CIS 745 - Web Page Assignment

Step 0

You are to form a set of web pages - pages on a particular topic and personal pages. Each person will have their own home page, a résumé page, and a short topical page relating to an e-commerce issue or technology. The topical page can be viewed as your first "take" on the group presentation topic. You will be submitting a single URL that serves as the entry point to your resume, the topical pages -- and later on the group presentation.

Step 1

Make sure that you have gone through the steps for creating a personal home page that the UM has established (see http://www.umich.edu/how-to-homepage.html). Here and here are some helpful pointers. This is one good table of HTML commands. This is another one. A good source of graphics for your page is provided by ITD at http://www.umich.edu/~websvcs/images/, remember that it is not the purpose of the assignment (nor a mark of a good page) to have the most pictures or the most animated graphics.

Step 2

Prepare a homepage named "index.html" that welcomes the visitor to your web site. (Note the file name with its four character extension) Use relative links in preference to absolute links (see the Beginner's Guide to HTML) for navigating among your pages and for references to the pictures, buttons, and other graphics that you are using on your pages. You probably don't want a lot on this page. Let it be the entry point to your web site that provides the links to your other pages.

Step 3

Prepare a "resume.html" that might include such information as:

• distinguishing marks
• special interests
• work history
• education and training
• job objective
• relevant skills and experience

This is your web page. Your résumé does not have to be in the style required by the University of Michigan Business School, nor does it *have* to be true. If you are concerned about privacy feel free to be creative. *Do not* violate any copyright, slander or other laws, here or on any other page.

Important Note: Remember that these pages are on a world-wide stage. Do not put anything on your pages that you would not want the rest of the world to see. The "rule of thumb" is that you do not put anything on your pages that you would not want published on the front page of the New York Times. For example, you probably do not want to put your home address or home phone number on any web page. Put your email address instead. If the person looking at the web page wants to contact you, they can do it by email.

Step 4

Create a set of web pages based on a topic of your choosing. There should be a single entry point to this set of pages. Possible topics include but are not limited to the topics listed on our class syllabus.

Do not duplicate just what the AltaVista or Lycos search engines produce. You need more than just a list of sites. You need to add value by organizing the data and building on your cited links. An acceptable value-added topical page has your personal observations about the material that is presented. The better value-added topical pages express your point of view and reveal an interest/expertise that you have. This means that the information presented is original to the site and not found anywhere else, but at the same time there are appropriate links to other relevant materials. There must be some value-added to attract visitors for the first time or even for a

Step 5

What to turn in: Nothing. By the assignment due date you need to go to the course discussion board and submit the URL for the starting page of the assignment. Use the topic of your choice as the subject tag for the message. The URL you submit will be of the form:
http://www-personal.umich.edu/~uniqname/topical.html

Of course, you will substitute the appropriate uniqname and topical name in the above.

Grading

The major grading criteria are the contribution to a specific theme, here are the minimal requirements:

• use of a readable font throughout
• appropriate backgrounds that leave the text readable
• consistent spacing and indents throughout
• appropriately large font-size for titles and headings
• use of icons, pictures and other graphics
• proper use of bullet lists and/or tables
• working links between your home, resume and topical web pages
• working links to schools, companies and other related web pages

Remember that your topical page needs to be "value-added" in that it demonstrates your team's expertise on a particular topic. Ask yourself the questions: "Why would someone return to my topical page?" or "Why would someone bookmark my topical page?". For grading purposes, more emphasis is placed on the topical page than the other pages.