ENG 394 Blogging

Instructor: Patricia Murphy

Course Description : Whether you want to learn to blog to share information with family and friends, or you hope to learn more about the use of social media in the business world, this course on blogging will give you the basics on how start a blog, maintain it, and most importantly, how to write well.

Course Learning Goals : At the end of the session students will have achieved the following:

1. An understanding of the history of blogging and its various uses.
2. An active blog with a well defined topic, a clear focus, and at least 10 polished blog posts.
3. A knowledge of terms useful to blogging such as RSS, Blog feeds, Podcasts, and Vlogs.
4. Practice with the discipline of blogging consistently.
5. An introduction to the corporate and business applications of blogs.

Required Texts: I have had trouble getting all the bookstores to carry our book. Please call ahead to see if the bookstore nearest you carries it: Tempe: 480-965-3191, West: 602-543-6800, Poly: 480-727-1168, Downtown: 602-496-0347. If you are unable to locate the book at the closest campus, you should contact one of the other bookstores and have it transferred to your location. You can also order the book online.

ISBN NUMBER	AUTHOR	TITLE	Est. Retail Price
0470573775	Susan Gunelius	Blogging All-in-One for Dummies	$23

Grading : Each time you have an assignment I update the grades in a Google Docs spreadsheet organized with your posting ID. Your Posting ID is a seven-digit number composed of the last four digits of your ASU ID number plus the last three digits of your Campus ID number, separated by a hyphen. Final grades are available after the end of the semester at my.asu.edu. I do not email final grades to individual students. Final grades will be based on the following scale.

Scale	Lower	Upper
A	93	100%
A-	90	92
B+	87	89
B	83	86
B-	80	82
C+	77	79
C	73	76
C-	70	72
D	60	69
E	Below 60

Required Work : There are 5 types of work due: Planning, Reading, Blog Posts, Workshop, and Portfolio.

Reading – Worth 20% of your grade.

For 10 weeks you will be assigned several pages of reading. You will compose a response to the reading and post it in the Reading Discussion Board. To receive credit your response must:

• meet the word-length requirement of 500 words
• use short quotes to support your response

 
Blog Posts -- Worth 20% of your grade.

The success of a blog hinges on many things, but most of all it hinges on the blog posts themselves. Without content, readers will soon click away from your blog and on to blogs with more to say. Therefore, the bulk of your grade for this class will be based on your writing within the blog posts. This class teaches you blogging techniques, but our most important lessons will come from the composition of blog posts. Ten times during the class you will write a 500 word blog post on a topic related to your blog mission. Your post will be graded on content, mechanics, style, and voice.

Workshop -- Worth 20% of your grade. 

You will prepare written workshop responses for all of the people in your group. You will post all of your comments in one post in the Workshop forum in BB. To receive credit your response must:

• meet the word-length requirement of 500 words per post
• use short quotes to support your response
• offer suggestions for revision

Planning -- Worth 20% of your grade.

The purpose of Planning is to contextualize your new blog. You will have a better chance for success with a blog if you create a clear and specific audience and purpose. Reasons to start a blog include: to connect with family and friends, to journal through a process (such as raising a child, fighting an illness, etc), to promote a business, to make money, to create a niche, etc. Other choices that you must make are: where to host your blog, what design to use, how often to post, special features in the sidebar, and many more.

Part 1--First, you will find 5 blogs that are of interest to you and analyze them based on these criteria: blog mission, author’s credentials, blog design, style of blog, voice in blog posts, audience and purpose.  You will prepare a report that discusses these attributes. Based on that report, you will draft a 500 word mission statement for your blog. Describe your ideas for design of the blog. List special features you hope to have. What do you envision for the style and voice of your posts?

Part 2--Next you will choose a blogging application, blog name, and you will set up your blog. You will also refine your mission statement. Before posting your work to Blackboard, please make sure you have set up your blog and you have a URL that you include in your post.

Portfolio -- Worth 20% of your grade.

The purpose of the portfolio is to think critically about the process of starting and maintaining a blog. Some questions to consider when reflecting on your blog are: What are the most important things you learned about blogging? How satisfied are you with your blogging application? Would you consider changing it? Why?

What was most difficult about writing blog posts? For this assignment you will discuss the choices you made in drafting your mission statement, choosing your blogging application and blog name, and writing your blog posts. You will write a reflection on your new blog and your blogging experience. You will also post a revised version of your mission statement based on your blogging experience. Please see our Blackboard course for the full Portfolio Assignment.

Office Hours: I teach all online and hold face to face office hours by appointment only. I am readily available through email at pcm@asu.edu 

Required Software : All students must have access to Microsoft Word. If you don't have it at home you can access it through myapps.asu.edu

Attendance : This class meets completely online. This course is not self-paced. There are set due dates. Work submitted after the due dates will not receive credit. Each missed assignment will result in an absence, and each absence will negatively affect your grade. If you miss more than 4 class assignments you will automatically fail the course. THERE ARE NO EXCUSED ABSENCES, even for emergencies or school activities.

Protecting Work: While there are many benefits that come with using technology to conduct the course, there can also be drawbacks such as system outages, hardware and software failures, and inexperience with systems. Technology failures are NOT an excuse for late or missing work. I do not expect you to be an expert with technology, but I do expect you to observe some common sense practices. I also recommend that if you are new to online courses or if you are unfamiliar with the software I suggest you view the online tutorials available through asuonline.

