January 30, 2005
Website Critique Realizations
It was difficult to find a site that I read on a regular basis. There aren’t many sites that I visit and when I do, I am looking for specific information and not to (as our book put it) curl up by the fire with the computer.
So, my first realization is that I need to find some websites that I do visit on a daily basis that have content and not just items to buy.
Also, completing this critique of The Economist, I realize just how linear The Economist environment is compared to other sites like CNN or USATODAY. Perhaps this is fitting, as I would envision most economists to be linear themselves. However, I feel a little disappointed about how they use their space - The Economist website is more like the magazine and less like a website than I realized.
Posted by arosenst at 12:49 PM | Comments (3)
Website Critique
THE ECONOMIST
The Economist is a great source for news and current events. The website has a writing Style Guide that covers everything from spelling to punctuation to tone. As a resource for writers, The Economist closely follows its own advice. Its writing, easy and intuitive navigation, and the simple design all bolster the sites capabilities.
Does The Economist Holding the Reader’s Attention?
The layout and the writing on The Economist homepage does hold the reader’s attention because it is concise and scannable. 79% of online readers scan websites instead of reading them, making it essential to layer information. The use of titles, subtitles, tag lines photos, graphics, and hypertext give readers the first layer of an article’s information. Layering instantly satisfies a reader’s basic curiosity about the article and lets the reader decide if they want to continue reading for additional information.
There is a striking difference between the homepage and the site’s internal pages. Most noticeably, the internal pages of the site have limited layers. While headings and subheadings are present, they are not in hypertext. The writes merely present their article and do not create a hypertext context for their information. Furthermore, the paragraphs are long, making them difficult to scan.
Grouping is a Strength
As a web user, I scan websites instead of reading every word. The Economist’s homepage makes full use of Jakob Nielson’s list of enhancing scanability characteristics. The homepage uses highlighted key words, hypertext, various fonts and colors. The size and color of the font vary depending on their level of importance. For example, the story groupings listed under the headlining article. The article’s title is the largest in the grouping and is black, underlined and has bold text. Immediately below the title is the subtitle, also black but not bold and in a smaller font. Below that in grey is the date of the article.
The grouping found on the homepage is exemplary of scanability. However, the opposite is found on the internal pages. The article’s writing is verbose for a website. Nielson says in his “Applying Writing Guidelines to Web Pages” article that it is preferable for a writer to write comprehensively and concisely online. Additionally, the visual design of the site lacks other scanability characteristics like hypertext or bulleted lists to break up the text.
The Internal Pages
Consider a article on the internal page , only the seven paragraphs and the advertisements to the right change. The actual title of the article: A marriage made in heaven-and in the bathroom appears at the top with a compelling tag line and a picture of the logos. Each paragraph begins with a sentence that clearly introduces the next idea of the story. The article uses the inverted pyramid style, first discussing the deal and ending with the mergers effects on P&G’s rivals. While the paragraphs are long, the writing style makes for a quick read. Yet, hypertext, bulleted lists, varying colors, and typeface variations are seldom used.
Can It Be Improved? – Yes!
The Economist’s internal pages do not take full advantage of hyperlinking or other characteristics that enhance scanability. Hyperlinks related to the article, A marriage made in heaven-and in the bathroom, are found on the left side of the article, under the Related Items box. In this box are related items from The Economist, relevant websites, and other categorical Global Agenda articles. The Relates Items box is located after the second paragraph and lines up with the first line of the third paragraph. Although this box helps to visually breakup the text, it is a poor use of space. Including hypertext, bulleted lists, vibrant colors, and variations of typeface within articles would be an improvement.
Another way The Economist site could take full advantage of the available technology would be to include audio, video, and flash communications as well as forums for online discussions and chats or comments. The Diversions category lets readers take quizzes to test their knowledge on various subjects, but this is the only interactive component of the site.
Why We Like The Economist
The content and layout of The Economist continue to appeal to readers. While the content is sometimes complex, the visual elements are neither flashy nor sexy, but instead simplistic. The lines are clean and the categories have clear labels. The article groupings give a brief overview of current events in a concise and scannable manner. Additionally, the colors, bolding, underlining, and font size variations all clearly communicate the purpose of the article.
The Economist website is linear when compared to other sites like CNN or USATODAY, which uses hypertext throughout the site incorporating multiple layers of information. The Economist’s internal pages are more like the magazine and less like a website, while the homepage seems to utilize as few technological advances (audio, video, and flash movies) as possible. However, I do not believe that the authors and designers of The Economist neglect these scannable characteristics, but instead choose not to incorporate them. We like The Economist website because it uses simplistic methods to communication complex issues.
