Research Project for Writing Warriors

Noah Stempniewski & Marianne Arciga

Professor Flaherty
ENG 3020
10 Apr. 2017
Problem Statement

Writing Warriors is a newly founded, non-profit organization that recruits students from

Wayne State University to volunteer at the John Dingell VA Medical Center. This service

provides veterans in long term care with weekly therapeutic sessions which includes engaging

with a volunteer while collaboratively writing their story. This service provides veterans with a

unique therapeutic outlet to discuss the struggles during their time of service, which they may

have not had the opportunity to talk about before. As Kristin Dernay stated, the mission of the

Writing Warriors is keeping the personal histories of veterans alive. Non-profit organizations

play a vital role in society as they provide an outlet for philosophical causes, morality, and

community awareness. To become efficient, nonprofit organizations must have a compelling

method of communication to attract audiences, establish their goals and beliefs, and to inform the

community. Newly founded organizations such as the Writing Warriors may be unaware on how

to effectively promote themselves to the community. Essentially, a social platform in which a

non-profit organization can establish themselves in the public eye is vital for the organization to

thrive.

The problem we face as an organization is that we do not have a public profile. We lack a

medium for communicating our groups identity and purpose. We do not have a pamphlet, public

website, or an email; therefore, the surrounding community will have great difficulty identifying

our organization and communicating with us for possible opportunities. Internally, volunteers

and supervisors also have difficulty in communication, as the only plausible platform is through

email. When we attended our first day of voluntary service, staff at the medical center were

completely unaware of the Writing Warriors, therefore, it did cause some delays and

communication errors. In addition, the opportunity for community support and funding is limited

due to the lack of public exposure and advertisement. Overall, the Writing Warriors absence in
the online world has multiple consequences and causes a lack of publicity, coherency, and

expansion opportunities. The ideal solution is to just create a website; however, there is much

more behind creating a successful web page. We, as members of Writing Warriors, hope to create

this successful website as we research What are the vital aspects to include in the construction

of a website to effectively promote the public identity of the Writing Warriors?

Proposal for Research

To fully understand what must be done to meet the needs of the Writing Warriors, as

researchers, we will utilize a variety of resources to gain a surplus of knowledge from different

viewpoints, methodologies, and credible examples. The aim of our research will be to find a

method and essential components that need to be utilized in creating a public image for the

Writing Warriors in the form of a website. A major area we will focus on will be the components

for nonprofit websites. We want to ensure that we include the vital genres for non-profit

organization websites. Additionally, we want to make sure to include all the necessary

components and any beneficial enhancements throughout the creation of a website. Are there

perhaps certain components that will help draw in an audience? The overall goal we hope to

learn is what will be effective for promoting the Writing Warriors online.

In addition to the website construction, we also would like to do research about usability

testing. This will validate the relevancy of the website to meeting the needs and gaps of the

organization and the community. Additionally, it is important, therefore, we want to hear our

members feelings on the initial website, so that a collaborative, united process is undergone and

the website is beneficial for the entire organization. We would seek advice through suggestions,

creative ideas, or corrections. The research we do is geared towards obtaining information to be

utilized in the creation of an efficient website that is tailored to fulfill the needs of the members

of the organization to promote themselves to the public.

In our initial research to understand the creation of a non-profit website, we plan on

integrating advice and statistical evidence derived from scholarly articles and case studies done

on non-profit organizations' development of websites. The scholarly articles will provide

methodology, step by step instructions, or lists of essential features of websites. The case studies

will provide us with an example of what features are effective and which ones are not. Scholarly

articles and past case studies will provide us with a credible platform for initial research on the

basics of non-profit organization websites.

In addition to the utilization of online articles, deriving observations from existing non-

profit organization websites will allow us to personally experience how a developed website

efficiently achieves their purpose to promote an organization in the public sphere. We will study

and derive ideas from the website's formatting, genre components, and other contents. Utilizing

an existing non-profit website will allow us to see how a non-profit website contributes to the

success of an organization. Essentially, we will be able to compare the website to the efficiency

of the organization, thus, an example of our proposed solution and results will be tangible.

Overall, using other non-profit organizations websites to develop ideas for the Writing Warriors

website will allow us to incorporate successful methods that have been effective in the past.

