Suggestions for those browsing Poly-Cy
for the first time.
[Features in Poly-Cy][Suggestions][
Features in Poly-Cy
While Guides to Resources on the Web are rather self
evident, there are some particular features of Poly-Cy that are worth pointing
out. Also, I have some minor suggestions for Web page construction that will help
make the Web easier for all of us to use.
- Try using the Department listings as a
"Directory of the Profession". The
icon indicates a link to that department's Web page directory. The 
, 
, etc. indicate whether that
department has graduate program information up on the Web. Sorry, no direct links
here. However, I have started a Specialized
Programs page that lists and links special programs in Political
Science, Public Policy and International Affairs. This page is
especially useful fro the student searching for programs to apply to.
- Suggestions to department Webmasters:
- Place e-mail addresses in the directories using the mailto: link.
(e.g. <A HREF=mailto:bduval@wvu.edu>...</A>
This will allow a properly configured browser to immediately send e-mail to the faculty
member. - Please send Poly-Cy the URL for your department home page and
directory page, and notify me of any changes.
- The Journals page includes many direct
links to the Index and Table of Contents for those journals that provide them. Use
this page to keep abreast of research in your area by periodically scanning the journals
in your field.
- Familiarize yourself with Poly-Cy's Explanation
of
page.
- As the Publishers Page grows, use this page
to find the latest textbooks for your courses.
- Also, look at the Syllabi Page to see how
others are using the Web in their courses.
- By all means, please let me know of sites you
feel belong in Poly-Cy. You are the best source of information I have on
the Web, and your feedback is valuable. Also, e-mail
me with suggestions. (BTW, I get a sizable volume of e-mail, so I occasionally
miss a request. If I haven't responded within a week, please ask again.)
- Lastly, if you are interested in using the Web for teaching or
research in political science, consider subscribing to PSWEB-L.
This is a LISTSERV I set up for discussion of how to use the web in the discipline.
In particular, I am interested in encouraging innovations in Web publishing such as
Suggested Web Page Development Conventions
- Suggestions to individuals
- Suggestion to Journal Webmasters:
- If you are going to place the Tables of Contents of recent issues on
the Web, (and I encourage you to do so!) always label the most recent issue with the
same name. (i.e. recent.html) instead of the date of issue (i.e. June97.html). This
will help those of us who link or bookmark to your journal to come in directly to the most
recent issue without always linking to an increasingly older issue or having to frequently
change bookmarks or links. ( I realize that there could be rationales for naming
conventions that make this suggestion impractical, but where possible this is a simple
convention that may well help us all.)
Happy browsing, now get back to work!
Bob Duval
Copyright © 1996-1999, 2000 Robert D. Duval
Page last revised: 02/03/00
