Overview:
Throughout the semester, we will be building a class blog!
Each week, three students will respond to a given prompt based on that week’s readings and class discussion and the rest of the class will comment on these posts. These blog posts are an opportunity for students to sit with the texts more closely outside of class, welcoming them to make deeper connections/observations in a creative, critical, and collaborative way.
Posting Requirements:
Each week, three students will respond to the blog prompt of the week in 500 words or more. These posts will be due the Thursday before class at 11:59 pm (please see the class website or Canvas for the posting schedule and all due dates). The prompts will be posted to the class website under “Post Prompts” the Thursday of the week before the post is due.
The bloggers each week are tasked with responding to a given prompt related to that week’s readings and lesson. When responding to the prompt, students are encouraged to bring in outside knowledge, sources, and observations; however, the core of their post should be rooted in an intelligent, critical engagement with the course material for that week.
When writing your post, imagine you are writing a ‘real’ blog. While your task is to write about academic texts and concepts, you are free to write in first-person, make small jokes or asides, and showcase your personality! Treat this as a serious assignment, but also have fun with it!
The bloggers of the week, in addition to uploading their post to the class website, will present their posts in class the Friday after they are due. These presentations will be followed by a brief discussion and Q&A, led by that week’s bloggers, where the class will be asked to share any comments or questions they have about the posts of the week.
These posts and presentations count for 10% of your final grade.
General Requirements for Main Posts:
- Each post must be 500 words or more
- All posts must be submitted the Thursday before class by 11:59 pm. (Due to the presentation element, students will not be permitted an extension on this assignment)
- All readings or outside sources cited must have proper citations (author, #)
- Students must address all parts of the given prompt in their blog posts
- Each post must have a creative, engaging title (for example, a post on Ali Smith’s “Free Love” could be titled Wine Glasses and Coffee Cups: Unpacking the Symbolism in “Free Love”)
- Each post must include at least one multimedia element (i.e., a picture, video link, etc.)
Commenting Requirements:
Each week there is a blog prompt; everyone not posting a main blog post will be required to comment on a post of their choosing in 100 words or more. All comments are due by 11:59 on the Monday following class.
These comments count as 5% of your final grade.
Your comments must be thoughtful and engage with the post’s content in a meaningful, productive, and respectful way.
Comment topics could include (but are not limited to):
- Bringing in another text that you feel relates to what the blogger wrote about that week
- Asking a question to the blogger about a concept you are confused about
- Bringing in a quote, textual observation, or analysis that expands on the blogger’s post
- Sharing a personal connection or anecdote relating to the topic of the week
- Sharing how the post made you think differently about the text
Overall, “nice post!” is not a sufficient comment.
How To Post:
First, you must make sure that you accept the invitation to be a blog author that was sent to your UMB email. Once an author, you will see a plus sign (+) with the word “New” at the top of the screen. Click the plus sign and select “post.”
Once you are ready to publish your post, you will open the sidebar and click on the “categories” drop-down menu.
Select the discussion number you are responding to, and press the blue “Publish” button in the top right corner!
*Don’t hesitate to email me if you are having trouble navigating the website, especially in terms of including pictures/your multimedia element!*
