Writing and Developing Websites
Overview
1. Introduction to Designing and Writing Websites
- learn what makes a good website and a bad website
- analyze the writer’s role in the collaborative-team approach
- complete a cognitive analysis of how users move through information
- examine the ethical issues of writing for the web (for example, copyright, surveillance, freedom of speech)
- learn basic storyboarding skills for websites
- practise minimalist writing
- study screen design
- learn how to construct an audience analysis for a website
- analyze end-user information needs
- use project-management skills for website development
- use basic html and image manipulation using a suitable software program
- learn how to manage, convert, and transfer files for websites
2. Basic Website Production
- learn webpage software programs
- create and maintain a blog
- write, design, and produce a professional website
- develop a concept for a client-based website (for example, product or event promotion, informational, services)
- understand the various roles within a website development team
- plan for content development/acquisition
- plan and implement the structure of the website
- plan a promotional strategy for the site (including social media)
- test and debug the website
- document the style and conventions used in the website
- identify strategies for ensuring the website content remains up-to-date
This course will use a combination of teaching methods including lecture, demonstration, group discussion, analysis of samples, and in-class and home exercises and projects. The emphasis will be on learning by analysis reinforced with hands-on practice wherever possible. Students will be required to prepare, write, and produce all, or portions of, a client-based website during the course. Students will be required to work collaboratively on selected assignments.
Students are expected to be self-motivated and to demonstrate professionalism, which includes active participation, good attendance, punctuality, effective collaboration, ability to meet deadlines, presentation skills, and accurate self-evaluation.
Evaluation is consistent with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy and will be based on this general format:
| Short assignments (4 to 6) | 60% |
| Website project | 30% |
| Professionalism/participation (as defined above) | 10% |
| 100% |
Students who successfully complete this course will:
- learn effective communication strategies for developing a client-based website
- understand and know when and how to use appropriate writing and formatting conventions
- learn how to use industry-standard software to produce a website
- understand the writer’s role in the team approach to web-based communication projects
- be familiar with key trends, issues, and developments in the field of web-based communication
- understand the impact of technological change on the role and responsibilities of the professional communicator working in this area
Examples of textbooks that may be used for this course include:
Crawford Kilian, Writing for the Web
Janice Redish, Letting Go of the Words: Writing Web Content That Works.
Requisites
Prerequisites
Acceptance into the Post-Degree Diploma in Professional Communication
or a minimum of 45 credit hours including a university-transfer course in English, Communications, or Creative Writing with a grade of B or higher
or permission of the Professional Communication program coordinator
Corequisites
No corequisite courses.
Equivalencies
Course Guidelines
Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.
Course Transfers
These are for current course guidelines only. For a full list of archived courses please see https://www.bctransferguide.ca
| Institution | Transfer details for CMNS 3501 |
|---|---|
| Camosun College (CAMO) | CAMO CMNS 1XX (3) |
| Simon Fraser University (SFU) | SFU CMNS 3XX (3) |
| Thompson Rivers University (TRU) | TRU CMNS 3XXX (3) or TRU JOUR 3XXX (3) |
| University of British Columbia - Vancouver (UBCV) | No credit |
| Vancouver Island University (VIU) | VIU DIGI 340 (3) |
Course Offerings
Winter 2025
| CRN | Days | Instructor | Status | More details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
CRN
15654
|
Tue | Instructor last name
Madison
Instructor first name
June
|
Course status
Waitlist
|
CMNS 3501 050 is prioritized for Post-Degree Diploma Professional Communication students. Students may request permission by contacting Maureen Nicholson at nicholsonm@douglascollege.ca. with student number, program, and registration date.