Blogging (web logging, or online journal writing) fulfills several goals of Writing I & II.
1. Composition theory reveals that the first way people become better writers is by writing and reflecting.
2. Online journals are a low-threat introduction to writing with technology.
3. Informal writing means writing without worrying about mechanics, and becoming comfortable with putting words on the page. There is no profit in pressure at this point in your education.
4. You can't lose an online journal, or leave it at home; it also saves ink and paper, which is a real ecological concern.
5. Reading and analyzing the writing of your peers is the second way you become better writers--commenting is how we accomplish this.
6. Blogging enables you to communicate in multiple modes. That means you are not limited to words: you may use graphics, audio, video, and hyperlinks. You are creating a multimodal text.
The comment system: every time a blog entry is assigned, you should write your own 250-word entry and comment on three others: the person after you in your own class list, your opposite number in the other class, and a third of your choosing. If one of your partners has not completed the current assignment, choose another classmate. Students who lag behind will find that they will have to ask others to comment late, saddling their peers with extra work--this behavior is unlikely to be loved.
Adapt and overcome. If you can't do exactly the homework I have assigned, do something else. You are responsible for your own education.
View our online safety PowerPoint slideshow.
View a slideshow on MLA documentation.
Requirements for the final blog project, English I:
1. 5 categories of links in the sidebar, of four links each. One of the five categories will be your comment partners' blogs. The others might be books, movies, music, and activities.
2. A description in the description field in the settings. (Or subtitle in Livejournal.)
3. A well-rounded profile with a picture, although the picture doesn't have to be you.
4. Graphics in many, if not all, posts.
5. Titled posts, with accompanying hyperlinks whenever possible.
6. A target number of two blog entries per week, or more.
7. A coherent theme: your goal should be a 3-D portrait of an aspect of your personality. It should be something your peers enjoy reading, and something that you would be proud to show your parents or friends.
8. BE CREATIVE.
Tentative assignments for Fall 2008.
Requirements for the final blog project, Writing II:
For English II, adapt the requirements above to a research journal. You should attempt to include every possible interesting thing about your project, especially those items you will not be able to use in the term paper. The blog has no restrictions, whereas the paper does--use the freedom to explore the outer limits of your project.
Tentative assignments for Fall 2007.
0. http://shane_kent.livejournal.com/ Instructor
ENG 21011-036: Writing II