Today’s Plan
- Weekly Writing Expectations
- Weekly Writing Report Form
- Workshop Volunteers
- Setting Up Tech
- Homework
Weekly Writing Expectations
For the next 10 weeks, I expect you to write 750 words a week. There’s some more specifics:
- You must write at least 2 separate posts/comments per week (note: in the course of your reading and research, you might stumble upon a topic that requires a longer post; let me know. I am willing to let you write longer posts when warranted)
- At least one post must be at least 300 words
- You must leave at least one substantive comment on a recently published piece of writing by someone else (substantive comments are at least 100 words)
- You must direct quote at least one source a week. Quotes need to be set up using something close to my quotation format. Additionally, you need to paraphrase one other source per week. Responses to quotes should use a They Say, I Say bridge
- It must be clear that you have done substantive reading every week
- When writing in online venues, you need to hyperlink to readings and sources
My experiment is whether we can use University writing courses as a way of improving the level of discourse online. These requirements are designed with that aim in mind: “encouraging” you to engage and make meaningful contributions to online discussions.
Weekly Writing Report Form
Every week, you will complete a Google Doc that let’s me know what, where, and with whom you are writing. Let’s look at the link together.
To get started, copy and paste that document into a new Google Doc. Then share that document with: insignificantwrangler@gmail.com.
Workshop Volunteers
Every Friday will be reserved for workshopping your writing-in-process, drafts of material that you are planning to publish. Workshop pieces should be at least 350 words and can (should?) run up to 500 words or more. NOTE: you get freedom to write longer pieces when you workshop, don’t worry about how this impacts the weekly report.
Everyone will have to volunteer for workshop at least once this semester. I will reward extra credit to those who volunteer more.
Every Wednesday night, you will be asked to read and respond to the week’s workshop pieces on a Canvas discussion board.
Right now, I am asking for two initial volunteers to have drafts of next week’s writing to me by Wednesday’s class. You can email me a copy of your writing and I will email it to the class.
Setting Up Tech
By the end of class today, you should have set up where you will be writing–whether it is a tumblr, a blogger blog, a Google+ account, a medium.com account, a reddit account, etc. For those who need it, I can help you navigate any of these interfaces. Make sure you know how to post a hyperlink AND quote text in replies before you leave class today; those are tech minimums moving forward.
Remember that you can create pseudonyms for these accounts.
If you have your tech set-up, then I’ll ask you to use the time in today’s class to start writing.
Homework
The first report needs to be filled out by this Sunday. I asked you to read both They Say, I Say and to read in your discourse community. Put that material to work and get writing.
If you need help for the first week’s writing, then you might try crafting a post that introduces yourself to your community. A lot of forums have this kind of writing space (search around to see if there’s any place for new people).
