Assignment reminder for the students:
Weekly blog posts and comments: each week you are expected to post a commentary on the readings assigned for that week on our blog (http://socmar11.blogspot.com/) and make a comment on another student's post.
As you are expected to do the assigned readings FOR the lecture they are assigned to, you are also expected to post your blog and comments BEFORE that lecture. Deadlines are:
- for Monday readings: Saturday, midnight, for main blog posts and Sunday, midnight for comments
- for Wednesday readings: Tuesday, 6.00 pm, for main blog posts and Tuesday, midnight for comments
- for Friday readings: Thursday, 6.00 pm, for main blog posts and Thursday, midnight for comments
An ideal commentary should be about half a page in length (~150 words), divided intro three clearly labeled sections in which you: 1) summarize in your own words of materials you read; 2) mention of any new, interesting, or unusual items learned; 3) identify at least one question, concern, or discussion angle that is either problematic in some respect or could have been elaborated more. This question is likely to be incorporated into our class discussions. You are allowed to quote interesting passage from the text(s) you've read, but the quotes will not count toward any length requirements.
You should also make at least one constructive comment about another student's blog post. Note the word “constructive”. Just posting “I agree” or such will NOT be counted.
This assignment constitutes 30% of the grade.
Late posts and comments will NOT be accepted. Nothing stops you from doing them IN ADVANCE if you think you may be busy in the upcoming week.
As an exception, students who have joined the class after we have started will be allowed to make up late blog postings up to the first week after the add/drop period ends. Add the note “LATE POSTING - ADDED” to such posts and inform me that you are doing so in order to make sure I don't discard your blogs as late.
Note that for this assignment you will need to create a Google Account (https://www.google.com/accounts/NewAccount). Each student will receive an emailed invite to join the blog and become its co-author. You have to accept it before you will be able to post.
Also note that unless you configure your account to do so automatically you will need to sign your blog posts with at least with your first name and initial – so I know who is posting (you can set up your username to do so automatically). Unsigned blog posts will not be graded. Also, add a label to each of your blog based on your name and initial (so for me that would be Piotr K), this will make it easy for you and me to quickly find all of your blogs (how to label a post).
Here is an example of an excellent blog post (structure, content) for a class where I required a page-long blog posts.
If you need help with regards on how to post your blog comments, click here.
