What’s a Blog?

Blogs in plain English

http://youtu.be/NN2I1pWXjXI

Blog definition

A blog or “web log” is “a log of thoughts and writing posted publicly on the World Wide Web” (Sullivan).

Blog ≠ diary Blog ≠ news article

But, sometimes a blog = news article

Compare & contrast

What does a diary look like?

Diary (journal) Audience = self Topics = private, your life Purpose = to record, vent, contemplate,

etc. Contains personal details No peer review Not published, but updated whenever.

What does a news story look like?

News story Audience = paying subscribers Topics = universal Purpose = inform, entertain, educate, evaluate,

analyze, produce conversation NO personal details Words are supported by pictures (and videos &

links if online) Competes with other news sources (may link to

other sources if online) Peer-edited Published by news company on deadline

What does a blog look like? Blog

Audience = others Topics = more universal Purpose = to respond, entertain, educate, evaluate,

judge, produce conversation Includes some personal details if they serve a greater

purpose Words are supported by pictures, videos, & links Interacts (through links, discussion) with the digital

world May be peer-reviewed Published by author ▪ or published by news company on deadline or whenever

Recap

Why would it be a bad idea for me to publish my diary on the Ning?

How is a blog similar to both a diary and a news story?

Why would it be a bad idea to rely on blogs for information for an important paper like my senior thesis or P.I.G. paper?

Going pro

Take your blog to the next level: Have a goal: What are you trying to

accomplish?▪ What do you want your audience to do as a

result of reading your blog? Make it universal Link, link, link to other relevant

information that you reader might want to check out

Include visuals Cite your sources

Grading Standards

100 = You’ve met the expectations. 85= You’ve met some of the

expectations. 50 = Two days late 0 = Inappropriate/ incomplete /

previously submitted assignment (e.g. PIG paper) / blog that is diary entry / blog that is more than two days late

Works Cited

LeFever, Lee. "Plagiarism." Commoncraft.com. Common Craft. Web. 19 Jan. 2012. <http://www.commoncraft.com/video/plagiarism>.

Sullivan, Andrew. "Why I Blog." The Atlantic – TheAtlantic.com. The Atlantic, Nov. 2008. Web. 19 Jan. 2012. <http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2008/11/why-i-blog/7060/>.

Warlick, David. Classroom Blogging: A Teacher's Guide to Blogs, Wikis, & Other Tools That Are Shaping a New Information Landscape. Raleigh, NC: Landmark Project, 2007. Print.