Rap Genius Editors - Digital Writing Style Guide for Students lyrics

Though we kick it new school here at Rap Genius, there is still an etiquette for the formatting and style of your writing on the site just as there is with formal English essays. While the writing at Rap Genius is relatively informal, proper grammar is still expected—you gotta come correct! Just as in more conventional paper-writing, song titles should be in quotes, and other titles should be appropriately formatted. Here are some digital writing tips as you design your wiki pages: Use shorter, focused paragraphs to make the page easy to read—also, properly space out paragraphs for similar reasons Integrate images and text, so that your visual elements support your writing Use different fonts styles and sizes Avoid using these features to the point of distraction Make use of the visual space of the page in conveying your information—separate text that serves different functions (for example, textual evidence and an*lysis) Always include an image or a video to give your entry an added visual dimension Insert HYPERlinks both to other entries within our wiki but also across the Web—"naked" URLs should never appear in an entry Use links to cite sources for quotes and ideas You cannot simply copy and paste from Wikipedia and other reference sites—that's plagiarism anywhere you are writing. The fun thing about Rap Genius is that you can be rewarded for using your own voice! Show and prove: As in conventional English essays, arguments need to be backed up with evidence—simply link to a website that supports your point. This is easier to do than using MLA format, though of course you can use MLA citation in your Rap Genius explanations. Digital writing requires a dynamism lacking in traditional paper writing. Be sure to include images, videos, or links in your posts to fully engage the online composition format. Lastly, as with all digital writing, be sure to double-check, AKA proofread, your "published" explanations and suggestions to make sure links work and images and video are properly embedded.