World Wide Web

Our study of the World Wide Web this semester will conclude with the creation of a class Web project: Culture Capsules: People, Places, and Processes. The following assignments will give you the Internet and Web editor skills you need in order to complete your part of the Culture Capsules project.

What is the Internet?- To put it simply, the Internet is a collection of computer networks located around the world which people use to access and share information. Browsers (Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator, Firefox, Safari) are used to view sites on the Web. Click here to learn more about the Internet and World Wide Web.

Assignments:

Look for **Task** to show you what you need to DO. Some assignments have only one task, others have many.

  1. Reading about the Culture Capsules project
    Our class Web project is called "Culture Capsules: People, Places, and Processes". In order to find out what you will need to know and do to complete your part of the project, complete the following:

    A. **Task** Read the project description, objectives, and steps. (also located in your text)

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  2. Browsing Culture Capsules and learning browser basics - To see what other students have done and to become familiar with Netscape or Internet Explorer (or other browser).

    A. **Task** Click here to see Culture Capsules created by AES students.

    B. **Task** When browsing in Netscape or Internet Explorer (or other browser), try all of these operations:

    1. Click on the "Back" and "Forward" button on the toolbar.
    2. Click on the "Home" button on the toolbar.
    3. Click on links (colored text) on the Web page. What happens? What happens to the color of the link?
    4. Use the scroll bars on the side of the web pages to move up and down on the page.
    5. Look at the "Address" or "Netsite" box at the top of the browser. You will see http://www._______________ (this is the URL, the unique address which names the site you are currently browsing). Notice how this URL changes as you browse different sites. You may type in a URL, followed by the <Return> key to navigate to a particular site.
    6. Open the "Go" menu and navigate between web pages you have visited during this session.
    7. Choose "Find" from the toolbar. This allows you to search for a word in a particular web page. Put any word into the "find" box. Did you find this word in the Web page you are browsing?
    8. Choose File -->New Window. A new window will open. In the address window, enter http://www.lclark.edu/~krauss/ and press the "Return" key.
      From the "Windows" menu, you will be able to move between the open windows. (Use the "Communicator" menu in Netscape). You may have many browser windows open at the same time.

    C. **Task** Send the class (cc krauss) an Email message telling us which Culture Capsule interested you the most and why. Would you be interested in creating a site like one of these? Why or why not?

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  3. Brainstorming a Topic - By discussing your ideas with your partners, you'll be able to choose a topic which is interesting to you and to others.

    A. **Task** Have a look again at the Culture Capsules Master Page. *Don't* choose a topic that has been written about already within the past year.

    Get together with you partner and brainstorm a topic. First, choose a category: person, place, or process (activity or celebration) from your country. Remember, you and your partner have to agree to choose a topic in the same category (both do a person, both do a place, etc.). A "person" could be a well known movie star, politician, religious leader, sports hero, criminal, etc. from your country. A "place" could be a resort, holy place, famous commercial center, gorgeous beach, mountain peak, famous tourist attraction, prestigious university, etc. in your country. A "process" could be how to play a game or sport, how to celebrate a holiday, how to perform a special ceremony, how to cook a particular dish, etc. in your country. Remember, this should be something from your country that will be interesting for others, in the U.S. and around the world, to know about. It should also be something that you already have some information about, but you will also find additional information about it on the Internet.

    B. **Task** You and your partner should fill out the proposal form and turn it in to your instructor. The form is in your textbook. You do not need to print it out.

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  4. Taking digital photos and recording a greeting (group and partners) - The class photo will be used on the Culture Capsules Master Page. Pictures of partners will go on the Culture Capsule you create. Your teacher will show you how to use the digital camera in class. You will also learn basic techniques for editing your photos in PhotoShop, a powerful image editing program.

    A. **Task** Arrange for another student to take pictures of you and your partner together. The picture should be taken with the camera close enough to you so that your faces are easy to see. Shooting from the waist up is about right. Be creative and smile!

    B. **Task** Your teacher will bring a tape recorder to class. Each group should record a short greeting (less than 20 seconds). Your teacher will show you how to turn the recording into an audio file. There will be a link on your Culture Capsules page so people can hear your audio recording.

