Web Reports

Web reports are due on the day indicated on the syllabus. They require that you read the web pages linked to the assigned topic and follow any relevant links until you feel you understand the subject matter. You should take notes as you cull information from the sites you visit and form an opinion about what you've discovered. What did you find most interesting? What did you like or dislike about what you learned? Was there anything that particularly surprised you, and why did you find it unusual? Did you find another person's opinion particularly in conflict or in agreement with yours?

For your first four reports, you will write up your ideas in 2-3 typed (double-spaced) pages. These reports are not formal papers, but you should try to organize the material in a way that will both interest the reader and make your opinion clear. Your report should let me know what you have learned, as well as how you feel about it. The written web reports will be graded on the basis of content and thought more than on formal organization and style, though my comments may address these writing issues.

The written reports will also serve as practice writing, which will allow you to identify and obviate any major problems before you begin writing your major paper. Note: Do not copy and paste any text from a website, even if you plan to modify it in your report. EVEN IF YOU MODIFY COPIED MATERIAL, YOU HAVE PLAGIARIZED IT.

Once you have begun writing your term paper, the written reports will be replaced by oral reports. There will be three days designated for oral reports; each person will give one report in the semester. For the oral reports you should organize your notes and bring them to class. (Be careful: "organizing your notes" may involve creating an outline.) The purpose of these reports is to get the day's discussion going. You should plan to speak for about 5 or 6 minutes. The oral reports will also be good practice in public speaking, so work on focussing your report on the relevant material and expressing yourself clearly.