Instructions:
Student WhoZoo Pages
2005
To edit the WhoZoo Template, follow this procedure: Back to Instructions Contents

Adding Images Using and Making Links

On of the great things about the WWW is that it IS a web -- you can follow information from page to page.  You will need to create links on your page for several purposes, for example

Making a link is simple.  First, you need something to link FROM -- a word, phrase or an image.  Suppose I want to make a link from this page to the WhoZoo web site.  I might use either the words WhoZoo or an icon: 
To make the link from words or a phrase, highlight them, and then click on the "Link" icon in Composer.  Type the URL of the site to which you are linking into the text box.  Because URLs can be long, and even one little typo can make the link not work, it is safest is to go to the site you want to link to, and copy the URL from the address line and then paste it into the text box.  To make a link from an image,  click on the image, then on the link icon, and type in the URL of the place you want to go.

E-mail links are a special case.  To make a link that will bring up E-mail software, type your name or your E-mail address.  Highlight the information, and click on the "Links" icon.  In the text box type "mailto: yourname@mail.txwes.edu", replacing my E-mail address with your E-mail address.  Note that there is no space between "mail" and "to" -- all one word "mailto" followed by a colon (:) and a space.

You can (and should) test your links or your page appearance in general, by clicking on "Preview", which opens your page in a new frame.  Once you have opened the Preview frame, you can just select "Reload" to update the preview as you save new changes to your page.
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Page title, backgrounds and page colors:

The template comes with a background image, which you are welcome to use. However, you may change it if you wish. If you "right-click" with the cursor in an open space (i.e. not in a table or on an image) on your page, you will get a menu that includes "Page Properties." Click on "Page Properties" to change background or text colors, or to insert a general background image for your page. A good place to find backgrounds is Great Grafix!   Another is: http://www.grsites.com/textures/design.shtml Also see Hellas Multimedia at http://www.hellasmultimedia.com/webimages/back-htm/back.htm.

Keep readability in mind.  See Amber Campbell's Savu Python,  Van Siboroun's California King Snake and Shameya Roberts' Sergeant-Major Fish for examples of good combinations of an interesting background and readable text.  Multicolored or heavily textured backgrounds make the selection of a readable text color very difficult.  See the Web Pages That Suck web site for good examples of bad page design. If you want to use such a background, then put your text in boxes with a plain background that complements your background image.  An example of such a solution can be seen in Paola Morales' Lesser Kudu page.

The "Page Properties" menu also includes a tab that allows you to give the page a title, and to identify yourself as the page author.   The page title is displayed at the top of the screen, and will help search engines find your page.  The default title for the template is "Your Animal at the Fort Worth Zoo."  Insert the name of your animal in the obvious place.  Add your name as page author, in the text box below the title box.
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HTML editing programs

If you are experienced with a favorite HTML program and would prefer to use it to construct your page, then you may do so.  Take the following factors into account.

There are known problems with the following editing procedures: Back to Instructions Contents


Bells and Whistles

Simple is just fine.  What makes a good WhoZoo web page is good information, an orderly and readable presentation, and appropriate illustrations.  An example of a simple, but effective, no-frills page is Jana Moss's American Porcupine page.

Frames: Do not use frames in constructing your WhoZoo page.

Java scripts, Flash and other bells and whistles:  be my guest.  A nice example of a page with Java Scripting is Jennifer Trevino's Poison Dart Frog page.  Just remember that your page has to work!

If you actually want to try writing your own source code, there are many tutorials on the WWW that will help you learn to write HTML.  Here are two of them,  one for HTML and one for a variety of skills:  HTML, graphics, frames and Java Scripting.
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File Names:  One more time:

DO change the name of the "template.htm" file, to a new name that includes your initials and the name of your animal.
File names should contain no spaces or punctuation marks.  If you want to separate terms in your file name, use the underscore like_this.
DO NOT change the names of image files.

When you download your template, you must use use a new or at least a clean diskette with nothing else on it.  This will prevent your homework for other classes or your love letters or stuff for your sorority from being loaded into WhoZoo.  As you work on the project, you will give me a copy of your diskette to check periodically. Remember to keep a current backup.
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Information Sources:

You will need a minimum of  four information sources for your page: print sources (books or articles) Internet sources, information from zoo displays or personnel, and other types of personal communication.   All sources should have credibility -- that is, should come from somebody with professional experience with the animal.  Field guides, and books about specific types of animals are good sources.  Personal web pages about pets are generally unstable, i.e. your links may disappear. Current articles in newspapers or news magazines are acceptable if they are substantial -- not just a brief story or a picture essay. Needless to say, you should actually read and take notes from any material that you cite as a reference. See the references below for examples of bibliographic forms.

Keep all your notes and photocopies or printouts of materials that you hve used in a file folder and be prepared to turn them in at the time you present your final version of the page for uploading. Both your disks and your source folders will be returned to you after your final project evaluation have been completed.

Here are some general resources available from the West Library::

I have several reference works in my office which you may consult. Sorry, but I can't let these leave the building, although you may take them into the student lounge to take notes. You may also ask the Administrative Assistant in McFadden 211 to make copies of this information. He will not make photocopies of other source materials, however.

Here are some very good WWW resources


The P-WORD.  Many students are confused about what constitutes PLAGIARISM. Don't do it.   You might get lucky and catch me in an inattentive moment, but probably I will notice if you just paste somebody else's text into the appropriate boxes.  You can lose major points doing this.

So what does that leave?  WRITE IT YOURSELF!  Take notes from your sources and put the information together in your own words.  And of course, all sources you use for preparation of a page must be cited.
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Due Dates:

You will turn your work into me three time at various stages in your progress. Due dates will be on the WebCT course calendar. Each draft of your work should be presented as a working HTML file. IMPORTANT: Make a backup disk of your work and keep it current. Turn in one disk to me and keep the other. Check your disk before you turn it in to be sure that all images are displayed and that your links work. It's best to do this on a computer other than the one you used in creating the file.  Keep all files that you use in your page on the same diskette. If you need more than 1.4 MB, you have too much stuff on your page.

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