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  5. Finding and Saving Information for your Culture Capsule

    Using Web Search Tools - You will do research to find information and images for your Culture Capsules.

    A. **Task** Before you continue, read carefully the information on using images (Permission and Documentation). As you find images for your Culture Capsule, you must record the URL's on the documentation worksheet. (Do not print. See your textbook). NOTE: Here are copyright free images. You don't need to get permission if you take images from here.

    Tips for using search tools. This will explain how to use the Web search engines and directories, how to (make Favorites (or bookmark), and how to save image files. (Do not print. See your textbook).

    B. **Task** Complete the Treasure Hunt from the AES and ISO Home Page. This will give you practice using your browser, bookmarking and downloading images. You will also learn useful information about your college.

    C. **Task** With your teacher, complete Scavenger Hunt: Trying out Internet Search Tools. Use only the Google search engine to complete the hunt. When you finish, you should have improved search skills! Now you are ready to research your topic!

    D. **Task** Should you believe everything you find on the Web? Remember, anyone can publish information on the Web, so you have to be a critical reader. Click here to download and print out a simple "Evaulation Checklist." This checklist will help you decide if a Web site is reliable and worth using. Use the checklist to evaluate the site, The Truth About Marijuana and Public Agenda Online (click on "Illegal Drugs" under "Issue Guides" on the left side of the page). Both of these sites deal with drugs and drug use. After completing this task, you will be much better prepared to evaluate what you find on the Web!

    E. **Task** Using Google, do a search on your topic. As you search, save Favorites to your flash key for at least 3 web sites to help you write your Culture Capsule. (You will make links to these sites from your Culture Capsule).

    F. **Task** Find at least one article in a Watzek Library database to use for your Culture Capsule. Your teacher will show you the best databases to use.

    G. **Task** After reading carefully the Web pages you found, print out any pages with information for your Culture Capsule. Use pages from at least 3 sites you found with Google and 1 site from an L.C. database. Highlight and take notes on the printed pages. Be sure the URL is printed or written on the printed pages. Turn in your Web pages and your notes to your teacher.

    H. **Task** Find and save to your flash key at least 10 images that you want to use in your Culture Capsule. You will need to use only 5, but find 10 because you may not be able to get permission to use all of them. You must complete the documentation worksheet (See your notebook). Follow the instructions for saving graphics files.

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  6. Word processing of essays - These essays will form the heart of your Culture Capsule. You and your partner each will describe either a famous person, place, process or celebration from your country. Later, both of you together will write one essay comparing and contrasting your topics. When you write your essay, use your personal experience, but also add information you got from your 3 Web sites and 1 database article.

    NOTE: You cannot copy from Web pages. You must paraphrase. If you must use exact phrases or sentences from your sources, put them in "quotes" and be sure to include a citation to the URL of the page you are quoting.

    A. **Task** Read carefully the following:

    1. The Person, Place, Process Essays:

    1. Person- Explain why this person is important in your country and to you. Give some background about her and explain what she is doing now that is interesting, important, controversial, etc. Make your reader feel that he knows this person and would want to meet her. You might want to tell a story involving the person in order to introduce her to your readers. OR

      Place- Do your best to convince readers to visit. Describe how the place looks, what one can do there (places to eat, shop), where one could stay, how one could get there, etc. Write about a place that you know well. If you have visited this place, you might tell a short story about your visit. OR

      Process- Explain what the process is (ceremony, e.g. marriage; celebration, e.g. Eid; sport or custom, e.g. hunting with falcons). Explain why it is important in your culture and give some background or history of the process. Give step by step instructions about how the process works. If you have personal experience with the process, you could tell about it.

      Length: Minimum of 400 words.

    2. The Comparison/Contrast Essay:

    1. After you and your partner have revised your essays, you will work together with your partner to write a comparison/contrast composition. You will compare and contrast the people, places or processes you wrote about. To do this, you will need to read each others' essays and discuss the websites you found during your Internet search. The more you know about your partner's topic, the better you can compare/contrast it with yours.

      Focus: At first, you and your partner's topics may seem completely different. For example, you may have written about a rock singer and your partner about a famous politician. In this case, it might be more interesting to focus on the similarities between the two people because this is less obvious (and maybe more interesting) to the reader.

