Web Activities

UNIT 15: PROCESS ANALYSIS

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Activity 1

In “Creating a Successful Web Site,” Doug Lowe offers nine suggestions on how to create a successful Web site, and then goes on to describe in detail what should be included on every Web site and on every Web page.

1. Create a checklist of the suggestions and details in his process analysis.
   
   
2. Use this checklist to evaluate four Canadian business Web sites:
   • Canadian Tire
   • The Body Shop Canada
   • The Hudson’s Bay Company
   • Loblaw Companies Limited
     
     
3. Write a brief illustrated report on the Web site that you judge to be most successful according to Doug Lowe's criteria.

Activity 2

As you learned in Unit 15, a process analysis explains how a task is performed. The most common process analyses give readers step-by-step instructions to help them complete a process or a task.

1. View at least five of the process instructions at the How-to Solutions Web site.
   
   
2. As you view the solutions, analyze their content, structure, and format. Pay particular attention to how the process is broken down into steps or stages.
   
   
3. Draft a “How-To Solution” for a task with which you are familiar (for example, mowing the lawn, tying the laces on your shoes, repairing a bicycle tire, making your favourite sandwich).
   
   
4. Use word-processing software to design your process analysis. Try different ways to present the separate steps. Use numbers and bullets, headings, different font styles, and simple diagrams.
   
   
5. Ask an editing partner to read your draft to be sure that the language in the steps is clear and that the directions are easy to follow.
   
   
6. Revise, proofread, and publish your How-To Solution.