ATEC 3320: Introduction to Writing and Editing for the World Wide Web

Section 001

Dr. Gooch
Office Number: JO 5.608F
Office Hours: TR, 9 – 11:00 a.m. and by appointment
Office Phone: (972) 883 – 2076
E-mail: john.gooch@utdallas.edu

Course Description
Writing well for the World Wide Web requires the same amount of talent and practice that writing
well for the print media demands but with additional critical differences. Web writing starts with
targeting an audience (readers/users) and developing content that is interactive across multiple
modalities such as text, images, and other media. Links are the power behind the internet and
internal and external linking alters the manner in which we read online text and thus its design
and content. While traditional web development models have favored graphical design principles,
or the way a website “looks” over how it “reads,” or its information architecture, current studies
show that successful websites are those with loyal subscribers who come back again and again
for good content.

ATEC 3320 is a writing intensive course that requires completion of both individual and
collaborative projects. We will focus extensively upon improving your writing and editing skills so
that you may more effectively apply those skills in creating web content. The course will also
address some basic principles of information design, but we will not explore the more
complicated facets of multimedia design, dynamic content, and/or creation of graphics, which are
territories of other ATEC courses.

Objectives
• To improve writing and editing skills as applied to hypertext
• To understand the characteristics and nature of hypertext
• To comprehend the World Wide Web as a multifaceted communication medium
• To analyze proficiently the various audiences who may represent potential users
• To apply effectively user-centered design approaches

Skills and Other Requirements for the Course

The course is taught using WebCT. All students must have UTD User IDs and passwords to access
course materials—including the submission of assignments. Students have the responsibility to
ensure that the course remains accessible to them for the duration of the semester.

Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance

It is the policy of UTD to provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals who are
students with disabilities. This university will adhere to all applicable federal, state and local laws,
regulations and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations as required to
afford equal educational opportunity. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the office of
services for students with disabilities (Kerry Tate at (972) 883-2098 or ktate@utdallas.edu) in a
timely manner to arrange for reasonable accommodations.

Required Textbooks
Nielson, Designing Web Usability
Kilian, Writing for the Web
IMPORTANT NOTE: This is NOT an introduction to HTML course. The reason is simple; there is
so much web content to cover that we do not have time for HTML lessons. However, you are
required to have internet connectivity and a web domain space to upload and publish your
assignments. In order to complete your assignments you need to obtain personal web site space.
There are several options for you to meet this requirement for the course.

First, if you have dialup/modem or DSL you will/might have space available through your ISP
provider. Ask your tech support to connect you with your web space. AOL, Comcast and Earthlink
are examples of ISPs that provide web space along with their ISP packages.

If you do not have a dialup provider, you would still need to obtain web space to publish your
assignments. Please choose your low cost provider carefully to avoid sites with advertising
banners and pop-ups. There are low cost providers such
http://www.portland.co.uk/freewebhosting.esp which is free and does not have pop-ups or
spam features. I will not accept any assignments submitted on Angelfire, Geocities or Tripod;
they are notoriously cluttered with pop-ups and ads. You'll need the following information to
upload pages to your site:

1. The user name and password you need to use.

2. The server address to use in your FTP program.
3. The name of your "home" directory (where you begin uploading your files)
4. Any requirements for a default file name (ask if you must use an index.html file or
something similar).

A word about transferring your files to the server: PC users can use CuteFTP, WS_FTP, SmartFTP
(or any other FTP program you wish, provided that it is not attached to an authoring program,
such as FrontPage or Netscape Composer or any other WYSIWYG program). Mac users can
download Fetch or SmartFTP for Mac or use any other FTP program they wish with the same
caveat regarding WYSIWYG editors. You might want to check the Internet for Free FTP clients.
You should also know that UTD provides free domain space to all registered students.

Then there is always learning HTML and using a simple Text Editor to make your pages. If you
wish to learn HTML [and I strongly recommend that you do], there are several excellent websites
on the Internet that teach you introductory and advanced HTML, starting with the W3C
consortium at http://www.w3.org/.

Please resolve your web space issue, should you have any, before the first assignment is due. As
always, if you need to discuss any of these issues, please do so before the assignment is due.

