Advanced Expository Writing ENGL 249S-02 * Fall 2003

Overview

• Due Date: Thursday, November 6, 2003. See Schedule.
• Length: between three (3) full pages and five (5) full pages, or between 900 and 1500 words.
• Research Requirement: Moderate; see below for details.
• Questions? E-mail me at kaydelott@yahoo.com

As you consider both how to write for the web and how that writing is different from other kinds of writing you've encountered, analyze a web site for these ubiquitous qualites: audience, theme, content, and navigation, which are elements of web writing we have been examining and contemplating all semester.

Here's the research part. After surfing several alternatives, carefully choose a web site on a topic related to your web site and directory. It should be a site that provides information that as a student of the subject, you find interesting. This could be a good site, or for more fun, find a site that sucks.

First, you need to identify the site, both by title and by URL.

Second, write a paragraph that summarizes the information the site provides. Be as clear and succinct as possible.

Third, analyze the site with regard to these concerns:

1. Audience: Who is this site written for? Is it meant for beginners in your field, or for colleagues in your projected profession? What can you say about the age of the intended audience? The gender? How do you determine this? How successful is this site at reaching its intended audience? Why did you choose it? Is there anything the site developers missed?
2. Theme: What can you say about the theme of this site? Is it humorous, or serious? Is it wildly colorful or rather plain and staid? How does this play into the other qualities you're considering? Anything out of place? Anything jarring?
3. Content: Does the web site provide the kind of information you expected from the title, the splash page, or home page? Any misspellings, or errors? Is there anything you expected that wasn't provided, or provided that you didn't expect? Evaluate the significance of the information. Is it worthwhile to have this site on the web? Anything you would change, add, omit? Why? How often is the information updated? Is it still current or rather obsolete? Are the graphics helpful or annoying? Images that don't work?
4. Navigation: How long does it take for the page to load (you can be general: quickly, slowly, TOO slowly)? Is the site deep (lots of links and pages) or shallow (few links and pages)? Are there any broken links, or links that take you anywhere you don't expect?

Finally, would you recommend this site to your fellow students?