Centre for the Arts and Communications
Bachelor of Applied Communications in Professional Writing Course Outline
Basic HTML for Writers • PROW 230 (PW13)
2012WI
Thursday's 2 PM-5AM CAC 261
Winter 2011
Instructor
Office Hours
Office Number
Office Telephone
Email
Calendar Description
Prerequisite
Course Credits/Hours
Learning Outcomes
Evaluation
Textbook and Supplies
Grant MacEwan University • Winter 2011
Fred Sawka
Thureday’s 12:30 PM-1:30 PM
254
780-633-3775
sawkaf@macewan.ca
In this course, students learn the basic HTML elements they need to add
complex features and functions to their own written works and those of
others when publishing on the World Wide Web. They begin with basic
blogs as their introduction to content management systems; research and
define basic HTML elements; create multi-element documents using HTML
code for images, bolding, headings, lists, and tables; and use authoring tools,
such as Dreamweaver, to write and transfer files within an online
environment. In short, they learn to write, edit, and troubleshoot the HTML
code they need to put their words on the web.
PROW 117: Mac Skills for Writers
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Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:
 Describe the proper applications and use of HTML elements for
written documents
 Publish and update written work in an online content management
system
 Use HTML code to create multi-element layouts (e.g., images, text,
bolding, headings, lists, and tables)
 Create HTML files and transfer them to an online environment
using an authoring tool, such as Dreamweaver
Introductory Blog
Simple Textual Webpage
Simple HTML Layout Assignment
Multi-page web site
Authoring Tool Final Project
Midterm Exam
Total
10%
10%
15%
20%
30%
15%
100%
Elizabeth Castro. HTML, XHTML & CSS Visual Quickstart Guide. Sixth
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Edition. Berkeley: Peachpit Press, 2007.
Steve Krug. Don’t Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability.
Second Edition. Berkeley: New Riders, 2006.
Due dates and penalties
Assignments must be submitted at the beginning of class on the due date
unless you have made prior arrangements with me. Unexcused late
assignments will receive a mark of zero.
Extensions will be granted only in exceptional circumstances (e.g., serious
illness, death in the family). In the case of serious illness, you must provide a
medical note, signed by your doctor, that states you are unable to complete
school work due to illness. An extension will not be granted unless you
contact me at least one day before the assignment due date. Do not request
an extension by e-mail.
Marking and Return of
Assignments
Assignments will normally be returned within two weeks of
submission; assignments granted extensions may be returned late.
Keep an extra disk copy or printout of every assignment you submit. Keep
your marked assignments until the end of the course.
Attendance
This course relies heavily on in-class demonstrations and one-on-one
tutorials during class time. Your attendance is important. If you miss a class,
it is your responsibility to get notes from another student and meet
assignment deadlines. I cannot provide one-on-one instruction for classes
you miss.
Academic Dishonesty
Acts of academic dishonesty are a serious offence. As a student-member of
this academic community you are accountable for your conduct. To become
informed about proper conduct and what constitutes academic dishonesty,
and the penalties for these acts, please review the excerpt from Policy C1000
Academic Integrity in the Grant MacEwan University Calendar under
Academic Policies and Regulations. When in doubt, ask for guidance.
Appeal
Through an appeals process, students can appeal a decision pertaining to
academic matters such as discipline, marks and grades, and students rights
through an appeals process. The process is time sensitive. We refer you
therefore to the excerpt from Policy E3103 Student Appeals in the Grant
MacEwan University Calendar under Academic Policies and Regulations.
Guidance is available to you from the program chair, the Students
Association (SA) and Counselling Services in the Student Resource Centre.
Students with Disabilities
Student who may require special accommodations due to a disability are
advised to discuss their needs with Services for Students with Disabilities in
the Student Resource Centre on campus. Then, discuss accommodations
with the instructor at the beginning of the course.
Grant MacEwan University • Winter 2012
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Final Grade
As a final grade in a course, students at Grant MacEwan University are
assigned a letter grade (A+ - F) which corresponds to the provincial
standard 4 point grading system. While instructors use percentages to mark
assignments and examinations, percentage is not a final grade (see the
Calendar for policy C2020 Grading).
