CS 101 Laboratory #1
An Introduction to HTML

Objective: To demonstrate the use of the lab computers, and to build simple webpages in HTML.

Due date is the beginning of your lab section next week:

Lab prep: Read this lab assignment. If you haven't yet handed them in, please bring the computer account form and the student information form. Also, be sure to bring the password for your new account, which you should have received by email.
Note: if you didn't receive such an email, don't worry - we'll have printouts with the passwords available.

Written Exercises: Read CS 0 (Brookshear chapter 0), write up these exercises, and turn them in along with your lab work.

  1. What is an algorithm? Give an example of an algorithm not provided in lecture or the textbook.
  2. Modern computers are based on millions of transistors etched onto silicon wafers. What technologies preceded this one in the development of computing machines?
  3. What is abstraction? Give an example of abstraction not provided in lecture or the textbook.
  4. Do Exercise 1 on page 16.
  5. Do Exercise 7 on page 17.

This lab will introduce you to the computer science lab and to building simple webpages in Hyper-Text Markup Language (HTML).


This assignment covers the basics of HTML. You will use the TextWrangler application to create your own web pages on the computer science web server named benjerry.middlebury.edu. Others will be able to access the page using the URL: http://www.cs.middlebury.edu/~username. Don't forget that all HTML files and images must be in your public_html folder!

You are encouraged to discuss the assignment with other students, but you must write your own code. At the top of the first page of your submission, write your own name and the names of the students with whom you discussed the assignment. Please turn in a printout of your HTML source file for each page that you create, and please make sure all pages are stapled together.

  1. Add enough material to your home page so that it includes the following: text in different sizes, font styles, and colors; five or more hyperlinks to your favorite sites, including the CSCI 101 home page and your interests page (see next exercise); several more images, at least two of them local images in your public_html directory; and, one or more lists. You may find it useful to refer to the webmonkey HTML cheatsheet.

  2. Create a new page for an interest or hobby of yours. You can name the file anything you want, e.g., skiing.html, but you should make sure that you create a separate file in your public_html directory on benjerry. (Note: The file name should not include any spaces.) Add enough information so that your page can serve as a useful starting point for anyone interested in the topic you choose. It should include at least five hyperlinks, with short descriptions for each link, a few images or icons related to your topic, and a link back to your home page.

  3. About how long did it take you to complete this assignment?

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