Instructions

Hello and welcome to the class blog for ENG 206:  American Literature After 1945.  This is where we'll be doing all of our class discussion of the literature we will be reading.

Process:  Each week, you will be expected to make at least 2 blog posts over the assigned reading, one by Wednesday over the first reading assignment and the other by Saturday over the second reading assignment.  You'll also need to comment on some of your classmates' posts and reply to comments left on your own posts. How many comments you make is up to you, but the more quality comments you leave, the better the discussion, and the better your grade will be (see grading below).
Content:  Blog posts can be written, audio, or video or any combination of these.  Your blog posts need to be at least 250 words and should end with a question or discussion prompt for classmates to discuss in the comments. Comments can be any length but should be substantive, not just things like "I agree!  Good post!"  Comments like this may be posted for encouragement but will not count toward your comment total.  Make sure to +1 posts you like and please remember that our blog is a public, academic space, so don't post anything on it you wouldn't want people to see.   Posts and comments may be somewhat informal (this is a blog), but they should be academic and respectful.
Roles:  Some weeks you will be asked to take on a different role in your blog post by focusing on different elements of the reading.  
  • Close Reader:  Focuses on the language and literary elements of the text such as symbols, themes, repetition, motifs, diction, style, characterization, metaphor (to name just a few) and/or analyzes closely the language and literary elements of a few sentences or a short passage of a text 
  • Contextual Reader:  Focuses on the historical, political, social, and cultural context of the author and text
  • Connector:  Makes connections between the text and other things we've read, course concepts, personal experience, current events, real life, popular culture, and anything else that may be relevant
  • Researcher:  Finds outside information related to the text to share with the class (make sure you cite other people's words and ideas ethically and correctly)
Grading
Posts will be graded on critical thinking and support according to the rubric below. The student each unit with the most +1's (highest rated posts) will receive 5 bonus points.

Comments will be graded each unit on participation and frequency/distribution; at the end of the unit, the highest comment point total will be 100%; your comment grade will be the percentage of that total you posted.  For example, if the top commentor made 20 comments for the unit, and you made 15, your comment grade will be 75%.  Only quality comments count toward your total, and if comments aren't well distributed (i.e. few or no comments some weeks then a bunch the last week of the unit) a lower grade will be earned.

Posts will count for 70% of your discussion grade and comments 30%.

Frequency
No posts during the week
+0
Posts all made on same day.
+.5
Deadlines missed.

+1
2 posts made on different days by Wednesday and Friday.
+2
Post #1 Content:
Critical Thinking

(repeated for each post)
No posts
or posts repeat a previous blog post or contain plagiarism.
+0
“It isn’t entirely clear that I did the assigned reading because my posts are mostly just personal reaction with little analysis.  I don’t really ask any questions or pose any ideas that help advance the discussion.  Or my post didn’t fit my assigned role.”
+.5
“I did the assigned reading, and my comments show that I am thinking about the context, themes, or literary devices, but I need more development and complexity of ideas (to dig deeper).  My post helps advance the discussion.”
+1
“It is very clear that I read closely and carefully, and my comments show a high level of critical thinking and insight about the significance of the literature. I ask questions that extend the discussion and make people think.”
+2
Post #1 Content:
Support

(repeated for each post)
No support provided.  No posts
or posts repeat a previous blog post or contain plagiarism
+0
“I don’t provide quotes, only general summary or reference to the text, so many (if not most) of my ideas are unsupported by textual evidence (i.e. just opinion or reaction).”
+.5
“I provide some quotes (but mostly paraphrase) for my ideas, but there claims   and ideas that are not supported by specific evidence from the text or the evidence is not well-chosen.”
+1
“I provide much well-chosen and properly cited (author page number) textual support (paraphrases and quotes) for my ideas and sometimes may even include references to (and citations for) outside sources that enriches the discussion.”
+2
Post #2 Content:
Critical Thinking

(repeated for each post)
No posts
or posts repeat a previous blog post or contain plagiarism.
+0
“It isn’t entirely clear that I did the assigned reading because my posts are mostly just personal reaction with little analysis.  I don’t really ask any questions or pose any ideas that help advance the discussion.  Or my post didn’t fit my assigned role.”
+.5
“I did the assigned reading, and my comments show that I am thinking about the context, themes, or literary devices, but I need more development and complexity of ideas (to dig deeper).  My post helps advance the discussion.”
+1
“It is very clear that I read closely and carefully, and my comments show a high level of critical thinking and insight about the significance of the literature. I ask questions that extend the discussion and make people think.”
+2
Post #1 Content:
Support

(repeated for each post)
No support provided.  No posts
or posts repeat a previous blog post or contain plagiarism
+0
“I don’t provide quotes, only general summary or reference to the text, so many (if not most) of my ideas are unsupported by textual evidence (i.e. just opinion or reaction).”
+.5
“I provide some quotes (but mostly paraphrase) for my ideas, but there claims   and ideas that are not supported by specific evidence from the text or the evidence is not well-chosen.”
+1
“I provide much well-chosen and properly cited (author page number) textual support (paraphrases and quotes) for my ideas and sometimes may even include references to (and citations for) outside sources that enriches the discussion.”
+2
WEEKLY TOTAL
/10


How to make a post
Go to our course blog at http://amlitfall14.blogspot.com/.
At the top of the screen click "New Post."
Give your post a descriptive title.
Type a written post or copy and paste from Word.
The icons above the text box can be used to add images, links, and videos.  To record a video comment, click the little black movie icon (next to the picture icon).  You can add a video from YouTube, online, or record from your webcam or phone.
On the right-hand side of your screen, click “Labels.”  Label your post with the name of the text and/or author you are analyzing, the week, and any course concepts or other labels you find relevant.  For example: Death of a Salesman, Week 2, The American Dream

How to make a comment
Read a classmate's post then click "Comment" to add your comment.
+1 posts and comments you like best, are particularly interesting, or do a noteworthy job (but don't +1 everything, or it defeats the purpose).

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