Marks will be converted to a letter grade according this table:
Percentage
Grade
Grade Point
Descriptor
___________________________________________________________
93-100
A+
4.0
Outstanding
87-92
A
4.0
80-86
A3.7
Excellent
___________________________________________________________
77-79
B+
3.3
Good
74-76
B
3.0
70-73
B2.7
___________________________________________________________
67-69
C+
2.3
Satisfactory
64-66
C
2.0
60-63
C1.7
___________________________________________________________
57-59
D+
1.3
Poor
50-56
D
1.0
___________________________________________________________
BELOW 50
F
0.0
Fail
WF
0.0
Withdraw Failure
Note: Students thinking of transferring to other institutes should be aware
that many colleges and universities consider a grade of D+ or D a failing
grade.
Departments and programs at MacEwan apply different tables to convert
marks to a final grade. Please carefully read every course outline you receive
for the details about how the final grade will be calculated.
Instructional Strategies
Content Outline and
Schedule
Grant MacEwan University • Winter 2012
Outside of classroom time, I will meet with students only during office
hours to discuss matters related to the course. Students must arrange a time
to meet with me. I will only respond to student phone calls during these
office hours. I check my email regularly, but students should not expect a
response in less than 24 hours.
This is the topic and reading schedule for each class. The readings must be
finished before coming to class. Bring your copies of Castro’s HTML,
XHTML & CSS and Krug’s Don’t Make Me Think to each class featuring a
reading from the text, as we will be using them for in-class work. The
information in this course outline is subject to change to accommodate
progress of the class; any changes will be announced and distributed to the
class. Assignments due are underlined.
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Week - 01
Thur. Jan. 05
Introduction to HTML & the Web
How to Make a Blog
Castro "Introduction"
Week - 02
Thur. Jan. 12
Introduction to Dreamweaver & Web file publishing
Castro Chapters 1, 2 & 23
Week - 03
Thur. Jan. 19
Basic Web Page Elements
Castro Chapter 3
Introductory blog due
Week - 04
Thur. Jan. 26
Formatting Web Content & Images
Castro Chapters 4, 5 & 15
Week - 05
Thur. Feb. 02
Hyperlinks, Tables, Special Characters & Debugging
Castro Chapters 6, 16, 21 & 22
Week - 06
Thur. Feb. 09
Introduction to styles
Castro Chapters 7, 8, 9 & 10
Simple Textual Webpage due
Week - 07
Thur. Feb. 16
Web page layouts
Castro Chapter 10
Thur. Feb. 23
Reading Week – No class
Week - 08
Thur. Mar. 01
Making a web *site*
Review Castro Chapters 2 & 6
Simple HTML Layout Webpage due
Week - 09
Thur. Mar. 08
Midterm Exam
Week - 10
Thur. Mar. 15
Usability & Writing for the Web
Krug "Introduction", Chapters 1, 3, 4 & 5
Week - 11
Thur. Mar. 22
Simple web page effects
Castro Chapters 12 & 20
Multi-page web site due
Week - 12
Thur. Mar. 29
Adding Media to your web content
Castro Chapter 18
Week - 13
Thur. Apr. 05
Accessibility
Krug Chapters 10 & 11
Week - 14
Thur. Apr. 12
Getting your Content Noticed
Castro Chapters 24 & 25
Week - 15
Thur. Apr. 19
Authoring tool final project due
Last day to withdraw from this course without academic penalty is
March 18, 2011. A withdrawal form must be completed and signed by
the program chair or university advisor prior to or by this date.
Grant MacEwan University • Winter 2012
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Additions
Written assignments must be typed (on a typewriter or word processor),
double spaced, with a one-inch margin, in a standard font on plain white 8.5 x
11 paper. Include a title page with the assignment title, the course number and
section number, the instructor’s name, your name, and the date of submission.
Grant MacEwan limits the number of times students may repeat credit courses.
Students may repeat any course once, regardless of whether the initial
registration resulted in a failing or passing grade. See Policy C1035.
Cell phones and pagers must be turned off during lectures (except under
exceptional circumstances for which the instructor has given prior approval).
Students whose behaviour disrupts the class may be asked to leave.
In a lab-based course, you must observe MacEwan ITS policies for computer
use in public labs. The computers are to be used for course work only; keep
them off during lectures and class discussions. Students whose behaviour
disrupts the class may be asked to leave.
Grant MacEwan University • Winter 2012
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