Lesson 4: Tweeting

Objective:  To compose a tweet

You might find it helpful to have a pen or pencil and some paper handy.


A.  What is a tweet?
     1.  Go to Twitter
     2.  Scroll to the bottom
     3.  Click on Help
     4.  Search in the Help Center for "Twitter glossary"
     5.  Look up the following terms in The Twitter Glossary:

• tweet (noun)
• tweet (verb)
• retweet (noun)
• retweet (verb)  

B.  Think of a tweet as a 140-character headline, including spaces and punctuation.
     1.  You can use the tools in Word to check your character count or use a free web tool like this one:
           http://www.lettercount.com/
     2.  Here are some ideas from Lance Ulanoff on how to shorten words:

• use shortcuts, e.g. "love" becomes "luv" or "with" becomes "w/"
• drop vowels as long as it's still understandable ("classroom" becomes "classrm")    
• use contractions
• turn words into numbers, i.e. "luv 2 sing 4ever" 

     3.  Compose a headline describing a recent accomplishment of yours
          (Make sure it is only 140 characters long)
          My example: Started new job in new city: Excited 2 c what's next!


C.  Post to Twitter.
     1.  Compose a 140-character "tweet" explaining what Public Health Nursing means to you
     2.  Enter your "tweet" in the Comment section below
     3.  Congratulations, you've composed a tweet! I will add your thoughts to my Twitter feed. You
          can check for your tweet in the next few days at See my Tweet


D.  Please send me feedback: Feedback.

Thank You!