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WEB ADVOCACY

English 20803 Final Project: Advocacy Web Site Assignment

Spring 2021

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Using your entire semester’s worth of research, graphics, images, essays and media assignments, construct an advocacy web site based on your research topic and your findings, using a Wix.com template. The site will need to meet the criteria below:

 Evidence-Based Advocacy

  • Clearly prove the exigence of an existing problem in human society.

  • Follow scientific integrity: privilege evidence at the meta-analytic level, but indicate awareness of any important work at the pilot study level.

  • Suggest an evidence-based specific call to action or policy change.

Assume a Leadership Role

  • Shoulder responsibility for educating the public or audience about the problem. Use “catch and release” and fair use to publicize high-level research in layman’s terms.

  • Use a "big net" approach so that your arguments will impact various levels of power: individuals free to make a choice,  professionals who can change the way they practice, and public policymakers who can implement wide-reaching changes. 

  • Suggest a realistic call to action. Use your arbitration experience to attract opponents to your point of view.

  • Direct your audience to any relevant, larger agencies or advocacy groups that affect public policy changes. (examples:  FDA or American Cancer Society).

Acknowledge and Refute Opposing Points of View:

  • Educate the public about the opposing point of view.

  • Offer a counter-argument or rebuttal of opposing sides’ evidence.

Orchestrate Your Campaign:

  • Create a 2-part media campaign: Wix + Twitter feed 

  • Link to “kindred spirit” web sites.

  • Use multiple links to other sites that will reinforce your message and support your cause.

Comply With Copyright Law and Fair Use (images and text)

  • Acknowledge sources in an unobtrusive way; use hyperlinks wherever possible.

  • Use photo credits where due, with hyperlinks, or transformational use.

  • Use no more than 10% of an original source.

  • Place your own copyright notice at the bottom of home page and all others.

Use Basic Branding Elements:

  • Send a clear signal, using a consistent message and call to action.

  • Use the basic “key” branding elements: template respect, typography/fonts, consistent color palette, consistent style for images.  (Wix templates are designed for this.)

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You have a large file of your work to draw upon for this assignment. Here is your portfolio inventory so far:

  • Annotated Bibliography

  • Classical essay+ reference list

  • Graphics Bank or Infogram

  • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • Conflict resolution mini-essay

  • “About me” mini-essay

Here are some random possibilities for site components that could be fashioned from your portfolio inventory.   Choose 12 types at least, also referring to the checklist at the end of this assignment.

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  • Use paragraph-length key excerpts from your classical and warrant essays, with images

  • Create slideshows (use your FAQ, graphics bank, arbitration, and/or photos or screenshots that advance your argument)

  • Break out individual slides to use as static graphic images with captions beneath.

  • Films from PowerPoints: save as a short film and upload to YouTube 

  • Break your FAQ into various individual jpegs and scatter them over pages of your site

  • Photo gallery: collect 6-9 jpegs and provide captions

  • Graphics slideshow or gallery:  Use your graphics bank for this or collect more. Hyperlink to original sources.  Or: scatter them throughout your site.

  • Video gallery:  Use one of your pages to embed 6-9 videos that support your position

  • Use "pull quotes" of catchy, persuasive "sound bites" and format in different colored text boxes. 

  • Maps: Use PowerPoint to alter a map to suit your topic.  Or embed a jpeg of a map.

  • Provide a “social media bar” that links to your Twitter or embed the feed itself.

  • Make a gallery of suggested Twitter follows (top 5)

  • Film 60-second selfies: record yourself or an accomplice on your cellphone, stating your rebuttal or describing a complex solution to the problem.

  • Provide a "helpful links" list: link to sites where others can find first-rate information

  • Embed YouTube videos that support or advance your solution

  • Embed TED talks that support your thesis and solution

  • Embed screenshots of scientific article abstracts as illustrations, or in slide shows.

  • Publish an entire essay of yours, but with hyperlinks instead of citations.

  • “For More Information: publish a list of all the sources you’ve cited this semester, in APA style.

  • Import PowerPoint slides to Google slides & link, thereby giving classroom teachers a way to "teach" your material.

  • Memes: use a meme generator to put some humor into your site

  • Make a Spotify playlist that supports your argument; link to it

  • Link to Instagram or Pinterest feeds on your topic

  • Link to Wikipedia only if you approve of the factual level of the entry

  • Create a "syllowidget," a 3-sentence argument based on a syllogism; embed as a short film.

  • Use the blog function on your template for 3-4 short features on other websites that support your advocacy

  • Create an “expert testimony corner” (a page) with photos, quotes, links to personal sites or Twitter feeds.

  • Upload a cellphone interview of testimonial or eyewitness evidence from a professor, an expert, or just a friend.

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