Blog Posts and Comments: Tips and Instructions

Sign up to write a blog post and to lead the discussion for one class session. In order to get credit, your post must be up at least twenty-four hours before class time.

When it’s your turn, you will launch the class discussion with a 3-minute presentation that includes:
1. An explanation of why you posted what you posted (why it interests you);
2. A reference to something from the text itself (a quotation);
3. Two discussion questions about the reading, related to your post.

You may post commentary and questions on any aspect of the day’s reading. However, please try to stick closely to the text, its language, images, setting and characters. You may choose to include links to relevant material.

Do not write a bio of the author.
Do not write only about the historical/social context of the reading.

Tips for Good Blog Posts:

Aim to write blog posts that will spur interest and discussion, posts you can have something productive to say about in class, posts that are specific and targeted and don’t try to say too
much about the text. You do not need to explain or cover the entire reading.

You might write about one aspect of it that interests you; one idea that you had while reading; one possible interpretation. Here are some questions you may use for a starting point:

• What specific passage would you like to turn your classmates to?
• What are the questions you have about that passage?
• What spiked your interest, anger, or curiosity in the reading?
• What does the text remind you of?

Blog Comments

You will also post comments on FOUR classmates’ posts (not on the same day as your post). Comments should be posted at least two hours before the class session that the post is about. To receive full credit, post one comment by March 1st, one between March 6th – April 5th, and one after April 5th (the fourth can be whenever you want).

What constitutes a good comment? Good comments do more than just say “I agree” or “Good post!” (You won’t get credit for comments like that.) You should respond at some length (at least 4-6 sentences) to something specific in the author’s post.