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Assignment
You are to prepare a website in which to take one
of the topics from Unit 2 or Unit 3 of our course and explore it.
Focusing on the dimension or venue of your choice, answer the question:
How has the internet changed communication? I expect your project
to delve into the subject deeper than we do in class.
Criteria for evaluation
Projects will be evaluated on:
- the insight you provide into the relationship between the internet
and communication beyond our discussion in class and the textbook;
- your understanding of the communication principles involved;
- the implementation of the principles of rhetorical choice in
web design learned in unit 1; and
- the clarity and persuasiveness with which you support your
claim.
- Rules governing the proper acknowledgment of sources apply.
To submit project
You should submit the project by sending an email from your university
registered website including the following:
- the URL for your website. This means the URL must be placed
on a server.
- A statement giving permission for the posting of this URL on
the course website.
- A honor code statement indicating your compliance with the list
of authorized preparation guidelines.
Recommended procedure for completing assignment:
Step 1: Select one of the subjects we have studied in class
that address the communication dimension of the internet.
These may be subjects treated by Shedletsky and Aitken, or our
discussion of the internet and citizenship. Feel free to discuss
your selection with the instructor to make certain it is a good
topic for exploration. I recommend completion by April 10.
Step 2: Work to understand the dimensions of the issue as they
have been studied in communication.
This will require research in the literature of communication.
You can begin that research with your books or our class discussions.
It will, no doubt, take you to the library and may involve discussions
with others including communication faculty or students including
your fellow students in the class. I recommend completion by April
21.
Step 3: Analyze the internet dimensions of the issue you have
selected.
As you do this analysis, settle on a short list of ideas that you
want to communicate to those who come to your website. Also identify
websites that may help you illustrate the ideas on your list, and
places in your research in step 2 that may support your observations.
I recommend completion by April 30.
Step 4: Prepare the first draft of your website
- Decide on an organizational pattern for the website that will
help elaborate your idea.
- Develop an overall plan for the site linking pages on the site
as appropriate.
- Assemble the material you will use to support your ideas including
illustrations, support for your ideas about communication, and
places where those who visit your website can expand their own
knowledge.
- I recommend completion by May 4.
Step 5: Share your website with a colleague from the class for
his/her critique.
The critique should probably include:
- Your ideas. Have you captured what the critic understands about
the topic after their study this semester?
- Your use of the rhetorical principles learned this semester.
Are the ideas presented clearly and convincingly on the site?
Is the site organized well?
- General presentation of the site. Are the pages easy to access?
Is navigation on the site well done? How well does the site meet
the criteria for the assignment?
- I recommend completion by May 7.
Step 6: Revise the website as desired
Step 7: Mount the website on the server and finish the submission
process
Due Date
Project is due May 11.
Honor Code Authorizations
You are authorized to work with others in the followiing
tasks:
- You may seek the help of anyone in learning the principles of
communication that inform your website. This includes faculty
and other students at the university including your classmates.
- You may have discussions of various websites relating to the
dimension of communication you choose to write about. But those
discussions may not include the websites that you use in your
project. In short, you may use multiple websites in understanding
the principles of internet communication, but should do the analysis
of the websites you use in this project yourself.
- You may use whatever resources are available on the technical
aspects of constructing your website and placing it on the internet
server.
- You may use whatever resources are available on the coding of
the website. This includes consultation and training in the use
of website software.
- Once you have prepared your website (but only then) you may
have a classmate view the website and make suggestions for changes
in the rhetorical presentation of the site. The classmate should
not work to revise the site, only give you advice on revisions.
Weight in Final Grade
Assignment is 35% of Final Grade
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