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Editor's Notes

• #3: Writing for the web is: Brief - Gets to the point: think of how long you'd want to read a text on your phones or mobile devices. Clear: avoid jargon, local expressions, and long or complex sentences Accurate: Remember that it's easy for any reader online to check your facts and sources instantly. Comprehensible On Level: aim at the general public - assume a 10th grade education This session we will focus on writing factual articles. That means you will not be writing about your opinions. We will look at these elements of writing for the web in this session: Structure of web writing The language of web writing The process of web writing
• #5: This session we will focus on writing factual articles. That means you will not be writing about your opinions. We will look at these elements of writing for the web in this session: Structure of web writing The language of web writing The process of web writing
• #6: Part One: Structure of writing Writing for the web is similar to academic papers and other forms of writing. An article for the web has three main parts: Lead, also know as thesis in academic writing: Basic facts: "Five Ws" of journalism: Who, What, When, Where, and Why and a sixth one: How, as needed. Use an anecdote, a small story that readers can relate to. Supporting paragraphs Additional details - Associated people or places Quotes from sources - a quote should be easy to understand and relevant Quotes should come from: An expertA voice of authorityA person directly associated with story Statistics - the numbers that support the information in the story Background information - previous actions or events Conclusion or Ending What is the one point do you want readers to remember? The conclusion may summarize the main point of the story.
• #7: Lead, also know as thesis in academic writing: Basic facts: "Five Ws" of journalism: Who, What, When, Where, and Why and a sixth one: How, as needed. Use an anecdote, a small story that readers can relate to.
• #10: Supporting paragraphs Additional details - Associated people or places Quotes from sources - a quote should be easy to understand and relevant Quotes should come from: An expertA voice of authorityA person directly associated with story Statistics - the numbers that support the information in the story Background information - previous actions or events
• #15: Conclusion or Ending What is the one point do you want readers to remember? The conclusion may summarize the main point of the story.
• #17: Part Two: Language of Web Writing Use the active voice where possible Active voice: Recently, however, the President of Kenya ended the ban on matatu art. (12 words) 2 Passive Voice: Recently, however, the ban on matatu art was lifted by the President of Kenya. (14 words) Passive sentences can sound boring and may leave out information. Writers use the passive voice when it is not clear who did an action: The train was bombed.
• #19: Use simple sentence structure Avoid embedded clauses and meta-commentary.Example: Nyash says his themes represent Kenyan pop culture. (Not: Images in Nyash’s work are representative of themes in Kenyan and American pop culture.)
• #20: Keep paragraphs short Each paragraph should have one idea. Write one or two sentences per paragraph. Example: Now, taxi drivers have begun the battle for the finest paintings on their vehicles.
• #21: Eliminate unnecessary words Go back after writing and see if you can make your sentence shorter by getting rid of extra words. Wordy: The teacher demonstrated some of the various ways and methods for cutting words from my essay that I had written for class.(22 words)Concise: The teacher demonstrated methods for cutting words from my essay. (10 words)
• #22: Part three: Process Writing The first draft you write is the beginning of a process. That process involves sharing your work with a peer, getting feedback, and revising it. For our purposes, we recommend that you form a group to help each other with this process and use the checklist to evaluate your peers. This will help you improve your writing skills at the same time you help and learn from others.
• #24: Use this checklist for evaluating writing * Lead paragraph gives basic information* Supporting paragraphs provide details, quotes, numbers, or background * Sources are properly attributed* Conclusion makes writer's point clearly or summarizes the story* Language is simple and direct
• #25: How to form and conduct a peer support group Choose people... • In your school, you can meet with peers in person or over email Agree on deadlines • Deadline 1: Send your article to the group (Example: Send by Sunday night (date)) 3 • Deadline 2: Respond to another group member's article - using the checklist (Example: Respond by the following Saturday afternoon) Send your writing to the group • Decide: will everyone read every group member's writing or will one person read one person's writing? Respond to the writing Revise Use the checklist Give positive feedback - say what is good Suggest a change by using highlighting and track changes in Word or inserting comments. Use Word's track changes to show what you have changed or provide the original on one page along with the revised version on another page. • Read your revised work aloud to see how it sounds Send for another edit • Return your writing to your group for a second edit, if time allows. Submit article for the contest Revise and submit to VOA for contest If your group agrees, choose the best one or two articles from your group to send to VOA for the contest
• #26: Contest rules: Participants submit a nonfiction news or feature article of 1000 words or less Sources of information are included with the article (these do not count in the word limit) Article is in electronic format and has been edited by a peer and grammar and spell- checked
• #27: Awards: Three awards will be given: first, second, and third prize. All of the winning entries will be: Published on VOA Learning English website Published on the US Embassy’s American Resource Center website Certificates will be awarded by the ARC. Certificate