Writing is a technology. Yet there is little discussion of writing on the web. From Facebook updates, to tweeting, blogging, comment culture, online journalism, and the truncation of language via texting, writing remains dominant in digitisation. This subject offers you a practically oriented, conceptually-based approach by which you can become more effective in written publishing on the internet. From understanding how writing can capture the re-structured reading that comes from scrolling down rather than turning a page, to the reinscription of structure and flow via hyperlinking, a cohesive approach to considering the written word in a digital framework will be considered. Not only will students be writing online but they will understand how writing has evolved via digital forms of publishing. Interwoven in these themes will be underlying information issues such as relevance, credibility, authority and utility.
This subject examines writing on the web in its many diverse forms. Students will gain a theoretical understanding of the different modes of writing in an online environment as well as practical skills in exploring their own writing. They will think through the practice of writing, consider what it means for a culture, and examine how writing can be transformative. In particular, the unit explores the relationships between authorship and authority, hypertext and credibility, collaboration and consciousness, comment culture and bullying, news and entertainment, as well as considering short-form texting and emojis.
Please Note: If it’s your first time studying a Curtin University subject you’ll need to complete their compulsory ‘Academic Integrity Program’. It only takes two hours to complete online, and provides you with vital information about studying with Curtin University. The Academic Integrity Program is compulsory, so if it’s not completed your subject grades will be withheld.
Find out more about the Academic Integrity module.