COM 264 OL: Introduction to Media Convergence
Hands-On Assignment #1: Blogging
What is a blog?
Blogs, or Web logs, are online journals that are updated frequently, sometimes even daily. An update, (also called an entry or a post) is usually quite short, perhaps just a few sentences, and readers can often respond to an entry online. People who write blogs are commonly called bloggers. Bloggers, tongue in cheek, call themselves and their blogs the blogosphere. [From: http://www.dummies.com/education/internet-basics/writing-a-good-blog/ (Links to an external site.) ]
Blogging tips:
Suggested short readings to successfully complete this blog assignment:
The 12 Dos and Don’ts of Writing a Blog
Best practices for Writing for Online Readers
The assignment:
For this assignment, you will NOT be focusing on how the Web has changed politics, but instead actually taking a topic in contemporary politics and practicing your blogging skills.
- Write a 500-1,000 word blog post related to ONE topic or message that a politician, Massachusetts U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, mentioned in her 2019 speech announcing she is running for president.
- Video of speech here:
- Senator Elizabeth Warren Presidential Campaign Announcement (C-SPAN) (Links to an external site.)
- Do your research on ONE topic that Sen. Warren talked about, and take a position.
- A strong blog should refer to what Warren said on the topic, or quote hhe speech directly, (with proper citations) and state why you disagree or agree.
- You are required to have a minimum of two additional references from something other than your text. This must be relevant research from quality sources – NO WIKIPEDIA or other encyclopedic references!!! Be sure to clearly and specifically cite the source of this outside information. Include web links to online articles.
- DO NOT simply copy and paste – use your own words to summarize the information. Plagiarism will not be tolerated.
- TO AVOID PROBLEMS WITH TURNITIN, PLEASE USE A CHROME OR FIREFOX WEB BROWSER TO SUBMIT YOUR ESSAY!
ASSIGNMENT REQUIREMENTS & GRADING:
- Include a compelling but clear headline (5 points)
- You have chosen a topic in contemporary politics, have provided your opinion supported by facts, and have offered a forum for positive debate/discussion (20 points)
- You have written your article using first person and an active voice (20 points)
- Your writing looks friendly and inviting, paragraphs are short (15 points)
- You invite readers to share their opinion (5 points)
- You have embedded links to resources when you cite other work (15 points)
- Your post is proofread for errors (10 points)
- Include a photo or graphic with your article that enhances the topic (10 points)
Possible Total 100 points
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