      Length: 400 words.
      One of you should be responsible for writing an introduction and the first part of the body (similarities or differences). Your partner should be responsible for writing the second part of the body (similarities or differences) and the conclusion.

    B. **Task** With your partner, read and complete the handout and outline for your comparison or contrast composition. You will find a copy in your textbook. Complete the outline and turn it in to your teacher.

    1. Where to Place Links: As you write, think of good places in the essay where you could place "links" to web pages and images that you found (you will do this later using Dreamweaver).

    C. **Task** Type your essay in MS Word following these instructions carefully:

    1. Open a new document in MS Word. Save the file to your flash key with a name which describes your topic. Include your name, date and title on the essay. Using a pencil or pen, underline words that will become links when you create your Web page. Do not use the "underline" feature in Word.

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  7. Peer and teacher review; revision of draft(s) - Your writing does not have to be perfect, but it should be your best work because many people will read it on the Web.

    A. **Task** Your partner will read your draft (s) and complete the Peer Evaluation Form (see your textbook). Your teacher will also read your drafts and make comments.

    B. **Task** Revise according to the comments your receive.

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  8. Creating Web pages with Dreamweaver - In order to publish the Culture Capsules, students must transfer their essays into HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) documents. HTML is the programming language of the Web. HTML commands tell browsers how to format text and images, and also enable linking to other Web resources. It is helpful to know about HTML, but it is not necessary to learn HTML in order to publish Web pages. You will learn to use a Web authoring program called Dreamweaver. This program will add the HTML commands you need automatically.

    To see what HTML commands look like:
    A. **Task** While viewing this Web page in your browser:

    1. Choose "Document Source" from the "View" menu. You will see many HTML commands such as the following: <P><B><A NAME="top"></A><A HREF="http://www.lclark.edu/~AES/home.html">AES</A>: ESL 382: Computer Applications - Fall 1998</B></P>
    2. These HTML commands are all necessary to produce just the heading at the top of this page and a link to the AES home page. Using Dreamweaver will be much easier because it creates the HTML tags automatically so you don't have to!

    To learn the basics of using Dreamweaver:

    B. **Task** Your teacher will show your the basic skills you need to make Web pages with Dreamweaver. You can also use this Dreamweaver tutorial if you want to learn more on your own.

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  9. Creating your Culture Capsules Web page - Now that you know the basics of using Dreamweaver, you and your partner are ready to put your writing into a Culture Capsules Web page. To make this easier, your instructor has created a "template" Web page. This is a Web document, created with Dreamweaver, which each pair of students in the class will have. You will not create a new Web page. Instead, you will add information to the template page. There are instructions on the template page to guide you (you will delete these after you read them). You will add the photos of you and your partner, a link to your "welcome" message, an image about your topic that you downloaded, the text you wrote, links to the Web sites and images you found, and links to your Email account. In this way, all of the pages in the project will have a similar "look and feel." Please look again at some sample Culture Capsules to get an idea of what your finished Culture Capsule will look like.

    Follow these steps to create your Web page:

    A. **Task** Put all files on one flash key: You will be working together with your partner to create only one Web page. You must decide which of your flash keys will be the "working flash key" with all of the files you will work on each day.

    1. The following files should be on the "working flash key": word processing files (essay of partner 1, essay of partner 2, comparison/contrast essay), image files (photo of partners, images you downloaded for your Web page), bookmark files to your Web page resources, "welcome" audio file, and the Dreamweaver file ("webprojtemplate.html)
    2. You can copy files to the "working flash key" with these steps:
      1. Insert the flash key you want to copy from.
      2. Drag the files you want to copy to the hard drive.
      3. Eject the flash key.
      4. Insert the "working flash key".
      5. Drag the files from the hard disk to the "working flash key".
      6. Trash the files you copied to the hard drive.

    B. **Task** Save as. . . your Web page and put files into folders - On the "working flash key", it is very important that you follow these steps to create folders and to keep your and your partner's work in these folders. When you create links to your Web page, they won't work if you move the files out of the folders.

