a Website about a football team shouldn't have a pink background.
Another related message I took from the cartoon is how easy it is to change things in appearance and get an entire different outlook. Just using a pencil and eraser, Bugs Bunny was able to change anything in the cartoon. Similarly, any one can go on the Web and change wording or add or remove text and change the entire outlook of a site. Moreover, this can happen in only a matter of seconds and the entire world can view the changes immeadiately.
Daffy's reaction to the changes also shows a reaction that can be common to a group of people regarding the ever changing Web. He would get very irritated and wouldn't understand how everything around him was changing so fast. He acted very overwhelmed in the same way any user of the Web can find themselves feeling with the Web changing everyday.
Although this cartoon was made long ago, and the changes were made by using only a pencil, the constant changes and reactions immitate what can happen everyday on the Web each day.

"heroin content"

There are a few Web sites that I fine myself continuously visiting. Most of my free time on the Web is spent on Facebook and Cosmopolitan. The thing that attracts me to these sites is that I believe that they are designed for a certain niches that I am a part of. For instance, Facebook is designed for college students to connect through the Web. I am a college student that likes to talk to and meet new friends. The Cosmopolitan Web site is for young women like me also, that have many topics that interest me.
Another common ground that both sites have is that they are constantly changing. Both are updated often which keeps me wanting to go back to read more. Especially the Facebook Web site that has a "news feed" section that shows updates on what every is doing. (Although it may be kind of creepy how much information is constantly displayed, however you can change your personal settings to not allow disclosing too much!)
For my group project, I will concentrate on updating all information as much as possible in order to draw an audience in. Once I am finished reviving the site, I will leave it with space to update it as much as possible. Also, as times are changing, it seems that the best way to appeal successfully to audiences is to design a site and its content with a certain group of people in mind. I will choose colors, pictures, and writing styles that will be attractive to a specific audience.

"Is the Net Good for Writers?"

After reading the article Is The Net Good For Writers? It is clear that the only answer that can be concluded is that Web writing is indeed ambiguous.
There are many positives that the writers pointed out, such as how fast things can be available to readers, as well as the ability to get feedback through e-mail and blogs.
However, there were also many negatives to the internet. Perhaps the most common was the issue two issues were the amount of time people just sit in their computer chairs instead of walking to the library, which leads to the problem of neglecting the ever historical books.
My personal feeling about web writing can best be compared to the use of any medicine. It is good in it's proper and recommended dose. The Web should be used for some research, as Paul Krassner states, "if only in terms of researching it saves so much time and energy." But users should have the self-control to also go to the library and look information up in books. Also, users should not "overdose" their time spent for recreation on the Web. Just like any medicine, it is helpful if used in just the right amount!

Web 1.0---->Web 2.0

There has been times on the Web where I have experianced, especially when writing papers. Normally, there are so many little pieces from each Web site that I would like to include in a paper that when I am limited as to how many sites I can use in one paper, it makes it very difficult.
It is nearly impossible to keep up with all the information on the Web, the best way to manage it is to choose certain sites that always seem to give the best information or help you the most and to stay loyal to them.
Web writing, design and technology should change to help guide the surplus of information being supplied today. Web writing should always be as concise and to the point as possible. This will help readers to find information they are looking for quickly, even in a large text. Web design can possibly give the largest amount of help to the information overload problem. Sites can be designed with search engines to help readers find specific pieces of information without going through too much navigation. Also, the navigation itself can be as clear as possible. Lastly, as Web technology increases, there will be new ways to navigate clearer and search for information more specifically.