Course description

Our goal in this course is to learn the basics of hypertext markup language (HTML) and to put it to practical use in designing, creating and publishing a hypertext writing project (a Web site). Apart from traditional writing activities, such as generating ideas, research, drafting, evaluating and revision, the course will include instruction in a variety of skills needed to create publications for the World Wide Web:

• Understanding the principles of effective Web design;
• Using HTML coding to create hypertext documents (Web pages);
• Preparing electronic images for the Web: scanning, editing and optimizing images;
• Using FTP to upload the project to the Web server.

By the end of the semester, you will have designed and published online an elaborate Web site, and you will have acquired a set of skills that you will most likely find useful in your future education, and in your professional and private life.

Required texts

James G. Lengel, The Web Wizard's Guide to Web Dsign (Addison Wesley, 2002).

Wendy Lehnert, The Web Wizard's Guide to HTML (Addison Wesley, 2002).

Project description

Your primary assignment in this class will be to select a topic you would like to explore through research and writing, and to prepare a hypertext presentation on the topic you have chosen. This presentation will consist of a number of text units (that is, pieces of writing) of varying lengths and connected by a network of links. The total length of your project will have to be no less than 3000 words (that is the equivalent of about 10-12 typed pages, double-spaced). In addition, your presentation may include graphic elements as well as hyperlinks to other related material available on the World Wide Web.

After you select the topic of your presentation, you will be required to write your text units in four installments according to the time schedule outlined in the "Schedule of Readings and Activities." Each of the four installments may consist of any number of units but the total length of those units must be at least 750 words. (You will not get any credit for work that does not fulfill this minimum length requirement.) As we work on the project, each of the four installments of your text will go through the following stages:

1. research, planning and drafting (out of class; in consultation with me as needed)
2. peer evaluation (in class)
3. revision (out of class; in consultation with me as needed)
4. submitting your work for evaluation and grading
5. revision and HTML coding (in and out of class)

The four installments of the text of your presentation will be due on the following dates:

Both the peer evaluation draft and the final copy should be double-spaced to allow room for marking the text. The final copy must be accompanied by an outline of the whole project on which parts already completed should be marked. The heading of each text unit must contain information about its length (word count).

Final grade

Each of the following components will determine 25% of your final grade:

1. The average of the four grades for the four installments of the text of your presentation.
2. The average of the two grades for the tests
3. The grade for the completed project
4. The final examination

In addition, your final grade may be affected by your attendance as described in the section below.

Attendance

You are allowed three unexcused absences during the semester - use them wisely. Increasing that number will lower your final grade at the rate of one letter grade for every additional absence.

Plagiarism

I assume that you understand the nature and consequences of plagiarism. Briefly, plagiarism consists in using another person's ideas or wording without proper acknowledgment (quotation marks, documentation, etc.) or in submitting another person's work as your own. The penalty for plagiarism is failure in the course or, in extreme cases, dismissal from the university.

Disabilities

If you have a physical, psychiatric/emotional, medical or learning disability that may have an impact on your ability to carry out assigned course work, I would urge you to contact Karen Gerety, Director of Disability Services at 626- 2371, or stop by Student Center 217. The staff will review your concerns and determine, with you, what accommodations are necessary and appropriate. All information and documentation of disability is confidential.