110 ATL CLASS NOTES FALL 2001 James Porter Week #14
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27
Conference Schedule (list to be distributed) Structuring, Organizing, and Drafting the Web Research Paper (10:2011:45) DRAFT DUE ON THURSDAY: Goals for Thursday's Draft make it as complete and as polished as you possibly can! IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE SOMETHING TO SHARE ON THURSDAY! what's most important: * title page clear title clear main topics of the paper clear sense of the issue involved, and its importance clear sense of your thesis (what position are you going to take?) clear sense of how the site is constructed (organization) * references * main subtopic pages with at least a few fully drafted * give us a sense of a. the topic and question you are addressing b. the overall structure of the paper (with placeholder pages) c. as much content as you can develop by Thursday Technical Construction of a "Site" setting up multiple pages in your site creating a vertical menu bar, a horizontal navigation bar popping a "new" page for external links or for references reference information on each page (name, date, email link) using text graphic for paper title Developing Your Topic
james e. porter | 6/15/09
START with the question Develop an organizational strategy that makes sense for your topic and your treatment of the issue. Avoid dividing/organizing according to each separate source: Reading #1, Reading #2, Reading #3, etc. Rather ... DIVIDE the question into subparts (chunks), what are called "special topics": [INTRO material is what you would probably include on your home page or maybe the first link from your home page.] * INTRO: what is the main question you are addressing? * INTRO: why is this question or issue significant? (and to whom?) Why would your intended audience find it valuable, helpful, important? * INTRO: what is the specific aspect of the issue/problem you will address? (that is, how are you limiting your topic? how will you handle the question?) * INTRO: what is your position? [BACKGROUND material refers, typically, to the facts of the situation or the history of an issue: what knowledge, facts, history, does your reader need to know to understand the question?] * BACKGROUND: what technology development has created the question or issue? (describe or define the technology(ies) involved) * BACKGROUND: what are the facts of the situation (what everybody agrees on)? Provide background information, history, etc. as appropriate. [ISSUES will be divided differently according to different topics. There is not a "one right way" to handle the discussion of the question. It depends on your particular topic.] * ISSUES: what issues are involved (principles)? * ISSUES: what various positions on the question are there? what are the pros and cons of various positions? who holds what positions? why are their positions valid or invalid, do you think? * ISSUES: what is your position on the question or issue? What good reasons support your position? Why is your position more valid than alternate positions? * CONCLUSION: what are the future possibilities or directions? what is likely to happen next? why is your position the most compelling one? what are the likely implications of adopting your position? General Principles of Hypertext Design * key: plotting various "reader paths" through your paper
james e. porter | 6/15/09
* key: making sure the reader doesn't get lost providing adequate navigation and orientation * orientation of reader CONSISTENCY is key! Consistent spatial placement of information, consistent visual design (e.g., color coding or typography or positioning on a page) modular, chunked pages (avoid long stretches of text) clean plenty design, of "white space" keep it clear and clean, no extraneous junk or busy backgrounds internal links (to related ideas, to references) selected external links to important material but be highly selective about external links use of graphics and photos
INCLASS ESSAY EXAM 10:5012:10
james e. porter | 6/15/09
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29
1. Work on Your Web Research Paper to get it ready for Peer Review give me a piece of paper with the URL and title for your paper (no need to do the www.msu.edu part) I'll set up groups, you keep working on paper peer review will begin at 11:00
2. Peer Review of Web Research Paper (11:0012:10)
james e. porter | 6/15/09
Peer Review Why Do It? To get help (feedback, advice) on your own paper To learn more about the project by seeing how others are handling it To become more knowledgeable about writing in general -- to become an effective critic of your own as well as others' writ
james e. porter | 6/15/09
Peer Review Focus of Your Remarks
Provide constructive criticism and help to your classmates. ("Criticism" does not have to be negative. Avoid negative remarks.) In responding to others' writing, think: What kind of help would I like to receive on this assignment? (Golden Rule of Peer Evaluation) * you don't want to be slammed * you'd like some help and constructive advice Avoid EVALUATION that is, absolute ratings such as good/bad, A/B/C, etc. Do not score or rate the documents. Focus on STRENGTHS what has the writer done well? Focus on AREAS NEEDING IMPROVEMENT what areas could be stronger? Focus on what IS there (what the writer has done) vs. what is missing or incomplete Provide advice about web design and structure, but not ONLY that! Also focus on argumentative quality, quality of research, quality of style, etc.
james e. porter | 6/15/09
james e. porter | 6/15/09
Peer Review Web Research Paper (11:0012:10) STAGE 1. Turn in piece of paper with URL and title for web essay to instructor. The instructor will arrange groups. STAGE 2. Privately, read and review your group's projects. Write your review comments and suggestions in ONE email message addressed to ALL members of the group AND THE INSTRUCTOR. (Use o...