Format

If you are writing research papers in college, your first thought about information formats may be: how do I cite this particular source in this format? Do I need to follow the MLA or APA rules for a book or an article? A website or an interview? And while this is important when creating a list of sources, it isn’t the focus of this quest. What you will be doing here is determining how the format of information, based on the creator’s intent, has an impact on its structure and content, and its usefulness based on your own needs.

First, watch this short video to get an overview of information formats. The information provided will give you a context for what follows.

Format and Function Are One

Frank Lloyd Wright, the famous architect, adapted a famous axiom by his mentor, Louis Sullivan, “form follows function.” His revision, “form and function are one,” does not sound quite as snappy as the original, and definitely is not as well known. But it expresses an idea that is as applicable to information as to buildings. Before we bring information into the equation, let’s try it out in another setting: transportation. Consider something you see every day, a car.

First, think of three roles that cars serve (think beyond the obvious!). Next, relate each of the three roles you identified to the car's form (i.e. its shape, style, components). What in a car’s form facilitates each of those roles? This is an easy correlation between form and function (role or purpose). You could do the same type of analysis with trees or birds or a host of other topics. But how does this play out with information formats? And why is it important?

Information Takes Form(at)

Information creators decide on the appropriate format in which to present what they have to say. In this case, the word “format” covers a wide range of criteria, such as the following:

Is it for experts in a field? Or for those with less specialized knowledge?
Is it introductory or in-depth?
Is the coverage broad, or finely focused?
Is text appropriate, or is another format, such as music or video, better?
Is it freely available, or is there a cost involved?
Is it possible to provide feedback or to remix or reuse the content?

These are all critical questions for the creator (that might be you), and for the person looking for information. Review the following in preparation for the questions below. All three examples cover the same topic, but have dramatic differences.

EXAMPLE #1: SCHOLARLY ARTICLE

Nahai, R. N. (2014). What price university? Rising tuition fees, financial aid, and social justice in higher education in the USA. Oxford Studies in Comparative Education 24(2):133-159.

Abstract: Since the 1960s, the American higher education system has become increasingly commercialized, with tuition fees and interest-bearing student debts rising sharply in the last decade. High ‘sticker price’ tuition fees combined with generous financial aid notionally create a Robin Hood style funding system, capable of supporting the twentieth century beliefs in egalitarian access to higher education as well as competitive market forces. This article describes key features of the US higher education sector, and examines some evidence for the claim that financial aid, which today largely equates to student loans, is an effective policy instrument for achieving social justice aims within a context of escalating higher education costs. Drawing on the University of California as a case study, it argues that financial aid has not adequately bridged the gap between what low- and middle-income people can afford and what college costs, contributing to a decline in application and enrollment by less-advantaged social groups, and raising challenges to the historic mission and character of public colleges and universities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

EXAMPLE #2: VIDEO

An Ultra-Low-Cost College Degree (watch up to 3:12)

EXAMPLE #3: BLOG POST

US Universities Promoting Social Mobility

Assignment

Please answer all of the following questions with thoughtful, explanatory responses.

1. Which of the three sources is/are based on research? Describe the type of research used for the one(s) you picked. If you select more than one, is the background or expertise of the authors similar? Please explain, and explain how the expertise might impact the audience they are writing for.
2. Which did you find most motivational? Please explain why you selected the one you did. Include a short discussion of the format—did that help or hinder the motivational message?
3. Which did you find least convincing? Please explain why you selected the one you did. Include a short discussion of the format.

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