Purpose
T he purpose of this project is to teach you to
create effective on-line informational documents. You'll learn how to use a web publishing
software, FrontPage, how to gather and present information on the world wide web, and how
to design key elements of a website so that it is effective from a user's point of view.
Overall Task
Your overall task is to create a multipage website on a topic
that interests you. Examples include some subject in your major or a topic you enjoy and
know a lot about. You may also choose to create a site about a hobby, sport, or region of
the country or world. The idea is to find a topic of interest to you and then create a
website that informs others about it.
Possibly, you may want to find a "client" (someone who needs a website
to inform others about their "product") and create one for them.
Definitions
The following paragraphs define some terms that pertain to this
assignment.
A webpage is a file that can be opened and viewed using a program such as
Netscape. A website contains two or more webpages--that is, two or more
files--which are "linked," meaning that a user can click on some element in one
file that causes a program such as Netscape to open another file (that is, another
webpage). For example, to make a website about yourself, you would create additional files
about yourself—for instance one describing your family and another containing your
resume—and you would provide links among these files. The website for our course
contains files that are linked together.
A homepage is the first page you open when you go to a site. It introduces the
site and provides links to other files in the site. Like a magazine cover, it is
attractive and tells the viewer a little about what's inside. The homepage under the website for our
course is the one that includes the course title and information about the course (course
description, policies, requirements, schedule). Only "schedule" is a link to a different file; the others are called
"bookmarks" (internal links to a page). When you click on
"schedule," or on one of the assignments (for example,
the Web Project), you are instructing your browser to open the file that contains more
information about this assignment.
Requirements
These are the required elements for this assignment:
 | A homepage and two or more other pages you create that are linked together to construct
a website on your topic. The text on these pages is to be text you have written (not text
you have downloaded or otherwise appropriated from someone else). It is to be informative,
not just entertaining. The homepage must link directly to at least two other pages. |
| One of these pages could be your resume (in which case you need to bring your disk to
class) |
| One or more links to other websites related to your topic. |
| One or more images. Remember that there will a limit to the size of the files you can
use. Avoid movies and other things that consume much memory and take a long time to
download. |
To count as a "page" in this project, a file must fill one window on a
computer screen when the window is at its maximum size. The material on the window must
include some text, but may also contain one or more images. Of course, you must present
your information in a way that communicates effectively and entices the reader. We'll talk
about various ways of achieving these goals as we work on the project.
Include in the footer of your page where, when, who, how:
URL, date you last updated the site, the name of the person who maintains the
site, and how they can contact you.
All pages, including the home page, should be informative, not just
entertaining. The text is to be text you have written, not text you have
downloaded or copied. You may obtain images from other sites, provided you
are sure they are not copyrighted or otherwise restricted. Your site may include
a line to your personal Web page. However, your personal Web page does not count
among those you create for this project.
Grading Criteria
To earn a C: Your site must include at least three well-organized
pages with information on your topic. One must be a homepage. At least one page
must include a link to another website on your topic and at least one page must
include an image (photograph, sketch, etc.). The image may be one you have
downloaded from another website, provided that you are not violating anyone's
copyright. All text must be accurate, informative, and well written. The pages
must be easy to navigate individually and as a group.
To
earn a B:
Your site must include at least four well-organized pages with information on
your topic. One must be a homepage. There must be a total of at least three
links to other webpages on your topic, at least one image per page, and a
"mail-to" feature that would allow people visiting your site to send
you a message. The images may be ones you have downloaded from other websites,
provided that you are not violating anyone's copyright. All text must be
accurate, informative, and well written. The pages must be easy to navigate
individually and as a group.
To earn an A: Your site must contain all the elements required for a B and
also be presented in a very high-quality way. This means that it must be
designed so that readers find it to be very interesting, richly informative,
pleasing to the eye, easy to use, and enjoyable. Note that you do not earn an A
by making more pages (though you may do so, if you wish) but by polishing the
pages you have. To earn an A, you must also present a thoughtful, well-written
designer's memo. All text must be accurate, informative, and well written. The
pages must be easy to navigate individually and as a group. Furthermore, to earn
an A, at least one of the pages must help someone in some way or be otherwise
socially responsible.
What to Turn In
Please turn in a diskette that contains the following items:
| A file for the homepage for your site |
| Files for each of the other pages for your site (see above for an explanation of what
counts as a page). |
| The files for the image or images in your site |
All these items must be in a single folder on your diskette. Note that you may make
arrangements to create your web site on your RU account, in which case you must turn in
the URL for your site and the site itself must contain all the items listed above. Be sure
your name is on the diskette! The designer's memo should contain the address for this site,
and it would describe the topic, purpose and audience (similar to the one your
turned in
for the Resume Set). Discuss:
| The strategies you employed when selecting and presenting information |
| What you did to make your site readable, navigable, and visually
appealing |
Style Guides
FrontPage
FAQs
RU Frontpage Tips and Tricks
RU's Web Contest
Yale's Web Style Manual
Killer Websites
Web Pages that S**k
Web and Usability
Sun
Systems and Usability
This assignment borrowed from Paul Anderson, Technical Communication. |