Posted by arosenst at 12:32 PM | Comments (2)
January 23, 2005
Lombardi Time Draft II
Time Management: Lessons Learned
I was fifteen when I began volunteering at the Durham Lakewood YMCA with the Leaders Club. A club for teens, the Leaders Club was a place to grow-up under the guidance of old fashion principles and values. We were a Club of teens, eager to be adults. We exceeded YMCA staff expectations, rose above our responsibilities and faced challenges together. We were happy to work long hours and enjoyed the distinction between ourselves and the other YMCA teenagers. It was as a Leader at Blue Ridge Leaders School (BRLS) when I first learned of Lombardi Time.
Each August, as a reward for our efforts, the YMCA sent every qualified Leader to BRLS. Its mission was to build self-esteem, foster leadership, and strengthen values. At Leaders School, we developed characteristics like respectfulness, a sense of honor, and an ability to lead. We admired our instructors, who continually held us to higher and then higher standards in order to encourage us to rise and meet the challenge. The BRLS staff embraced the legendary NFL coach Vince Lombardi’s winning strategies and incorporated them in our teachings at BRLS.
Lombardi Time
Among the many Lombardi strategies is Lombardi Time. To be on Lombardi Time, you should be 15 minuets early for everything. If you show up on time for your 8:00 meeting, according to Lombardi Time, you are late. Some might consider this extra fifteen minutes wasted. However, the idea behind this strategy is to use the extra time to catch your breath and prepare for the next task. In Lombardi Time, being late is not an option. If you are late, you are disrespectful to the coach, the team, and yourself.
As participants at BRLS, some of us felt it was unfair to expect such a high level of protocol, especially when you only have 15 minuets to get from soccer, at the bottom of the mountain, to volleyball, at the top of the mountain. However, our respect for our instructors and the satisfaction of successfully completing a challenge motivated us to walk a little faster up the mountain.
After six years of BRLS, Lombardi Time became apart of my personality. This is not to say that for everything I do, I am 15 minutes early. I am only human, and lateness certainly has its place among my many faults. However, you can rest assured that when I am late, there is a voice in the back of my mind reminding me of Lombardi Time and encouraging me to walk faster up the mountain.
Professionalism and Lombardi Time
Lombardi Time is a strategy applicable to all aspects of life and used in numerous time management courses for students and professionals. Professionally, it is essential that we not only arrive on time, but also come prepared for whatever the task might be. In our personal lives, it is also important to demonstrate our respect for our friends and family by not keeping them waiting.
Fashionably late is a version of lateness applicable only to parties where your presence is not necessary to begin the festivities. In our global environment, it is important to acknowledge that there are cultural differences regarding lateness. Embracing these differences includes accepting and practicing a cultures attitude towards time. Professionally in the United States, if you are late you are disrespectful to your boss, your colleagues, and yourself.
First impressions are important professionally and personally and the way we manage our time says lot about the type of person we are. We have all endured the awkward glances of others as we waited in meetings for a late colleague to appear. We have all felt disrespected and embarrassment on the late parties behalf. Lateness signifies disorder and confusion. You can discover a lot about a person by watching how they arrive to a meeting. I am glad that someone took the trouble to explaining Lombardi Time to me at an early age.
Posted by arosenst at 10:20 AM | Comments (4)
January 17, 2005
JMOC 221 Blogs
Amelia Townsend
Bart Wojdynski
Callie Birdsell
Casey Ferrell
Cathy Mall
Christy Kinnion
Dean Smith
Drew Lomax
Hui Lui
Jennifer Munday
Jim Baxter
Julie Moushon
Katie Dunlap
Lauren Reynolds
Michelle Klemmons
Pat West
Robin Roger
Steve McGregor
Tracy Swartz
Posted by arosenst at 05:47 PM
January 16, 2005
Lombardi Time
I was fifteen when I began volunteering at the Durham Lakewood YMCA with the Leaders Club. To me, joining the Leaders Club was one of the most exciting things I did in my young life. Working with the Summer Day Camp as a Leader, I found myself faced with unexpected responsibilities and an unparalleled comradeship. The staff and the situations challenged us to rise above average teenager actions. We were happy to work the long hours and enjoyed the distinction between the Leaders Club teens and the other YMCA teenagers. It was as a Leader at Blue Ridge Leaders School (BRLS) when I first learned of Lombardi Time.
Each August, in return for our time and efforts, the YMCA sent every Leader who met certain qualifications to BRLS. The mission of BRLS is to develop teaching and performance skills, build self-esteem, and leadership qualities; enhance leadership training; and strengthen values that foster the essential unity of sprit, mind and body for all. It was at Leaders School where characteristics like respect, honor, and leadership were developed and encouraged by a group of individuals who believed in what they taught and that by holding us to a higher standard we would rise to meet it. Our instructors took Coach Vince Lombardi’s strategy and rigorously applied it to our time at BRLS.
To be on Lombardi Time, you should be 15 minuets early for everything. If you show up on time for your 8:00 o’clock meeting then, according to Lombardi Time, you are late. To be on time you should have been there at 7:45. Some might consider this extra fifteen minutes wasted. However, the idea behind Lombardi Time is to use the extra time to catch your breath and prepare for the next task. In Lombardi Time, being late is not an option. If you are late, you are disrespectful to the coach, the team, and yourself.
