Abdilselam Ali

[wyzhex]

What I’m proud of with my writing

I’m proud of my writing process, which involves brainstorming. I use most of the ideas I come up with to process into the final draft. I believe it’s better to have your ideas earlier on than new ones. I like building on my brainstorming ideas to make them very specific and accurate to the assignment. I’m also proud of my revision process. In the past, I never had a revision process. I would do a good draft and then just put it in the draft. Now, I fully understand the revision process and use it to help me be more confident in my submission.

[abdilselam]

Hi, I like how you highlighted both brainstorming and revision as strengths in your writing process. Your point about starting with many ideas early and then developing them into stronger, more specific responses is really smart. I also think it’s great that you built a revision process, because that shows growth and helps create more confident final submissions.

[maggiechern]

Original Content 2

What do you like most about your learning? 

The thing that I like the most about learning is being able to understand what I am learning and then being able to use it in real life. If I am learning something that I really can't apply to my life outside of just the general education life then I wouldn't say that I really like that, as it does not feel as meaningful. Being able to apply it to my ordinary life, just makes what I learned more meaningful and makes it feel like there is a purpose to it.

[abdilselam]

Hi, I really like your point about learning becoming more meaningful when it can be applied to real life. I agree that understanding something is more valuable when you can actually use it outside the classroom. Your post clearly shows that learning feels more purposeful when it connects to everyday experiences and future goals.

[abdilselam]

Thursday Check-in Post 

What questions do you have about web writing that will help you after you finish this course? 

One question I still have about web writing content is how to adapt the message for different platforms while staying the same at core. Throughout this course, I learned that each space has its own expectations, audience behaviour, and design structure. But, I want to better learn how to adjust tone, format, and length while not losing the content’s overall purpose.

I would also like to know how creators balance creativity and strategy. During this course, I learned how decisions are made with data. However, what allows creators to adhere to patterns that lead to engagement while still being original?

Lastly, I am curious about how content strategy changes over time.  I am curious how writers and creators adapt their tactics while staying up-to-date and relevant to their audiences, since audiences and spaces are constantly changing online.

@npfannen

[abdilselam]

Original Content Week 15, Post #3

What are you most proud of with your writing process?

There is one thing that I am very proud of in my own writing process is that initially, I explained concepts generally; later on, I learnt how to hook my ideas to my research questions and back them up with data and evidence.  This change made my writing more purposeful and analytical rather than simply descriptive.

I am proud of how my revision process has become stronger. I don't submit my first draft anymore; I now reread, reorganize, and strengthen my output. I make sure everything is clear and well-structured, and nothing is irrelevant. This has greatly improved my writing quality.

I’m also proud of how I use feedback. The lessons I learned from peer comments were to take them seriously and use them to improve my writing. It allowed me to express my ideas and present them better.

[abdilselam]

Original Content Week 15, Post #2

What do you like most about your learning?

The best thing I have learned to do is connect ideas. I feel that it is great to understand concepts separately. Initially, I was just focused on finishing work, but later on, I saw how these things came together, like content strategy, audience, and data.  Because I learned to do this type of task and not just learn facts, it made my work feel meaningful.

My learning also became more practical; I appreciate it. I’ve learned to assess content, see audience behavior, and use data to substantiate my arguments, instead of only writing for the task. Different from the classroom skills, they’re the skills that have practical applicability in real life.

One more thing I appreciate is that my writing process is improving. I developed the skills to draft, revise, and use feedback in my work. Seeing how far I have come from my old posts to the recent ones, I can see that improvement happens slowly, and we learn with time.

To sum up, I loved that my learning allowed me to think more critically and more deliberately. I now approach writing and analysis with enhanced clarity of purpose, which makes the work stronger and more effective.

[abdilselam]

Original Content Week 15, Post #1

Where will you adjust your essay to strengthen your point? 

For the final stage of this project, I want to shift my essay to create a stronger link between my data and my argument about content strategy. 