Policies
General Policies and Course Expectations
• At bare minimum, students must submit all major assignments (not including
homework/class work) to pass the course. Students who fail to submit all major
assignments will not pass the course, regardless of the number of points the student has
earned.
• Cell phones and digital pagers must be powered off during formal class hours.
• Students will not use the computers for personal reasons (e.g., check personal e-mail,
surf web) during class time.
• I will not accept late homework/class work regardless of the excuse.
 • Please do not bring meals to class. Students should eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner at a
time other than class time.
Room and Equipment Use
• Tampering with or destroying any of the computers, printers, Smart Board, white boards,
modems or wiring in the classroom is strictly prohibited. Violations will result in
disciplinary action by the Dean of Students’ office.
• The room may be used only for ATEC 3320 related activities. You may not work on other
class projects, check your e-mail, print, work for other classes, burn CDs that are not
part of ATEC 3320 assignments, install software (games, music, executables,
programming languages, or any other software that has not been approved). Any
violation of the above restriction would refer a student to disciplinary action with the
Dean of Students office. A second violation will result in the student receiving an “F” in
the course regardless of the quality of class work.
Absence Policy
Because successfully completing ATEC 3320 depends upon your attendance and participation,
even absences resulting from seemingly legitimate circumstances can hinder your overall
performance. I will allow you three (3) days as personal/free/sick leave for this semester.
Students will receive one letter grade reduction for every absence over three (3). Students who
accumulate five or more absences should seriously consider withdrawing from the course.

I will consider excusing absences for extended illness and/or hospital stay on an individual and
case-by-case basis. Students should consult with me privately regarding such circumstances.

Punctuality
It is important to attend class on time. Persistent and reoccurring tardiness is disrespectful to me
and to your fellow peers. If you continually attend class late, it will affect your final grade in the
course. Student may leave early with instructor permission; however, such occurrences should be
very infrequent.

Incompletes Policy
As per UTD policy, an incomplete will not be given unless the student has completed 70% of the
course work and/or the conditions for not being able to complete the course work can be
documented through medical and/or emergency documentation. The decision to grant an
incomplete will be made by both the instructor and the program director.

Correspondence
I will send all electronic correspondence only to a student’s UTD email address and require that
all official electronic correspondence between a student and me be transmitted from the
students’ UTD email account. UT Dallas furnishes each student a FREE Network ID (netid) linked
to an email account. To activate or maintain a UTD computer account and/or to set email
forwarding options, go to http://netid.udallas.edu. NOTE: The UTD Department of Information
Resources provides a method for students to forward their UTD email to other personal and
business email to other personal or business emails accounts.

Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the intentional or unintentional use of other people’s ideas, words, phrases, entire
paragraphs or single sentences without acknowledging the source in timely and appropriate
citations. Plagiarism is a form of scholastic dishonesty that is punishable by failing the
assignment, failing the course, being put on academic probation or in extreme cases dismissal
from the university. If you borrow content or graphics from other books, course lectures,
websites or other forms of print or electronic media, you must cite them according to
specifications mandated for this course. Everything you submit for peer or instructor review for
this class is bound by the academic honor code that requires it to be your unique work with
borrowed content properly cited.

In contrast to plagiarism’s inappropriate use of other sources’ information, cheating, or scholastic

dishonesty, includes a wide range of behaviors. The UTD Scholastic Dishonesty page lists
eighteen types of behaviors, including copying another student’s work, making work or
information available for another student, accessing information at inappropriate times, and
submitting an assignment that you did not prepare. This list is not exhaustive but does provide a
sense of common ways cheating occurs. While you can (and in fact should) seek the help and
advice of friends, classmates, and tutors, including the Writing Center in McDermott Library, be
sure that your individual work is completely your own.

Students should be familiar with UTD’s policies on scholastic dishonesty and conduct UTD's
policies on student discipline and conduct, which includes a description and examples of
scholastic dishonesty and misconduct.

Non-Disclosure and Intellectual Property

Students in this course share their ideas through collaborative work, projects, and oral
presentations. Consequently, instructors cannot guarantee proprietary rights to an idea,
document, program, etc. When selecting topics for projects, assignments, and presentations,
consider whether you intend to pursue intellectual property rights such as patents or copyrights.
If so, please be advised that everything discussed or produced in this course belongs to the
public domain and as such will not give you any copyright or patent benefits. If that is a concern
for you, I strongly recommend that you select another topic for the assignment. Additionally,
students employed with local companies should review the employer’s non-disclosure agreements
and avoid revealing proprietary information in the course. UTD and the faculty assume no
responsibility when employees choose to disclose such proprietary information.
Note: I reserve the right to modify this syllabus at any time during the course of the semester to
suit the needs of the students and the course objectives. Any changes thus made shall be
communicated to you in writing.

