Weekly Blog Requirements

OK.  You've got a blog, yay.  Now what?

Here are the bi-weekly requirements for your blog.  You know how this stuff works... do what I ask, and you'll get points.  Don't do stuff, and you won't.  Do nothing, and we'll try this again during the summer or next year (click here for an evil laugh to drive that point home).


Requirements for your blog for every TWO WEEKS:

1. Read, summarize, and respond to THREE written articles/professional blogs per week.  These have to be reliable resources that you find either in print or online.
• You must mention the author, publication (or website) and date of publication 
• Link to the source if you found it online(required, not optional)
• Summarize the main points of the article, especially if you found anything surprising
• Personally respond to the article
• Must be 100-150 words in length minimum for full credit.
2.  Write a 300 word minimum (for full credit) blog entry on a topic of your choice, but it must be approved by Mr. C or Mr. V. -- These must be approached academically!
• Topics can be varied, be creative!  You MAY NOT write on the same topic repeatedly - no more than twice in the same quarter (e.g., you can't just review the Bears game from the night before every week).
• Sports analysis from game the day before
• Fashion commentary
• Music, movie, video game, app, documentary, or TV show review
• Political/current events commentary
• Advice for readers on a specific topic 
• Current trends on YouTube, twitter, or other social media
• Reflections/advice on travel (e.g. what to do on vacation)
• College visit reflections
3. Comment on at least 3 of your peer's blogs
• These have to be at least somewhat constructive.  Don't use our political system as a model for this.  Respond, praise, add an idea... you can't just write "Good one, bro!" repeatedly.  Criticism is fair game, but only if you are actually part of the conversation.  It can't just be a cheap shot.
4. Embed at least one picture, video, or link
• If you link in your summaries, then you're covered.  If not, find something else to embed or link to. 
5. Edit at least one of you prior blog entries.  
• Go back to one of your old entries and fix something, then make a comment that shows what you fixed and why (comment on your own blog, yes.). 
6. Present your blog progress every two weeks.  Each Friday, it's public speaking time in class.  You'll be given 4-5 minutes to showcase your blog every other Friday (so half the class goes each week, with the other half the next week).