Due dates:

On WebBoard "Case Study" conference: Abstract with links two days before you present in class.

"Dead tree" format: Paper should be turned in the day you present in class.

Present in class October 31, or November 7.  Be sure to sign up for a presentation date.

Length:

Undergrad: 1-3 double-spaced typed pages; present in class for about 10 minutes

Grad: 2-4 double-spaced typed pages; present in class for about 15 minutes

Goal:

To allow the class to practice techniques related to information architecture and to evaluating and troubleshooting Web pages, both in writing and in class discussion. By sharing our findings about existing web sites, we improve our ability to plan, design, and revise our own sites.

Hints:

This is your chance to bring in and discuss a Website or page that really impresses or bothers you with the class. Each of you will probably have a special interest or pet peeve about certain kinds of pages that you would like to share with us, so you will write a short paper and develop a short presentation on that Website and your concerns about it.  Your paper/presentation should:

• Provide an overview of the site or page, its purpose, and intended audience in a paragraph or two
• Discuss aspects of the site or page's information architecture, design, or writing that are especially effective or ineffective for the target audience and purpose. Use as many of the strategies and tips listed in the class readings as you can, and remind your reader of the source of  the principle you are applying
• Conclude with a paragraph or two which either:
  • Outlines how you would revise the site, or
  • Explains how you will apply these same strategies, tips, and principles in creating your class project web site
• Cite all your sources on a works cited page

Our books (of course!)

Our class web page.  I've already collected quite a few links to resources that should pique your interest, notably 

Vincent Flanders' Web Pages that Suck 

Best of the Web!

Jacob Nielsen's "Top Ten Mistakes in Web Design" with links to 1999 and 2000 updates

Designers on Design: Lance Arthur and Jason Kottke

Class brainstorming or informal discussion with class members

You will be evaluated primarily on how well you present an overview of the Website, discuss its successes and failures in terms of the principles we have been reading about, and sum up the implications in your conclusion, but please give due attention to the conventions of transition, focus, appropriate wording, correct grammar, usage, and mechanics.

Good luck, and see or e-mail me if you have questions!