As participants at BRLS, some of us felt it was unfair to expect this level of performance, especially when you only have 15 minuets to get from soccer, at the bottom of the mountain, to volleyball, at the top of the mountain. However, our respect for our instructors and the satisfaction of successfully completing a challenge motivated us to walk a little faster up the mountain.
BRLS engrained Lombardi Time into my moral constitution. This is not to say that for everything I do, I am 15 minutes early. I am only human, and lateness certainly has its place among my many faults. However, you can rest assured that when I am late, there is a voice in the back of my mind reminding me of Lombardi Time and encouraging me to walk faster up the mountain.
Lombardi Time is a strategy applicable to all aspects of life and used in numerous time management courses for students and professionals. Professionally, it is essential that we not only arrive on time, but also come prepared for whatever the task might be. In our personal lives, it is also important to demonstrate our respect for our friends and family by not keeping them waiting.
Fashionably late is a version of lateness that only applies to parties where those attending are not waiting for your appearance to begin the celebrating. In our growing global environment, it is important to acknowledge that there are cultural differences regarding lateness. However, it is expected that when in a foreign country, individuals embrace the cultural distinctions and strive to live within those guidelines. For well-traveled individuals, it is completely inappropriate to uses cultural differences as a excuse for lateness. Lateness is a blatant sign of disrespect. When one person is late, everyone involved is affected.
I have recently returned from a conference where I witnessed a complete disregard for time management. It was disappointing to see so many of my peers behave is such a way that signified total disrespect for the conference speakers. First impressions are important professionally and personally. You can discover a lot about a person by watching how they arrive to a meeting. Old habits die hard and I am glad that someone took the trouble to explaining Lombardi Time to me at an early age.
Posted by arosenst at 08:52 AM | Comments (1)
Week One Exercises
Exercise 1.1
Rewrite the sentenced to say the same thing with fewer words.
1. We have nothing to fear, but fear itself.
2. Men are from Mars, women are from Venus.
3. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
Exercise 1.2
Write a sentence for each of the words in the parings of words below.
1. ambiguous Due to the busy day, the secretary was ambiguous as to the time the CEO’s husband called.
2. ambivalent The CEO was ambivalent about the secretary’s ability to handle details.
1. healthy It is important to eat a healthy diet.
2. healthful Biking and skiing are healthful activities, while pie eating contest are not.
1. conscience The lawyer’s conscience prompted her to make an anonymous tip to the police.
2. conscious The lawyer was conscious that this decision jeopardized her right to practice law.
1. apprise The accused was relived when the jury apprised her of her not guilty verdict.
2. appraise Her lawyer was not worried; having appraised the evidence he was confident in a not guilty verdict.
1. disinterested She was disinterested in baseball and neutral as to the winner of the game.
2. uninterested Her friend however was totally uninterested in the game and wanted to leave.
1. affect Technology is affecting the way people communicate today.
2. effect Technology has had a positive effect on the way people communicate today.
Exercise 1.3
Re-write the following two sentences to make them active and descriptive.
1. Frustrated with the latest offer, the labor leaders began the strike.
2. She walked in the room, sat down and looked at me without saying a word.
Exercise 1.4
Think of more clichés.
1. Every cloud has a silver lining
2. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
3. Live and learn
4. Live and let live
5. Easy as pie
6. Slippery little sucker
7. Favorite Cliché sites: http://www.clichesite.com/
Exercise 1.5
Describe the Internet using analogy in two different sentences, each with a different emphasis in meaning.
1. An electronic library, the Internet is reminiscent of an endless library with sites for books.
2. The Internet is like butler, trained to assist you in finding everything you might need.
Exercise 1.6
Re-write the following to make them parallel in structure.
1. US Airways promises a bounty of on-time flights, convent connections and well-balanced in-flight meals.
2. Heroes in movies are always wealthy, always get the girl, always ware high fashion and always arrive at the scene two seconds after the bad guy has left.
3. Speaking of movies, telephones in movies are always knocked over by waking characters, are answered by the third ring, and are restored by tapping on the cradle.
Posted by arosenst at 08:49 AM | Comments (5)
January 13, 2005
Picture
Posted by arosenst at 07:41 AM | Comments (2)
About Me
My name is Allison and I grew up in Durham, North Carolina. I currently live in the city of Raleigh/Durham County and am enjoying homeownership. Planting trees and grass are my new hobbies, but this spring I hope to start a few stained glass projects.
I am taking this course to improve my writing as well as my writing for digital media. I believe that people read and write differently online and I want to create and improve upon my abilities.
Professionally, I am the International Career Advisor and Internship Coordinator at the Terry Sanford Institute at Duke University. I work with our web developer to maintain our Summer in Geneva Program’s website.
Posted by arosenst at 07:36 AM | Comments (0)