    1. Open the file, "webprojtemplate.html". Choose "Save as. . ." from the "File" menu. Name the file <yourfamilyname.html> (example: alhajeri.html) Save the file. NOTE: You won't use the file "webprojtemplate.html" again. Do all of your work in the <familyname.html> file. This will be your and your partner's Culture Capsules Web page.

    2. Create two new folders on the "working flash key".
      1. Choose "New Folder" from the "File" menu. (do this two times)
      2. Name one folder <familynameweb> (example alhajeriweb)
      3. Name the other folder "Images"
      4. Drag the <familyname.html> file to the <familynameweb> folder.
      5. Drag all of the graphics files (photo of partners, pictures you downloaded for your Web page) and the audio "welcome" message to the "Images" folder.
      6. Drag the "Images" folder into the <familynameweb> folder.
      7. The other files on the "working flash key" (word processing and bookmark files) should NOT be put in these folders.

    C. **Task** Copy text from your essays in MS Word to your Web document:

    1. Open Essay 1 (MS Word) and <familyname.html> (Dreamweaver).
    2. Select all of the text in Essay 1.
    3. Choose "Copy" from the "Edit" menu.
    4. Choose "Dreamweaver" from the menu at the top right of your screen.
    5. Select the text "Paste first essay here" and delete it.
    6. Choose "Paste" from the "Edit" menu.
    7. Repeat these steps for Essay 2 and the Comparison/Contrast essay.
    8. NOTE: The size and style of the text (bold or plain) should match that of the sample page. Check it and see. If you have problems with this, ask your instructor.

    NOTE: When you open your <yourfamilyname.html> file each day to work on it, Dreamweaver will say, "The local root folder, _______, does not exist. Please choose a new local root folder from the Define Sites dialog." You should click "Define Site. . ." . Then navigate to the folder on your flash key where your <yourfamilyname.html> file is located. You will have to do this each time you open your Web page to work on it. Ask your teacher for help if you need it.

     

    D. **Task** Insert photo of partners: With your Web page <familyname.html> open:

    1. Select the instructions, "Insert photo of partners here" and delete it.
    2. Choose "Image. . ." from the "Insert" menu. (or use the toolbar).
    3. Navigate to the "Images" folder on your flash key.
    4. Open the "Images" folder, select the file you need, and click on "Choose"
    5. The photo of you and your partner will appear in the box.

     

    E. **Task** Add titles and insert an image below each one: With your Web page <familyname.html> open:

    1. Select the instructions, "<Put title of 1st essay here. (bold, size 5)>" and delete it.
    2. Without moving the cursor, type in the correct title. It should automatically be in the correct size and style.
    3. Repeat these steps for the titles of Essay 2 and the Comparison/Contrast essay.
    4. Below the title of your and your partner's essay, insert an image that represents your Culture Capsule topic. Follow the same steps as above when you inserted the photo of you and your partner. This time, however, choose an image that represents your topic.

    F. **Task** Create Email links: With your Web page <familyname.html> open:

    1. Select the instructions, "<Put Email link to author here.(bold, size 4)>" and delete it.
    2. Without moving the cursor, type in the author's name. It should automatically be in the correct size and style.
    3. Select the text. Choose "Email link" from the "Insert" menu.
    4. Click in the box next to "Email"
    5. Type the correct email address. Click "OK."
    6. The name will be highlighted and is now an email link.
    7. Test your link:
      1. Point your mouse over the email link and click one time.
      2. In the box at the bottom of the page you will see "Link" and you will see "mailto:<youremailaddress>. This shows your email link is correct.

    G. **Task** Create Links to Web Sites: With your Web page <familyname.html> open:

    1. Open your browser and navigate to the website you want to link to. (do this by double clicking a Bookmark or Favorite file you saved on your flash key OR type in the URL in the "location box")
    2. Drag to select the URL that appears in the box.
    3. Choose "Copy" from the "Edit" menu.
    4. Click on the Dreamweaver icon in the toolbar.
    5. Select the text in your Home Page document which you want to make into a link.
    6. Click in the "Link" box on the formatting bar at the bottom of the page.
    7. Paste the URL into the "Link " box using by holding down the "Apple" key and typing "v".
    8. Click anywhere in your document. Your linked text should be underlined and colored.
    9. Test your link:
      1. Choose "Preview in Browser" from the "File" menu. Your Dreamweaver document will open in Internet Explorer or other browser.
      2. Locate and click the link you created. You should arrive at the Web site you linked to.

