Unit Three

Web Page Construction

This Unit:

Reading Assignment:

Read Chapter Three and do all the exercises in the chapter.

Pages 77-84 cover how to use the <p> <h1> <h2>, and <img> elements. These are the basic building blocks of any web page.

On pages 85 to 97 you will learn about the <q> and <blockquote> elements. Using these two elements as a starting point, the text will introduce you to the difference between "inline" and "block" elements.

Before you move too far from the <q> element, let me contribute a little "truth:

• Not many people use the <q> element because the actual presentation of the quotation marks becomes a real pain.

However, there are lots of good semantic reasons to use <q>. Here is a link that will tell you a "hack" to fix the quote mark problem once and for all. This is optional and if you want to skip it, that's OK; however, if you need it later it is also listed in the folder on the Home page called, "Useful Info for Beginning Web Designers."

The rest of the chapter, pages 98-118, introduces <br>, ordered lists <ol>, unordered lists <ul> and list items <li>

Lists are a little tricky, but it's worth while getting good at them. If you look at my Internet Home Page, you will see a menu with several choices. Believe it or not, the menu is just a fancy list that I styled with CSS. There is no java script or special magic used to make the menu. Because it's all in XHTML and CSS it is very easy for a blind person to use with a screen reader.

There is a lot of info in this chapter, but it's all good stuff. When you have finished Chapter 3 you will know most of the basic building blocks of a simple web page. And that's when it starts to be fun!

Discussion:

Just one discussion topic this unit. Why do you think that Microsoft has been slow to "fix" Internet Explorer so that it meets W3C Standards? Google around and see if you can find any information on this topic. There's lots out there. You could start with this Cnet article.

They are getting better. See what you can find about IE8.

Later, read the inputs from the other students and make some comments. You are welcome to comment on more than one.

Quiz:

Take the quiz. Remember, it's open book!

Assignment:

Fix the code on page 121. When you have fixed it, check it in your browser to make sure it works. When it does, upload the file to me. Take your time and make it really perfect, following all the rules you have learned so far. All the handwritten comments on page 121 will help you find all the problems.

Due Date:

The Discussion, Quiz, and Assignment are all due on the date listed on the homepage of the course. If you are having a problem meeting the due date let me know in advance.

...Bill