Quarter 2 Blogs

We will be in the lab Mondays and Fridays during the second quarter to work on our blogs. Of course you can work on your blog anytime, but this will be our formal time to get help or ideas while working on the blog. Here are the things you need to know about the blog project in quarter II
1. Each week you will read two current (on-line) articles or blogs on one topic in your area of interest.
2. Each Friday you will post a short commentary (opinion piece) about that topic. Your commentary should:
a. Give a level one summary of the current articles you read and the current situation. You must include hyperlinks to the two articles you read!!!!!
b. Give your opinion about a particular aspect of the topic and provide evidence (level II)
c. Make a connection or discuss the relevance of the topic (level III).
d. Be written in an informal and concise style, but you must use proper grammar and all the rules of good writing you know.
e. Be written in block format (single spaced with no paragraph indentation and an extra space between the paragraphs).
Have hyperlinks in text of articles for people to click and find more information about specific words or events. Any reference to a person, place or thing is usually hyperlinked, as you see in Wikipedia.
Your blogs should also include
Photos / relevant pictures.
Comments from other readers
Links to at least 3 other blogs (not written by class members) devoted to your subject area.
Links to other students’ blogs are optional, but nice.

No Revisions!
Note that this quarter you are posting your articles before I grade them!!! Once the articles are posted, I will grade them. I won’t regrade any posted article, so put your work in before you post your article!!!!! You can ask me for comments or proofreading as many times as you like, but once your article is posted to your blog, it’s done.
No Late Posts!
On the web more than anywhere, yesterday’s news is worthless. An important part of writing for the internet is being first on the scene, therefore No credit for late posts!! Your blog is due every Friday. If you want my feedback on an article, you must get your article to me before Friday.
Scoring
Each article (individual post) is worth up to 50 points. You are required to write 7 by the end of December, for a total of 350 points!
You can add as many extra articles (posts) as you want, but your total points cannot exceed 350 points for the articles / posts.
Overall design is worth 50 pts. If you are missing required elements, I will deduct 10 pts. for each missing element.

Total points for blog project: 400!!! Take this seriously!!!!

Chicago Lit Tour

Here is the file you need to download:

City on the Make

1. Chicago City on the Make – Chapter presentations
   
   Chicago, City on the Make is Algren’s love poem to Chicago; and as any love poem, it begs to be performed. So, in groups of three, you will perform, explain and annotate a chapter of Algren’s book. For each chapter you must:
   
   Create a digital / on-line, illustrated, footnoted copy of your chapter. Your on-line version of the text should:
   Reproduce your chapter exactly – word for word.
   Include photos and or images (hopefully from our field trip) which capture the mood of certain phrases – Algren’s unique descriptions. These are not literal images or Wikipedia entries about people or places – these should be like a picture book – simply to enhance the mood. Include at least one picture per page of your chapter.
   Use hyperlinks to create visual footnotes – footnotes which explain obscure words or references by linking those words to a picture and text. For example, Chicago’s wheel. Some slang words will not have pictures, obviously, but people, places and historical events will.
   Perform a reading for the class on your scheduled day. Your reading
   Must pronounce all names and words correctly, be fluent and bring out the irony in Algren’s prose. Make sure all the members of your group participate equally.
   Must be accompanied by a presentation of your text and visuals – sho all of us the work you’ve been doing.
   Must be accompanied by music that enhances the mood of your chapter.
   Explain your chapter to the class.
   Discuss Algren’s purpose – why does he write this chapter – what message is he trying to get across?
   Point out and discuss examples of poetic description – just what make the description so appropriate and so beautiful?
   
   
   We will work on the projects in the lab and in class before we leave for the field trip (we will also view a bit more of Chicago: City of the Century). By the time we go on our trip Wednesday, you should have a very strong idea of what your chapter is. When we go on our trip, you will need to find photos to illustrate your chapter.
   
   
   Performance dates