Lastly, the ideas of the community partner founders themselves is critical and will aid in

achieving to promote the beliefs and goals of the organization. By including their ideas,

suggestions, and needs of the community partner, we will be able to sufficiently fulfill the gap

that we have between the organization and the community. Additionally, incorporating the ideas,

suggestions, and criticisms of fellow Writing Warrior members will create a more unified, solid
working organization. The interviews with the community partner will ensure that we as

researchers are aware of the deep-rooted problems and needs of the organization. In addition,

annual interviews will be needed to update the website to tailor it to the continuously changing

needs of the organization and the community. Overall, the implementation of ideas from

interviews with the community partner will ensure that the website is personalized to the Writing

Warriors, furthermore, this personalization cannot be achieved from simply deriving ideas from

scholarly articles, case studies, and other non-profit organizations websites.

In conclusion, we plan on using a variety of resources to maximize the perspectives and

knowledge thus creating more room for a successful implementation and results of the website.

By looking at successful examples, interviewing community members, and researching through

credible sources we will be able to methodically create an online public presence for the Writing

Warriors.

Through our proposed methodology, there doesn't seem to be any problems that will arise

because of the extensive research and strategic method. Although, in the future the website may

occasionally need to be tailored to engage the possible expansion or any changes in the

community and the organization. Due to evolving technology and societal norms, the website

creation process will need to be unending for the website to be an asset to the organization. In

this case, using the proposed methodology and extensive resources would solve the case to

continuously tailor the website to the needs of the community partner.

Literature Review

To answer the question of what the vital components are in the construction of Writing

Warriors public identity, various literature was reviewed to support actions we took in the

process. The research we conducted includes various sources that state the musts in nonprofit
websites. Additional research lead us to possible ways to create feedback from our group.

Another scholarly article listed the implementation of a step by step process in the creation of a

website. Each resource source utilizes a critical segment that is vital to the efficiency and

enhancement of a non-profit organization.

(Source 1- E-progression of nonprofit organization websites: U.S. Versus Thai Charities)

Non-profit organizations play vital roles within society. Therefore, they must be

presented in a manner that attracts the community and showcases their role within society. In

addition to their philanthropic contributions to society, they provide an outlet for morality and a

sense of unity within communities. The article "E-PROGRESSION OF NONPROFIT

ORGANIZATION WEBSITES: U.S. VERSUS THAI CHARITIES", compares the success rate

of non-profit organization websites between Thailand, a developing country, and the United

States, a developed country, through the use of an e-business stage model. The e-business model

is essentially a checklist that categorizes contents of a website and rates each website to whether

it has certain content and shows whether there is a correlation to the website content and the

website's success rate. This article also establishes that "while U.S. and Thai nonprofits are

progressing on the e-business ladder, they still have significant room to grow" (Kirk). Overall,

the e-business model provides the researcher with a general guideline to approaching and

analyzing the results and outcome of the completed nonprofit website.

The following categories were derived from the article which discusses the

implementation of an e-business stage model by non-profit organizations. Each category includes

the large genre of communication that allows a website to perform its purpose. Step one is the

"basic presentation and dissemination of information" and consists of critical information such as

contact information, the organization's purpose, and the organization's mission (Kirk 10). Step
two is the "two-way communication forum", thus, building a stronger community presence and

incorporation community issues into their organization's purpose. Step three is the "e-transaction

component", essentially, an outlet in which non-profit organizations can receive donations.

Utilizing this checklist will allow for organizations to determine whether their websites have the

sufficient and necessary amount of content to promote the success of their website and

organization. This resource directly correlates the success of a websites to its contents through

the use of statistical evidence, although this may seem like a plausible viewpoint, the results

from the creation of a website will always vary as the community continually changes and the

website will need to be adapted to it.

(Source 2- Step by Step Guide)

The first step in creating an efficient nonprofit website, is to plan on what direction we

will take. Written by Sarah Parsons, Your Go-To Guide to Creating the Best Nonprofit

Website, is a perfect plan of action for the process we will partake in. Parson acknowledges that

work must be done prior to the actual construction. The first step is to determine answers to a

few base questions. Parsons suggests thinking about who the intended audience is, our starting

off goals, and determining the individual(s) who will oversee the daily operation of managing a

website ( 4). These three components are what construct the basis behind the meaning for the

website. Secondly, Parsons writes about the Elevator pitch. This element is the deciding factor

for majority of the views on a page. This pitch consists of a handful of sentences which aim at

drawing in an initial visitor before the average of 15 seconds ends and they click away ( 9). A

major aspect of this is decided what is and what is not important to display on the homepage. We

need to construct a homepage that is both aesthetically pleasing and draws in first time visitors.

Lastly, Parsons writes about the about us genre that is linked via homepage. Once that elevator
pitch is successful, we need to express who we are. Telling who we are and what we do is a key

to drawing in members. Parsons expresses this as making an impact ( 12). This article is

beneficial in the first plans of constructing the website. We must brainstorm, suggested by

Parsons, and follow her guidance to produce a nonprofit website that expands far-off from

normal.

