Genre, medium, and format. You may be assigned—or able to choose—to work in genres other than straightforward essays or in a medium other than print.
What genre does your text call for—report? review? argument essay? research project? letter? blog posting? instructions for completing a task? promotional brochure? If you aren’t familiar with the conventions of the genre, study examples created by others.
What format or method of organization is expected for this genre? (See Chapter 5.) Should you conform to traditional formats, or will you gain from going in an unexpected direction?
In what medium will the text appear—on the Internet? on a password-protected Web site? in a print essay submitted to your instructor? in a spoken presentation? Will your text use images, video, or audio? How will the media you use affect other choices you make?
What design considerations should you keep in mind? (See Chapter 8.)]