BOTWChapterTemplate
This page gathers together some thinking and resources that can help inform our sprint.
Chapter themes
Based on Mozilla's work to date we have identified three chapters to write during this sprint:
1. Protecting my identity online 2. How (and why) to read a URL 3. Open video and why it matters
Resources
We've pulled together some examples of projects that we think can help inspire our thinking and writing. None of these are exactly what we're aiming for but we think they can be useful to draw upon and get inspired by.
Google's 20 Things I Learned About the Web (http://www.20thingsilearned.com/)
- talking about the web in plain language
- creating a book that can be read in a browser
CommonCraft's RSS in Plain English video (http://www.commoncraft.com/rss_plain_english)
- explaining a tech term in a very clear and engaging way
Nick Bilton's I Live in the Future and Here's How it Works (http://www.nickbilton.com/book/)
- taking big picture issues about the future of the web and bringing them down to first-person stories that show how these shifts matter to one person's life
Michael Wesch's The Web is Us/ing Us (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gmP4nk0EOE)
- connecting the technologies of the web to its social impact in a very clear and engaging way
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Chapter template (starting point only!)
This sample template is meant to help us get started thinking about our writing structure, not to constrain it. We fully expect that you'll rip it up, rethink it, come up with new and amazing ways of organizing and telling stories, and generally rethink this [un]book.
Introduction:
- Great to begin with a story or anecdote about one person or a small group (e.g. a family) so that it's concrete and relatable
- Why this topic matters and what is at stake for the reader
- Problem statement (pain point) and goal (implicit promise of how it can be better)
- Call to action: what are we asking the reader to change or contribute?
- Foreshadow structure of chapter: what will it cover & what will they learn
Know 3 things:
- The 3 things you need to know to understand this theme or topic
- Write for newbies: assume zero knowledge
- Can include glossary if that's useful
- Include at least one diagram (can be a placeholder)
Do 3 things:
- The 3 things you need to be able to do on this topic to be an effective Internet user
- Write in non-technical language
- Give step-by-step instructions (with screenshots if needed) on how to do this
- If possible, write in a way that transcends a specific piece of software: e.g. write about how to choose your social network privacy settings, not your Facebook privacy settings
3 ways to learn more:
- 3 ways you can deepen your knowledge or engagement with this issue
• Conversation starters: how to get people talking about this issue
- Can include a wide range of ways to learn or engage more: recommended books, blogs or websites; organizations you can help out; tutorials to try; people to follow/learn from
- Callouts/captions to specify the benefit of pursuing each next step: e.g. "Teach your friends to be safe online"
- Include a "how to message this" aimed at advocacy organizations working on this topic
Conclusion
- Big-picture stakes: how the reader's actions add up to a different Internet for all of us
- Shadow vision: how things could go wrong
- Conclude with a positive vision of how the reader's efforts can contribute to a better outcome
- Recap with summary of key take-aways from chapter including "if you remember/act on JUST ONE THING from this chapter, make it…"
