Writing for Multimedia, Design and Technology

1
Writing for Multimedia, Design and Technology

• David Donnarumma
• David.donnarumma_at_brunel.ac.uk
• Or elas_at_brunel.ac.uk

2
Objectives

• Identify what is good writing
• Highlight some common grammar mistakes
• Develop the structure of a paragraph
• The organisation of a personal history
• Practice writing and peer analysis

3
Good writing needs

• Purpose
• Clarity
• Structure
• Correct Punctuation
• Good Grammar
• to consider its audience

4
Style Which is most appropriate? Why?

• Ive written loads of websites and the people I
  did them for like them and think they work really
  well.
• I have written many websites which have proved
  popular with my customers for a number of
  reasons.
• I have been commissioned to create five websites
  in the last year including commercial websites
  for Smiths Bookstore (Link) and Joness
  Chandlery Empire (Link). Both Smith and Jones
  have reported increased sales linked to my
  websites of between 20 and 25.

5
Some Common Grammar Mistakes

• Such vs Like
• There are great bands such as Oasis and
  Radiohead.
• There are great bands like Oasis and Radiohead.
• Which vs that
• The school, that is in Middlesex, has now been
  demolished.
• The school, which is in Middlesex, has now been
  demolished.

6
Punctuation

• Apostrophes
• Possessives and singular nouns
• E.g. This is Janes book
• Possessives and plural nouns
• E.g. The childrens party had to be cancelled
• Exceptions
• Plural noun ends in s
• The teachers strike showed no signs of ending
• Names ending in s
• Thomass arrival or Ulysses journey
• Its
• A dog wags its tail
• Commas
• I like fish and chips or I like fish, and I like
  chips
• Nigel is a real man, he smokes cigarettes, he
  drinks lager.??
• Exclamation marks
• Keep it for the holiday postcard!

7

• Activity Apostrophes

8
Spelling

• Their is a weakness in there game there passing
  is awful, and there seems no way to improve it or
  there co-ordination.
• There is a weakness in their game their passing
  is awful, and there seems no way to improve it or
  their co-ordination.

9
Paragraph

• Topic Sentence
• What you want to say about it
• Development/Support examples, explanation,
  facts, statistics
• Unity dont talk about anything that doesnt
  relate to your topic sentence!

10
What goes into a personal history?

• In groups make a list of some of the things you
  would expect to read in a personal history

11
Paragraph Topics

• Educational background
• Work experience
• Hobbies
• Multimedia interests
• Previous/existing multimedia-related works

12
Two statements

• In pairs compare these two statements
• What are the similarities and differences?
• Which is more appropriate? Why?

13

• Paragraph 1
• Poor start awkward wording and structure not
  precise
• Paragraph 2This is awkward wording not
  specific opinion extremely enjoyable
• Paragraph 3more detail no clear topic sentence
  
• Paragraph 4vague - "To develop my interests in,
  and knowledge of engineering"
• Paragraph 5awkward wording - "where you have to
  compose part of the piece yourself". Avoid the
  second person
• Paragraph 6Not specific - Avoid phrases such as
  "I believe" instead, state the idea with
  confidence.

14
Activity

• Now, write the first paragraph of your own
  personal statement..

15
Further Information

• One-to-one appointment with an adviser
• Email elas_at_brunel.ac.uk
• Tel. [phone]
• Drop-in Monday Friday, 12 1pm in LCO19
• Online Every Friday from 10 12pm using the
  ELAS u-Link chat room.
• Internet http//intranet.brunel.ac.uk/ltdu/elas/

16
Where are we?

• Lecture Centre
• LC019
• To book an appointment call
• 01895266547
• Or email
• ELAS_at_brunel.ac.uk