Web Site Structure Assignment
INLS 180
There are several ways to consider web site structure—the tagging you have been doing for other types of information objects (newspapers, books, TV) is made explicit in HTML tags. Perhaps these explicit structures will become transparent as WWW matures (working in your word processor and saving as HTML is a first step toward this). For this assignment, consider the organizational structure of the web site at coarser level—what are the entry/exit points for each “page?” How many links are provided? How many forms are provided? How many information objects are provided? Do different links serve different purposes (i.e., can we determine a link typology?) How is information “chunked?” How does the organization of information map onto mission? To investigate these questions complete this form for a set of web sites.
1. Site name and URL
2. Main page layout
2.1. Number of information “sectors” (visually discernable sections)
2.2. Number of information “objects” (distinct elements on page)
2.3. Does the site place "cookies" on your machine? [you can turn settings on/off in your browser]
2.4. Are link titles (tooltips) used?
2.5. Your impression of eye travel: e.g., start top left, move down and to the right; start middle, move up to the left; upper left, move down vertically; start lower left, move diagonally up and right
2.6. Number of forms (places to type text)
2.7. Number of links
2.8. Which links do you think are most used?
2.9. Are there any active objects or links? (e.g., banner ads, animations, active tools)
2.10. Overall, is this page visually appealing? (give one reason why or why not)
2.11. Overall, does this page effectively communicate mission? (give one reason why or why not)
2.12. Other observations
Examine the following six sites in the 3 sets (A-C) below and complete the form above for each one. Give a BRIEF answer (1-2 sentences) to the questions at the end of each set of web sites.
A. Library of Congress
Library of Congress www.loc.gov
Library of Congress American Memory http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/
How does the child site (American Memory) differ from the main site?
B. Federal government information
Fedstats www.fedstats.gov
Bureau of Labor Statistics www.bls.gov
How does the specific statistical agency site differ from the aggregate agency site?
C. University
UNC www.unc.edu
SILS www.ils.unc.edu
How does the parent site (university) differ from the unit site (college)?
For the following four sites, visit them and note what “message” does each site send about this company. You need not complete the structure form for these sites.
D. Corporation
General Motors www.gm.com
Microsoft www.microsoft.com
Discovery www.discovery.com
Disney www.disney.com
For the following four sites, visit them and note the different ways that they serve as portals to other information sources. What is your least favorite thing about each site?
E. Search services (portals)
Altavista www.altavista.com
Yahoo www.yahoo.com
Excite www.excite.com
Google www.google.com
How are these search engines alike? Different?
F. “Design” sites
Visit the following sites in rapid succession. For any site of your choice, What is “attractive” about the site? What is useful in the site?
Information Design sites:
http://www.somepig.com/about.html
Be prepared to discuss in class how the mission (purpose of the site), target audience, and popular culture influence web site structure and design. What role(s) does interaction play?
Be prepared to discuss how print, TV, and WWW are alike and different from an information interaction perspective.