CSS I

Introduction §

Cascading Style Sheets, or CSS, is the presentation component of what is typically understood to be the three–component makeup of a web document. (The other two being HTML and JavaScript.) This course covers the major aspects of CSS, focusing on its more difficult concepts, such as floating elements, specificity, numerical units, and inheritance.

Prerequisite §

You should understand, or be very familiar with, HTML. Additionally, you should have a firm grasp on the concept of HTML's inheritance structure. (A review takes place on the first day of class.)

If you don't know HTML, look at the tutorials at w3schools.com. Also, Hunter offers a six–week course.

Topics Covered §

General syntax and nomenclature
At–rules
Selectors
The cascade
Specificity
Inheritance
CSS layout and formatting
Box properties

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Announcements §

6 September 2011:

Please note that this class if being offered during the day on Wednesdays from noon — 2:00 PM

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Time and Place §

Wednesdays
Noon — 2:00 PM
Hunter College, 1025, East Building

There will be a 15–minute break at the half way point.

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Textbook §

There is no textbook for the course, only online materials. Refer to the Assigned Readings section below for more.

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Assigned Readings §

The CSS Reference: Chapter 1: What is CSS?; Chapter 2: General Syntax and Nomenclature; Chapter 3: At–rules Reference; Chapter 4: Selector Reference

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Title	Author	Edition	ISBN	Book cover
The Ultimate CSS Reference	Tommy Olson and Paul O'Brien	First	0980285852
CSS: The Definitive Guide	Eric A Meyer	Third	0596527330

Assignments §

You are responsible for one homework assignment, one project, and a final exam, which will be given on the last day of class. Once available, the homework and project will appear in this section of the Web site.

You are welcome to employ any text editor of your choosing for any code you write for this course. However, your CSS source code must validate at the online CSS validator and your HTML source code must validate at the HTML validator.

Homework 1: Due 21 September at 6:30 PM
Project: Due 5 October at noon

Homework instructions.

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Resources §

The Private CSS I Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/css_level_1?hl=en; Each of you is responsible for accepting an invitation to join this group, as it is the main forum used for questions and answers relating to the subjects of this course.
The CSS Float Rules: http://roy.vanegas.org/teaching/css/the_float_rules; The above is my summary of Eric Meyers's explanation of the nine primary rules that govern how elements float in CSS.
Cascading Style Sheets Level 2 Revision 1 (CSS 2.1) Specification: http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS21/; The offical document describing the 2.1 standard.
The CSS 2.1 Properties Reference from culturedcode.com: http://www.culturedcode.com/css/; A reference for all 95 properties.
CSS Zen Garden: The Beauty of CSS Design: http://www.csszengarden.com; Many templates employing beautiful CSS design.

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Software §

If you're taking this course, then you already have an editor in which to edit your Web documents, and you also already have multiple browsers. Nothing more is needed.

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