The Web Project is the last class item of the semester that is due by midnight on the last day of classes (Friday, December 6th). It is worth 10 points towards your final point total and grade. You have the choice of doing the Web Project or the Observing Project as part of your "class participation" score. Note that you should inform Dr. Dufour for permission to do both. Note that the observing project is due at an earlier date. The web project basically consists of an approximately 1000-word essay on a "hot" topic or news item in astronomy that has appeared in newspapers, magazines, or on the world wide web this year. You are to prepare a report, submitted in the form of a web page, discussing an item of your choosing. The web page should consist of text that includes photographs and additional references (directly or linked). The grade will be determined by the (a) quality of the discussion and your analysis, (b) number of outside references/links, and (c) format of the presentation. The suggested outline of this is as follows:
A. A 2-3 paragraph description of the news item that includes a specific reference and link to the original source or sources.
B. A 1-3 paragraph analysis of the news item in the context of material that you have studied in the course. Specifically, I want to know that you can evaluate the importance of the news item as related to astronomy in general given what you learned in the course.
C. Links to photographs on the www and/or other references to (closely) related news items during the past few years. If possible, literature references should also be included, especially relevant sections in the Astr 201 textbook.
Some URL's for astronomy news and press releases are given below. Check them out ASAP, for you need to pick a topic before Tuesday, November 6th and email the prof by then for "approval." Of course, you are welcome to talk to the prof anytime about suitable topics.
The topic of choice should be related to the SCIENCE of astronomy dealing with topics covered in Astr 201 (hence, avoid subjects like human spaceflight missions and/or political policy matters). The topic chosen should relate directly to the material covered in class since the analysis part of the discussion is important and should related to material that you learned in class.
IMPORTANT DATES:.
Thursday, October 2 nd: -- Posting of the web project instructions.
…now you have a month to pick a topic…it must be some 2006-2007 news release related to specific subject items covered (or to be covered) in Astr 201, not a general subject!
Tuesday, November 6th: -- Deadline to email the prof (rjd@rice.edu) the name of the topic that you
wish to do for the Web Project. The
prof must approve your choice of
topic before proceeding…do this ASAP!
Friday, December 7th: -- Last day of classes and Web Project due by midnight CST. Submit your title and URL by email to BOTH rjd@rice.edu AND rjdrice@sbcglobal.net.
UPDATE(12/06/07): Due to the prof's travel, no penalties will be assessed for slightly late web project reports sent before he starts grading on Monday, December 10 (late penalty assessed after 12/10!).
SOME ASTRONOMY NEWS URL's:
A COUPLE OF GOOD WEB PROJECT REPORTS FROM MY 2003 ASTR201 CLASS:
(these scored 9-10 points, but note that some of these links may not work anymore)
http://www.geocities.com/emilee1004
http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~lesleym/
SO YOU HAVE NEVER DONE A WEB PAGE BEFORE?
Well, neither had several of the above students who told me that they were surprised at how easy, and even fun, doing an “electronic term paper” could be. If you need help, check with the Student Consulting Office at Mudd for guidelines and written/personal help. Aside from the fun of cruising the web, it’s really “straightforward” to link pretty pictures and even dynamic movie video and music to your web page using basic software such as MS Word or Composer, or even more user-friendly webpage builders that the Mudd people can show you. Alternatively, you can access web sites like geocities.com and others which have very user-friendly software for webpage building (albeit with annoying to me cookies attached) software, OR, find a computer-jock friend who can give you a “fast-start.”
Finally, try to minimize cookie attachments (annoying when grading your report) and don’t forget to send the URL to the prof at both rjd@rice.edu and rjdrice@sbcglobal.net (this assures he gets it on two computers).
RJD 10/04/07