FIT 100 Fluency with Information Technology

Project 1: A Website of Misinformation

"You can fool too many of the people too much of the time" -- James Thurber

Honest Effort

This assignment will be checked against all of the other lab section assignments as well as all past quarter INFO/CSE 100 assignments for plagiarism.  An advanced client-server plagiarism-detection software application will be used to assist in the discovery of such "assignment collaboration".  This class has a 0 tolerance policy on cheating.

Preparation

You are required to have completed Lab 3 and Lab 4 before starting this assignment.
You are also required to have read the following before starting this assignment.

Fluency with Information Technology (by Lawrence Snyder)

Objectives

By the end of the Unit I project, you will be able to:

Project Overview

For this project your challenge is to create a Web site of "misinformation," or missing information, that appears as authentic as possible to the user. While the content of your Web site will be questionable, everything else about your Web site should convey the opposite. Basically you will be creating a Web site that has false claims, yet contains information that appears as authentic as possible to a user. The only limitations to your topics are these:

Your misinformation Web site could be about:

Important: Pick a topic that interests you. The world is your oyster!

Overall Project Steps

The project consists of two parts with separate turn-in dates. In Part 1A, you will plan the Web site, assemble the raw materials, and describe your plan.  In Part 1B, you will write your web pages, produce modified images, and test the effectiveness of your Web site.

Part 1A:  Plan your misinformation Web site (50 points)

Project 1B:  Create and test the misinformation Web site (100 points)

Detailed Project Steps

Project 1A: (50 points)

a) Descriptive page title (i.e. the text in the title in the head of the web page) and main heading (i.e. enclosed in an h1, h2, etc. tag).  (4 points)

b) One paragraph describing what the topic of your misinformation Web site will be.  (6 points)

c) 2-3 pictures (.jpeg, .jpg, .bmp, .gif, various formats etc.).  These images will include:

i. Unmodified image(s) you plan to modify and use for your misinformation Web site.  (6 points)
ii. A logo that you'll use in a disclaimer to alert viewers to the fact that what they're seeing is bogus.  You can create this in Adobe Photoshop or any other image creation software. Examples of text for the logo are "Bogus Website!" or "Website of Misinformation" -- anything that gets this point across is ok.  (6 points)

d) One paragraph citing the source of the original image(s) and your permission or legal rights to use the image(s).  There are three cases, each with different requirements.  If you are using images from several sources, you may have to use different procedures to get the legal right to use each image.

Case 1)  You are using a photo you took yourself.  In this case, you must establish copyright for your photo.  This requires:
i. Include a copyright notice on or with your image.  This consists of the copyright symbol, © or (c), the year, and your name.  For this part of the project, you can just include text near your image with the copyright notice.  (3 points)
ii. Get concrete evidence that the image existed before you posted it (so others can't claim they had the image earlier).  There are several methods, including: printing and mailing a copy to yourself (don't open the envelope after you get it back!), saving the image file on a CD or diskette or other medium where there will be a permanent dated copy.  Describe what you did.  (3 points)
These web sites provide more info on protecting your work:
http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ1.html#hsc
http://www.iusmentis.com/copyright/crashcourse/requirements/#formalities
Note that you do not have to register your photo to claim copyright!

Case 2)  You are using an image from a web site that permits free use of its images.  (Several of these have been pointed out in the labs.)  In this case:
i. Almost without exception, sites that provide free images require you to include their copyright notice and a link to the site.  Find the site's information on what they require, quote it in your web page, and include a link to it.  (3 points)
ii. Do what the site asks, i.e. actually add, near the image, whatever text or links or icons the site asks you to include.  Even if the site does not specifically require it, include a link to the site, and to the image itself.  (3 points)

Case 3)  You want to use an image from a web site that does not state that free use of images is permitted.  In this case, you will need to contact the copyright owner to ask for permission, and actually receive permission.
i. Professional sites that supply content have a contact e-mail address or web request form for asking permission.  Find this and include a link to it.  If it's not a professional site, include a mailto link to the site owner.  In either case, include the text of the message you sent requesting permission.  (3 points)
ii. Copy the text of the e-mail you got back, granting permission to use the image, into your project1A.html web page.  Include a link to the site from which you got the image, and to the image itself.  (3 points)

General information on copyright is available here:
http://www.copyright.gov
http://www.iusmentis.com/copyright/crashcourse/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright

e) One paragraph describing how you plan to manipulate the image(s), and what you plan to use it(them) for.  (6 points)

f) Your site must be valid according to the XHTML 1.0 Transitional Rules. The W3C MarkUp Validation Service Web site can be found here: http://validator.w3.org  Include the validation icon on your page. Make sure that the regular-credit validation points at XHTML 1.0 transitional DOCTYPE and the extra-credit points at XHTML 1 Strict. (10 points)

