<p>I've just been tasked with building a web application using ASP (.net) and am looking for some advice on where to start.   In a nutshell the application needs to be able to.</p>

<ul>
<li>Handle user verification / authentication</li>
<li>Handle sessions</li>
<li>Do SOAP messaging</li>
</ul>

<p>The application is intended to act as a front end for system functions that are accessible via web service calls.</p>

<p>I intend to do a lot of work on the client side using JavaScript and am thinking of using ASP solely as the framework for the 3 items I listed above.</p>

<p>Appreciate any suggestions you may have.</p>

WCF for Soap -- I would also suggest picking this up:
alt ASP.NET 3.5 http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/518N8vYWf1L._SL500_AA240_.jpg
This book is in tutorial form -- and Jesse Liberty is a great teacher (as are his co-authors).