Page Layout
Introduction
Here you will find information on how the different elements on a page should be organized.
Contents
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...by studentsA page should be visually appealing to the reader. A technical writing document, unlike creative writing will rely more on headers, lists and graphics. Proper arrangement of graphics helps with the understanding of the document with out distracting the reader.
Use Whitespace!Like in programming, the importance of whitespace cannot be ignored. Ever wonder why news papers have articles in columns? Blocks of text are ugly; no one wants to read a big wall of text. Correct usage of whitespace makes the document look cleaner. This results in a more enjoyable read for the user. The different areas where whitespace can be used are:Margins: Use section headings to split ideas up.Readers need to know what is coming up next. A Good header has two main objectives. First the header will tell the user the main point of the proceeding text. Secondly the header should catch the readers’ attention.
Arranging Graphics and FiguresGraphics should be added in a way that will not distract the user, only add to the understanding of content. In the western world readers read from left to right, top to bottom. If you want a graphic looked at by a reading right away, put it at the top left. Arranging Interesting Facts, or DefinitionsWhile reading one of the many text books required at the university, I’m sure there have been times when the definition of a word was unclear. Including a brief definition of the term can be very useful. The definition can be included in side box. Arranging the definition like this will allow the reader to easily skip, or read the definition as needed. Arranging quotesAdding quotes to your text is usually a very simple task; just place it directly into your paragraph. When using quotes that are longer then two lines it is more appealing to have the quote in a separate paragraph. The paragraph should be indented to show that it is not a new idea, but a quote. |