How to: Multimodal Texts

Written by Sai Gattupalli

Hello everyone,

Following up on my previous blog post on annotated bibliographies, I want to dive into another significant aspect of modern writing: multimodal texts. This concept might sound complex, but it's something you're already familiar with, even if you don't realize it.

Multimodal texts are everywhere in our digital age. They blend different modes of communication––like written text, images, audio, and video––to convey messages more dynamically and engagingly. In this blog, I'll explain why they're essential, how they're used in daily life, and how to craft them effectively, especially for your writing projects.

Why Multimodal Texts Matter

• Enhanced Engagement: Multimodal texts engage readers through multiple senses, making the content more immersive and memorable.

• Versatility: These texts can adapt to various contexts and audiences, increasing their effectiveness.

• Digital Literacy: They align with the digital skills needed in today's world, where conveying ideas often requires more than just words.

Image credit: Screenshot of class slides for CW112; SGattupalli, SP2024.

Multimodal Texts in Everyday Life

Think about the last time you learned something new from a YouTube video. The combination of visuals, narration, and text made the learning process more intuitive, right? Or consider social media platforms like Instagram, where images, captions, hashtags, and videos weave together to tell stories or share information.

Even academic environments are increasingly embracing multimodal texts. Presentations combining slides with spoken words, videos, and interactive elements are becoming the norm. They're not just tools for entertainment but powerful vehicles for learning and communication.

Crafting Effective Multimodal Texts

Here are some tips for creating compelling multimodal texts:

• Know who your audience is: Tailor your content's modes (visual, textual, auditory) to suit your audience's preferences and needs.

• Balance the Modes: Ensure each mode complements the others without overwhelming them. A well-placed image or audio can enhance your text, not distract from it.

• Quality Matters: High-quality images, clear audio, and well-edited videos are as crucial as well-written text.

• Consistency is Key: Maintain a consistent style and tone across all modes to convey a cohesive message.

• Test and Revise: Just like written drafts, test how your multimodal elements work together and revise them for clarity and impact.

Now, as you embark on your writing projects, think beyond the traditional essay formats––which are typically text heavy. How can you incorporate media to make your arguments more compelling or explain complex concepts more clearly? Remember, multimodal texts are not just about adding visuals or sounds; they're about enhancing communication in our increasingly digital and interconnected world.

Here is a UMass undergraduate student's interactive multimodal text project, hosted on github:

Impressive work, right?

Incorporating multimodal texts into your academic writing can seem daunting at first. But, with practice and creativity, you'll find that they open up new and exciting ways to express your ideas and engage your audience.

Remember, the key to mastering any new form of writing is practice and experimentation. So, embrace the challenge, and let your creativity flow!

Recommended readings

• What are Multimodal Texts? by Melanie Gagich, Senior Lecturer at Cleveland State University

• Multimodality And Multimodal Literacy: What Are They And Why Are They Important In ELT? from Oxford University Press

Until next time,

SG