The Web Blog. . . . and its Descriptive Component

By now, you should have both explored the idea of “blogging” and examined a few sites to see what’s possible.  I suggest you use Blogger.com for your posting place—they have an easy set-up and simple guidelines as well as offering a variety of backgrounds.   

BUT FIRST YOU MUST THINK.  The focus of your blog is yours—which gives you (again) a wide berth of opportunity to find your personal connection and make the writing your own rather than a mimic of form or generic commentary.  So think.  And then begin the process of developing your focus.  

Here are the criteria for this writing: 

Your postings should be in reaction form—but again, follow the guidelines of good written communication.  These directed responses will be one you do revise a bit for grammar wobbles and of course, spelling blurps BEFORE you post them for all the world to see.  Good form/format will always be part of your writing evaluation.

Be mindful of those reading your words.  Take the time to make sure your ideas are driving the communication. 

Your first posting should describe as aspect of your current interests/concerns with education.  Again, keep the writing in informal, journal format, but maintain the direction. 

A minimum of ~300 words is the goal.  Be careful doing too much more (over 750 and you lose readers), so go for concise commentary….which means you need to generate your prose BEFORE you post.  Clear content/direction is part of your evaluation.

Once you’ve created your blog, with your first posting (no later than 10/7/04), email the URL to me.   I will post the list of class blogs on Bb by 10/9/04. 

The full scope of this descriptive assignment includes:

Ø      Initial blog creation and posting

Ø      Your commentary to me (via Dig. Drop) on the forming of your blog (no later than 10/9/04—9 p.m.)

Ø      Two additional postings that continue your focus-response, with the first due on 10/12/04 and the second on 10/15/04.

Evaluation will depend on those ever-present five elements of good written communication, with the exception of some leeway in organization.  Remember:  Good format and consideration of clear content is ALWAYS the guide.