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN"
"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd">
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en" xml:lang="en">
<head>
    <meta http-equiv="content-type"  content="text/html;charset=utf-8" />
    <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" />

    <title>Untitled Document</title>
</head>

<body>

</body>
</html>

 

g) For extra credit, validate your site according to the XHTML 1.0 Strict Rules, using the same validation service as in section f. You will need to replace the DOCTYPE, which is the two lines in red, as shown here. Revalidate at http://validator.w3.org. (10 points)

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN"
"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd">

<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" />
<meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" />
    <title>Untitled Document</title>
</head>

<body>

</body>
</html>

Project 1B: (100 points)

a) Descriptive page title and main heading.  (4 points)

b) Your modified images (at least 2 of them - not one image that combines two images - your finished page should include two images, each of which has been modified. For example, you may have started with four images and combined them so now there are two modified images on your page.).  (6 points)

c) Two paragraphs supporting your story of misinformation.  The text should reinforce the authenticity of your image(s).  (6 points)

d) At least 3 working links to other Web sites that "support" the misinformation on your page.  For instance, if you are doing a webpage on the discovery of alien life forms on Mars, you may want to include a site such as http://www.nasa.gov.  Be creative here, and try to find links that really make your webpage look authentic and credible.  (6 points)

e) Working link to your disclaimer page (which will be described later).  (3 points)

a) Descriptive title and main heading.  (3 points)

b) Additional information CLEARLY stating that the misinformation page contains false information.  (3 points)

c) A working link back to your misinformation page.  (3 points)

d) Images that demonstrate and acknowledge the deception:

i. The unmodified, original images (at least 2). (Your finished page should include two images, each of which has been modified. For example, you may have started with four images and combined them so now there are two modified images on your page.)  (6 points)
ii. Your modified image (at least 2, this means two separate images that have been modified, not one image that is a combination of two images).  (6 points)
iii. Your "bogus Web site" logo image that you created in part 1A.  (6 points)

e) One paragraph citing the source of the original images and permission / legal rights to use them, along with any required text or links that must be included with the images.  See the requirements for getting permission to use images given in part 1A (section d) -- include the same information and links here.  (6 points -- point breakdown is same as in part 1A section d)

f) One paragraph explaining how you manipulated the images in Photoshop or other photo manipulation program.  (6 points)

g) Test your site on 2 individuals (preferably who do not know you are working on this project.) and ask them to rate you on the "Characteristics of Legitimate Sites" (In Chapter 5, pages 140-41 in the 3rd edition and page 148 in the 2nd edition). 

i. Display the results in a table -- use an HTML table for this. (6 points)
ii. Include two paragraphs summarizing your results and conclusions about the success of your deception.  (6 points)

h) Two paragraphs discussing misinformation on the web, the ethical issues involved with misinformation on the web, and the problems that can arise due to the presence of misinformation. Things to think about or discuss:  Who is capable of doing this? Who is responsible for the information?  What should information seekers be aware of (or beware of)?  Etc.  (6 points)

i) Your site must be valid according to the XHTML 1.0 Transitional Rules. The W3C MarkUp Validation Service Web site can be found here: http://validator.w3.org  Include the validation icon on your page. Make sure that the regular-credit validation points at XHTML 1.0 transitional DOCTYPE and the extra-credit points at XHTML 1 Strict. (10 points)

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN"
"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd">
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en" xml:lang="en">
<head>
    <meta http-equiv="content-type"  content="text/html;charset=utf-8" />
    <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" />

    <title>Untitled Document</title>
</head>

<body>

</body>
</html>

 

j) For extra credit, validate your site according to the XHTML 1.0 Strict Rules, using the same validation service as in section f. You will need to replace the DOCTYPE, which is the two lines in red, as shown here. Revalidate at http://validator.w3.org. (10 points)

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN"
"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd">

<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" />
<meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" />
    <title>Untitled Document</title>
</head>

<body>

</body>
</html>

he files listed above should be accessible when viewed via a browser at the following URL (where "UWNetID" is replaced by your UWNetID): http://students.washington.edu/UWNetID/fit100/project1B

k) Create a Word document with your name, UW NetID, Student ID number, Lab section, and the full URL for your web pages.

l) Submit the Word document only via Catalyst (see "Turn-in Procedure" below).

Important

Turn-in procedure

You will be submitting your Project 1 files through a Catalyst turn-in. Upon submission, you will get an online receipt verifying the files you have turned in.  Please SAVE this receipt—just in case something does go wrong, you'll have proof you submitted the assignment. For each project part, please turn in only the Word document with the URLs for your project files, your name, UW NetID, Student ID No., and Lab section.

Project 1A Online Due Date: Thursday, January 31, before 11:00 pm.

Project 1B Online Due Date: Thursday, February 7, before 11:00 pm.

Your score will be based on:

HTML Reference: W3 Schools HTML 4.01 and XHTML tags reference list