Course description

Our goal in this course is to learn the basics of Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) and to put these two tools 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);
• Using CSS to apply styles to 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

Elizabeth Castro, HTML ,XHTML and CSS, 6th ed. (Peachpit, 2007).

Eric A. Meyer, CSS: Pocket Reference (O"Reilly, 2004).

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" and in the table below. 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 review (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-review 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 grade for the midterm exam
3. The grade for the completed project
4. The grade for the final exam

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. If you miss more than six classes, regardless of the reason, you will fail the course.

Plagiarism

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.  Penalty for plagiarism is failure in the course.  All cases of plagiarism will be reported to the Provost.

Disabilities

Northern State University recognizes its responsibility for creating an institutional climate in which students with disabilities can thrive.  If you have any type of disability for which you require accommodations, please contact Karen Gerety at the NSU Office of Disability Services (626-2371, Student Center 217) as soon as possible to discuss your particular needs.