CSCI-A110 Lab 3
Internet Search and Text Formatting

Due date: 2011 Feb 10, 4:30 p.m.
50 points

URL: The latest version of this document can be found online at http://mypage.iu.edu/~gdweber/csci/a110/lab/03.html.

This is version 4, revised 9/15/2010.

Overview

In Part A, we use the World-Wide Web as an information resource to research a topic. In Part B, we learn some aspects of text formatting, using a word processor. Turn in both parts together.

Learning Objectives

  1. Search productively for information on the web.
  2. Critically evaluate information or misinformation found on the web.
  3. Learn to use a WYSIWYG word processor for editing and formatting text.
  4. Writing good English.

Prerequisites: For Part A: Coursepack, Chapter 5; Fluency Chapter 5. For Part B: Coursepack Chapter 6.

Part A: Research and the Web

Prerequisite: Coursepack, Chapter 5; Fluency Chapter 5.

The two main steps of Part A are to research a topic using the World-Wide Web as an information resource, and to write a report on the topic using a word processor.

Choosing a Topic

Choose a topic from:

Group 1: Computer History. Choose a person who made some contribution to the development of computers. "Development of computers" should be broadly understood. It might involve hardware or software development, development of theories or applications, etc. Research the life and technological contributions of this person.

Group 2: Distinguished Hoosiers and Buckeyes. Choose a Hoosier or Buckeye who has made some significant contribution to the world's culture. The terms "Hoosier", "Buckeye", and "culture" should be broadly understood. A Hoosier may be a person born in Indiana, or a person born elsewhere who lived in Indiana. Likewise, a Buckeye may be someone born in Ohio, or born elsewhere who lived in Ohio. Culture may include literature, film, music, art, science, inventions, but also business, politics, war, sports, etc. The person need not be famous, but should be deserving of fame. Research the life and cultural contributions of this person.

Researching the Topic

Use the World-Wide Web to research your topic. Be creative in your use of search engines. Find at least three references on the subject.

Writing the Research Report

Write a 1- to 2-page research report. The report should describe the non-working life of the person and the person's cultural or technological contributions.

Format: The report should be created as a formatted text document using a word processor, such as OpenOffice.org Writer or Microsoft Office Word. (You may use another word processor if you prefer.) Good English usage is important.

Organization: The report should contain three sections: (1) biographical sketch, (2) cultural or technical contributions, and (3) references. In the References section, list the sources of information in the form

      Author (year).  Title.  URL.  Date accessed.

The URL must be the complete URL of the page, not just the domain name. For example, http://mypage.iu.edu/~gdweber/csci/a110/home.html instead of just http://mypage.iu.edu/

Here are some examples: 

        Fraas, Chris (2007).  "Flecks."
        http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/132765/flecks.html.
        Accessed January 18, 2008.

        PTI (2006).  "Republic day celebrated in West Bengal with enthusiasm."
        http://www.newkerala.com/news4.php?action=fullnews&id=85893.
        Accessed December 31, 2007.

        Tuckness, Alex (2005).  "Locke's Political Philosophy."
        http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/locke-political/.
        Accessed March 4, 2006.

If you cannot find the author's name, use the name of the organization providing the web site; if you cannot find that either, use "Anonymous." If you cannot determine the date, write it as "n.d." (no date). That shows that you at least looked for it.

Part B: Text Formatting

Prerequisite: Coursepack Chapter 6.

For this part, you are to use a word processor, such as Microsoft Word, Openoffice.org, or Word Perfect. Do not use a text editor (such as Notepad); a text processor cannot format the text.)

Download the document changeme.txt, saving it on your disk with your word processor's document file extension (Microsoft Office Word: "changeme.docx"; OpenOffice.org Writer: "changeme.odt"; Word Perfect: "changeme.wpd"; etc.). If you forget to do this when downloading the file, rename the file with this extension afterwards. Open the document with the word processor. Complete the 10 tasks listed in the document. Save and print the revised document.

Your instructor will not tell you how to solve the problems listed in the document. Your job is to figure out how to use the tools in the word processing program to solve the problems.

What to Turn in

Turn in both parts together, stapled, with A before B.

  1. (Part A) Your printed report (printout of a word-processed document) on the selected research topic.
  2. (Part B) Hard copy (printout) of changeme.docx, as revised.

Grading Criteria

ItemPoints
(Part A) Research report
Suitable topic5
Sufficient length (1 to 2 pages including references) 5
Quality of writing10
At least three web sources. Reference section lists the title, URL, author, and date of each source. 10
 30
(Part B) changeme.docx (2 points for each of 10 problems. Problem 10 is printing the document, without which no credit can be given.) 20
TOTAL50