Late Work : Other students depend on you to post your work on time, and we often cannot proceed until all the work is complete. For that reason, the policies on late work are very strict. Late work will not receive credit unless you email me in advance of the deadline.

Plagiarism : To plagiarize is to present as your own any work that is not exclusively your own. Plagiarism of all or a portion of any assignment will be strictly penalized. Penalties can range from no credit for the assignment to failing the course. Repeated offenses can lead to your expulsion from the university.

Online Environment : You will need to pay attention to a few details in order for your work to be counted. For example, when you post your work online, you have to ensure that it shows up and we can access it or else you won't get credit. Get in the habit of checking your work to make sure it shows up as you intended. Also, be aware of how the things you're posting in online discussions come across--it's easy for something you meant humorously to be taken seriously in an online environment, so be careful. Above all, be kind towards and respectful of your fellow students. Any material that is viewed as obscene or profane will be removed from the board and you will not receive credit. Consider the class to be an academic audience.

The Public Nature of Writing and Confidentiality Issues : Part of becoming a good writer is learning to appreciate the ideas and criticisms of others, and in this course our purpose is to come together as a community of writers. Remember that this is a workshop, and you will be getting feedback from others. Avoid writing about things you may not be prepared to subject to public scrutiny or that you feel so strongly about that you are unable or unwilling to listen to perspectives other than your own.

Incomplete Grades : I do not offer incomplete grades.

Academic Integrity : All students are expected to abide by ASU's policy on academic integrity. Not doing so could result in failure in the course.

Accommodations for Disabilities : ADA Statement The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal antidiscrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. One element of this legislation requires that all qualified students with documented disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation please contact the Disability Resource Center at ASU Polytechnic located in Student Affairs Quad # 4 or call 480-727-1039 / TTY: 480-727-1009.  Eligibility and documentation policies online: http://www.asu.edu/studentaffairs/ed/drc/

 

Student Support Services
Polytechnic campus site: http://www.poly.asu.edu/students/services/

The Writing Center at the Polytechnic Campus: The Polytechnic Writing Center offers tutoring services to all students on any sort of writing project. Writing tutors can help with any stage of the writing process, including choosing a topic, brainstorming, clarifying a thesis, organization of ideas or paragraphs, grammar, citation styles, and more. The Center is located in the Academic Center Building on the Lower Level and will be open for the Fall 2008 semester beginning Tuesday, September 2. Tutors' availability will be posted on our website at http://studentsuccess.asu.edu/polytechnic/writingschedule . Although walk-ins are accepted, it is strongly recommended that you make an appointment. Please call (480) 727-1452 to schedule an appointment. Online tutoring is also available if you cannot come in. Visit the Writing Center 's website (http://studentsuccess.asu.edu/polytechnic /writing ) for more information.

ASU Libraries - offers 24/7 access to librarians through "Ask a Librarian" online chat and help by librarians in person at the Reference Desk during most hours the libraries are open. www.asu.edu/lib/ Polytechnic campus link: http://library.poly.asu.edu/

Counseling and Consultation – provides confidential mental health and career counseling services for all ASU students. http://www.asu.edu/studentaffairs/counseling/ Polytechnic campus site: http://www.poly.asu.edu/students/counseling/

Learning Resource Center – provides students with academic support services such as tutoring, peer advising, computer assisted instruction, and supplemental instruction. The LRC offers both free and fee-based services. www.asu.edu/vpsa/lrc/ Polytechnic campus site: http://www.poly.asu.edu/learningcenter/

Writing Center – provides on-site tutors to help students increase their confidence as writers and improve writing skills free of charge. www.asu.edu/duas/wcenter/ Polytechnic campus site: http://www.poly.asu.edu/learningcenter/WritingServices.htm

Career Services – offers assistance to students in choosing a major, setting career goals, interviewing and job hunting strategies. http://career.asu.edu/ Polytechnic campus site: http://www.poly.asu.edu/students/career/

Student Financial Aid Office – offers information and applications for student funding such as grants, loans, scholarships and student employment. www.asu.edu/fa/ Polytechnic campus site: http://www.asu.edu/fa/ (same as general ASU site)

Student Health and Wellness Center – provides non-emergency medical health care to all ASU students regardless of insurance status. Most visits with a physician or nurse practitioner are free of charge, but fees will be incurred for x-rays, lab results, etc., www.asu.edu/health/ Polytechnic campus site: http://www.poly.asu.edu/students/health/

Student Recreational Center – offers individual and group fitness opportunities, as well as information on nutrition and wellness, and massages. Use of the general facilities (weights, circuit training and cardio machines) are free, other services (yoga classes, massages) are fee-based. www.asu.edu/src/ Polytechnic campus site: http://www.poly.asu.edu/pac/

Student Legal Assistance – provides legal advice and counsel free of charge to all ASU students in areas such as landlord-tenant law, credit reports and collection issues, taxability of scholarships and grants, etc. Notary service is also available at no charge. http://www.asu.edu/mu/legal/

EMPACT Crisis Hotline – offers free 24-hour support for mental health crises. Call (480) 784-1500 in the Phoenix area, (866) 205-5229 for the toll-free number outside of Phoenix , and (480) 736-4949 for the sexual assault hotline. All services are free and confidential. http://www.empact-spc.com/