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Slides from my workshop on writing Every Page is Page One topics at ICC2013.
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Writing Every Page is Page One Topics
Mark BakerIntelligent Content 2013
What is a topic?
A subject?
Noun
1.A matter dealt with in a text, discourse, or conversation; a subject.2.That part of a sentence about which something is said, typically the first major constituent.
Synonyms
subject - theme - matter – text
Dictionary.com
A label
Topics are a great way to organize messages around a specific subject.
To view all messages with a certain topic, click “Topics” and click on a topic. Alternatively, you can begin typing the tag's name into the search bar, and a drop-down menu will appear in which you can select the topic with the up, down, and enter keys. On the Topics page, you can also view your network's most popular topics.
Yammer Tech Support
A unit of organization?
A discussion forum is hierarchical or tree-like in structure: a forum can contain a number of subforums, each of which may have several topics. Within a forum's topic, each new discussion started is called a thread, and can be replied to by as many people as so wish.
Wikipedia: “Internet forum”
An abstraction?
A topic map represents information using
• topics, representing any concept, from people, countries, and organizations to software modules, individual files, and events,
Wikipedia: Topic Maps
Something topical
Trends are determined by an algorithm and are tailored for you based on who you follow and your location. This algorithm identifies topics that are immediately popular, rather than topics that have been popular for a while or on a daily basis, to help you discover the hottest emerging topics of discussion on Twitter that matter most to you.
Twitter Help Center
An essay?
Focusing a research topic is narrowing (or sometimes broadening) a topic so that you can demonstrate a good understanding of it, including enough examples and important details, within the size limits of the project you are required to produce. You need to satisfy both yourself and your teacher that you know what you are talking about.
CAMBRIDGE RINDGE AND LATIN SCHOOL: Focusing a Research Topic
A constrained essay?
For example, the topic "KENYA" is a general one. If your objective is to write an overview, this topic is suitable. If your objective is to write a specific analysis, this topic is too general. You must narrow it to something like "Politics in Kenya" or "Kenya's Culture.“
Guide to Writing a Basic Essay http://lklivingston.tripod.com
A unit?
A topic is a unit of information with a title and some form of content, short enough to be specific to a single subject or answer a single question, but long enough to make sense on its own and be authored as a unit.
OASIS DITA Version 1.1 Architectural Specification
It this a topic?
The Capital of France
The capital of France is Paris.
A building block
Topics are written as standalone units of information. For use in a larger project, topics need a way to be added to a larger deliverable. DITA uses the map file to combine topics in a specific order for publishing to print (or PDF) output or to online (or Help) content.
Publishing Smarter: DITA Primer
Component or whole?
Would a “topic” on the economy of Kenya be One topic? Built out of many topics?
Let’s see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Kenya
Information Mapping
Document as a “map”
Consists of “blocks” of different types
Block=part Map=whole
IM vs. DITA
IM points out that DITA focuses on topic design, but has no theory about design of maps.
IM DITA
Part “Block” “Topic”
Whole “Map” “Map”
Design focus Map Topic
Standalone = part?
Does a brake caliper stand alone?
Standalone = whole?
It can stand alone on the parts store shelf
But it only functions usefully when attached to a car
Image courtesy of gameanna / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Every Page is Page One Topic
An Every Page is Page One Topic functions alone.
It may or may not be made up of smaller information blocks.
It may or may not combine “task”, “concept”, and “reference” information.
Why “Every Page is Page One?”
On the Web, readers arrive at content Via a Google search Via a recommendation in a social
network Via a link from another page
There is no continuity from where they were before.
Every link leads to a new page one
But …
Not every page works well as page one
The page is in the middle of something
It does not function alone
An EPPO topic works well no matter where you come to it from
Why it matters
“We seem to be making a cultural choice---with our new infrastructure's thumb heavily on the scale---to prefer to start with abundance rather than curation. Include it all. Filter it afterward. Even then, the filters do not remove anything; they filter forward, not out.”
David Weinberger: To Big to Know
Individual journey
Readers make their individual journey through a Web of information
Our content is one resource they may visit on that journey
But wherever they enter our content, it should act as page one
How I got here
Shared vehicles; unique trips
Many different vehicles Each functions independently I chose the sequence to create a
unique journey The airplane design does not depend
on my arriving by taxi The BART works the same if I take the
stairs, not the escalator
No guided tour
Readers are self directed We have always known most readers
don’t take the guided tour They skip and scan and look stuff up
Now they can self direct across the entire web
To serve them, provide EPPO topics
The book model
Books provide the guided tour as primary means Linear book
Support self-guided as secondary means Scanable subheads Index
The EPPO model
EPPO topics support self-guided as primary means Every pages works as page one Works with search, social curation Works with external resources
Can still provide a guided tour as a secondary means Ordered topic collections Can include external resources
EXAMPLES
Evaluating the examples
Is the example an Every Page is Page One topic?
What are the key characteristics of an Every Page is Page One topic?
Recipe
Black Forest Ham and Gruyère Frittata
Car review
Subaru Forrester 2003-2008 review
Documentation
Creating Overrides
Technical article
Create REST applications with the Slim micro-framework
Documentation
Getting Started with VMware Workstation
Ornithology
Blue-footed Booby
Documentation
Post-Migration Tasks
Documentation
Viewing Profile Information
Documentation
QVTOML/Examples/InvokeInJava
Technical Article
Introducing MicroXML, Part 1: Explore the basic principles of MicroXML
Stack Overflow
Python shelve OutOfMemory error
Documentation
Exporting Image Versions
Technical Article
Push, Pull, Next!
Magazine Article
The 10 Best Wireless Routers
Self Contained
No linear dependencies Never assumes you have read X May assume you know X
May require different types of information “blocks”
Narrative minim Narrative necessary to understanding Can be constructed at different lengths
Establish Context
Reader may arrive from anywhere Search and links may be imprecise Allow the reader to get their bearings
quickly Navigable context
If they are a little off, help them get where they should be
Specific Limited Purpose
Must have a clear idea of the purpose it fulfills for the reader
Purpose must be specific Can’t be self contained or establish
context if purpose not specific Purpose must be limited
One vehicle in a network the reader navigates for themselves
Do one thing; do it well
Stay on one level
Books tend to change levels Topics support readers choosing their
own path Readers decide when they want big
picture or gritty detail Readers change levels by changing
topics Topics stay on one level
Conform to type
Topics on a common subject tend to have a similar pattern Recipes Encyclopedia articles on cities Car reviews Ornithology Product comparisons Technical articles 1 2 3 4
Assume reader is qualified
Books designed as sole source for diverse audience Write for the least qualified reader Often annoying for experienced reader
Topics are one stop in reader’s self-directed journey If reader is not qualified, they can choose
other topics to get qualified
Link Richly
Books are designed for linear reading Links may be considered a distraction Allow reader to deviate from writer’s
planned course Topics are for self directed readers
Make context navigable Enable reader to qualify themselves Enable switching levels Enable onward journey
Topics and Topic Sets
Need many topics to cover a large subject area
Create topic sets, not books Support random entry Establish type to ensure completeness
and conformance to purpose Support reader choice within your set Make them work on the Web
Questions?
Contact information Mark Baker Analecta Communications Inc. [email protected] Twitter: @mbakeranalecta http://analecta.com http://everypageispageone.com
