1. Overall Ease of Use/Appearance:
The website is very easy to navigate. The initial page gives you many
options for customizing your visit to the site. If you are an educator, you
can click on a link to connect you directly with information you may
find interesting for teaching purposes.
The site also provides immediate, obvious separation for the two
functions of the website. Internet surfers may click icons for "reading" or
"writing," depending on how they wish to spend their visit. Visitors
more interested in reading rather than submitting their work can just as
easily navigate the site.
Icons are included at the top of each page of the site for quick
linking to parts of the website that are of interest. Users do not have to search to find frequently used options, such as visiting the various portions of the site devoted to either reading or writing. Quick access to the user's history is also available at the click of an icon located in this
toolbar across the top of the webpage, including a history of favorite items
read.
The site follows web site suggestions found in most of the guides read
for English 328, including the tip on increasing continuity through the
site by keeping the color scheme the same. Because there is such a wealth of information crammed onto each page, changing the color from link to link would merely confuse the user.
The appearance of the website is pleasing and easy to use overall.
2. Quality of Content:
The website is devoted to just what it advertises: reading and writing.
There are literally hundreds of authors published through this website,
each equally easy to access for reading. It would be a great asset to a secondary english classroom. Students would have the chance to read what real, living people have to say, and realize their writing will be a constant work in progress. Not every writer will be a Hemingway or Shakespeare, but every writer's voice counts.
This website helps to make that clear by allowing each writer the space to publish their work.
Secondary students would be able to publish pieces to the website and
get unbiased commentary on it from other users. This aspect is a great way to get real, constructive criticism from an outside source.
3. "Style":
The information is presented in a very straightforward, positive manner.
The overall feel or "style" of the website is an informal place for
writers to meet and provide support to each other.
4. Credibility:
The creators of the website itself was not contained anywhere I could
see. However, the bulk of the website consists of the writing portfolios
created by writers. It would be interesting to know if the individuals who created the website had a degree related to writing.
5. Commercial vs. Informative:
Using Writing.com is free. You do have to become a member, but there
is no fee unless you want either an "Upgraded" or "Premium" membership. These memberships include the ability to upload images to writing portfolios and to store more information. These memberships can be anywhere from $3.75 to $10 a month. However, the bare bones membership can always be used for free.
There is also a website store where users can purchase tee shirts,
coffee mugs, and book bags emblazoned with the "Writing.com" logo.
For the most part, the website does not seem to push for money.
Frequent users may desire to upgrade their membership eventually to obtain images and larger storage space. The idea must be to get users into the site with the free membership, and if they are serious they will pay for the "better" memberships. Paying for membership is clearly highlighted as being an option. Users may still participate with the free membership.
Average Rating: