Writing Assignments

Dear LS104AC,

Some notes on your forthcoming writing assignments: 

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Blog Essay (50 points): 

Write a short essay (400-500 words) of analysis, not opinion, for this blog that illustrates or challenges the previous week’s class readings/and or lectures. Each Blog Essay should reference at least one relevant outside source, including, but not limited to, a reputable news media source, a published intellectual source (e.g., Dissent Magazine, The American Prospect), or an outside academic reading. If possible, please include a link to the source within your essay. If a link is unavailable, please cite the source in such a way that readers can easily locate it – any recognized citation formation that fulfills this criterion is acceptable. Appropriate use of supporting material means that your use of outside material must not conceal your analytical voice. I want to hear what you think!

The course has been randomly divided into ten groups. Blog Essays are due in different weeks for each group. See bSpace for your group and the due date of your blog post. Please note: This is an individual, not a collaborative, assignment. Each student must submit his or her own blog post by 7:00pm on Sunday of the week listed on the schedule. Please note that this requires you to sign up for your own Blogger account, so that I can entitle you to authorial privileges. Please be sure to register by January 24th, so that there are no complications later on as the semester progresses. No pseudonyms, please, unless you don't want your efforts to be attributed to you!

Additionally, students who have authored blog posts will be called on in section to present/summarize them briefly (for approximately 2-3 minutes) the same week they are posted. Everyone is expected to participate in section discussion, but presenting students should be especially active in discussions for that week. 

The grading criteria for this assignment are as follows:

1. Topic & Thesis: Did the author lead with a thesis statement that clearly and succinctly makes a point related to class material? Did the topic choice contribute to our blog in a relevant and interesting way? Was the post's argument especially ambitious or original?
2. Organization and Structure: Was the post easy for readers to follow? Was the post clearly and logically organized?  Did the author use transition words to convey shifts between ideas, issues, arguments, and/or examples?
3. Grammar and Style: Did the author write in clear, complete and active sentences?  Did the author use proper grammar and spelling?
4. Use of Supporting Material and Persuasiveness: Did the author link or reference outside material relevant to youth, justice, and culture? Did the supporting material come from an appropriate source? Was the argument or main point persuasive and did it add to the class discussion?
5. Presentation in Section: Did the author deliver a concise and polished presentation?  Did the author participate in subsequent discussion?

 

Blog Comments (50 points – 10 weekly comments at 5 points per comment): 

Additionally, during the course of the semester, each student in class must make a total of 10 comments (one each for ten weeks) on Blog Essays posted to the blog (each worth 5 points). Sign your comments with your name in order to receive credit. To receive full credit for each of your Blog Comments, you must engage in a rigorous, yet respectful manner a single Blog Essay posted for that week. Your comments should be no longer than 1-2 paragraphs each, and must be submitted by 7pm on Tuesday of the week.