Web Sites

     A well-designed website should be easy to navigate, informative, and easy to read. Too much information, graphics, or distracting audio can ruin the effect of a website. There is many ways to set up a website. The main ones are linear, hierachical, and interlinking structures. My personal preference is linear organization. I feel like it is the most straightforward and easiest to follow for the audience. Links enhance a website by allowing the audience to follow new paths to different areas of the site.  The Jamestown, RI Chamber of Commerce website is one that could be redesigned. There are some links that lead to empty pages. The website is http://jamestownrichamber.com. Another website is http://www.havenworks.com. The website is just a jumbled mess and hard to read. Most audience members would probably become frustrated and give up on attempting to use the site. 

Rhetorical Situations

The article brought up an interesting point about considering the audience you are writing for. The audience is the whole reason you are writing an article or any other piece of literature. Your audience on a website is mainly unknown. Anyone can access a website on the internet. I also never really thought about stance before. I think it would be beneficial to determine your stance before you begin writing. Internet is also a new type of media. It is verbal but non-vocal. You need to consider how to get your point across without actually speaking or using vocal inflections.

Wikitravel Style Rules

When you post an article on Wikitravel, there are some basic writing rules you must adhere to. There are different templates for different types of articles, such as countries, small cities, or parks. It is important to review the differences before starting an article. There are five main sections that have to be in every Wikitravel entry. These are Get In, Get Around, See, Eat, and Sleep. If one of these sections is not applicable, you should say that in the designated section.
Wikitravel asks that contributors only post links to primary sources as opposed to search engines or review sites. When writing, you should also avoid personal pronouns such as "I". Do not be forceful when describing the place. This is not a persuasive article, it is merely meant to outline the main attractions in the surrounding area. For any questions about formatting, visit http://wikitravel.org/en/Wikitravel:Manual_of_style.