Response guidelines

The response element of the course is a form of short writing, like response or blog writing. Here are some guidelines for writing your responses:

  1. Your responses should be written within your Google site (set to NYU can view or public).

  2. Your responses should be easily found from your tab menu at the top of your site. I recommend making one page for Responses with subpages for each of the responses.

  3. When I give you a series of questions in the prompt, this does not mean that you should answer each and every one of them. Think of the exercise as an opportunity to respond to any of the ideas evoked by the prompt and to add your personal touch.

  4. Connect your thoughts to the larger themes of the course. For these you can look to the outcomes, to the readings or to the projects we examine.

  5. When you do connect to the larger themes, include an embedded link.

  6. The length of a response varies widely from student to student. In general, it is around 750-1000 words.

  7. Consider adding a visual element to your response. Maybe a screenshot is called for, maybe a live map (via an iframe and the <embed> block), or you might even a rights-free photo (from a site like unsplash). If you include a visual, caption it by dragging a text box to the bottom of the image.

  8. Assume the audience for your response is an educated reader on the web, curious about the themes of the course, but not necessarily aware of all that we are talking about in class. This means that the tone can be slightly informal, not as a paper you might write with a strict division between intro, body paragraphs and conclusion. It might also mean that you have to explain some of the technical terms you are using, even link to Wikipedia entries or other general knowledge sites for more information.

  9. If you have any questions about the response, just ask :).

  10. Since you may be composing the response in the open, when you complete your response, put at the bottom of it the date you have finished and the statement "ready for grading".

  11. The time for completing responses is indicated in the syllabus as a window. If you complete it by the end of the window, I can get you feedback in a timely fashion. If it takes you longer, it will take longer.