Writing 166J
Th 6-9:45 p.m. Oakes 222 and 205
Spring 2001
5 credits

Instructor: Kevin Woodward
Email: kwoodward@yahoo.com or woodward@cats.ucsc.edu
Phone: 831.595.4518 (cell) or 831.459.4574 (UCSC office)
Office hours: Th 4:45-5:30 p.m. Kresge College, Room 216
Class website: www.cruzio.com/~kevinw/writing166j

Schedule

The following class schedule is dynamic and subject to change depending on the needs of the class and/or instructor. It will be posted online and students are expected to review it on a regular basis.

Week 1: March 29
Remember: When setting a goal or tackling a tough problem, write it down on paper
Topics: Class sign ups, introductions, goals, the Web, servers and browsers, print vs. online media, scan vs. read, teamwork, lab introduction and tools overview
Reading assignment: Instructor handouts
Note: Set up Web email and subscribe to mailing lists in-class, Web site review in-class assignment

Week 2: April 5
Remember: It is estimated that the computer monitor slows reading speed by as much as 25 percent
Topics: Common features of successful media sites, Web Pages that Suck, online reporting overview, hypertext, email and mailing lists, introduction to HTML
Reading assignment: Writing chapter 1; OnlineJ chapters 1-3; HTML chapters 1-3
Note: Project 1 discussion and planning

Week 3: April 12
Remember: Webtext always carries a nonverbal message, too
Topics: Website structure and organization, search engines, email, newsgroups, "chunking," organizing content, HTML basics
Reading assignment: Writing chapter 2-3; OnlineJ chapters 4-5; HTML chapter 4
Note: Converting prose in-class writing assignment; Project 1 groups and topics assigned

Week 4: April 19
Remember: The first step in designing a Web site is to determine your audience
Topics: Navigation and design basics, writing good Webtext, HTML links and text formatting
Reading assignment: Writing chapters 4, OnlineJ chapter 6; HTML chapters 5-6
Note: Activating the passive in-class writing assignment; Project 1 interviews and research planning

Week 5: April 26
Remember: Users, not designers, determine the appearance of Web pages
Topics: Computer-assisted reporting, online research, scrolling vs. chunking, HTML graphics and images
Guest lecturer: Ken McLaughlin, San Jose Mercury News
Reading assignment: Writing chapter 5; HTML chapter 7
Note: Project 1 interviews and research cont.

Week 6: May 3
Remember: Throw away your spellchecker
Topics: Web page elements and design, editing Web text, HTML tables, Photoshop and WS_FTP Pro basics
Reading assignment: Writing chapter 6, OnlineJ chapters 7-8; HTML chapter 10
Note: Project 1 first draft of stories due; in-class editing

Week 7: May 10
Remember: Organize your site by topic or action
Topics: The "real" world and role of advertising, Web site structure and organization
Guest lecturer: Donna Yanish, Alta Vista
Reading assignment: Writing chapters 7-8; HTML chapters 16-18
Note: Project 1 final draft of stories due online, site design and navigation review

Week 8: May 17
Remember: Print out your pages to proofread
Topics: Publishing to the Web, usability testing, HTML frames and style sheets, site review checklist
Reading assignment: HTML chapters 11-13
Note: Project 2 in-class editing and site review

Week 9: May 24
Remember: Always review your pages on both Netscape and Internet Explorer
Topics: Non-news and portal sites, community, putting your site online
Guest lecturer: Mark Hull, Yahoo! and Robin Mejia, National Writers Union
Reading assignment: Classroom handouts, HTML chapters 19-21
Note: Project 2 complete

Week 10: May 31
Remember: It's still about journalism
Topics: Online law and ethics, lessons we've learned
Reading assignment: Online Journalism chapters 9-10
Note: Project 2 presentation to class

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