ENG 1A Fall 2014
Instructor: Sarah Antinora
Reading Response Blog

General Description and Purpose: One of the main objectives of this course is to encourage you to write in order to make your voice heard. An important component of that idea is the understanding that writing is done in the public sphere, with a public audience. These posts will be in replacement of weekly 1-page reading “write ups,” or responses. Instead, your response will be public, with a broader audience than just your instructor.

Instructions:

·         Create a blog. Create an account by going to www.blogspot.com, and clicking on “Create your blog now.” You will need an e-mail account to create your blog—you may use your Delta account or a personal e-mail. In the second step, you will title your blog and create an internet address. I entitled my blog “Antinora’s ENG 1A Blog” and my address is: www.santinoradelta.blogspot.com. After choosing a template, the site will immediately open the page that allows you to create a new post.

·         E-mail me at santinora@deltacollege.edu with your name and blog address.

·         Each two weeks, you will respond to one of the readings via a post on your blog.

·         Your blog will consist of two parts. First, summarize the reading. Second, react to the reading by thinking critically.

·         Then, read one of the blog posts of your peers. You can access all of your peers’ blogs at mine or link to your favorites on your own page. Respond critically and thoughtfully to your peer’s post (and perhaps even another classmate’s response in the comments).

Questions you may have:

1.      What do I blog about? Any reading related to the course (homework in the textbook, online readings, in-class readings, etc).

2.      How often do I need to blog? At least once every two weeks. Your blog for the previous week should be posted by midnight Sunday. The first blog must be posted by Sunday, August 31st, at midnight.

3.      How long should a post be? In general, your post should be about 200 words in length. Remember, you must summarize for any reader who may not be familiar with the details, while also reacting to the reading. Your response should at least equal the length of the summary.

4.      Who will read my blog? Your instructor, your fellow classmates, and quite possibly random internet surfers. Yes, you will read the blogs of your peers.

5.      How does the blog get graded? The blog is worth 10% of your course grade. You will need to post eight times, beginning with the one due 8/31. If you summarize the reading with enough detail to inform your reader, provide a thoughtful response, and thoughtfully comment upon a peer’s post, then you will get full points.