Getting Started
Writers of college Web sites usually produce sites that are part marketing and part information. College Web sites are customer driven. For example, the Web writer for NU's Campus Recreation site wants people to know when the Marino Center is open; how much the membership fee is; and which activities, classes and equipment are available. The Web site's goal is to attract students, faculty, and staff to come to the Marino Center. Consider also the writer for the biology department's Web site. The goal is to attract and inform prospective undergraduate and graduate students, current students, parents, and the research community.
You may take this writing course on campus in a three-hour workshop at the EdTech Center; in a two-week online workshop; or at your own pace, moving through the examples and exercises. In this writing course you'll learn four key elements of Web writing:
- Planning your site
- Reaching your audience
- Writing good copy
- Updating your copy
The Web is the first contact many students, parents and researchers will have with your department. The job of Web writer is critical and can be pretty exciting if you make it so.
Work through the four instructional sections in this course and learn the key elements of effective writing for the Web. Each section includes a series of worksheets in which you'll practice various aspects of Web writing. You may place your worksheets in a Web writing folder to refer to when you write copy for your site. If you take the in-person or online workshop, you'll upload practice exercises to discussion forums on Blackboard. Instructions will appear at the bottom of each worksheet.