English 626, Issues in Rhetoric/Professional Writing:
Web Site Design and Development

Schedule of Assignments for fall, 2004 (Wed. 6:30–9:20 p.m.)

dlh105f@missouristate.edu, Pummill 4A

     Note: Please bring appropriate texts, computer media, handouts, etc., to each class meeting. Besides the readings given here, others may be added.

August 25, week 1:

     Discuss course goals (course description/policy statement), projects, and class organization (background of instructor and students, email communication, and student data sheet).

     Project 1, critical review of a book (or book-length online resource) relating to Web site design and development: Search at http://www.amazon.com using "Web site design" or other apt keywords. Before class on 9-1, you should have emailed the group to identify the book to be evaluated for project 1.

     Project 2, critical review of a commercial Web site selling hardware (e.g., computers, scanners, and digital cameras) or software (e.g., HTML editors, graphics editors, drawing tools) used in Web site design and development. Before class on 9-15, you should have emailed the group to identify the Web site you will be evaluating for project 2.

     Project 3, a report on some aspect of computer technology relating to Web site design/development. Before class on 9-29, you should have emailed the group to identify the tech topic to be researched for project 3.

     Project 4, a professional Web site with portfolio, and report

     Project 5, feasibility study for Web work for clients or actual Web work and report. Before class on 10-20, you should have emailed the group to identify the type of project and the businesses or non-profit organizations you will be working with for project 5.

     For a list of non-profit organizations in the Springfield area, use the Missouri State Citizenship and Service Learning Web page to access the PDF file titled "Current Community Partners" at http://www.missouristate.edu/casl/Faculty%20Resources.htm. I will provide you with this list and divide it among the class to avoid having more than one student approach an organization. When approaching non-profits on this list, be sure to explain that this project is not part of the Missouri State Service Learning program. The following link allows you to access the Business Directory of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce. This resource provides contact information for many local business and manufacturers: http://www.springfieldchamber.com/cgi/foxweb.dll/wlx/dir/wlxcatelist?cc=SPFDCC.

Resources: Missouri State Web Resource Center: http://www.missouristate.edu/web/.

     Microsoft Developer Network's "Introduction to Web Technologies for FrontPage Users":

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/odc_fp2003_ta/html/odc_fpgettingstartedwithwebdev.asp

     I will explain my Web experience. See http://www.geocities.com/findinglincolnillinois/

     Provide time for gaining familiarity with the English Department computer lab hardware and software and performing Internet research.

September 1, week 2:

     Before this class period, have established an Missouri State Magenta directory/folder that will enable you to save work (in various file formats) at that site (and access it on a campus computer) and to create a "personal" Web site. You may have had a Magenta folder automatically created for you. To see if you have one, open Windows on a campus computer, go to the "run" function, and type \\magenta\user. Then click on the appropriate alphabetical folder. If you do not have a Magenta folder (or if you do not know whether you do), go to an open-access computer lab (Glass 228-9; Cheek 150; or Strong 107). A Magenta directory allows both disk storage (max of 20 MB) and creation of a personal Web page (max of 10 MB). You can use this personal Web site option to create project 4, a professional Web site. Create your personal Web page option at http://computerservices.missouristate.edu/web/personal.html, and then to go to http://computerservices.missouristate.edu/createweb/.

     Before this class period, have emailed the group to identify the book or Web site you will be using for project 1.

     Continue discussing projects as needed (Q&A).

     Discuss handout titled "A Data-Based Strategy for Document Design Evaluation," and explain its use in project 2: a critical review of a Web site of a for-profit business.

     Begin to focus on organization, navigation, and use of links. Discuss Nielsen, Chapter 4, "Site Design," pp. 162-222. Also, Nielsen, "Site Structure," pp. 198-214.

     Demonstrate FrontPage: beginning a Web, creating a page, using a shared border, applying a theme, establishing simple navigation, and saving to a Magenta folder from a campus computer. Practice time.

September 8, week 3:

     Discuss Thomas R. Williams. "Guidelines for Designing and Evaluating the Display of Information on the Web. Technical Communication. 47.3: 383-396. (I'll provide copies for use in class.)

     Discuss Nielsen, Chapter 3, "Content Design," pp. 98-135.

     Discuss David K. Farkas and Jean B. Farkas. "Guidelines for Designing Web Navigation." Technical Communication, 47.3: 341-358. (I'll provide copies for use in classs.)

     Begin to demonstrate using tables and cells in FrontPage. Allow practice.

September 15, week 4:

     Project 1 due: written and oral reports on a book or Web site about some aspect of Web design-development. Before this class period, you should have emailed the group to identify the Web site you are evaluating for project 2.

     Continue demonstration of using tables and cells in FrontPage as needed. Demonstrate creating a graphical link. Demonstrate MS Word drawing tool.

     Students collaborate on developing a usability rating sheet that is specific to Web site evaluation.

September 22, week 5:

     For discussion, bring printouts of three or four screens of the Web site used for project 2, along with a completed rating sheet "A Data-Based Strategy for Document Design Evaluation" and the usability rating sheet developed specifically for this project.

     Discuss JPEG vs. GIF. Refer to Irfanview. Demonstrate graphics editing with Photoshop.

     Discuss other projects as needed.

September 29, week 6:

     Bring rough draft of project 2: commercial Web site evaluation, for peer review. Before class on 9-29, you should have emailed the group to identify the tech topic to be researched for project 3.

     Demonstrate creation of HTML forms. Instructor's example at http://www.geocities.com/findinglinillinois/feedbackquestions.html

October 6, Week 7

     Project 2 due: written and oral report on evaluation of a commercial Web site. This project includes use of the rating sheet "A Data-Based Strategy for Document Design Evaluation" and the rating sheet specifically prepared for Web site evaluation.

October 13, week 8:

     Begin oral reports/demonstrations on computer technology topics (project 3).

     Discuss Web site publication using Geocities as an example. Discuss how to deal with the problem of the embarrassing page being accessed by search engines.

October 20, week 9

     Project 3 due, written and oral reports on computer technology. Before this class period, you should have emailed the group to identify the type of project and the businesses or non-profit organizations you will be working with for project 5.

     Discuss listing Web sites with directories.

     Discuss directions/requirements for projects 4 and 5.

     Begin to discuss examples of practitioner Web sites in preparation for project 4, professional Web site.

October 27, week 10

     As needed, finish oral reports/demos on tech topics.

     Bring one of your own writing projects (e.g., report in another class) suitable for a makeover to improve it for placement in your online portfolio. We will use these documents for peer review/collaboration.

     Continue analysis of practitioner Web sites.

     Workshop time for project 4.

November 3, week 11

     Guest Web developer if possible.

     Workshop time for project 4.

November 10, week 12

     Rough draft due of project 4, professional Web site. Bring printouts for peer review and instructor conference.

     Guest Web developer if possible.

    Workshop time.

November 17, week 13

     Project 4 due, professional Web site. Written and oral reports, including the results of reviews from classmates and one other person.

     Workshop time for project 5.

November 24, week 14--Thanksgiving break: no class.

December 1, week 15

     Project 5 due, feasibility study or report on Web work.

December 8, week 16

Return project 5.

Review procedure for calculating course grades.

Discuss final exam.

Evaluate course.

December 15, final exam