I plan to enhance my introductory and concluding remarks. In my introduction, I would like to better explain what my project is and why my analysis matters in a wider context of content strategy. To make my last claim stronger, I will summarise the essential findings and show how my data proves my overall case.

I will also change the organization and flow. I want to ensure that each section builds logically on the previous, particularly when moving from presentation of data to analysis. This will make my argument easier to follow.

I will improve my explanations of graphs and visuals. There will be a thorough explanation of what each graph shows. I will use each graph to support my main point, as the reader will see what the data is and what it means.

[abdilselam]

#DrPGame Extra Credit Posts

We are finishing all the projects - share pictures of your favorite snack foods for staying motivated while you do all the school work

Popcorn is a great snack to eat while studying because we can eat it without worrying about disturbing our work. I can eat my favourite snacks while studying without losing focus, which helps me study longer. A comfort snack, especially when I’m working late or trying to keep my spirits up.

Popcorn is a reliable visual food since it is simple. Its bright color and texture make it easy to connect with relaxation and focus simultaneously. It relates to how visuals get their point across quickly.

It further pertains to user experience as the environment we create while working influences our feelings and outcomes. I feel consistent and cozy by enjoying a snack, i.e., popcorn, which helps me complete my work.

[abdilselam]

Original Content Post Week 13, Post 3

How will having a good revision process help you moving forward beyond this class? 

Having a good revision process will help me outside this class because it will ensure I leave details out of a conversation I am in.  Previously, I thought that writing was a one-step but now I know that it is a process in which ideas get better as they evolve. In other words, I can improvise on a first draft and then focus, organize, and add meaning to it.

I’m able to communicate more professionally with a good revision process. Writing clear emails, reports, or presentations for future jobs or real-world situations is essential, as well as messaging info. I can ensure that my writing is easy to understand and appropriate. I will check it to see if it is clear, structured, and purposeful.

Additionally, it helps them think more critically about matters. When I revise, I generate doubts about my own ideas, check whether I support my argument, and link them more strongly. It's not only useful for writing, but also for problem-solving and decision-making.

Having a revision process helps stay consistent & organized at last. It provides me with a reliable process, instead of scrambling at the last minute to finish writing. Going forward, this will enable me to create better work and approach writing tasks with more confidence and intention.

[abdilselam]

Original Content Post Week 13, Post 2

How are you developing style to build your argument in the content analysis? 

I'm developing my style in content analysis. The focus is on clarity, consistency, and strong links between data and argument. Rather than simply laying out information, I am designing each section to support my overall thesis about content strategy and audience engagement.

One of the ways that I construct my style is through the iterative linking of my data back to my research question. After showing the graph or example, I show what this means and why this matters. This will help turn figures into an argument, rather than information. I also want to use a precise linear structure, where each section has a specific purpose and builds on the previous one.

Another aspect of my style is balancing academic tone with readability. I use key course terminology, such as engagement, content strategy, and user experience, but I am careful not to confuse matters with a mere explanation. It provides credibility and makes my argument easy to follow.

[abdilselam]

Original Content Post Week 13, Post 1

What does your final revision process look like? In my last revision process, I ensured that my writing is clear, organized, and directly related to my purpose. I reread the draft and see if the sections respond to the research question or main idea clearly. When I notice something that seems off point or irrelevant, I remove or alter it to keep the writing focused.

I then move to clarity and structure. I review every paragraph in my essay to make sure that each one has a point and it flows logically. I also review my transitions to ensure my reader can easily follow my argument without difficulty.

After that, I develop my analysis. I wonder if it is a mere description of information or an explanation. When necessary, I will add details to show how my data or examples support my conclusion. This is typically where I connect back to the course content, depending upon the class. For example, we discuss content strategy and audience engagement type of issues. 

