Revision history for CommWriting
Additions:
- __Your role is not to come to any conclusions__. Your role is simply to give the facts. Don’t tell people what to think. Give people the information so that they can come to their own conclusions.
1.) We are not just nonpartisan, but we are also non-biased. Don't just focus on being neutral on candidates/parties, but also be neutral on topics. Just as you wouldn’t voice your opinion on the blog on the current presidential race, don’t voice or hint at your opinion on topics such as gun control.
2.) Every single pro needs a con and every con needs a pro. The article must be balanced.
- The non Vote Smart links you use must be to nonpartisan, reputable sources.
1)Washington Post, New York Times, or local newspapers.
1.) We are not just nonpartisan, but we are also non-biased. Don't just focus on being neutral on candidates/parties, but also be neutral on topics. Just as you wouldn’t voice your opinion on the blog on the current presidential race, don’t voice or hint at your opinion on topics such as gun control.
2.) Every single pro needs a con and every con needs a pro. The article must be balanced.
- The non Vote Smart links you use must be to nonpartisan, reputable sources.
1)Washington Post, New York Times, or local newspapers.
Deletions:
1)While you might not flat out say “I’m a liberal/Democrat”, if you use words like “shame/shaming”, “recognize”, “needs”, “innocent”, etc. it’s clear what side of the argument you are on.
2)Tips:
a)Write on a topic that you don’t feel strongly about.
b)Read every phrase you write and think about what a member from each political party would say.
c)Identify where you lie on the argument, then think of what someone on the opposite side should say.
d)Have someone else read it and see if they can identify what side of the argument you land on.
- Do not forget about avoiding bias.
1)We are not just nonpartisan, but we are also nonbias. So don’t focus only on being neutral on candidates/parties, but also be neutral on the topic. Just as you wouldn’t voice your opinion in the blog on Trump/Clinton, don’t have an opinion on abortion, gun control, etc.
2)Every single pro needs a con and every con needs a pro. The article must be balanced.
- The out of Vote Smart links you use must be to nonpartisan, reputable sources.
1)Washington Post, New York Times, BBC, or local newspapers.
g)Check out our list of [[http://wiki.votesmart.org/Approvednewsandmediareferencesites Approved News and Media Reference sites]]
Additions:
c)Official pages of candidates/ candidate social media are reputable, primary sources.
d)Try to use .gov or .org before going to .com
e)If you have to cite a news outlet, please try for:
f)DO NOT cite articles with headlines such as “GOP States Have Found A New Way To Shame Women For Getting An Abortion” - Even if they quote an official, us citing articles like this makes us look biased.
g)Check out our list of [[http://wiki.votesmart.org/Approvednewsandmediareferencesites Approved News and Media Reference sites]]
d)Try to use .gov or .org before going to .com
e)If you have to cite a news outlet, please try for:
f)DO NOT cite articles with headlines such as “GOP States Have Found A New Way To Shame Women For Getting An Abortion” - Even if they quote an official, us citing articles like this makes us look biased.
g)Check out our list of [[http://wiki.votesmart.org/Approvednewsandmediareferencesites Approved News and Media Reference sites]]
Deletions:
d)If you have to cite a news outlet, please try for:
e)DO NOT cite articles with headlines such as “GOP States Have Found A New Way To Shame Women For Getting An Abortion” - Even if they quote an official, us citing articles like this makes us look biased.
f)Check out our list of [[http://wiki.votesmart.org/Approvednewsandmediareferencesites Approved News and Media Reference sites]]
Additions:
**Overview:**
Deletions:
No Differences
Additions:
===Guidelines: Writing for Communications===
Deletions:
Additions:
===Guidelines When Writing for Communications===
Deletions:
Additions:
e)DO NOT cite articles with headlines such as “GOP States Have Found A New Way To Shame Women For Getting An Abortion” - Even if they quote an official, us citing articles like this makes us look biased.
Deletions:
Additions:
**Writing for a 7th Grade Reading Level:**
**Non-Partisanship/Non-bias:**
**Non-Partisanship/Non-bias:**
Deletions:
**Non-Partisanship/Non-bias**
Additions:
**Including Hyperlinks:**
Deletions:
Additions:
**Including Hyperlinks**
Deletions:
Additions:
**Non-Partisanship/Non-bias**
- __Your role is not to come to any conclusions__. Your role is simply to give the facts. Don’t tell people what to think but give them the information so they can decide on their own.
- Avoid subtle bias/partisanship.
