I enter this class with the purpose (among many others) of exploring the concept of "Online writing environments" as my thesis topic. This is my first writing class ( see writing autobiography) and I find myself in the company of students most of them who have spent a lifetime writing. The apprehension aside, I'm really excited to be in this class and hope to learn a great deal from it and wish to get started on my thesis next semester.
This diary is a class assignment, but more importantly it provides a great canvas to explore my thoughts and form a concept for my thesis. Let me dive right in......
Three words form the basis of this course:
digital: (adj) of or relating to data in the form of numerical digits / a machine or object operating with numbers expressed directly as digits; a method of encoding information using a binary system made up of zeroes and ones
rhetoric: (noun) the art of speaking or writing effectively; the study of principles and rules of composition formulated by critics of ancient times; the study of writing or speaking as a means of communication or persuasion; skill in the effective use of speech
writing: (verb) to form (as characters or symbols) on a surface with an instrument (as a pen) , to form (as words) by inscribing the characters or symbols of on a surface
Two questions to begin with- What is Digital Rhetoric? What is Digital Writing? The first of is simpler to answer. It's the second that I find more intriguing.
"New media has to do with using a variety of technologies... computer and digital-based technologies to create very rich and layered texts, texts that aren’t flat texts... but incorporates graphics and film and sound and photography..." (Scott DeWitt)
"Writing today means weaving text, images, sound, video and working within and across multiple media, often for delivery within and across digital spaces" (Danielle Devoss)
The number of people (also with an increasing degree of certainity) who are including images, video and text in writing’s domain is increasing. This for me is the most dramitc effect of digital media on writing. This is effectively, modifying the definition of writing. The impact of digital media on writing is still nascent and its effect is still unclear... though it is definitely clear that there is an effect. Note that in many cases, digital rhetoric and digital writing can be used interchangably.
The first time I heard the term “Digital Writing” was in a pamphlet distributed by the Writing Center at MSU. When I met David Sheridan (Associate Director, Writing Center) he mentioned that the term digital writing is still evolving and that the Writing Center is still deciding whether writing center should condider digital rhetoric within its domain. This was in Fall 2003 and since then a lot has changed. While it is still true that the term digital writing is still evolving, Digital Rhetoric is very much an integral part of the Writing center.
The focus of digital writing/ rhetoric is still (?) the question "what is". It is this that I wish to explore in the Digital Rhetoric class and this portal.....Enjoy!
One parting comment....I'm been intrigued by the inclusion of images, audio and video into the realm of "writing".....why?? I was initially inclined to think that it was because digital technology enabled the interplay of these media with text....but I realized that this was possible (and being used) in advertisements, some genres of films etc.....hmmmmm.....what about the fact that now this can be done on the "desktop" (á la desktop publishing).....(to be continued)