Introduction to the blog project: It takes some planning!

Hello everyone,

This is a blog I just created this morning about the project we are embarking on for the final unit of English 101. However, I have been planning it in my head over the past couple of months. After you have created this project and written the reflection essay based on the experience of creating and maintaining a blog, the only thing left to do is focus on revisions for the final portfolio.

I like to do this project right before the final portfolio because it is a change of pace from a lot of the other things we've been doing. This will be a real hands-on type of project, and hopefully you will all embrace the challenge of incorporating multiple genres of composition into your blog. While the tone of your blog may be less formal than a researched essay, for example, I would like to see a level of thought that is deeper than any of your previous projects.

This depth of thought will not just manifest itself in your writing, but also in your careful choices of visual content on the blog, which will include the following:

• a video (either original or borrowed from Youtube or some other website with video)
• at least 5 original photos that somehow help shed light on your topic and enhance the visual presentation of the blog
• 3 major posts (200-300 words) related the community or personal problem you wish to offer a solution to. These posts are the bulk of the writing in this project, so they must be excellent, crafted pieces of writing. The first one should introduce the problem. The other two should dig into the problem and how you intend to solve the problem
• a link to a webiste, article, or source outside your blog that gives the reader further information about the problem and solution you are discussing
• a creative title related to your topic
• a creative url address
• a short mission statement (about 50-75 words) just below your title, which will indicate tot he reader the purpose of your blog
• 3 Poll questions that will serve as a survey for collecting data on your blog
• You will also need to comment on the blogs of 3 classmates.
• Then, after they have commented on yours, you will respond to their comments, thus creating a conversation online

Blogs can be a powerful tool for presenting information to me, your class, your family, and the general public. While I will not require you to show the blog to more than me and the class, I think it is a more worthwhile project if you can get some freinds and family to join in on the online discussions.

That's it for now! I'll post again soon!