A small group of students will research one of the "You be the Judge" pages in the textbook (listed on the inside cover). Each group summarizes its research in a website, and uses the website as a visual aid during a 50-minute class presentation. The website and class presentation are graded for the whole group, although I reserve the right to adjust this grade depending on individual contribution to the project.

Website

Purpose

• The website will serve three functions:

  • your group's research paper,

  • an information resource (like a textbook) for others to use, and

  • a visual aid for your class presentation.

Research

• To start research, meet as a group and divide responsibilities. Remember, these responsibilities may change because some tasks are more difficult than others. Read the Website Evaluation Rubric below to figure out what needs to be done.
• Each of you will need a Word file where you write comments, and copy information found on websites, as well as web addresses. Do not print out websites; it is a waste of time and paper. Learn to copy and paste vital information. Become a digital pack rat.
• Do not limit yourself to websites; use of statistical databases and refereed journals. Remember, you are looking for hard evidence, not just claims and opinions. Statistical databases:
  • The National Center for Educational Statistics
  • National Association of State Boards of Education
  • Social Statistics Briefing Room
  • FedStats (This site allows users to view statistics from more than 70 federal agencies)
  • Statistical Abstract of the United States
  • U.S. Census Bureau-U.S. Statistics in Brief
• Another great source is a new search engine http://scholar.google.com/ (This is not a generic Google search)

Web design

• The most important guideline in developing the web site is the rubric. Make sure you read and understand it.
• Feel free to use any web development software. Here is a short manual for Dreamweaver that I recommend to use.
• See sample websites made by students in the past:

1. Should technology lead the quest for better schools?

2. Does school violence warrant the use of zero tolerance policies?

• Always keep a back-up copy of your website, and all materials that go into it. Computer disasters do happen. Use a zip disk or a flash drive to keep your information, because a floppy disk is too small and too slow for a website.
• On the day of presentation, upload your website, and bring a disk, just in case.  Paste the link to your site on the Websites forum; type the group number and the topic in the subject, and simply paste the link in the message, so people can look at your site and discuss it.
• Caution: do not simply cut and paste a text from other websites; this would be an instance of plagiarism. If you quote someone, make a proper reference.
• When making links, hide actual web addresses in your links; don't make them visible (see samples below). References to paper sources should be placed on each page of your website according to the APA style. Reference to on-line source should be placed as close as possible to the quoted text, for example:
  • According to a Harvard professor James Smith, public schooling has outlived its usefulness.
  • The main argument in support of school uniforms arises from concern for school safety, as one parent advocacy group suggests (Parents for School Safety).