Blog Due: ANY time before 2:00pm almost every Thursday beginning Feb 11th

Total 10 blogs, due throughout the semester. 9 blogs + 1 final blog.

See Blog Topics for assignment.

Responses:

• TA will email you introducing you to the course.
• The “Blog TA” will respond to your work for guidance. They don’t respond to all.
• If you have not heard from your TA by dates designated, email your Blog TA & myself ASAP.

Requirements & Details:

• Requirements must be followed on ALL blogs. 
• Late posts will be accepted but will cost you points— 
  • Example: Blogs 1-9 cost 3 points per blog. If you miss 3 blogs you’ve lost 9 points.
  • If you’re late with a blog you lose 1 point.
  • Spelling and other errors – 1 point
• CHECK OVER YOUR WORK!! Grammar and Spelling count heavily! 
• Do not make spelling mistakes. 
• WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE! NO SLANG! 

I understand this is a blog and not a formal paper but check over your work. Consistent errors will affect your grade. 

PLAGIARISM: 

• Very simple, if you get caught (which is easy to do) you will fail the entire 30% of the section. If you did it once, got away with it and got caught later – you will fail the class. DO NOT STEAL WORK! 
• You will be caught and you will face the heaviest penalty possible! You will be brought up on academic fraud charges as well and removed from the school.

Part I – SETTING UP THE BLOG

• Visit wordpress.com and create your own blog.
  • If you have your own blog already, please create a new one for this course.
  • Please use this website – only for universality
    • Please do not use any other blog site. 
  • Design your blog, have fun with it. Put photos up, etc. Make it personal.
  • Please make sure there is an archive list easily accessible—Class work posts, Extra Credit & miscellaneous
• Email response to your Blog TA with your blog address – direct links, no passwords.
• Keep a copy of your blog entry in a word document as backup. 
  • Technology fails us- don’t let it fail you!
• Please accept all comments and make sure they are posted on your blog. 
  • When I read them later I will look at the comments.
• The TA will read the blogs and comment accordingly. The posts should get progressively better as you write them.
  • The TA will also help guide you through any issues and give suggestions to make the blog better.
  • Start a dialogue with the TA (and student(s)) and react to the questions asked and suggestions given.
  • Have fun while you do it—the TA is there to help.
  • The comments will be either in an email or on the blog.

Previous Blogs from Other Students: 

Will be sent from TA.

HOW TO DO WELL!

• USE THE REQUIRED WORK!!!!!!!! Don’t use it… F. 
• Your personal reaction to EVERYTHING:
  • Read, Review, React & Research – Required!
    • Can be before, after or while viewing …. or reading or a combination.
    • Be a storyteller! Be personal! Be insightful! 
    • Background information (NO WIKIPEDIA) what you viewed. IN YOUR OWN WORDS!!! Cite your sources! DO NOT PLAGARIZE!!! 
    • Do not edit or change thoughts, reactions or ideas but do edit grammar, language and any other inappropriate materials!
      • Use the questions below to help guide you.
      • The more detailed blogs, the better your grade.
    • Research the work!

These questions are in no specific order: Try & answer as many as possible within all your posts! It will only help your grade.

• Write down your expectations BEFORE assignment. “Judge the book by its cover.” Why you are expecting this or that, etc? Where did you get these expectations? Was it the title? 
• What was the most challenging part? What was the least challenging? Maybe there wasn’t a challenge at all?
• Did you like or dislike? What would you change? Was there a particular part that you connected with? Or didn’t? 
• What other work did the material remind you of? Why? 
• What was your favorite moment(s) from the work? 
• Is there any particular underlying or recurring theme?
• Make sure to hyperlink your sources. 
• Do not be robotic about your answers. Always try to think—WHY. 
• Finally, a majority of the above questions are guides and suggestions but I would consider research a REQUIREMENT. 
  • Read these before you start the work and get ideas on what you want to discuss during your blog. 
  • Utilize your thoughts and these questions to help make your blog fantastic! 
  • Do not ignore these questions!

Part II – Extra Credit

• Any and all extra credit should be posted onto your blog. 
• Extra credits are announced throughout the class and via email. You have a limit of 3 extra credit points. 
• Some projects are worth 1, 2 or 3 points. If you have a 3-point extra credit assignment you cannot do anymore.
• If you have too many absences — you will NOT be allowed to do extra credits.

Part III – How the blog score is reached:

Blog Rubric 1165

How the blog score is reached: 50 points

45-50/ 90 and above
Student did all the work, on time, no missing elements. Went above what was required and/or showed improvement throughout semester. Put in the effort that deserves an A in this section…

40-44/80-87
Student did most of the work with a few blemishes such as a missed post, lateness or missing required elements… the final post not being up to A standards. But did well.

Figure that one missed post = 2 points but more posts missed = more points off.

33-39/ 66-78
Student missed posts/elements/lateness/word count but did enough to pass but was average throughout the semester…

Below 33/65 or below
Missed several posts, late, and barely did the required work. Final post may or may not have been done. Missed too many posts regardless of final post.