Creating Websites That Work

Designed to help students apply the theories and techniques of effective technical writing to web-based communication, this new text offers step-by-step guidance for the web site creation process. One of the first texts designed to meet the needs of current tech writing programs, Creating Effective Web Sites is ideal both for introductory courses that incorporate some web assignments and for more advanced courses with heavier web emphasis. The web site includes a rich array of learning tools such as brief tutorials for common web page building software (FrontPage and Adobe Golive), summary checklists; evaluation sheets for student projects; exercises that reinforce stylistic consistency, revising text for the web, and solving problems; lists of online and print resources for web design; coverage of such technical information as HTML, FTPing files, and optimizing graphics; and guidance on creating proposals, creative briefs, requirements documents, site maps, visual design storyboards, visual design prototypes, and usability testing reports.

1. Creating a Portfolio Site The Web Design Process--Creating an Online Portfolio Experience Design Usability Testing Ethics and Credibility Looking Ahead 2. Requirements Gathering Site Owner Business Goals Site Owner Brand Positioning User Goals Technical and Human Resources and Requirements 3. Experience Design Making Sense of Your User Data Experience Design 4. Elements of Effective Visual Design Defining an Overall Look and Feel Creating Page Designs Capturing Design Decisions in a Style Guide Getting Ready to Test 5. Creating Effective Content for the Web Understanding How People Read on the Web Gathering Content Information Keeping Your Content User-Focused Structuring Content Visually Making the Most of Your Online Environment Establishing Credibility Keeping Your Communication Ethical Editing Your Content Testing Your Content for Effectiveness 6. Usability Analysis What Is a Usability Test? The Usability-Testing Process Presenting Results