Introductions and the Ring

Introductions and the Ring

As you get your blog set up, remember to post your blog address on webct discussions. Be sure to double check that your blog address is working. You will also want to join our class ring. Directions are linked on the right hand side of this page (ENGL 301.584 Ring). Notice that I have added a webct calendar due date of Tuesday for joining the ring.

I would like you to introduce yourself on your blog. It is up to you what information you would like to include on your introductory blog post (due Wed. Jan 26), but you should once more think about audience. As some of you have noticed from your comments, blogs may be read not only by your teacher and classmates, but by anyone on the web. Take a look at Jorge's blog and read his comment to see what I mean. So, be selective in what you would like to include. Think about what type of privacy you would like to establish. You might not use your last name, nor give a lot of detailed information, but still provide an introduction that could focus on professional goals.

Office Hours

And remember that you can always come to my physical office for help. I'm in Blocker:



I'm in:





and am probably busy typing away:

Questions, Questions, Questions

I wanted to share some information that has come up from various students.

First, I will post information on what should be included in your introduction blog posting on Friday. This weekend you will want to make sure that you have set up your blog and posted the web address in webct.

Second, read the information on the syllabus about the different types of blog postings you will be required to complete throughout the semester. Next week you will need to start the weekly required postings. You will receive credit for completion of the appropriate number of posts.

In many ways, the blog can be a huge grade boom or bust. If you complete all assignments you will receive a 100 for 20 percent of your grade. This would elevate your grade quite a bit. However, the same can happen if you don't complete assignments--your grade could drop quite a bit. So, you want to stay on top of the blog writing component of the class.

Let me give you a little more information on the types of blog entries you will need to complete beginning next week.

1. You will write on entry responding to each assigned chapter from our textbook. There are deadlines for these entries--look at webct calendar for information on when each chapter entry must be completed. You should write a response of at least 8 sentences to each chapter. You might highlight the important items that you have learned or you might pick one item that you will discuss in detail. You might also talk about how you could use what you learn in the chapter in either your professional life or in a specific class assignment.

2. You will also write entries that respond to a particular question or issue that I post on my blog. If the assignment will be counted toward your final blog post I will clearly tell you this ("This assignment will be graded and will count toward your final blog grade") as well as give you a specific due date. I will cross post the due date on the webct calendar (your source for all deadlines!).

3. You should post one entry a week of your own choice. The entry should be professional, but is open topic. You might respond to an issue that you have noticed on my blog or someone else's blog, or an issue that you notice in the university or on the news.

4. You should use the comment function on a classmate's blog at least 2 times each week. Note that this is not two comments per each classmate blog, but two comments on two separate classmate's blogs, 2 times a week. Make sense?

You will want to get started on your reading and blog posting regarding the first chapters. See the syllabus on webct for assigned reading.

Please note that CPR and Turnitin.com are not yet available. I will have both up and running by mid next week, which will give you one week to complete your CPR practice module assignment.

Blogging is Happening!

This is fun--you are commenting and setting up blogs! I'm really curious to see what each of you has to say about blogging in a writing course.

It looks like, from the initial comments (keep commenting, ok), that you fall into two camps:

1. You read blogs (mostly friends), but have never blogged yourself
2. You don't know anything about blogs, but are gamely trying the blog

I see from looking at the discussions board in webct that a number of you have set up your blog. A few blog addresses don't seem to be working--please double check that your blog is working properly. You might try to write just one post (a hi there post), to ensure that your blog is visible.

I will be putting together a blog ring for our class over the next few days. A blog ring will allow you to easily find all of your classmate's blogs. This is really important because, starting next week, you will need to leave at least 2 comments a week on blogs (that's just 2 comments total--not 2 comments on every blog).

Richard emailed me to point out some discrepancies in the syllabus dates versus the calendar dates. I fixed these problems. Thanks Richard for point out the problems! If you see something that is unclear or inconsistent let me know. Generally the dates on the webct Calendar function are the most up to date ones and the ones that you will want to follow. BTW--When I blog I try to link to other people's blogs when I mention them in the post. So, if Richard had set up his blog, I would link to his blog so you might know who he is. (this isn't a criticism against Richard--the deadline for blog set up isn't here yet!)

Time to set up your Blog

Welcome

Since the semester is under way, it seems appropriate that we get moving on our class. I hope that you have had a chance to read through the materials on webct. Please look carefully at how the class will be run and the way in which you need to progress. Notice that we have firm deadlines and tasks that need to occur. If you have any trouble viewing the materials in webct, please let me know.

I will use this blog space to walk you through the materials and concepts for our class. I will also try to remind you of deadlines and issues to consider. Remember, though, that you must keep up with deadlines and tasks. That's the challenge of a web delivered course!

The first task that you should complete this semester is setting up your personal blog. You should set up a blog by Monday, January 24, midnight. Be sure to give yourself a little time to work in case you have some problems.

What's a blog?

For an excellent definition (and more than you would ever want to know), take a look at the Wikipedia definition of Blog.

Why are we using a blog?

So, great. I get the blog thing. But why should we use one in the class?

A blog will allow us to write short bits, often. Writing small amounts regularly is the best way to improve your writing.

I also would like you to set up and write a blog so that we have a way to think about audience and purpose, two key issues in technical writing. Remember that your blog may be read by anyone, anywhere. So, when you set it up you might think about the purpose and audience. This isn't a personal diary. It is a class blog. What kind of content are you going to put on the blog?

You might also want to think about how much personal information you want to put on the blog. Some of you will choose not use your own name or any personal information. That is fine. Only your classmates will know who you are--the rest of the world doesn't need to know. Others of you won't mind using some personal information. What you don't want to do is expose unprofessional details--nobody wants to know about the impact of last night's party on your body. A good rule of thumb is--what if your parent read the blog? What if your employer read the blog? Think about this as you write.

How do you go about setting up a blog for this class?

I would like you to use the free program Blogger to set up your personal class blog.

If you look at the top right of the page you see a "get your own blog" button. Click it to set up your blog. Follow the directions on how to set up your blog. When you are finished, you will want to post your blog address in webct. Open webct and click on More tools (in the upper right hand corner). Click on Discussions. Look for the My Blog Address category. Post your blog address for assignment credit by midnight, Monday January 24.

Your mini assignment

Now--here's your chance to comment. I would like you to click the comment bar (below, left) and leave a comment that tells me (and your readers) what you know about blogs. Do you read blogs, keep a blog, know anything about blogs? Let us know!

The Semester Begins!

Welcome to Dr. Earhart's Technical Writing Blog. I will be using this space as a way to jump start conversations and activities during the Spring 2005 semester. You will want to check this often--everyday in fact!

I would like you to sign in to WebCT and read through the information contained within the website. Pay particular attention to all of the technology tools we will be using this semester. None of them is difficult to use, but you will need to sign up and utilize each of them. Right now you want to concentrate on getting into WebCt. I'll post information on how to get a blogger site tomorrow. Each of you will set up an individual blog that will be used for various class purposes throughout the semester. Blogger is very easy to use--if you can type, you can blog.