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Project 2: Writing for the Web

Understanding Public Writing in Circulation

For this assignment, you will create a text online for a public audience. Your web text should challenge you in its
creationwhat web space you choose to work in is up to you. I suggest thinking past social media and blogs
(although Im open to sophisticated proposals) to how you can create a text that functions in a public way. Some
possible options are to create a Wikipedia entry, to contribute to an existing entry, or to create an exhibit for the
FSU Postcard Archive. The second part of your task will be to reflect on your web text in a rhetorical rationale.
What worked, what didnt work? How was writing in a public context such as the one you chose different than
other contexts? What techne was involved?

While writing for social media often involves what we feel to be a closed audience of friends, colleagues, and
family, the type of writing that I challenge you to engage in is that of writing to a larger publicto an unbounded
audience. One of the first steps in approaching this project may be to decide what sort of texts you would want to
share with the larger public. Do you feel you have authoritative knowledge about a topic (not necessarily school
related)? You may want to add a Wikipedia entry about a piece of media you are deeply devoted to or share
knowledge about an extra-curricular activity that enriches your life. If a pre-existing discourse exists on the topic
you want to write about, what are ways that you can enter the discussion? Can you add to an existing entry? Make
sure to value the worth of your own voice throughout this process as the sheer volume of voices online can be
overwhelming.

I am not going to set a minimum or a maximum for the amount of writing you will do for your web text. Challenge
yourself to determine what the appropriate amount might be. How can you write enough to have a discussion?
When did you feel you were done? What made the text seem complete?

You will compose your web text, and make sure you take notes about the process. After you are done with the web
text, you will also write 1000-2000 words about the process of composing in a rationale, similar to the rationale for
Project 2 although shorter in length.

In the rationale, describe the process of writing for a public audience. How was it different than other writing you
do? How was it similar? What was challenging? What did you enjoy about the experience? Why did you choose your
topic and why did you choose to write about using the web tools that you did? In class, we discussed kairos, agency
and circulation. How did you see these present in your experience of writing online? You may also revive concepts
from prior projects/scholars. I expect you to make connections to the scholarship we discuss in class within your
rationale.

How was techne involved in your composition? What sort of know-how was necessary to complete your
composition? Does your text inscribe or subvert any cultural values? How so? In Porters terms, think about who
your text may empower or disempower.

Since your text will be published online, the internet public may interact with your text. What happened after you
published your text? Did you receive any comments? Was your Wikipedia entry deleted? Did other people edit your
entry? If you did a postcard archive exhibit, did you share your exhibit on other social media? What was the
response? You can also include descriptions of interactions with your web-text in your rationale.