ABSTRACT
Thinking of writing as just letters and words on paper would be a very narrow way to think of writing, not to mention limiting to our understanding of what makes communication work effectively. Technology (and therefore writing) is always multimodal. Thus, using writing examples to demonstrate, this chapter will help readers learn to think carefully about how modes work together. Because modes are influenced by a number of factors, writers need to think carefully about who or what dictates how, when, and where they use modes and how modes change over time because of cultures, economics, and politics. Likewise, it is equally important for writers to think rhetorically about the genres they work within and how those genres’ conventions are shaped by technological affordances. This chapter features discussion questions, activities, and assignments about examining writing technologies, investigating different modes, and exploring how career fields use technologies to write.
