Tonight in Blogging: Catch Up

Now that we're back from snow storms and break and readings and more -- whew! -- we have a night of catch up. Our original presentation schedule ran through tonight, so we'll try to do as many presentations as possible this evening. Please feel free to bring snacks, sit back, and enjoy learning about all these amazing and Top 100 places in the blogospheres.

If we can complete all presentations tonight, this will be our last formal class. If not, we'll meet back here during finals week to wrap up.

From now until the end of the semester, focus on making your blog the best it can be. This includes revising posts and design elements you're not satisfied with, adding new posts if you need to catch up, linking to other blogs and adding blogs to your blog roll, etc. You should have a total of approximately 40 posts (allotting for a bit of time off, some blog-blockage, etc.).

Your grade will depend on the whole package -- complete and regular postings, quality and accuracy (factual, technical) of your posts, good and useful design, evidence of blog community, solid blog presentation, and regular class attendance and participation. If you didn't turn in your blog comparison essay last week, I'll accept it tonight and factor it into your final grade.

To get an A in the course, you should:

*  Have a high-quality, strong-concept blog that shows evidence of ongoing growth and improvement in both content and design;
*  Have done an excellent presentation on your Top 100 blog;
*  Have attended class throughout the semester and participated in your blog community/with your blog partner;
*  Completed all assignments (blog comparison essay; etc.) on time, with an emphasis on quality
*  Shown evidence of community-building

As always, the concept of revision is important. Improvement from the beginning to the end of the semester counts for a lot. The blog you have now should be much better than the blog you started in January.

If you have any questions or would like to meet to talk one-on-one about your blog before the grading period, you can sign up for a conference. A sign-up sheet is on my office door (208 FOB).

Next week, we'll be attending Writers Festival events. Please meet at our regular class time in VH 118. Fiction writer Scott McClanahan will be here. His latest book is a memoir:  Crapalachia.

The following week, please meet again in VH 118 for the English Writing Capstone readings and reception.