After that, I check the language and tone. I ensure my writing reflects the audience. I write more formally and in more detail for academic work, but more directly and clearly for web-based writing, like Tumblr. I modify the sentence structure when needed to make it simpler.

Lastly, I finalize my work by checking grammar, punctuation and formatting errors. I also ensure that all the required things are clearly in it, for example, data, examples, the research question etc.).

In essence, my final revision process is about making my message not just complete, but also clear, deliberate, and effective for its audience.

[abdilselam]

Original Content Post Week 14, Post 2

What did you learn about your writing process that will help you after college?

I have learned that I work best when I focus on structure first and details later.  When I begin with an idea of my main point (especially my research question), it becomes much easier to keep things organized and my writing focused. This helped me stay focused to avoid unintentionally writing off-topic.

I also learned that most of the enhancement happens in the revision. After writing the first draft, I realise it is too basic. That is the time when I go back and rewrite to clarify, strengthen, and connect to evidence.  As I came to realize, composition is a process, not a task completed in one go, and taking time for revision will yield better results.

Using feedback is another key part of my process. The comments helped me become aware of things I wouldn’t have noticed by myself, such as when my writing was too vague. By learning to accept and act on feedback, my writing improved in precision and alignment with goals.

[abdilselam]

Original Content Post Week 14, Post 1

What did you learn about drafting across multiple weeks that will inform your writing process after college?

After writing for multiple weeks, one thing I’ve learned is that strong writing doesn’t just happen. It takes time, revision, impact, and feedback. This is also reflected in a statement by the writing consultant. I can see a clear progression in my essay writing from my first draft to my later drafts, wherein my ideas became sharper and more closely connected to the research question. I learnt through the experience that drafting is not just about fixing mistakes. It also makes a piece clearer, deeper, and purposeful.

Receiving positive and constructive feedback is crucial. Over the weeks, peer comments and class discussions helped me identify areas in my writing where it was too vague. As a result of that feedback revision, my arguments became more specific as well as directly tied to data or concepts from my course. The exercise showed me that writing is part of a dialogue, not an isolated exercise. It is important to communicate ideas clearly to be effective.

I learned how important it is to maintain consistency with a research focus. The fact that I was repeatedly working on the same project made me frequently engage with my research question and hypothesis. The process helped me make better decisions regarding the content of my writing. I included content relevant to my reasoning rather than including irrelevant information.

Once I graduate from college, this will impact my writing process in a way that I will take the drafting process seriously. I’ll schedule time for revision, seek feedback, and revise my ideas instead of thinking of finishing my work. I will be able to produce clear and effective written communications in a professional and real-world context through these habits.

[abdilselam]

#DrPGame Extra Credit Posts

For this #DrPGame post, I’m sharing something that helps me get into a writing mindset: nature, especially beautiful mountains and peaceful landscapes.

When I see the mountains, wide open sky, and nature, it helps me to slow down and clear my head.

 It is quite challenging to write anything without concentration. Being mentally calm makes work easier and helps me to think and organize my ideas better.  Looking at the scale of the mountains also gives me perspective while approaching writing. It also helps relieve stress from writing.

Visually, nature does a lot of work. The greens, blues, and natural light have a soothing effect that helps to concentrate. This connects to what we’ve discussed in class about how the visuals and environments shape user experience. While not digital material, it nonetheless should show how design (natural design in this case) influences our thoughts and creation.

This relates to writing for the web, too. After all, not only do writers design their content for audiences, but I design my environment to help me write better. How I process information and project my ideas depends on the setting I choose.

[abdilselam]

Original Content Post Week 12, Post 3

How do these data elements answer your research question?

The variables I am using (the views, the likes, and the length of the video) directly help answer my question as to how the length of the video influences audience engagement. Every element has an important role in the analysis. The video length, chosen by the creator, is a design choice. Views and likes (engagement metrics), in turn, reflect audience response.

