Project #2: Writing for the Web

The goal of this project was to investigate the writing techniques that we read about in our Reading # 1 assignment. We had a selection of websites provided by the teacher to choose from and to follow through with the assignment by selecting the text that we will rewrite based upon our readings.

I chose the website for the department of Computer Science and Engineering, a department of The Institute of Technology. Why you ask? Because it made me laugh! I couldn't understand over half of the links, there was way too much blah, blah, blah, and it was obvious that someone from that department made the website, not a (good) designer. Silly software engineers, when will you ever learn? What's ironic, is that website for The Institute of Technology is really nice! There is alot to take in with the Headlines, but it's mapped out well and it serves well as a home page, not a site map like the CSE website.

The original website:





What are the problems? Over 50% of the links are repeated and spread out over the page. There are alot of department specific technical names, words, and abbreviations, for example: "CSE," is all over the page, what the hell is CSE? I had to think about it and make the connection that it's the abbreviation for the department name. The search bar is floating around somewhere that isn't readily available when you first glance at the site. No bueno. The technical names are out of control: what is a Colloquium? Oh wait, that's right! I'm not a software engineer and wouldn't readily know that it means academic conference or seminar. I had to look it up in the dictionary. Simply said, this website just has too much going on and not that much is self-evident.

The rewritten website:





By getting rid of all the repeated links, rewording bits of information into shorter bits of information, and grouping similar things, there is alot more clarity and navigation is easier. I no longer have to look up any words.