Writing for the Web- English 315 Assignments

Course Schedule for Spring 2005
Class meets Tuesdays and Thursdays 10:20-11:25 in Engineering Complex III, room 301.

The course schedule is subject to change to based on student need and progress. Stay up to date by visiting the online schedule on a regular basis.

Date	What We'll Do in Class	What's Due in Class

TH 1/13	Make paper-based intro screens Introduction to course & each other Technology experience survey

T 1/18	Turning assignments in to the Class Folder on the Shared Network Drive The good, the bad, and the ugly: Ideas on design	Written syllabus response Read chapter 4 in WDW (pages 61-74) Read "Designing a Designer's Site"
TH 1/20	Review ideas from the good, the bad, and the ugly activity to develop guidelines for design (click here to see the list created by the class) Short Dreamweaver basics demo Assign Design of User-Unfriendly Web Page	Written list of web sites for the good, the bad, and the ugly

T 1/25	Class Cancelled
TH 1/27	Look at and discuss example User-Unfriendly pages in class Design basics activity- CRAP Principles from the Non-Designer's Design Book Photoshop basics demo Part 1 Start work on Photoshop Tips and Tricks mini-assignment	User-Unfriendly Web Page due Read pages 1-60 in WDW

T 2/1	Continue Photoshop basics demo Part 1 Photoshop basics demo Part 2 Creating buttons Optimizing images for the web Assign Small Individual Web Project	Read pages 161-184 & 233-258 in WDW
TH 2/3	Continue Photoshop basics demo Part 2 Slicing images & creating rollovers in DreamWeaver & ImageReady Discuss reading and working with clients Discuss design and development process	Read/review chapter 12 "Slicing & Dicing" (pages 161-184) and chapter 16 "Rollovers & Image Swaps" (pages 247-258) in WDW Read chapter 5 in WDW "Design is NOT the First Step" (pages 75-98)

T 2/8	Discuss design and development process Team Project Directions Establish Project Teams Look at other Teen Pregnancy/At-Risk Youth websites to begin work for Written Analysis	Tips and Tricks mini-assignment due Read chapter 8 "Organizing Your Content" & chapter 9 "Organizing the Work Flow" in WDW pages (127-144)
TH 2/10	Client Presentation by Maize Blossom to establish project guidelines	Written analysis of assigned Teen Pregnancy site due

T 2/15	Examine analyzed sites and discuss in class Brainstorm about audience analysis and possible approaches to design and concept Meet with team to continue planning and to work on Proposal
TH 2/17	Work with team to sketch at least three completely unique homepage design concepts

T 2/22	Work with team to translate paper-based sketches into computer-based mockups
TH 2/24	Preparation for meeting with Maize Blossom/How to approach clients with first round design comps Continue working with team to translate paper-based sketches into computer-based mockups	Written Proposal for Team Project due

T 3/1	Preparation for meeting with Maize Blossom Continue working with team to translate paper-based sketches into computer-based mockups
TH 3/3	Mini-conference with Instructor about progress on Individual Web Project Lab Day- work on individual or team project	Draft of Individual Web Project- put in t:drive, put online or bring to class

T 3/8	Discuss site organization and hierarchy Discuss site navigation In-class activity: navigation analysis LAST DAY TO DROP WITH A "W" IS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9TH	Read pages 117-126 in WDW Read pages 217-232 in WDW Read Gunnar Swanson's "Web Woes" & Jakob Nielsen's "10 Good Deeds in Web Design"
TH 3/10	Maize Blossom representatives return for first round of concept and design comps Short team pitch presentations with screen mockups followed by informal feedback and critique session with client	Team Pitch Presentations and Three Screen-based Mockups due

T 3/15	In-class activity: Post-it note site map for Maize Blossom Complete Site Map and one page written rationale due 3/29	Review chapter 7 in WDW- bring book to book to class
TH 3/17	CLASS CANCELLED- MEET WITH PROJECT TEAM ON YOUR OWN

T 3/22	CLASS CANCELLED- SPRING BREAK
TH 3/24	CLASS CANCELLED- SPRING BREAK

T 3/29	Discuss reading- registering and attaining high ranking on search engines (lab activity)	Read chapter 11 in WDW (pages 151-160) Complete Site Map and one page written rationale due
TH 3/31	Cascading Style Sheets demo Work with Project Team on draft of site	Read chapter 19 in WDW (pages 273-286)

T 4/5	Short Fireworks/Pop-up Menu demo Work with Project Team on draft of site	Read chapter 6 in WDW (pages 99-116)
TH 4/7	Work with Project Team on draft of site

T 4/12	Discuss Reading- Usability testing Work with Project Team on ensuring working usability of draft site	Read chapter 10 in WDW (pages 145-150)
TH 4/14	Feedback and usability comments from peers on Team Project site	Working Draft of Team Project Site due

T 4/19	Work with Project Team on revising final version of site
TH 4/21	Work with Project Team on preparing final version of site and final pitch presentation to client

T 4/26	Final Client Web Site and Walk-through Presentations
TH 4/28	Final Class Wrap-up Complete in-class final cover memo

Tuesday, May 3rd 10:30-12:30	Individual Conferences in my office- English building/Clara Belle Williams Hall #217 Conferences to be held at scheduled times during official course final time (click here for your scheduled time) Click here for details on what's due and how to turn it in	Final version of Individual Web Project due Any revisions to Final Team Site due