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CSCI 217
Web Site Phase 2

The goal of this phase is for you to improve on existing pages and to expand your web site by adding additional features including images, tables, and using CSS. You may use a code-only HTML editor if you so desire or continue to use a text editor. Remember to link to pages designated as homework in "Course Section" of your web site.

Reminders: The main page of your site must be the file index.html. You must use relative links to your pages internal to your site. Absolute links will not work when your site is copied or moved.

A key part of the assignment is the design document which should state where in your site the required HTML features (with hyperlinks to them where appropriate) are used. The required elements are listed below. The design document should also explain your design choices, the affects you are trying to achieve, and the technique used to do this. If you adapted code or images from somewhere else, your design document should contain a link to that page. (Simply copying the page from elsewhere is not acceptable.) Your design document should be easily accessible from the "course material" page and should be clearly nidentified. Sites without a design document will receive very low grades.

Steps involved in Phase 2

Phase 2 involves three steps. First you must post an initial version of your site for peer review. Secondly you will review the site of another student. [I will assign each person a site to comment on.] Your comments should take into account the criteria for judging sites discussed in class. Finally, you will update your site in response to the comments offered and/or your own revisions. The dates by which the initial and final versions are due are listed at the top of this page.
Your comments: These should be insightful critiques of the sites you are assigned and should include what specific design elements work (or don't work) with the site, techniques that might be used to improve the site, extensions of the design or content, etc. These comments will form part of your grade. Useless comments ("Cool site, dude!") will be ignored. You should provide your comments to the person whose site on which you commented and post as an HTML page on your site. Provide a link to your comments from the Homework Section of your site. Based on suggestions you receive you may modify your site as long as the final version is uploaded by the deadline specified.

It is important that your work be accomplished by the scheduled date. Failing to meet deadlines will significantly effect the grade on this assignment.

Copyrighted Material

Be careful not to place copyrighted material on your site unless you have written permission from the copyright owner. You should assume that any material on the internet is copyrighted unless stated otherwise. Many sites explicitely state that making copies for non-commerical use is ok (which constitutes written permission from the copyright owner). The course resources page contains links to sites with free graphics, icons, buttons, etc., but you are also encouraged to try creating your own material.

Required Elements

The content of your pages is up to you. You must, however, incorporate the following requirements into the site you design, have a design document describing their use in your site, and include a "Course Section" which demonstrates your implementation of designated homework assignments. The following requirements must appear somewhere in the site and should be easy to find given your design document:

Grading

The primary criteria for grading will be how effectively you exploit the HTML constructs covered in the course so far to present your message in an attractive and effective manner. The grading will be broken down as follows:
First, a site without a meaningful up-to-date Design Document, concisely explaining what you did where and why, will receive at most 50% credit on this phase. Assuming this criteria is met,