Module Details

Module Code: MMED9033
Title: UX Writing for Dig Prod & Serv
Long Title: UX Writing for Dig Products and Services
NFQ Level: Expert
Valid From: Semester 1 - 2023/24 ( September 2023 )
Duration: 1 Semester
Credits: 5
Field of Study: 2130 - Multimedia
Module Delivered in: 1 programme(s)
Module Description: This module outlines the principles of UX writing. UX writing is the practice of writing carefully considered information that addresses people’s contexts, needs, and behaviours. Writing UX copy involves many of the same skills as visual or interaction design, but writers communicate using words instead of pixels. As part of this module students will learn how to write great microcopy for common UI components, using easy-to-understand conversational language, they will also learn how to create an optimal user experience through their writing, how to engage users with real value and create the copy used throughout a digital product or service.
 
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module the learner will be able to:
# Learning Outcome Description
LO1 Analyse best practice and industry standards in UX writing.
LO2 Evaluate the differing needs of digital products, services and audiences and develop appropriate copy based on identified requirements.
LO3 Assume a UX writer role within a design team and manage to work collaboratively on delivering work to an industry standard and to specified deadlines.
LO4 Critically evaluate the difference between diverse forms of UX writing and apply this knowledge to a real UX writing project.
LO5 Identify common writing faults and have an expert knowledge of grammar, tone, presentation, delivery and language structure.
Dependencies
Module Recommendations

This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is strongly recommended before enrolment in this module. You may enrol in this module if you have not acquired the recommended learning but you will have considerable difficulty in passing (i.e. achieving the learning outcomes of) the module. While the prior learning is expressed as named MTU module(s) it also allows for learning (in another module or modules) which is equivalent to the learning specified in the named module(s).
Incompatible Modules
These are modules which have learning outcomes that are too similar to the learning outcomes of this module. You may not earn additional credit for the same learning and therefore you may not enrol in this module if you have successfully completed any modules in the incompatible list.
No incompatible modules listed
Co-requisite Modules
No Co-requisite modules listed
Requirements

This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is mandatory before enrolment in this module is allowed. You may not enrol on this module if you have not acquired the learning specified in this section.
No requirements listed
 
Indicative Content
Defining the role
Students will learn to understand the role of a UX writer so that they can define the scope of activities involved in this role. These could be gaining new users, increasing engagement, or any other particular problem an organization faces. The UX writer’s role in these discussions is to help think about what ways UX writing might be used to help solve problems - or if UX writing is the right tool to use at all.
General Writing Skills
The principles of good writing. How to achieve clarity in writing. Common writing faults. Punctuation and grammar. Sentence structure and word order, how the order can affect the meaning; common writing faults; grammar and punctuation – common faults identified, dos and don’ts; stylebooks and house styles; adapting the style to suit the market.
Ideating
Together with designers and anyone else on the design team, UX writers should be helping find solutions to whatever design problem they face next. That means UX writers should be involved in sketching out the problem in a visual way, while also creating tools like content priority maps or hierarchies to help others on the team understand the most effective ways for content to be placed in a piece of interaction design.
Prototyping
While continuing to gain feedback from designers, product managers, stakeholders, and anyone else involved in the project, the UX writer will help designers create a more high-fidelity prototype of the chosen solution.
Researching
Working alongside designers and researchers, UX writers play a critical role in research. The UX writer should be creating copy-specific tasks for researchers to provide to customers. They should also be watching the research take place, taking notes on how users react to the language being used in the prototype.
Iterating
Working with the UX researchers, UX writers will take both qualitative and quantitative feedback to apply to their UX writer and make it more effective. They might also work with an optimization manager to create hypotheses and frameworks for future A/B testing, to iterate on a bigger scale, and get quantitative feedback quickly.
Deploying
While the design is being deployed, UX writers may have to work alongside developers and engineers to adjust copy on the fly if technical constraints or challenges force the design in a different direction. For example, the size of a tooltip alert may need to be shortened, which requires the UX writer to truncate copy.
Module Content & Assessment
Assessment Breakdown%
Coursework100.00%

Assessments

Coursework
Assessment Type Reflective Journal % of Total Mark 20
Timing Week 6 Learning Outcomes 1,5
Assessment Description
Reflective journal focused on a critical review of best practice in UX writing
Assessment Type Practical/Skills Evaluation % of Total Mark 25
Timing Week 9 Learning Outcomes 1,2,3,4
Assessment Description
Written coursework- a series of content creation tasks for UX writing, including in-class tests of writing skills
Assessment Type Project % of Total Mark 55
Timing Sem End Learning Outcomes 1,2,3,4,5
Assessment Description
UX Writing Content creation project completed in collaboration with an external partner
No End of Module Formal Examination
Reassessment Requirement
Coursework Only
This module is reassessed solely on the basis of re-submitted coursework. There is no repeat written examination.

The University reserves the right to alter the nature and timings of assessment

 

Module Workload

Workload: Full Time
Workload Type Contact Type Workload Description Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload Hours
Lecture Contact Lectures on the essential skills of UX Writing content creation Every Week 1.00 1
Tutorial Contact One-on-one tutorials with learners Every Week 1.00 1
Independent & Directed Learning (Non-contact) Non Contact Learners practice on content creation Every Week 5.00 5
Total Hours 7.00
Total Weekly Learner Workload 7.00
Total Weekly Contact Hours 2.00
Workload: Part Time
Workload Type Contact Type Workload Description Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload Hours
Lecture Contact Lectures on the essential skills of UX Writing content creation Every Week 1.00 1
Tutorial Contact One-on-one tutorials with learners Every Week 1.00 1
Independent & Directed Learning (Non-contact) Non Contact Learners practice on content creation Every Week 5.00 5
Total Hours 7.00
Total Weekly Learner Workload 7.00
Total Weekly Contact Hours 2.00
 
Module Resources
Recommended Book Resources
  • Torrey Podmajersky. (2019), Strategic Writing for UX: Drive Engagement, Conversion, and Retention with Every Word, [ISBN: 1492049395].
  • Kristina Halvorson. (2012), Content Strategy for the Web (Voices That Matter), [ISBN: 0321808304].
Supplementary Book Resources
  • Kinneret Yifrah. (2019), UX Writing & Microcopy, [ISBN: 3836274035].
  • Michael J. Metts, Andy Welfle. (2020), Writing Is Designing: Words and the User Experience, [ISBN: 1933820667].
  • Robert W. Bly. (2020), Copywriter's Handbook: A Step-By-Step Guide to Writing Copy that Sells, [ISBN: 1250238013].
This module does not have any article/paper resources
Other Resources
 
Module Delivered in
Programme Code Programme Semester Delivery
CR_HUXSE_9 Master of Arts in User Experience and Service Design 2 Mandatory