CAS 483 Web Page Project

Do not procrastinate or it will be impossible to complete.

NOTE: This is NOT a group project.  I expect students to get assistance from wherever possible -- including other students -- however it is expected that all work is the students own work. All students should be prepared to discuss how and why they developed their site.

In this project your task is to create a useful theme-oriented Web site. This project should help you to develop the following skills:

• Learn HTML
• Web site design
• Proposal writing
• Content issues
• Style issues
• Maintenance issues
• Use of style sheets

The site should have a central theme, related to some useful information area. 

This project is worth 25% of your final grade and must be completed in the following sections:

Proposal This is worth 5% of your final grade and must be approved by the instructor. Save as htmlproject.htm If you know how, make a link from your 483page for future use. The proposal should contain the following information: Title for site you will develop Mission for Site what is the theme(what is it about) for this site? what is purpose for site? what kinds of information will be available on this site? who is likely to be interested in this site? how much site maintenance will be necessary? Market Analysis are there any other (or similar) sites like it or related sites? how would this site distinguish itself from other similar sites? why do you think that there would be an interest in this site? Project Breakdown project plan/timeline Proposal due by 10/30 Grading for the proposal

Web Site Project The site itself - This is worth 10% and is based on the following criteria (due by 12/2)        Design (4%)  your plan (did you begin and end according to plan, if not, why?) page navigation (is it easy to get around your page and find the home page?)  use of graphics, colors, fonts, etc. (why did you use certain colors or graphics?)          Content (6%) composition (grammar, spelling, readability, etc.) information content and quality relevance of text/graphics to site mission usefulness/adequacy of links evidence of use of styles(CSS) one feedback form   Short essay (due by 12/2) A short essay(2-3 pages), posted as HTML on the web site, that explains how you completed this  project.  This essay will be worth 5%.  As a minimum this essay should include: A summary of your market analysis and a description of your thought process in  selecting this theme. A discussion of your project timeline and your successes/failures in following it. A discussion of tools you used, resources you followed and assistance you received.  A discussion of suggestions for site improvement. Discuss why you chose the colors and theme for the site. Evaluate your site. What would you do differently if you had more time or experience?

The Theme

Creating a web site is more than simply throwing some HTML, pictures and gizmos together. Web site development is a form of publishing, and for quality publishing a great deal of forethought is required.

Your CAS-483 web site should have a central theme that makes it interesting, useful and unique. Personal about me and my favorite sites pages are not acceptable. It is possible to develop truly creative web sites that do not require great technical wizardry. Some possibilities for good themes include:

• a resource site for your major
• a social issues site that informs on some issue
• an information site for some PSU organization or department
• a site for a particular area or region (history, geography, etc.)
• a public information site on some useful area (how to make a kite, etc.)
• a business

Design and Style

Second in importance only to the information provided is the design of a web page. Here there is room for some artistic expression -- as long as the design doesn't get in the way of the information being presented. You will be shown references to style guides and other design documents. Part of the evaluation of your page will focus on design.

Aspects of design and style include:

• the form and nature of the information presented
• layout and format of text
• layout and use of pictures
• general layout
• use of tables, animations, backgrounds, etc.