As I compare each of these elements, I’ll see a pattern. If shorter videos have more views, that can suggest some link between length and reach. However, if longer videos receive fewer views than usual but similar or higher likes, this could mean that while a smaller number of people watch them, those who do happen to be more engaged.

 Through these patterns, I am able to go beyond assumptions and support these conclusions with data. 

I’m also able to tie my insights back to the content strategy with these data points. It is stated in the course notes that we must “accurately measure the success of posts, and this means we link metrics to features. Using these elements, I am explaining how some content performs better and why some content performs worse instead of only counting numbers.

[abdilselam]

Original Content Post Week 12, Post 2

What elements of data matter in your space? Why?

In my space of YouTube, has views, likes and length are the most important data points because they illustrate how audiences relate to content directly. The views tell you how many people opted for the videos. While, likes indicate engagement or positive reactions. Video length is a crucial design choice made by the creator, which may have an important influence on users’ watch-or-skip decision.

These elements are important as they help link audience actions to content strategy. When shorter videos keep getting more views, it tells us that the audience prefers something quick and easy to consume. In contrast, longer performances may mean that audiences are willing to watch longer durations of content if the content proves to be good enough. This is helpful in explaining how designers make decisions on structuring and the length of their videos.

Moreover, the data elements offer insight into user experience. As we noted in the course, you need to be aware of how audiences use writing on the web. YouTube users scroll quickly, and choose what to watch based on timing, visuals, and perceived value. As a result, metrics like video length and engagement become useful indicators of whether something matches viewer expectations.

[abdilselam]

Original Content Post Week 12, Post 1

What is data within your space? How does this impact your analysis?

Within my space (YouTube), data consists of measurable engagement metrics like views, likes, video length, and useful trends regarding how to show information. The numbers show how people interact with videos, but without any context, they are meaningless. Data is useful when it is tied to content features. The length of a video, its structure and how quickly it captures our attention matters.

I use data to identify patterns across various content creators, I think. Video length is one of the other examples of how I can compare it to video views to check if shorter ones have higher alpha or if longer ones have better alpha. In this light, I am able to transcend description and begin to explain how content strategy works.

Simultaneously, the platform itself generates data in this space as well. The algorithm and user behavior of YouTube decide what you see and how you interact. That means what I analyzed was not just the content but also what the platform allows users to do with that content. Our course notes discuss that we need to consider how to “accurately measure the success of posts,” which is by understanding the numbers first, and then the context.

In general, data affects my analysis by allowing me to connect audience behavior to content design. It enables me to clarify not just what is taking place, but why specific content strategies work more effectively in this arena.

[megandoesdesign]

Content Writing 2

what data graphs do you think will help you SHOW your content strategy conclusions? share if you have some completed.

I plan to show a variety for each individual account and compare those together to show patterns and relations among all three. For basic data metrics, or quantitative data, I plan to use line and or bar graphs to show the diverse numbers and their similarities/differences. For my qualitative data, I'll also show bar and or line graphs on the content types, which are based on my research question and hypothesis. I will also compare caption language and the type of imagery used against each other, as this is what helped solidify the content type I determined from each post. Using both methods aids in sharing my content strategy conclusions. I'm also thinking about adding pie charts for another visual chart, but I'm not sure what would be the best reason to add one? I could possibly do the number of posts within each month compared to engagement levels, because of the accounts having different posting frequencies, or I could use them for the image type and caption language, with data metrics included. Any thoughts would be helpful!

[abdilselam]

Hi, I like how you’re using both quantitative and qualitative data. That’s a really strong approach because it shows you’re not just looking at numbers but also how content is designed. Your plan to compare across all three accounts is also great for showing patterns clearly.

For the pie chart, I think your second idea would work best. Using it to show distribution makes more sense than engagement over time, since pie charts are better for proportions rather than comparisons. Then you can use your line or bar graphs to show engagement differences. That way, each graph has a clear purpose.

Overall, your plan is really well thought out, and it seems like your visuals will strongly support your conclusions.