To blog or not to blog

A year ago, UCO student and now the editor of The Vista, Kateleigh Mills, interviewed me about blogging--why or why not. Here was my advice:

• Six reasons to blog--

1. You need a quality digital “footprint” to get a start on a career in the highly competitive communication field. A blog can be part of that—I have former students whose blogs helped get them jobs.
2. You have a passion and something original you want to say that can be sustained over time.
3. You can write grammatically correct sentences,  enjoy writing and can organize your thinking.
4. You are willing to work at it because quality blogging takes a lot of preparation and time.
5. You enjoy learning and change because blogging is always changing.
6. You have an eye for effective design and readability.

• Six reasons not to blog--

1. You can’t write a grammatically correct sentence punctuated correctly.
2. You only want to rant, gripe or whine about a specific subject.
3. You have no passion or nothing to say.
4. You are just blogging because you think you should.
5. You’re lazy and don’t want to put in the time.
6. You don’t really want a career in communication

Blog presentation schedule, semester deadlines

Deadline: Contact, Tuesday, Oct. 25. Interview, Nov. 1.

Your 15-minute presentations start Nov. 3.
Here's what is required:
1. Three page paper summarizing your presentation, with screen shot of the blog's home page, handed in day of presentation.
2. One page outline to every member of class
3. Presentation. Must include visuals. Powerpoint optional. Cover points listed below
Nov. 3--Courtney Balli
Nov. 8--Carolyn, Ryley
Nov. 10--Auri, Elizabeth
Nov. 15--Justin, Alex B
Nov. 17--Jake, Alicia
Nov. 22--Katie, Alex F
Nov. 29--Samantha, Kristin
Dec. 1--Des'ree, Mike
Dec. 6--Cloe, Brooke

Blog essay due--Oct. 27
Final--1 pm, Dec. 13 

This assignment is 100 points, 10 percent of your grade. 1. Presentation to be 15 minutes long 2. 1 page outline to every member of class 3. 3-page paper, handed in day of presentation to professor 4. Post your paper on your blog, with screenshot of blog 5. One or two items from each presentation will be discussed for final text questions. Your outline is your study guide.   

“We want a sense of what makes this blog effective, and to learn from the blogger’s experience.”

Presentations will start Nov. 1 --we set presentation schedule Oct. 25

• You must show the blog visually in your presentation, scroll through it and discuss.

• List the Name and url of the blog.

• Here is what we want to know:

1.     History of the blog—

a.     How long blogging?

b.     Who is the blogger? (Age, profession, etc.)

c.      Purpose?

d.     Geographic location?

e.     Number of followers?

f.      Does it make money?

g.  Why do they blog?

2.     What makes this blog unique?

3.     What are its strengths?

4.     What are its weaknesses?

5.     What is the advice of the blogger?

• What do you like and dislike?, and why
• What did you gain that influences you and your blog?

Blog adoption signup

Commented below by 5 p.m. Oct. 10.
Your blog adoption name, url.
Backup choice:

Guides for contacting blog adoption:

Email, something like this:

I'm a senior journalism student at the University of Central Oklahoma who is studying blogging for media.
I have been studying your blog and would like to ask your advice and  a few questions by email for a class presentation.
If possible, I'd like to send you those questions this next week, and will need responses by Oct. 31, if possible.
Please let me know by  Oct. 24 if that is convenient. I look forward to hearing from you.
My professor, Dr. Terry M. Clark, at tclark@uco./edu, can confirm this assignment if you wish.
My blog is XXXXXX.

Thank you,

your name


***

This assignment is 100 points, 10 percent of your grade.
1. Presentation to be 15 minutes long
2. 1 page outline to every member of class
3. 3-page paper, handed in day of presentation to professor
4. Post your paper on your blog, with screenshot of blog
5. One or two items from each presentation will be discussed for final text questions. Your outline is your study guide.   

“We want a sense of what makes this blog effective, and to learn from the blogger’s experience.”

Presentations will start Nov. 1 --we set presentation schedule Oct. 25

• You must show the blog visually in your presentation, scroll through it and discuss.
• You must interview the blogger, by email or on the phone. I recommend you contact them soon to make sure they know what you're doing. Last minute, "they did not respond" doesn't cut it
• If you cannot make contact, you will need to choose a different blog.

• List the Name and url of the blog.

 

• Here are subjects for your questions:

1.     History of the blog—

a.     How long blogging?

b.     Who is the blogger? (Age, profession, etc.)

c.      Purpose?

d.     Geographic location?

e.     Number of followers?

f.      Does it make money?

g.  Why do they blog?

2.     What makes this blog unique?

3.     What are its strengths?

4.     What are its weaknesses?

5.     What is the advice of the blogger?

For your presentation: 

• What do you like and dislike?, and why
• What did you gain that influences you and your blog?

Blog essay, adoption assignments, deadlines

• Essay due in two weeks, start of class, Oct. 18--typed, on paper. No email.
• For Thursday, comment below, by 5 p,m. Wednesday--two sources, names, urls, 
• First paragraph due, Tuesday Oct. 11--typed, first of class. No email.

Blog adoption:

• Tuesday, Oct. 11--Your blog adoption by name and url. For review on BlogblogUCO.

• Tuesday, Oct. 18--Contact made  with blog adoption, checked in class