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Websites

How to build websites for yourself or for class

Why Build a Website?

Websites allow you to present your work to a wider audience with a wider range of media in it. You can include images, maps, videos, audio, and so much more with your text. This can make your work more engaging and interactive, but also allows you to present more types of sources. 

Picking a Web-Builder

There are countless different platforms you can use to build a website. I typically recommend using Google Sites or WordPress but you can use whatever you are most comfortable with. Here are some questions to think about when deciding between platforms:

  • Do you want to have posts/a blog?
  • Is the service free? Do you have to pay for extra features? (Can you embed iframes for free?)
  • Can multiple people work on the same website?
  • Are there good theme options?

Where to Start

Before you start building your website it is good to know what you want to have on it. First it is good to outline your website, just like you would an essay, but keep in mind instead of using sections/paragraphs your project is divided into pages. Going one step further, it can be good to sketch what you want your website to look like! You don't have to be an artist and you can even just use sticky notes on a piece of paper. These two resources can help you think about website sketches and outlines.

Once you know what information you want where it is time to start writing. You can do this in Word or Google Docs, that way you can just paste your work into your website later.