Lisa Hoover at OStatic blogs about Five Open Source Apps For Writers and Authors. These programs help authors do everything from manage multiple storylines, develop scripts, format academic papers, and create newsletters.
From iLibrarian
iLibrarian blog April 25th, 2009
Brian Clark at Copyblogger puts together a guide to Four Copywriting Techniques for Engaging Podcasts and Audio Presentations. This useful article discusses how to structure an audio presentation using techniques such as attention, empathy, solution, and action as well as how to present content in a compelling well through the following four techniques:
http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/informationSystems/raw/sdaw/videos.htm
https://www.amherst.edu/academiclife/support/writingcenter/resourcesforwriters
As with many other colleges and universities, Amherst College is dedicated to helping their students become excellent writers. In order to accomplish this goal, they have created a fine set of online resources for use by their own students and members of the web-browsing public. This particular set includes a long list of resources created by staff members at Amherst and at other institutions. These resources are divided into thematic headings such as "Preparing to Write", "Thesis and Argument", "Clarity and Grace", and "Using Sources". On the left hand side of the page, users can view the same list and also learn more about the writing center at Amherst and their work. Overall, it's a fine set of resources, and one that college students in particular will find useful, especially as they approach a paper deadline. [KMG] Scout Report
Jody Gilbert at TechRepublic discusses 10 simple things you can do to improve your writing. This best practices guide provides helpful tips and recommended guidelines including:
The informative guide is also available as a PDF download.
iLibrarian blog
Research Paper: The Effect of Structural Cues on User Comprehension, Navigational Behavior, and Perceptions
7 pages; PDF.
From the abstract:
Web authors need writing strategies based on empirical studies of
real Web users, strategies that will produce comprehensible Web
documents that facilitate readers on the Web. The study reported here
investigated the effect of structural cues (text previews and
navigational tab menus) on user comprehension, navigational behavior,
and perceptions. We found that text previews with embedded links to
related pages (children nodes) enhance comprehension and discourage
site exploration. We also found that lists of links (in lieu of
previews) encourage site exploration and are well liked. And, we found
that navigational tab menus encourage site exploration and enhance user
perceptions. Our findings underscore that good Web design must be
context specific—structural cues that promote understanding are not
necessarily those that promote exploration or enjoyment.
Source: Proceedings of IEEE International Professional Communication Conference (Seattle, October), 2007.
Note: This paper was also published in Information Design Journal, 15, 3, 242-259, 2007 with the title, “Using Structural Cues to Guide Readers on the Internet. Information.”
It was discovered on the Google Research compilation of academic papers.
Permalink Resourceshelf
Free access to an online version of a style guide issued to staff of
the Economist magazine. It provides a basic introduction to writing
skills, clarity of writing and English language spelling and grammar.
The site also includes an online quiz based on the materials.
From Intute.ac.uk
http://www.economist.com/research/StyleGuide/
This site is maintained by Oxford University Press - Oxford
Dictionaries.It provides free advice and which would be of value to students. It includes sections on
English language grammar; spelling writing letters and CVs.Some samples
can be downloaded.
From Intute.ac.uk
http://www.askoxford.com