NorthernNotes

TopicName

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-- "very top" above: Change "TopicName" twice, fix "(description)" --
In Word or WordPerfect, the HTML coding must be visible in the very top.

1. PICK A TOPIC AND MAKE BOOKMARKS IN NETSCAPE
[a] In Netscape, look at the NorthernNotes student pages for ideas. Get clearance for your topic.
[b] Surf the web for interesting pages on your topic, starting with relevant pages at NewsPlace, including "activist" and "resources." Then use the NewsPlace search page, first trying the "blended" searches. Put phrases in "quotation marks" and use a plus sign for +keywords.
[c] When you're at a good page, click on "bookmark" and "add bookmark."

2. MOVE THIS FILE TO A WORD PROCESSOR TO EDIT IT
[a] In Netscape, click on "file" and "save as," leaving it in HTML, and save it as notes.htm to your F: drive.
[b] New... Open Corel WordPerfect (which works better), and return here (using the bottom taskbar) to read about opening and converting in WP.
[c] New... In WordPerfect, click on "file" and "open," and in the conversion pop-up box change to "ASCII (DOS) Text." What you then see in WP must show HTML arrow-bracketed code at the very top.
[d] New... "Save as" a text file. [If it balks, block and copy this file to Notepad (click on start, programs, accessories, Notepad). Then "save as" a text file (not an HTML file), renamed notes2.htm.]

3. PERSONALIZE THE VERY TOP AND VERY BOTTOM OF THIS FILE
[a] Personalize the very top *without changing the HTML coding*: Change "TopicName" twice. Replace "(description)" with a helpful word such as "(rock group)" or delete it.
[b] Personalize the very bottom *without changing the HTML coding*: Change "yourname@" in the two e-mail addresses. Change "Your Name" and change the date.
[c] Block and delete the instructions from the line of asterisks at *the very top* to *here* just above this line of asterisks.

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4. TYPE YOUR ORIGINAL MATERIAL JUST ABOVE THESE ASTERISKS
[a] Type several paragraphs about your subject area, using **journalism newswriting techniques such as the single-sentence summary-sentence lead paragraph and clear transitions.**
[b] Start each paragraph with arrow P arrow. This inserts a blank line.
[c] For a line break without a blank line,
end the line with arrow BR arrow.

5. MOVE YOUR BOOKMARKS
[a] Place your cursor on the destination point, the line between the opening and closing UL codes for an unordered list (visible in Word or WP):

[b] This instruction will not be visible while you're getting bookmarks. In WP or Word, open the bookmark.htm file in F: or in F:/mail. Click and highlight your bookmarks, starting with the first useful one straight to the end. Click on "copy." Click on the word "Window" and return to this notes.htm file.
[c] With the cursor between the UL codes, click on "paste."
[d] [An alternative is to copy the http line in Netscape, switch to Word or WP, and paste it. Then copy and paste the page name, and then add the arrow brackets, the "a href=" and quote marks and closing "/a."]

6. CLEAN THE BOOKMARKS
[a] Simplify your links to this format, removing the date codes:
Webskills
[The only space is after the opening "a." The http address is in quote marks. What's before the closing "/a" will appear underlined and in blue.]
[b] For a list with bullets, add arrow LI arrow like this:

  • Webskills
    [c] "Copy" your list *with one set of UL codes* to the space above the line of asterisks.
    [d] To place a link in the text, insert it as shown here:
    Check out WebSkills for more HLML codes.

    7. LOOK AT YOUR TEXT FILE IN NETSCAPE
    [a] Click on "save as," keeping it notes.htm (or -- for safety -- renaming it notes2.htm), but making it an "ASCII [DOS] Text" file. Then "close" this file.
    [b] Open Netscape. Click on "file" and "open file on browser." Change to F: and click on notes.htm and on "open."
    [c] To see HTML codes of a Netscape page, click on "view" and "page source."

    8. ADD HEADLINES (optional)

    headlines need H codes and closing /H codes,
    arrow H4 arrow and arrow /H4 arrow for section headlines

    arrow H3 arrow and arrow /H3 arrow for larger headlines

    9. PICK GRAPHICS FOR THE TOPIC LINE AT THE VERY TOP
    [a] In Netscape, go to http://www.niu.edu/images/, click on the entries "sym" (symbols) and "misc" to find a collection of *little* graphics.
    [b] Pick useable graphics. Write down the URLs. In Word or WP, replace "/images/m_glass.gif" at the very top.
    [c] The graphics will not work until the page is activated on the web.

    10. TRANSFER YOUR HTML FILE FOR INSTALLATION
    [a] Save. Block and delete the used instructions from the line of asterisks below your good material to the line of asterisks at *the very bottom.*
    [b] In WP or Word, click on "file" and "save as," keeping the notes.htm name, but making it an "ASCII [DOS] Text" file. Then "close" your file.
    [c] Send your file by e-mail or by disk. In Eudora, attach your file to an e-mail message. Send it to abass@niu.edu with the course number and topic on the subject line. Or deliver it on disk.
    [d] Your page will be activated after inspection.

    -- "very bottom": Change "yourname@," "Your Name," "yourname@," date --
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    NorthernNotes from Northern Illinois University

    To NewsPlace for News and Sources