Website assignment

Guidelines for Completing Module 1

Introduction: At the beginning of this assignment you should have already chosen three web pages to evaluate. Depending upon the type and relationship among the web pages/sites, you may choose one of the following options.

Option I: The Serial Approach

If your web pages are different from one another in substantive ways, you may want to focus on visual elements for your critique. How do the pages "stack up," visually? How are color, placement, and graphics used? How quickly does the page load (here you need to specify the speed of your connection to the Internet)? If you choose the Serial Approach, you will follow this organizational rubric:

1. Introduction: Here you will explain how and why you chose the web pages you're evaluating, and you will list the URLs of those pages. You will include, of course, a thesis statement that ranks the pages from best to worst or from worst to best. The introduction may comprise two or three paragraphs, if necessary.

2. First Web Site Evaluation

3. Second Web Site Evaluation

4. Third Web Site Evaluation

5. Conclusion: Here you will repeat some elements of your Introduction (remember your Freshman Composition papers?).

Option II: The Synthesis Approach

If your web pages are all on the same general topic (i.e., dog breeding), you may find the Synthesis Approach easiest. You will compare the visual elements of the pages, as well as the content -- and you'll deal with all three pages at once. Follow this rubric for writing in the Synthesis mode:

1. Introduction: At the beginning of your paper you will list the elements you are using to compare/contrast the web pages/sites (i.e., use of color, accuracy and currency of information). You will reveal, in your opening paragraph(s), how you rank the sites -- again, from best to worst or from worst to best.

2. Body Element One: Discuss how your first element relates to the web sites you're evaluating. For example, you might choose currency of information (see handout) and rank your pages based on how recently they were updated.

3. Body Element Two: Discuss all three web pages/sites in relationship to the second element.

4. Body Element Three: Discuss your third element in relationship to the three web pages/sites.

5. Conclusion: As with Option I, you will repeat some elements of your Introduction here.

General Format:

1. Length: 3-5 pages (700-1,200 words), double spaced with one-inch margins.

2. Compatibility: You must submit your paper in Microsoft Word, or as a MS Word document that you have written in another program (i.e., WordPerfect) and saved as a MS Word file. Use Times New Roman font, 12-point type size.

3. Grammar: This counts! You must thoroughly proofread your paper before submitting it.

4. Hyperlinks: Be sure to include hyperlinks to each of the sites in the first paragraph and then, again, later in the essay. You'll want to include links to any specific pages you discuss in your essay. 

5. Supplemental Materials: You are expected to use the handout on evaluating web pages as a foundation for your critique. Use the terminology from the handout whenever possible, and try to address as many of the elements of evaluation as you can. You are not expected to use all the elements -- let your situation be your guide, here.