Creating a homepage is a lot easier than it may appear at first.  Like so much else on the web, it's a matter of reading the screen and making choices.  And remembering that if you make the wrong choice, you can almost always go back (using the "Back" button) and make the right one.

Remember also that while the free webpage providers may look complicated, they're NOT designed for computers experts;  rather they're designed for ordinary users, like you and me.

Finally, remember that we're going to be using your homepage at a very rudimentary level.  There doesn't have to be anything fancy about it.  It'll be merely a single page with links the various texts that you'll be writing this semester.  It'll look something like this:  click

So, how do you create one?

1. First, go into the web to one of a number of free homepage providers.  Why are these companies willing to provide a homepage for you free of charge?  Advertising, of course.  It's annoying, but most of us in our culture have learned to look past it rather easily.  Remember that for the purposes of this course, you do not need to buy or download anything from the web.  In fact, I advise against it.  Your homepage will cost you nothing.
2. Here are some examples of free homepage providers.  My favorite is tripod;  it's not necessarily better than the others, but it was rather simple and intuitive and, since I know it better, I can help you more easily with it.  But you can use any of these four programs or any other:
• http://www.tripod.lycos.com
• http://www.expage.com
• http://angelfire.lycos.com
3. From this point on, my directions can't be specific because, while all of these programs are similar, they do have their differences.  The key is to read the screen carefully;  you can nearly always find what you need to do next.
4. First, you "sign up."  Often the opening screen will have two options:  a link for people who are signing up for the first time, and another for people who have already signed up and just want to log on.
5. The "sign up" is probably going to be similar to what you did if you signed up for free email:  You'll probably have to create a User I.D. and a Password.  Be sure to note whether the provider requires  a minimum length and whether they're case sensitive (do capitals matter?)
6. Unless you're absolutely certain that you can remember your User I.D. and Password, it's pretty important to write them down--and, of course, they have to be exact.
7. The homepage provider will ask you a few questions, but eventually you'll reach a button that says something like "Submit."  You may discover that someone else is already using the User I.D. that you chose, and ordinarily the provider will give you a list of new User I.D.s to choose from.  Pick one that's suitable, but, again, be sure to write it down--EXACTLY.
8. Now you're ready to create a basic homepage.  Again, while these programs are similar, they're not exactly the same.  But you're looking for a link that says something like "Begin building your page" or "Page Builder" or "Create your homepage" or "Site Builder."
9. That link will take you into a homepage editor of some sort.  Often the providers will let you choose between starting with a blank page or starting with a template.  If you start with a template, be sure to take out all of the superfluous material, like "Here's are pictures from my vacation in Tahiti."    Remember, whatever choices you make can always be changed later.
10. Your goal now is to create a basic page that you're able to link to other simple pages that will contain the writing that you do this semester.  Again, your basic page will look something like this, but not exactly.
11. Experiment with creating new pages and linking them and with modifying text, titles, and colors.  Again, look at what's on the screen.
12. After you get a basic homepage set up, you use the "Add Page" button at the bottom to create additional pages.  You'll have an opportunity to add a link to your new page to your set of navigation links.  For example, you'll probably create a page called "Introduction."  You'll be able to open one of the text windows (click on "Edit," in Tripod, at least) and copy and paste your "intro" from your Word document or whatever software you used to produce it.  When you've pasted it into the window, click "Done."  See what it looks like.  And remember, you can always edit it or change its appearance later.
    
13. At some point, you'll probably have a chance to "Preview" the page, that is, to see what it looks like in the web browser rather than in the editor.
14. Eventually, you'll "Publish" the page;  in Tripod, the link says something like "Publish to Web."  When it publishes, you'll be given a URL;  be sure to pick up the URL.  You'll post that URL on the roster. If you've already put your name on the roster, delete it, then re-submit it using putting the exact URL in the proper place.
15. Now you can go back in and edit your page in any way you want, including re-arranging or re-arranging the links.  The last thing you'll do each time you edit the page is to click the "Publish" button.  This will put your changes out on the web.  You don't have to re-post the URL on the roster, though, once you have it on there.