(Source 3 List of Must Haves)

When creating a nonprofit website, it is good to research components that are seen as

musts by numerous sources. Published by Kevin Lee, his article does just that. 25 Nonprofit

Website Musts lists, in chart form, key points that will turn a website into more than just a

simple online brochure. A few pointers he includes is that navigation is a key component to

keep in mind when first creating a website. Lee explains that the process for your viewers should

be seamless and effortless. They should not have to be confused as to where certain information

is located within the webpage (25). Additionally, it is important to not forget about our mobile-

friendly friends. A major number will visit the website via smartphone since todays world is so

heavenly focused on them (25). Other pointers are: social media included everywhere, a

simplistic but important contact area, and include multiple stories or testimonies (25-27). Social

media is important in a world where news is spread rapidly in 140 characters or less. To tell who

you are on twitter is one thing, but to have individuals speak who have been effected by Writing

Warriors is something worth displaying proudly on the webpage. Lees article is important for

the construction process. Many of the components he listed can drastically alter the website.

Through the mechanisms he talks about, simple additions and changes will make constructive

website more than just a boring non-profit website.

(Source 4 - Example)
 To investigate how to, the best way is to see an example. While creating a nonprofit

website, it is valuable to see how others created theirs. Warrior Writers, very similar name

beware, is a national nonprofit whose mission is also to help veterans. Observations of their

website is key while constructing our website. One important area to focus on is their about us

page. They hold short synopses on who they are, what they do, their goals and missions, and

reviews/press. Going into the construction process, we knew we must include the first three

things listed. Seeing testimonies back up Warrior Writers is evidence of one thing Kevin Lee

listed in his article. Another key component of Warrior Writers page is the programs tab. In a

grid format, short summaries exist to tell about all the various programs they offer. Though we

are a new group with only one area working at, this research aids us as we look to expand further

in the future. By looking at another organizations website, we are conducting primary research

and seeing evidence of components we should include. The previous literature reviewed

discusses what should be implemented but this source demonstrates to us exactly what is

valuable to include in the public identity for a nonprofit.

(Source 5- Interview with Community Partner)

Since we are addressing the problem of a nonprofit organization through our research, it

is vital that the input and ideas of the community partner are prioritized and put in the forefront

while doing research and creating a website. Compared to the other resources such as the

scholarly articles and example websites, a personal interview with one of the founders of the

Writing Warriors is much more personalized and relevant to solving the research problem. The

goals of the interview are able to specifically address the problems that are exclusive to the

Writing Warriors, whereas the online resources are able to cover a wider range of problems

pertaining to various non-profit websites. Through an interview with Kristin Dernay, she stated
that the website "can be common ground/resource for people who are currently in Writing

Warriors and also for those who want more information, including other students and other

branches of the hospital or relatives of the veterans." Ms. Dernay manages to establish the need

to also cater the website to the families of the veterans who will also be recipients of the service

of the Writing Warriors. The interview could perhaps be more valuable and effective if the

interviewee were also able to take part in the previous research, thus, enhancing the knowledge

that will be inputted into the creation of the website. This research should be aimed towards

gaining answers to problem areas that cannot be answered by scholarly studies and online

resources, therefore, essential specifics and website content should be researched. Overall, an

interview with a founder of the Writing Warriors allows us to stay on track with focusing on

website content that is specifically tailored and relevant to the Writing Warriors.

(Source 6 Usability Testing)

The best way to receive feedback on a completed project is to create a test to hear from

others. For a nonprofit website, some form of usability testing is key. Hearing from our fellow

members of Writing Warriors is parallel to creating a successful website. Usability Testing

Essentials: Ready Set Test! written by Carol Barnumdeconstructs the process of using

such test. Barnums first few chapters discuss looking at the users and understanding their goals

even prior to creating a usability test. By doing this, you can create a product that will matter far

superior to the testers rather than them just blowing over the questions. Following is the planning

and preparing phase. This is when you determine test goals, write out a plan, and then finalize

that plan. Barnum states this as the most important phase due to achieving, initially, what you are

hoping to seek. The final steps are to perform such test and then analyze the responses (Barnum).

One side note on this process. This book follows usability testing for a situation on a much
greater scale then what we are looking for. The basis in steps is virtually the same; however, the

test we assign will be on minuscule scale. We will be looking for feedback from approximately

10 or so individuals. The scale that Usability Testing Essentials: Ready Set Test! looks at is far

superior compared to what we have instore. The process explained in the book will be used in the

construction of a questionnaire (created on survey monkey). This literature gives a great step by

step guide to creating a way to receive feedback instead of constructing a website. In doing this

test, we will help aid in creating a public identity for Writing Warriors.

