In preparation for the students' work, the following "notes" were distributed to students:
1. When considering a "genre" look at the two aspects of genre--form/conventions and purpose/function):

1.1. look at conventions - what seems to prevail as accepted FORM across
representative samples?

1.2. talk about the function/purpose of the genre --relate to definitions of "genre (who needs it: "why" kinds of questions)

2. Find exemplary web sites of that "genre" and be able to say why they are the best you've found. Look for bad examples and do the same thing
Some factors to consider in Assessing “Exemplary” Web sites
credibility (issues of "ethos")
reliability (e.g., updated)
usability / reusability
usefulness
visual appeal
participatory (when relevant)

3. Look to see what "literature" (if any) exists about the "genre"

4. Does this "genre" exist outside cyberspace? if so, what modifications have been made to it in cyberspace?

5. You might interview people using the web to see what their expectations are about how the genre "works"

Overview of project/Home

Other References

Mary-Louise Craven
Associate Professor,
Communication Studies Program, Social Science Division,
York University, Toronto