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TECM 3200: Style

TECM 3200: Style. Dr. Lam. Using Lists. Use a list when appropriate Are there multiple items ? Resume items Projects Images Do you want to your user to check something off mentally? Does your user need to find something quickly ? Don’t use a list if it’s inappropriate

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TECM 3200: Style

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  1. TECM 3200: Style Dr. Lam

  2. Using Lists • Use a list when appropriate • Are there multiple items? • Resume items • Projects • Images • Do you want to your user to check something off mentally? • Does your user need to find something quickly? • Don’t use a list if it’s inappropriate • Narrative information • BUT, rethink narrative information

  3. Match bullets to your personality • The default style is a black circle • This can be changed using list-style-type in CSS • Sometimes it makes sense to remove the bullet points

  4. Use Numbered Lists for Instructions • It allows your visits to: • See how many steps there are • Check off steps (since they can’t write on the screen) • Find their place if they’re completing a task • Complete all steps in correct order

  5. Use Numbered Lists for Non-Instructions • Use numbered lists for other appropriate content: • Best and worst lists • Finite list of guidelines or principles (Guidelines in Redish) • Anything else that might benefit from mentally using numbers • Example: Here’s a list of my top 3 accomplishments: • Received technical communication award (2013) • Earned 3.8 GPA (2010-2013) • Developed three websites in HTML/CSS (2013)

  6. Replace Paragraphs with lists • When appropriate, remove paragraph information • Most web content should be presented in short bursts, and lists are more conducive to this approach

  7. Transforming narrative to lists • Original: My name is Chris Lam and I’m a student at UNT in the department of Linguistics & Technical Communication. I’m extremely passionate about web design and have created multiple sites for real-world clients. • Transformed: Important facts about me: • Student at UNT in Linguistics & Technical Communication (expected graduation 5/2014) • Passionate about web design • Designed and developed sites for clients. View my portfolio for examples.

  8. Embed Tables into Lists • If a list needs explanation, don’t simply add more bullet points, use a table • E.g., • Decide if you would like to purchase the new version or old version of the software.

  9. Keep Lists Short when Possible • Keep lists from 5 to 10 items • If you have more than 10 list items, consider grouping or organizing the list into multiple categories • Instead of: • TECM 4180 • TECM 3200 • TECM 4150 • TECM 5195 • TECM 2700 • TECM 1700 • TECM 1200 Writing Intensive Courses • TECM 1700 • TECM 2700 • TECM 1200 Production Intensive Courses • TECM 3200 • TECM 3100 Design Intensive Courses • TECM 4150 • TECM 3200

  10. Format your lists • Don’t just stick to the default settings • Use CSS to create effective use of white space • Reduce space between introduction and list • Put a space between long list items • First Child pseudo element can be useful in lists

  11. First Child Demo Grocery List • Apples • Bananas • Milk <ul> <li>Grocery list</li> <li>Apples</li> <li>Bananas</li> <li>Milk</li> </ul>

  12. CSS First Child Demo li: first-child { font-weight: bold; margin-top: 0; }

  13. Guidelines for using Tables • Use tables for a set of “if, then” sentences • Use tables to compare numerical data (or anything for that matter) • Use tables to answer questions

  14. Format your Tables! • Do NOT stick with the default • Left align your table elements • Eliminate outside lines around the whole table • Lighten the lines between columns • Use shading for alternate rows instead of lines

  15. HTML Table

  16. Table CSS for Alternating Rows

  17. Conciseness • Overuse of main verb “be” • Expletive structures • Nominals

  18. Overuse of main verb“to be” • Forms of “to be” • Main verb is always right-most verb • Management tends to be uncooperative. • Management could have been more cooperative. • Main verb “be” is often followed by a noun, adjective, or prepositional phrase. These words can sometimes replace “to be” • Determine what part of speech follows the main verb “be” and find a more specific verb.

  19. Practice: Locate the verb-form “to be” and revise to make it more concise. • The administration is supportive of our program. • This information could be of benefit to the students. • This report is an analysis of the problem.

  20. Expletive Structures • Begins with “There” or “It” • “There was”, “it is”, “there could be”, etc. • “There” or “It” is the subject of sentence • Look for a stronger subject following the expletive

  21. Practice: Locate the expletive structure. Revise for conciseness. • It is necessary for users to back-up all contents of their websites. • It is the purpose of this manual is to discuss the use of Wordpress as a content management system. • There will be seven sections in this manual that describe the overall management of your website.

  22. Nominals • Nouns derived from verbs • -ance, -ence, -ion, or –ment • Maintain • Recommend • Achieve

  23. Practice Locate the nominal and revise for conciseness. • This manual contains a discussion of content management systems. • The inclusion of a recommendation for your computer’s minimal technical requirements is found in this manual on page 17.

  24. Caveat about conciseness • Watch out for meaning • The article includes a discussion of methods for retention • The article discusses retention • Watch out for tone, especially in negative messages • The application deadline passed last week on February 1st. • You missed the February 1st deadline.

  25. Passive vs. Active Voice • Based on thematic roles of agent and patient • Agent: Doer of the action • Patient: Receiver of action • Related to syntactic position • Subject: First noun phrase in the main clause of a sentence • Direct Object: noun phrase following the main verb

  26. Identifying active and passive structures

  27. Other ways to identifyvoice • Passive must follow this formula: • “to be” + past participle • The manual was written by John.

  28. Practice • Customers have been writing several letters of complaint. • Items have been ripped off from customers. • Customers have been ripped off. • Customers have been ripping off items. • Complaint letters were written.

  29. Choosing active and passive voice • Active for conciseness • Removes form of “to be” and “by” phrase • Letters have been written by customers – (5 words) • Customers wrote letters (3 words) • Active to focus on Agent • John made several mistakes. • Use passive to focus on patient • Agentless passive • Mistakes were made. • Use passive to describe generalizable actions or results • Today, faster processers are used in computers.

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