Update on blog projects

As some of you have probably noticed, I’ve visited each of your sites and left a comment with some feedback. It looks like everyone is off to a great start. (Remember your second post is due by the start of class on Monday.)

A couple of you didn’t post an introduction to your site as a comment off the post below this one, so you don’t have anything from me on your blog. You need to get me that info asap so your blog can be added to the class blogroll (and so you can get credit for the introduction assignment).

Introducting your blogs

Use the comments function on this post to introduce your blog to your classmates.

Tell us:

• The name of your blog
• Your blog topic
• Three potential sources you’ll use this week to write your first two blog posts.

(Check out mine for an example.)

March 30 class

Today’s agenda:

• Current events quiz
• Newspaper critique
• Discuss blog topics
• Create blogs, introduce them
• Due next week: Blog posts 1 & 2

Next week:

• Current events quiz
• Newspaper critique
• Review blog posts 1 & 2
• Math for journalists

Getting ideas for your blog

Here are the slides from today’s class on the assignment for next week, which is to come with three ideas for your blog. We’ll discuss these as a class, so you’ll have some feedback from me as well as your classmates. blog-prep

Some ideas to help get you started can be found on the Online Journalism Blog, and I found another class that requires students to blog, so you can check out their posts as well. The students’ blogs are on the right side — you have to scroll down a bit to get to them. A class at UT also has some blogs, although many of theirs are more general than what we’re doing.

I have a blog as well, which I started earlier this semester to help illustrate for you what is expected of your blog project. (Your entries won’t have to be as long as mine.) We’ll go over more specifics next week on the requirements for each post.

You can also peruse the blogs on WordPress to get some ideas.

See you next week!

Extra credit opportunity

Did you miss SXSW? Here’s a chance to catch up, and get 5 points extra credit.

The Advanced Online Media class here at Texas State spent spring break at the conference and created a great collection of the experience. Go to the site and check it out, then post a comment responding to one of their materials.

The details:

• Your comment must be at least four sentences long
• Your comment must be grammatically correct and use proper AP Style
• Your comment must be relevant to whatever post you’re responding to
• You must e-mail me the link to the page showing your comment, and indicate to which assignment you want your points added (otherwise, they will be added to the midterm grade)
• You have until the start of class next week to earn this extra credit

March 23 class

Today’s agenda:

• Current events quiz
• Review midterm
• Live editing assignment (in-class)
• News judgment assignment (in-class)
• Start thinking about topic for blog project

Next week:

• Current events quiz
• Newspaper critique
• Come with three ideas for blog project topic (homework)
• Create blogs

March 9 class

Today’s agenda:

• Midterm exam (grammar, AP Style, editing)

Next week:

• Spring break (no class)
• Be sure to check the syllabus for what’s on tap when we return