    H. **Task** Create Links to Graphics Files:
    If you sent a letter for permission to use images OR if you got your graphics from a non-copyright source, follow these steps):     With your Web page <familyname.html> open:

    1. Select the text which you want linked to a graphic.
    2. Choose "Make Link " from the "Modify" menu.
    3. Navigate to your flash key, then to the <familynameweb> folder, then to the "Images" folder.
    4. Select the "Images" file and choose "Open".
    5. Select the file you want to link to and click on "Choose". The link is created.
    6. Test your link:
      1. Choose "Preview in Browser" from the "File" menu. Your Dreamweaver document will open in Internet Explorer (or other browser).
      2. Locate and click the link you created. You should see the image file you selected.
      3. Close the Internet Explorer (or other browser) window. You are back in Dreamweaver, ready to do more work on your Web document.
    7. Don't forget to write a footnote for each image you use, listing the Web site address where it came from. You may also need to put a special permission notice from the copyright holder if it is requested of you. See example.

    If you did receive permission to use an image you should link to the Web page containing the image. You should *not* link to the image you downloaded to your flash key. Follow these steps:

    1. Select the text which you want linked to a graphic.
    2. Link to the Web site which has the picture you want to show. The user will have to locate the picture on the Web page. This is not as effective as linking directly to the image. So, please work hard to send letters and get permission from the copyright holders of the images you want to use.

    I. **Task** Proofread your Web page: Proofread your Web page carefully.

    1. Be sure all of the instructions have been deleted.
    2. Check to be sure that the type size and style matches that of the sample essay.
    3. Be sure your spelling is correct. Choose "Check Spelling" from the "Text" menu.

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  10. Peer and teacher review of Culture Capsules Web page - Before putting your document on the Web, it's important to check that it's your best work and that all of the links are working.

    A. **Task** With another pair of students, complete the Web Page Peer Review Form that is in your textbook and turn it in to your instructor.

    B. **Task** Revise your Web pages based on the comments of your classmates and teacher.

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  11. Turn in Final Drafts of Culture Capsule; teachers posts to Web - Do NOT move any files out of the "<familyname> folder or the "Images" folder.

    A. **Task** Turn in your flash key to instructor.

    1. Instructor will check the Web pages and upload the pages to the Culture Capsules Master Page on the Web.
    2. Instructor will announce the project to AES teachers. Tell your friends and family to look at your Culture Capsule on the Web!

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  12. Class presentation and evaluation

    A. **Task**- Using your completed Culture Capsule as a presentation aid, each partner will give a 4-5 minute oral report on his/her topic. Do NOT READ your report, but paraphrase/summarize it as you navigate to the Web sites and images. Your teacher will give you an oral report evaluation form so you can evaluate your classmates' presentations. Be sure to write specific comments which will help your classmate improve his/her presentation content/style.

    B. **Task** - Using the Culture Capsules Evaluation Form, complete a self-evaluation for the Culture Capsules project. Your teacher will also complete an evaluation of you and your partner. All the evaluations will be used to determine your grade for this project.

    C. **Task** - Celebrate! You have finished your Culture Capsules project. Nice job!

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  13. Creating a home page of your own - This is an optional assignment if there is time at the end of the course. (Of course, you could start now and continue after the course ends).
    1. A. **Task** You will use Dreamweaver to create your Web pages. In addition to the skills you already have, you will need to know how to "upload" pages to the Web server after your create them in Dreamweaver. You can use a free program like Fetch to upload your files to the server. (Fetch is available via download.

      B. **Task** Follow this link to get some ideas about basic Web home page design.

      C. **Task** If you want to "jazz up" your home page with clip art you can download from the Web, here is a list of royalty free clip art and animations.

      This should get you started if you want to make your own home page. Please send me Email and tell me if you get a page started. I'd love to see it! 

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Created by: krauss@lclark.edu
Updated: 10/15/06