Monday, June 1, 2009
Assignment
Our course blog is a collectively authored website for students to post their informal written responses to the reading assignments prior to class discussion. These responses will serve as an entry point to the discussion of the day. Each student will be required to blog twice and comment on someone else’s post at least twice during the semester.
Each blog post should be about 250-300 words long. The post can do any of the following: interpret, analyze, critique, compare, work through, explicate, or present some research on the text. It should not simply be a plot summary. The point of this exercise is to initiate discussion. As such, you should feel free to pose questions, raise points of controversy, highlight an interesting passage—anything to stimulate intellectual curiosity in your readers.
Commentators, your task is to respond to the post. Comments should be substantive--at least two paragraphs long. Aim to generate dialogue; don’t just stop at “I agree/I disagree” remarks--answer the questions given; post your own questions; challenge your coursemate's views; play devil's advocate.
Bloggers and commentators of the day will be required to initiate class discussion based on their posts and comments. The rest of the class is expected to have read the blog before class. During class, commentators will be responsible for briefing the class on the blog posts and their own comments. Bloggers will then be given an opportunity to respond to the comments, before opening the discussion to the rest of the class.
Bloggers should publish their entries by 2 p.m. on the day of class. For example, if you are scheduled to blog about the reading assignment for Tuesday, June 9, you should publish your post by 2 p.m on June 9. Commentators must publish their comments before class.
Throughout the semester, you are required to blog twice and comment at least two times. You will sign up for specific dates to blog and comment on a separate sheet.
Each blog and comment is worth 5 points; 5 x 4 pts = 20 out of 100 points of your overall grade.
Each blog post should be about 250-300 words long. The post can do any of the following: interpret, analyze, critique, compare, work through, explicate, or present some research on the text. It should not simply be a plot summary. The point of this exercise is to initiate discussion. As such, you should feel free to pose questions, raise points of controversy, highlight an interesting passage—anything to stimulate intellectual curiosity in your readers.
Commentators, your task is to respond to the post. Comments should be substantive--at least two paragraphs long. Aim to generate dialogue; don’t just stop at “I agree/I disagree” remarks--answer the questions given; post your own questions; challenge your coursemate's views; play devil's advocate.
Bloggers and commentators of the day will be required to initiate class discussion based on their posts and comments. The rest of the class is expected to have read the blog before class. During class, commentators will be responsible for briefing the class on the blog posts and their own comments. Bloggers will then be given an opportunity to respond to the comments, before opening the discussion to the rest of the class.
Bloggers should publish their entries by 2 p.m. on the day of class. For example, if you are scheduled to blog about the reading assignment for Tuesday, June 9, you should publish your post by 2 p.m on June 9. Commentators must publish their comments before class.
Throughout the semester, you are required to blog twice and comment at least two times. You will sign up for specific dates to blog and comment on a separate sheet.
Each blog and comment is worth 5 points; 5 x 4 pts = 20 out of 100 points of your overall grade.
5 points = Excellent
4 points = Above average
3 points = Average
2 points = Below average
1 point = Poor.
Joining our blog
1. In order to join our blog as an author, you will need a google account.
2. Once you have a google account, send your email address with which you set up your account to prof [dot] fiona [at] gmail [dot] com.
3. Wait for an invitation to join our blog in your email. Click on the link and log in.
4. To create a new post, click “New Post.” Give your post a title and compose your entry. Also, label your post with your full name, as well as with any other keywords you think relevant. I strongly recommend that you draft your post separately on word processing software, regularly saving your work, in case blogger eats up your post before you manage to publish it.
5. To comment, go to our blog site. Make sure you are logged in. Click “Comments” on the post to which you would like to respond.
Don't be afraid to experiment with the various features on the blog!
2. Once you have a google account, send your email address with which you set up your account to prof [dot] fiona [at] gmail [dot] com.
3. Wait for an invitation to join our blog in your email. Click on the link and log in.
4. To create a new post, click “New Post.” Give your post a title and compose your entry. Also, label your post with your full name, as well as with any other keywords you think relevant. I strongly recommend that you draft your post separately on word processing software, regularly saving your work, in case blogger eats up your post before you manage to publish it.
5. To comment, go to our blog site. Make sure you are logged in. Click “Comments” on the post to which you would like to respond.
Don't be afraid to experiment with the various features on the blog!
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