As is stated in your course description, 30% of your grade will be based upon in-class activities, preparation, homework, and quizzes. Of this 30%, 15% will be based upon in-class activities, preparation, and attendance. 10% will we based upon homework and quizzes. 5% will be based upon a group project, creating a Web site.

I. The Site

Each group should consist of 4-5 people, one of whom should assume responsibility for managing the site (setting up an account with a hosting service, uploading and updating files, responding to e-mail queries sent via the site). Your site should focus upon a Francophone author or film maker not covered in the course materials.

You may choose any author who interests you. However, you should consider avoiding both extremely well-known authors who are already abundantly present on the Web, and those worthy but obscure authors about whom so little information is available that researching them will be unacceptably burdensome.

What you must include on your site:

1. A biography similar in length and content to those included in Classiques pour débutants
2. A list of the author's principal works (no more than 10 items)
3. A short list of critical resources (5-10 items) which may include books, articles, interviews, documentaries, or other materials
4. A list of related links including, but not necessarily limited to, other sites dedicated to the author

Beyond these requirements you are free to include what you like, including images or other multimedia content. Please be careful to properly reference your sources and to avoid possible copyright violations (see www.utsystem.edu/ogc/intellectualproperty/cprtindx.htm for more information on the latter). The site may be written in French or English.

II. Getting Started

There are many Web hosting services that allow you to create and store sites on their servers free of charge. Below is a list of some of the better-known services. These are suggestions only: where you choose to host your site is entirely up you.

• Angelfire:  www.angelfire.com
• FortuneCity:  www.fortunecity.com
• GeoCities:  www.geocities.com
• ProHosting:  free.prohosting.com
• Tripod:  www.tripod.com

The actual business of building a Web site does not require any previous knowledge of HTML. If no one in your group has any experience in Web design, you will probably want to use one of the many WYSIWYG (what-you-see-is-what-you-get) options available. Both Netscape and Microsoft provide free, easy-to-use HTML editors with their full browser packages. AOL Press (www.aolpress.com) is a popular stand-alone option. You might also want to try the HTML editing features in Word 97/98. You can start with a blank HTML template, use the Web Page Wizard, or convert a Word document using the "Save as HTML" command. You should note, however, that not all the formatting you do in a Word document will convert neatly into HTML (There are no tabs in HTML, for example).

You are encouraged to start your project early to ensure that you have ample time to deal with any problems that might arise. Should you have any questions about HTML, or Web design generally, this UT site is a good place to start: www.utexas.edu/learn.

III. Due Dates

• Friday, October 2:  deadline for choosing a project group
• Monday, October 12:  deadline for choosing an author and setting up an account with a hosting service.  Note:  No two groups will be allowed to choose the same author. If you are especially interested in a particular author, declare your choice early.
• Friday, November 20:  Deadline for site completion