1)While you might not flat out say “I’m a liberal/Democrat”, if you use words like “shame/shaming”, “recognize”, “needs”, “innocent”, etc. it’s clear what side of the argument you are on.
2)Tips:
a)Write on a topic that you don’t feel strongly about.
b)Read every phrase you write and think about what a member from each political party would say.
c)Identify where you lie on the argument, then think of what someone on the opposite side should say.
d)Have someone else read it and see if they can identify what side of the argument you land on.
- Do not forget about avoiding bias.
1)We are not just nonpartisan, but we are also nonbias. So don’t focus only on being neutral on candidates/parties, but also be neutral on the topic. Just as you wouldn’t voice your opinion in the blog on Trump/Clinton, don’t have an opinion on abortion, gun control, etc.
2)Every single pro needs a con and every con needs a pro. The article must be balanced.
a)Use 3 pros and 3 cons per blog post
b)Directly underneath each pro, include the con - don't make the reader search.
c)Present as many opposing viewpoints as possible!
- The out of Vote Smart links you use must be to nonpartisan, reputable sources.
1)Try and use government sites if possible
2)Avoid using op-eds to prove a point. You can use them for quoting officials, but avoid using them as “read the New York Times op-ed to see why people are against this bill”
3)Read the title of the article you’re linking to. If the title is biased, don’t use it.
- Links:
1)For candidates/officials: Link to their bio page
2)Try to link to votesmart.org before you look for links elsewhere.
3)All quotes need to be linked - preferably to a Vote Smart source.
a)All stances, facts, statistics, House rulings, bills, etc. need to be linked to a reliable source.
b)If we do not have the link to the speech, SIG rating, key vote, etc. on our website, please choose a reputable website.
c)Try to use .gov or .org before going to .com
d)If you have to cite a news outlet, please try for:
1)Washington Post, New York Times, BBC, or local newspapers.
2)Try to avoid outlets such as Fox News, MSNBC - these outlets are correlated with a particular bias towards one side.
e)DO NOT cite articles with headlines such as “GOP States Have Found A New Way To Shame Women For Getting An Abortion” - Even if they quote an official, us citing articles like this makes us look biased.
f)Check out our list of [[http://wiki.votesmart.org/Approvednewsandmediareferencesites Approved News and Media Reference sites]]
- __Your role is not to come to any conclusions__. Your role is simply to give the facts. Don’t tell people what to think but give them the information so they can decide on their own.
- Avoid subtle bias/partisanship.
1)While you might not flat out say “I’m a liberal/Democrat”, if you use words like “shame/shaming”, “recognize”, “needs”, “innocent”, etc. it’s clear what side of the argument you are on.
2)Tips:
a)Write on a topic that you don’t feel strongly about.
b)Read every phrase you write and think about what a member from each political party would say.
c)Identify where you lie on the argument, then think of what someone on the opposite side should say.
d)Have someone else read it and see if they can identify what side of the argument you land on.
- Do not forget about avoiding bias.
1)We are not just nonpartisan, but we are also nonbias. So don’t focus only on being neutral on candidates/parties, but also be neutral on the topic. Just as you wouldn’t voice your opinion in the blog on Trump/Clinton, don’t have an opinion on abortion, gun control, etc.
2)Every single pro needs a con and every con needs a pro. The article must be balanced.
a)Use 3 pros and 3 cons per blog post
b)Directly underneath each pro, include the con - don't make the reader search.
c)Present as many opposing viewpoints as possible!
- The out of Vote Smart links you use must be to nonpartisan, reputable sources.
1)Try and use government sites if possible
2)Avoid using op-eds to prove a point. You can use them for quoting officials, but avoid using them as “read the New York Times op-ed to see why people are against this bill”
3)Read the title of the article you’re linking to. If the title is biased, don’t use it.
- Links:
1)For candidates/officials: Link to their bio page
2)Try to link to votesmart.org before you look for links elsewhere.
3)All quotes need to be linked - preferably to a Vote Smart source.
a)All stances, facts, statistics, House rulings, bills, etc. need to be linked to a reliable source.
b)If we do not have the link to the speech, SIG rating, key vote, etc. on our website, please choose a reputable website.
c)Try to use .gov or .org before going to .com
d)If you have to cite a news outlet, please try for:
1)Washington Post, New York Times, BBC, or local newspapers.
2)Try to avoid outlets such as Fox News, MSNBC - these outlets are correlated with a particular bias towards one side.
e)DO NOT cite articles with headlines such as “GOP States Have Found A New Way To Shame Women For Getting An Abortion” - Even if they quote an official, us citing articles like this makes us look biased.
f)Check out our list of [[http://wiki.votesmart.org/Approvednewsandmediareferencesites Approved News and Media Reference sites]]
Deletions:
- DON'T editorialize or present others' opinions as your own- reference and cite sources if demonstrating the various sides of an issue (ideally on our website!)
