I have spent the week and weekend reading your first Blog Posts, and I love them! I love all of the creativity in your designs, your writing, and in the topics you chose, and I have enjoyed getting to know your voices and perspectives.
As you know, we are in this "learning experience" together, so I tried to look for patterns that can help guide us for future posts. I went pretty easy on you with this first round, when it came to grading, since we were feeling things out. My expectations will be higher, round two.
Here are some things I learned from reading the first round:
1. I need to give more flexibility with the word count.
Some of you went with the bare minimum, barely making 500 words, some forced yourself to stay under 700 (that must have been rough!) and some of you abandoned the word count all together (and that is totally okay). Let's do this. For the rest of the blog posts, the minimum word count will 600 and the maximum will be 1500. For the minimum count, you need to write enough to give more than surface level analysis. For the maximum, here is an opportunity to practice making your arguments succinctly, and editing yourself (prioritizing examples, or whatever).
2. Citations in blogs are difficult.
But, they must be done. It is CRUCIAL, in academic writing, as well as casual writing, to give credit where credit is due. You MUST use citations in your post. After reading all of the blogs, and considering design vs. content, I just don't think full citations are something that should be sacrificed. If you are using a video, that is enough of a citation. Anything else needs to be cited, and linked to if possible.
Going forward, I will give you a choice. You can cite (1) as if you are writing an academic paper, or (2) using a system of footnotes. You must pick one of those choices, and do it correctly--thoroughly, and properly. The idea is that if someone stumbled across your blog, and wanted to know more about where you got your ideas and concepts, they could go to the exact book/article/video you are talking about, and see for themselves. That even includes me--you have to cite my lectures if you are going to talk about the concepts from lecture. When you just mention a concept or idea, and not give credit, you look like you are taking credit for the concept. Keep that in mind as you write, because that is plagiarism.
If you chose (1): For in text citations (the ones that are in the body of your post), you must at a minimum use the last name of the author, and the year that article was published (look for it on google scholar if you must). If you directly quote, also include a page number in that in text citation. At the end of the blog, even if it doesn't look pretty, I need full citations.
If you chose (2): Each time there would be an in text citation, put a number, in order (1) then (2) then (3). At the bottom of your Post, give a full citation with the corresponding numbers. Full citations--not just a last name. Choose a style (ASA, APA, MLA or whatever) and do it properly.
Remember, link when possible. If you talk about a concept you learned from another course, cite it, and consider linking to a web site that gives background information about that concept, so your peers (or anyone else that reads your blog) can learn more.
3. You need to find a balance between having a voice, and still writing academically.
I love the variety of styles and voices I see in your Blogs. I am open to different writing styles and approaches. But this is still a 300-level academic course, and you need to keep that in mind as you write. Do not get too casual, and do not lose site of the purpose of these posts--to further our understanding of the concepts we are discussing and reading.
Here is a blog post from one of your classmates that did this well. He has a narrative of watching the PE classes, but he is still able to maintain a high level of academic writing. He also uses the concepts from the readings very well (check out how he integrates "Path of Least Resistance"), and cites in a way that means anyone who reads his post could go find those readings for themselves. Nice job!
4. Have some fun, but follow instructions.
I will try hard to give you clear instructions on my expectations, but please ask if you do not understand. You were supposed to use and cite THREE sources from the first two weeks of assigned materials; many of you did not do that. Please work on that for the next time. It is not enough to just drop in the concept--you need to fully integrate it, showing how it helps explain a concept, or connects to the thesis of your blog. You do not necessarily need a quote, but you need to give it justice. One way to think about it is writing as if someone may stumble across your blog that has no background in sociology, criminology or social deviance--how can you explain it to them in a way they can understand? Again, it is like citations--give credit where it is due.
Additionally, you were supposed to choose a genre to study (such as TV commercials), and sample four items (e.g. four commercials), and analyze them. Many of you did not follow that plan. While I had fun reading your thoughts, I would still like you to follow the instructions. I was easy on the grading this time, but I have the guidelines for a reason. Please follow the instructions, and ask if you have questions. To be sure, I will REWRITE the instructions for Blog Post 2, to make them more clear. Email me, or bring your questions to class, if you have any.
If you would like to see some examples of my expectation for your posts, here is a great post from one of your peers. In there she weaves in the concepts, she cites well, and she uses images and space to make her post interesting, engaging, and readable.
I can't wait to read your next Blog Posts! Great start, fellow deviants! ;)
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