Methodology

Creating a website for a brand-new, small community based organization requires an

appropriate, meticulous, and resourceful approach to develop an effective communication

platform. A website must be adapted to the service community as well as being detailed and

formal enough for the occasional outside viewer/visitor. To reach maximum efficiency and

benefit an organization, multiple steps and resources must be utilized in the creation of a website.

We began the process by first meeting with fellow members and having a discussion on ideas.

This allowed for a great influx of input and ideas to integrate into the website, thus, resulting in

more of an advanced website. The discussion was a great platform to start building the

foundation of the website. The diversity of viewpoints and knowledge within the community that

is integrated into the website correlates to a larger amount of the community that is involved in

the services. After the discussions, we conducted research using the Wayne State University

Library Databases. Once enough information was collected, the construction process began. We,

along with our founder Kristin, sat down together and constructed the website. After the initial

website was completed, the website was shown to the group and a test was provided. This test

created feedback and assisted Kristin, Marianne, and Noah on any alterations to make. We asked
fellow members questions like: what components do you feel work well or need alteration, does

the homepage have a draw you in aspect or is it bland, and is there enough include about

conveying who we are? We asked for constructive criticism which led to the best results.

Although this methodology utilizes various credible resources, the response of the community to

the resulting website could not be controlled. Studies show that there was a much higher level

of involvement of consultants in website redesign than for any other stage (Burgess, Bingley,

and Hunter 73). Thus, the website needs to be continuously updated to provide the community

organization its needs and to maximize efficiency. Overall, we approached the creation of the

website for the Writing Warriors with the guidance of fellow members, credible online resources,

and feedback from affiliates of Writing Warriors.

Results

Through extensive research from a variety of sources that addressed various levels of

solutions for website development of non-profit organization websites, we were able to create a

website that provides the Writing Warriors with the public recognition it deserves. The website

http://wsuwritingwarriors.weebly.com, provides community members, volunteers, veterans, their

families, medical center staff, a common ground for which to unify their attention to serving the

veterans. Initially, the website is clean, and organized, aesthetically and visibly pleasing. It

contains three genre categories including the home page, about page, and contact page, therefore,

it is easy to maneuver around and quickly find the information one may need. Essentially, the

information is as straight-forward as the colors, design, and format of the website. The home

page features the words "We are the Writing Warriors" bolded and enlarged, asserting the

credibility of the organization. The home page also provides the visitor with a sufficient

statement summary of the purpose and service of the Writing Warriors. The about page offers
visitors a more in depth summary of the organization by stating the missions and goals, while

also answering questions the pertain to the history and roots of the organization from interviews

with the community partner. Additionally, the about page provides insight into what the founders

hope for the Writing Warriors in the future. Essentially, the about page is an in-depth description

of the Writing Warriors' purpose from the founders. Lastly, the contact page provides the visitor

with contact information including the location of the John Dingell VA Medical Center and an

email submission form for any concerns, inquiries, and suggestions. After extensive research, the

results are evident in the outcome of an engaging, organized website tailored to the Writing

Warriors while also utilizing methods used by various non-profit organizations around the world

discussed in scholarly articles.

Discussion

Although the basis of the website has been constructed, there is still more work to be

done. A test provided to our fellow members has yet to be created. To do so, we (Marianne and

Noah) must finish constructing the website. We feel that the homepage and contact page are

completed but the about us page still needs some work. The page features locations for

photographs that will display our two founders, Kristin and Jerrica. Some planning still needs to

be constructed to retrieve these photos of the girls. These photos are meant to be more than just a

simple cellphone picture; they are professional portraits that will have a positive reflection of our

leaders. Secondly, we need to retrieve some words from Jerrica. Kristins biography answers the

questions of Where did the idea of Writing Warriors come about, and Where do you see/want

this program going in the future? Seeing, in Jerricas eyes, where shed like the group to go is a

component we would like included. Lastly, we would like to discuss goals for the group. Simply

in an email, we would like to hear what our group feels this group should be working towards.
Following all this will be a usability test. Here, a simple survey will be sent out via email to all

the current members of Writing Warriors. Like stated in the methodology, we will seek feedback

from them to adjust the website if need be. Through this research project, we have explored the

path of creating a website for a nonprofit organization. In doing so, we have constructed our own

page for Writing Warriors. Though a website exists, the work towards continuously tailoring the

website to the needs of the organization and the community is an endless learning and research

process.
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writers.org/programs/index.html>.

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ORGANIZATION WEBSITES: U.S. VERSUS THAI CHARITIES." The Journal of
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