- When applicable, as many opposing viewpoints as possible should be addressed.
- Be relevant, helpful as in writing how-to articles.
- when writing digital communications:
- adhere to our [[LinkPolicy Link Policy]] and never pass up an opportunity to link to our own content
- be search engine compliant; remain mindful of the use of [[http://searchenginewatch.com/article/2066257/What-People-Search-For-Most-Popular-Keywords keywords]]
- if drafting content in a word processing program like Word, clear formatting by copying and pasting the content into a text editor prior to copying and pasting in the destination- this will prevent weird characters from displaying
- When unsure on writing, proper abbreviations, etc. reference [[APStyleBook AP Style]] and the [[http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/735/04/ inverted pyramid]].
**Writing for Different Platforms**
includes Fundraising Appeals, News Releases
No Differences
Additions:
- Pay particular attention to your title (where applicable), subject line (for emails), advertisement copy (including envelope teasers), covers of publications, and leads: they should grab the readers attention much like a headline from a news article. You may consider posing a question in certain communications - that can help keep things non-partisan!
Deletions:
Additions:
**Writing Style:**
**Writing for a 7th Grade Reading Level**
- The writing style should be informative while also being friendly, casual, and even humorous. "Use your unique voice" and try to be as personal as possible "like you are writing a letter to your mother"
- 7th grade reading level. The standard American reads at a 7th or 8th grade reading level so your writing should be on that level as well. While we understand that most of you are either in university or recently graduated and tend to write more academic, our goal is to educate the public. If your piece is far too complex, the majority of readers will be disengaged or unable to understand it.
1)Ex of Academic writing: “Mr. Surowiecki’s well supported thesis certainly offers a profound endorsement of the essential principle of democracy, that the masses should and can determine the characteristics of their own government, in an age where beltway commentators on both the left and right doubt the intelligence of the American people.”
2)Ex. of Blog-friendly writing: “Mr Surowiecki believes that democracy should allow people to have a say in their government, despite others who doubt the intelligence of American citizens.”
- Tips:
1)Limit your use of “big words” and too many transition words like “therefore”, “subsequently”, etc. try using “because of” or “as a result” instead
2)Try and use bullet points and charts to break up the text
3)Try to write conversationally, as though you are talking to a friend
4)Pose questions for your readers!
5)Write as though the person reading the blog has no previous background or understanding of the issue
- Helpful Resources:
1)http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.papsy.org/resource/collection/963F4F5F-A142-47DE-B287-78F6B4E04F03/WritingForTheGeneralPublic.pdf
2)http://www.cws.illinois.edu/workshop/writers/tips/audience/
**Writing for a 7th Grade Reading Level**
- The writing style should be informative while also being friendly, casual, and even humorous. "Use your unique voice" and try to be as personal as possible "like you are writing a letter to your mother"
- 7th grade reading level. The standard American reads at a 7th or 8th grade reading level so your writing should be on that level as well. While we understand that most of you are either in university or recently graduated and tend to write more academic, our goal is to educate the public. If your piece is far too complex, the majority of readers will be disengaged or unable to understand it.
1)Ex of Academic writing: “Mr. Surowiecki’s well supported thesis certainly offers a profound endorsement of the essential principle of democracy, that the masses should and can determine the characteristics of their own government, in an age where beltway commentators on both the left and right doubt the intelligence of the American people.”
2)Ex. of Blog-friendly writing: “Mr Surowiecki believes that democracy should allow people to have a say in their government, despite others who doubt the intelligence of American citizens.”
- Tips:
1)Limit your use of “big words” and too many transition words like “therefore”, “subsequently”, etc. try using “because of” or “as a result” instead
2)Try and use bullet points and charts to break up the text
3)Try to write conversationally, as though you are talking to a friend
4)Pose questions for your readers!
5)Write as though the person reading the blog has no previous background or understanding of the issue
- Helpful Resources:
1)http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.papsy.org/resource/collection/963F4F5F-A142-47DE-B287-78F6B4E04F03/WritingForTheGeneralPublic.pdf
2)http://www.cws.illinois.edu/workshop/writers/tips/audience/
Deletions:
- When writing to the general public, the writing style should be informative while also being friendly, casual, and even humorous. "Use your unique voice" and try to be as personal as possible "like you are writing a letter to your mother"
