Benefit-Driven Approach to Writing for the Internet

There is a dual challenge for writing content for the internet: conquering search engines and attracting the attention of target audiences. This chapter proposes a content planning and development approach with a triple focus: main keyword power, target audience, and benefit provided. It argues that keyword power, given by its search volume and effective competition level, provides only an incomplete starting point for creating valuable content, as content effectiveness will ultimately depend on the benefit provided for the target audience. A benefit-driven approach to writing valuable and optimized content is particularly interesting for increasing reach, interaction, and involvement, thus being recommended for inbound and content marketing strategies. The phases of benefit-driven content writing are described, from keyword choice to the main optimization procedures.

Researching Your Topic

This chapter discusses what a researcher should consider before examining a topic or project. Understanding the context of the topic, the audience, and why the subject matter is important are critical first steps. Identifying issues surrounding the topic and determining whether history plays a role in the process must also be considered. Different types of research methods and choosing the correct method to facilitate meeting the research objective are addressed. Lastly, the author suggests various tools that should be selected to examine a topic or project.

The Influence of Theatre in Narrative Writing

The author's research examined how the influence of theatre can help in narrative writing. The author pulled from her own knowledge as a theatre major and incorporated it into her graduate studies of narrative nonfiction writing. This chapter explains how the author thought of herself as a playwright in order to develop round characters, descriptive scenes, and action. The author used the six basic questions of journalism, which happens to be the six basic questions of a character analysis of theatre. The realization of merging theatre with writing was backed by craft writing books.

Zines

By using zines as a touchstone, this chapter introduces the idea of multidisciplinary writing through that medium. It focuses on the many elements that embody a zine, from the layout and design to the addition of artwork, publication details, and—of course—the content itself. In regards to the content, this chapter explores the diverse culture of zinesters, illustrating the wide variety of content and, even more, how that content often draws from multiple disciplines to achieve its purpose. By noting both real-life zine examples and assignments, this chapter melds the worlds of multidisciplinary writing and zines, introducing both to the readers.

The Implementation of a Literacy Achievement Program

This chapter discusses the implementation of a literacy achievement program, the Carnegie Kids Club (CKC), developed by Carnegie Writers, Inc. (CW), a nonprofit organization that focuses on writing and literacy education. CKC is a community-based program designed to assist children with the improvement of literacy skills as they relate to reading, writing, and creativity. With this, the program seeks to approach literacy development skills based on addressing critical thinking skills, as these are soft skills that promote the development of hard skills. The chapter includes relevant literature about literacy development, programs, instruction, and evaluation. Lastly, it provides the CKC current structural model, assessment, and future research.

Crafting Intellectual and Program Interconnectedness in the Classroom

This chapter explores the instructional observation of the utilization of interest-centric project design within an Introduction to Humanities course at a technical college in Georgia and how it can stand as a guide for productive interdisciplinary instruction and learning. The project came about through student expressed interests and assisted in the formulation of an interdisciplinary environment through discussion and experimentation. This chapter is a reflection on the information garnered by the author on how interdisciplinary, design thinking-centric projects can be successful within a college classroom if student interests are included in the production of projects and students are allowed a say in the development of the course instruction. This chapter merely stands as a testament that student inclusion and interdisciplinary projects can be successful if applied appropriately.

Cloud Basics

Cloud computing was made necessary by the birth of the smartphone. It created scatted data for users. Initially, smartphones used a different operating system than common computers. A letter or note might exist on your smartphone but could not be shared with your personal computer unless manufactured by the same supplier. A workaround for a single user was to email a copy to himself. The internet being device neutral, Dropbox was the first neutral service to permit document sharing between users and devices regardless of format. This chapter explores cloud basics.

How to Teach Writing Effectively in a Virtual Environment

This chapter focuses on the challenge that many general educators face when they transition into the virtual learning environment. Even talented writing teachers struggle to shift their regular teaching practices to fit the format of online instruction. The author will address some of the pitfalls of stepping into the virtual world and then focus on the best practices for virtual writing instruction, including this author's recommended program, The Writer's Workshop by Lucy Calkins. The chapter will offer some tangible strategies for any virtual educator to teach writing in their subject area. It will also address essential contributors to student learning, like fostering a classroom culture online, assessing students, and working with struggling writers. While the virtual education field is forever evolving, teachers can benefit from practicing these strategies, as well as continuing to focus on professional development and growth in order to grow themselves and their student writers effectively.

Journaling for Mental Health

Mental health is one of the most common difficulties faced by young adults. The authors in this chapter want to bring the awareness needed in today's society by providing a personal experience along with four strategies that may be helpful for individuals struggling with mental health. The four suggested strategies are tell someone you trust, to not be afraid to talk to a professional, try journaling when you first begin to experience mental health-related problems, and lastly, to take a step back and recognize you have options to help your situation. Different types of journaling, including reflective writing and visual journaling, are discussed through the literature as they have been suggested to improve mental health-related problems.

Personal and Professional Support

This chapter provides strategies for successfully completing writing projects with the support of the community through personal and professional development support. This type of support is established through education, social development, and action planning. Individuals and groups often feel that writing is a solo activity and fail to seek additional resources, but writing is part of the larger community. Writing is the craft of art that is distributed to the community in various forms. Literature related to writing resources, personal, and professional development is reviewed. The authors explain the psychology of inspiration through its etymology, from the word for breathing in. They then recommend a framework for creating writing inspiration, which includes becoming the expert, engaging the interest, developing the objectives, and promoting the concept.