Throughout the course, we will be maintaining a class blog. The reasons for this are two-fold: one, to extend conversation outside of class and enrich the conversations we have in class; and two, to gain experience writing about complex ideas clearly in digital environments, both as practice for our final project and as a key writing and communication skill for the future.
There are two types of blog engagement: original posts and responding to posts. You are required to do both periodically throughout the semester.
Original Posts
Posts should be 300-500 words, and will be tagged according to three categories: Contexts, Analysis, or Creative. Over the course of the semester, each student will write two original blog posts from two different categories.
Contexts: Help us understand the historical, cultural, social, or political contexts out of which the novel arises and/or its relevance today.
- Link to and discuss a relevant article or media artifact that provides social, intellectual, artistic, scientific, philosophical, or historical contexts to the text.
- Discuss a connection between the text and today’s events, politics, or society.
Analysis: Analyze some aspect of the text to deepen our understanding of form, character, theme, etc.
- Post a short passage and engage with it.
- Ask a direct question of your classmates regarding an aspect of the text.
- Track and discuss a pattern through the reading.
- Select one or two key terms or words in the reading or text and reflect on their significance.
- Discuss the text in the context of one of the course questions.
Creative: Use a creative engagement with the text as a thinking exercise
- Impersonation – write a post from the perspective of a character (let readers know that this is what you are doing)
- Write an alternate scene in the text and explain how this scene develops or shifts aspects of the text
- Translate a scene or passage into another form. So a paragraph becomes a poem or a song.
Response Posts
You will also be assigned to respond to the original posts 3x during the semester (though you are encouraged to respond as often as you like). There is no length requirement for responses. Responses should productively engage (build on, complicate, extend, etc) the original post.
Writing Tips
Note that strong posts will reference details and quote from the text. Writing for a blog medium is different than academic writing. While your post should be accurate, thoughtful, and professional, you can aim for a more conversational tone in the blogs. Generate interest; write engagingly. Your audience is your classmates, so you can assume familiarity with the texts.
Consider reviewing the following resources for tips on writing in a digital environment and in a blog:
- Sue Dunlevie, 16 Rules of Blog Writing and Layout [Which Ones Are You Breaking?]
- Kathleen Morris, 10 Elements of a Quality Blog Post: Tips for Students
- Austin Kleon, Credit Is Always Due
Key points to remember:
- Short paragraphs, shorter sentences
- Accessible language and conversational tone
- Use white space, effective organization (headings?), and dynamic media to guide your reader and maintain interest.
Schedule and Groups
All original posts are due by Monday night of the week assigned.
All responses are due by Wednesday at the start of class
| Post | Respond | ||
| Wieland | Week 3 | Group 1 | Group 3 |
| Wieland | Week 4 | Group 2 | Group 4 Group 5 |
| Passing | Week 5 | Group 3 | Group 1 Group 4 |
| Passing | Week 6 | Group 5 Group 4 | Group 2 Group 3 |
| Week 7 | xxxxxxxxxx | xxxxxxxxxxx | |
| Gatsby | Week 8 | Group 5 | Group 2 Group 1 |
| Gatsby | Week 9 | Group 3 Group 1 | Group 4 Group 2 |
| Speak | Week 10 | Group 2 | Group 3 Group 5 |
| Speak | Week 11 | Group 4 | Group 1 Group 5 |
Group 1: Mohammed, Malaika, Fatima
Group 2: Rasha, Jana, Salma, Renad
Group 3: Rubaiya, Laila, Ray
Group 4: Konstantina, Yusra, Leen, Shamma
Group 5: Tarab, Noor, Suha
Assessment
Original posts will be assessed out of 10 points on the basis of engaging content, depth of insight, clarity of writing, and effective formatting.
For responses, on the weeks assigned, one response will earn up to 5 points for sincere and specific engagement, value of contribution, and clarity of writing. Additional responses to other posts (outside of assigned week) will be eligible to earn an extra bonus point each.