Assignments
Assignments Point Value % Due Date
Hypertext Essay 100 10% January 27
Literature Review 100 10% February 10
Web Site Evaluation Paper 200 20% February 24
Team Contract 50 5% March 3
Collaborative Web Site (beta version) 100 10% March 24
Usability Report (memo format) 50 5% April 21
Collaborative Web Site (final version) 200 20% May 1
Progress Report 50 5% April 7
Merit Reviews (2 @ 25 pts each) 50 5% March 17, April 28
Participation 50 5% N/A
Class Activities 50 5% Varies
Grading Scale
930 – 1000 = A 730 – 769 = C
900 – 929 = A - 700 – 729 = C-
870 – 899 = B+ 670 – 699 = D+
830 – 869 = B 630 – 669 = D
800 – 829 = B- 600 – 629 = D-
770 – 799 = C+ 599 and below = F
(Grading scale is consistent with the UTD Undergraduate Catalogue, 2004-06.)

Expectations for Work/General Grading Criteria

Analysis of Audience and Purpose
When presenting information in oral or written form, it becomes critically important to analyze
audience and also to identify the purpose of the document or presentation. When communicating
using the World Wide Web, one should learn as much as he or she can about potential audiences
and then make certain to effectively address those readers or listeners.

Organization and Development (Overall Content)

It is important to structure effectively the information and also provide adequate support for
ideas and arguments through evidence and analysis. Effective writing also necessitates that you
effectively structure each paragraph and each section.

Thesis or Main Point

Any piece of writing should support a main point, central claim, or thesis. Your web content or
written essays should support a main point that you are communicating to an intended audience.

Style
Word choices, use of language, and sentence structure become very important for a piece of
writing’s overall effectiveness. Writers should maintain an appropriate level of style for the
audience and also for their intended purpose.

Accessibility
Making web sites “accessible” requires effective linking, appropriate use of headings and
subheadings, and also clear designations of navigational icons. Web site accessibility refers to the
ease at which users can locate information on your site. An inaccessible site may discourage
users from returning to the home page. Accessible web content necessarily becomes more user-
centered content.

Format (Delivery and Design Features)

Formatting concerns relate to certain and specific visual features such as font size and type, font
style, white space, and use of color. Web writers make a multitude of basic formatting decisions
when preparing content. Making effective decisions along these lines can help make web content
more accessible, and thus, more user-centered.

Professionalism
You will prepare work according to the same professional and ethical standards expected of you
in the workplace. As future or current professionals and also as students, I expect you to
proofread and edit carefully all work you submit in this class. I also expect you to adhere to
conventional English grammar and mechanics on all assignments. Professionalism also means
that you use appropriate source citation wherever and whenever necessary so that you avoid
violations of copyright – even if those violations are inadvertent. Remember: your work reflects
upon you as a future professional.
NOTE: To earn an “A” grade for an assignment, it must meet and exceed these expectations.

College level writing is expected in this course. Assignments that do not reflect college level
writing will not earn high grades.

ATEC 3320 Schedule, SPRING 2006

Week of Theme/Topic Readings
January 10, 12 Introduction, Effective Writing Killian, Chapters 1

January 17, 19 Writing Arguments

January 24, 26 Workshop: Hypertext Essay

January 31, February 2 Style Killian, Chapter 4 and 5

February 7, 9 Organization and Development Killian, Chapter 2 and 3

Workshop: Literature Review

February 14, 16 Basic Design Principles Williams and Tollett

Chapter 5 and 6

February 21, 23 Evaluating Web Content Williams and Tollett, Chapter 8

Workshop: Eval Paper

February 28, March 2 Interface Design Nielsen, Chapter 1

Williams and Tollett, Chapter 7

March 6 – 11 SPRING BREAK SPRING BREAK

March 14, 16 Page Design Nielsen, Chapter 2

March 21, 23 Content and Site Design Nielsen, Chapters 3 and 4

Workshop: Web Site (beta)

March 28, 30 Color and Typography Williams and Tollett,

Chapters 9 and 12

April 4, 6 International Users and Users Nielsen, Chapters 6 and 7

with Disabilities

April 11, 13 Usability Test and Workshop

April 18, 20 Course Wrap-Up Nielsen, Chapters 8 and 9

Workshops

April 25 – May 1 FINAL EXAM WEEK