essay in which you compare and contrast two websites for their use of proximity, alignment, repetition, and contrast.
Writing Assignment #2 Comparing and Contrasting Two Websites Summary of the Assignment: • Task: In this assignment, you will write an essay in which you compare and contrast two websites for their use of proximity, alignment, repetition, and contrast. • Length: 800-1100 words • Graphics: You must include at least eight graphics in order to provide support for your claims in the essay o at least two graphics for proximity o at least two graphics for alignment o at least two graphics for repetition o at least two graphics for contrast Brief Description and Strategies to Follow: You must select two websites of the same topic or genre. In other words, you can select two banking websites, two shopping websites, two newspapers online, two health provider websites, or something of this nature. Possibilities include the following: • The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal • eBay and Craigslist • Major League Baseball (mlb.com) and the National Football League (nfl.com) You will write at least six paragraphs: • An introductory paragraph • A paragraph on proximity • A paragraph on alignment • A paragraph on repetition • A paragraph on contrast • A concluding paragraph Again, each paragraph will incorporate at least two graphics in order to show how each of the four areas compares and contrasts between the two websites. You do not have to follow this order. However, you do want to cover these four concepts. Helpful Guides and Resources: • Compare/Contrast Essays by Lumen Learning • Comparing and Contrasting from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Due Date: Your instructor will notify you of the due date. You will write a first draft, your instructor will comment on the first draft, and you will submit a second draft using the comments as your guide. https://courses.lumenlearning.com/ivytech-engl111/chapter/comparecontrast-essays/ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/comparing-and-contrasting/ COMPARISON AND CONTRAST OF TWO WEBSITES 2 2 Comparison and Contrast of Two Websites The National Basketball Association (NBA) and the National Hockey League (NHL) represent two major sports in the United States. A comparison of the two organizations’ websites demonstrates fascinating perspectives on how each one applies the design concepts of proximity, alignment, repetition, and contrast. The website for the NHL uses proximity and alignment just a bit more effectively than that of the NBA, while the website for the NBA uses contrast much more effectively than that of the NHL. Both sites apply repetition effectively, with the NBA juxtaposing repetition with contrast to render its site more visually appealing. In fact, the concept of repetition is possibly over-applied on the NHL website. Proximity NBA First, the NBA emphasizes proximity to a lesser degree than does the NHL. An example of this contrast is provided in both sites’ pages noting players’ statistics. The NBA demonstrates clear distinctions in the different areas of its website. However, as can be seen from Figure 1, the space between various sections is limited. Figure 1. NBA Advanced Stats. This figure shows various advanced statistics for players in the NBA. Reprinted from https://stats.nba.com/players/ COMPARISON AND CONTRAST OF TWO WEBSITES 3 3 NHL This can be contrasted to the NHL, which applies a larger amount of space between sections. As is shown in figure 2, different sections in the website are farther apart on the NHL’s website than they are on the NBA’s website. Moreover, a light gray bar distinguishes the sections even more cleanly for the user. Figure 2. NHL Stats. This figure shows various statistics for players in the NHL. Retrieved from http://www.nhl.com/stats/ COMPARISON AND CONTRAST OF TWO WEBSITES 4 4 Alignment Although both websites apply alignment effectively, the NHL is more consistent with its use of alignment than the NBA is. NBA In Figure 3 below, which features the NBA home page, red lines have been inserted into the website. Note how they are not consistent with each other. The red lines do not run straight down the page. Therefore, the user does not see an invisible line when navigating the page. Figure 3: NBA Home Page. This figure shows the home page for the NBA. Reprinted from www.nba.com COMPARISON AND CONTRAST OF TWO WEBSITES 5 5 NHL The NHL, however, features consistent alignment on its site, as can be seen on its home page in Figure 4. This consistency in alignment tends to afford a “cleaner” look to the NHL’s website. The concept of alignment is applied more thoroughly on the NHL website than it is on the NBA website. Figure 4: NHL Home Page. This figure shows the NHL home page. Reprinted from www.nhl.com COMPARISON AND CONTRAST OF TWO WEBSITES 6 6 Repetition The NHL uses repetition more extensively on its website than the NBA does. However, this use of repetition does not necessarily enhance the NHL’s website. Its use of repetition for size enhances the site, while its use of repetition in color detracts from the appeal of the site. NHL For example, Figure 5 shows the list of teams in the NHL. The color gray is used throughout the site. The gray boxes are consistent in size, which adds a visual appeal to the site. In addition, each team listed on the left-hand side of the page features the various team logos all in matching sizes. The consistency in the sizes of the logos adds to an appeal of repetition. Overall, size is repeated throughout the site, and this feature helps the reader navigate the site. However, the color gray is repeated as well, and this feature reduces the navigability of the website. The user has to read the text in each box to see what the box represents. The repetition of size renders the site effective, while the repetition of color renders the site less appealing. Another example is given in the NHL shop site (figure 6). The color gray is used repeatedly, with slight shades of gray marking different sections of the site. Figure 5: NHL Teams. This figure lists the NHL teams and relevant links for each team. Reprinted from https://www.nhl.com/info/teams Figure 6: NHL Shop. This figure shows the website for purchasing NHL gear. Reprinted from https://shop.nhl.com/ COMPARISON AND CONTRAST OF TWO WEBSITES 7 7 NBA However, the NBA uses repetition in font and size, but it uses repetition of color selectively. This use of repetition is more effective than that of the NHL. The difference in use of repetition is apparent in Figure 7, which shows the list of teams in the NBA. The user can note how the different teams are listed on the left- hand side of the page in consistent size font and consistent the size of the logos. In addition, the team that is selected by the user is highlighted in the main part of the page with colors that represent the team. In Figure 7, the Atlanta Hawks are selected, and the team colors of red are punctuated throughout the top of the page. If the user were to select a different team, that team’s colors would be prominent on the main part of the page, while the font style and size would be consistent for each team. Repetition is used effectively throughout the NBA’s site in this way. Contrast This leads to the final component: contrast. The NHL uses contrast less effectively than the NBA does. Examples of this enhanced use of contrast were provided above with regard to the lack of contrast in the use of colors on the website that lists the NHL teams and on the website that features the NHL shop. NHL Another example is provided in the NHL news site, featured below in figure 8. Again, one can note the use of gray throughout the NHL’s interface. The use of contrast is not effective on this site. The only effective color displayed on the NHL website is represented in the advertisements that pop up, not the actual content of the website. Figure 7: NBA Teams. This figure lists the individual NBA teams and the relevant links for each one. Reprinted from https://www.nba.com/teams COMPARISON AND CONTRAST OF TWO WEBSITES 8 8 NBA However, the use of contrast is very effective on the NBA’s website. The news site for the NBA, seen in Figure 9, features a menu in blue at the top with the different selections in the menu in white text. This is followed by the different teams outlined in a white background with the team’s colors contrasting with that white background. An additional example is given in the NBA’s shop site (see figure 10). Excellent use of contrast is evident in the dark blue section at the top, the light blue menu bar below it, the gray promotion bar below it, and the vibrant colors in the graphics on the main part of the page. The white text contrasts nicely with the blue menu bar and the gray promotion bar. Figure 8: NHL News. This figure shows the website for the latest NHL news. Reprinted from https://www.nhl.com/news Figure 9: NBA News. This figure shows the website for the latest NBA news. Reprinted from https://www.nba.com/news Figure 10: NBA Shop. This figure shows the website for purchasing NBA gear Reprinted from https://store.nba.com/ COMPARISON AND CONTRAST OF TWO WEBSITES