Objectives for today 3.16 & 3.17

By now everyone should have their first three posts completed (KWL, personal reflection, credible vs. non-credible) and have commented (using the questions I gave you) on one other person's blog.

Today you are going to have some time to work on your 4th post, which can be any of the following:

1. History—Significant history and background of your subject area. This post should feature three significant dates/events that people should know about your topic. You should have at least two credible sources for your information, and properly cite them. You can find a model of this post here. This post should have 300 words, two pictures, and at least two links.

2. Profile--Profile of a prominent figure in your subject area. This post should feature three significant accomplishments of the person who is involved with your subject area. You should have at least two credible sources for your information, and properly cite them. This post should have 300 words, two pictures, and at least two links.

3. Current Events--An informative post about a current event related to your subject area. This post should feature a summary of the event, at least two different news articles about the event, and a explanation of why it is important to your subject area. This post should have 300 words, two pictures, and at least two links.

4. Economics—An informative post about how an issue in economics relates to your subject area. This post should feature two credible sources and an explanation the issue, and why it relates to your subject area. This post should have at least 300 words, two pictures, and at least two links.

5. Your choice—An informative post about a significant and interesting thing about your subject area. This post should feature two credible sources and an explanation of why it is significant/interesting to your subject area. This post should have 300 words, two pictures, and at least two links.

If you have questions, ask them. Don't be a

Objectives for today 3.10.09

1. Today you should already have created your blog and posted your first post.

2. You should have your second post done by the end of class.

3. When you finish that, you need to start working on your peer review assignment, which is due tomorrow.

4. If you finish all of that, you can begin working on your third post, which deals with credible and non-credible sources.

5. I've also added both the blog schedule and the blog rubric for you to look at. If you have any questions, let me know.

Also, congratulations on putting together such excellent looking blogs! You all have me hyped to hear more about your topics now that I'm starting to see more of a vision of what you're going to be doing. A couple tips:

- Make sure I have your blog address. If you don't see your name listed in the links on the left, than I don't have you yet. Post a comment here with your first and last name, blog title and subject. Ms. Arbeiter or I cannot give you credit if I don't have your website.

- Be sure to save your work as you type. The computer will automatically save for you, but make sure you do it yourself. If you want to be extra careful, save it in a word document before you post it on your blog.

- You all have some great images with your posts. Make sure the images are properly sized and that they fit what you're talking about.

- Remember that every post should have at least two pictures and one link.

Once you have read all of the above, leave an "I understand" comment.

Post #3: Credible versus non-credible sources

This assignment (Due 3.12.09) will require you to identify two credible sources and two non-credible sources for your research. In this post you will need to do the following:

-Title your post "Credible versus non-credible sources"
-Give two examples of credible sources and two examples of non-credible sources, with visuals and links to the pages.
-Explain, using the source credibility checklist, the three ways you made your determination about your source. You can use my post as a model.
-Post your post

Peer Review Assignment: Due 3.10.09

Objective: Complete a peer-review of a classmate’s blog post.

Instructions: You will read through one of the first two posts of a classmate and give typed feedback in the comments section of their blog using the criteria below.

1. Is the post the appropriate amount (300 words)?:

2. Rate (10 highest, 1 lowest) the clarity of the overall topic of research.

3. Rate how well the visual illustrations add to the topic of the post

4. Rate how well the post conveys what the author knows.

5. Rate how well the post conveys what the author wants to know.

6. Offer two or three written positive (specific) comments to the author

7. offer two or three written constructive (specific) criticism or questions to the author.

Check out my reflection post to see an example.

Also, if you don't see your blog on the blog list, leave a comment to this post with your first and last name, the name of your blog, and your blog address.

Objectives for Today

As you know, your first blog post is due on Friday (3/6/09). In preparation for this, by the end of today you will should have the following completed:

1. You should reply to my post by clicking the comment button below. All you need to say is "I understand." If you have any questions, feel free to ask me in class or write them here.

2. You must have a blog created and ready to be displayed

3. You must have a post that at least lists all of the things you know and the things you want to know in a post labeled "Post #1." You can look at my post as an example.

4. You must insert at least two pictures into your post. The pictures should be relevant to whatever you know or want to know.

5. You must insert at least one hyperlink into your post. The hyperlink should also be relevant to whatever you know or want to know.

If you have completed this task, begin working on your second post, a reflection on why this topic is important to you.

Remember: You can do this!

Blog Rubric

Your blog will be graded on the following categories:

Ideas & Content
(4) The student has many original ideas and they clearly relate to the subject area.
(3) The great majority of ideas are related to the subject area.
(2) Some of the ideas are related to the subject area.
(1) The ideas are not related to the subject area.

Quality of Information:
(4) Information clearly relates to main topic. Includes several supporting details and/or examples.
(3) Information clearly relates to the main topic. It provides 1-2 supporting details and/or examples.
(2) Information clearly relates to the main topic. No details and/or examples are given.
(1)Information has little or nothing to do with the main topic.

Amount of Information:
(4) All topics are addressed and all questions answered with at least 300 words
(3) All topics are addressed and most questions answered with at least 300 words.
(2) All topics are addressed, and most questions answered with at least 300 words.
(1) One or more topics were not addressed.

Sources
(4) All sources (information and graphics) are credible and accurately documented in MLA format and hyperlinks.
(3) All sources (information and graphics) are credible accurately documented, but a few are not correct format.
(2) All sources (information and graphics) are accurately documented, but many are not in the desired format or are not credible.
(1) Some sources are not accurately documented and most are not credible.

Mechanics
(4) No grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors.
(3) Almost no grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors.
(2) A few grammatical spelling, or punctuation errors.
(1) Many grammatical, spelling, or punctuation errors.

Visual illustration
(4) Diagrams and illustrations are neat, accurate, and add to the reader's understanding of the topic.
(3) Diagrams and illustrations are accurate and add to the reader's understanding of the topic. (2) Diagrams and illustrations sometimes add to the reader's understanding of the topic.
(1) Diagrams and illustrations are not accurate OR do not add to the reader's understanding of the topic.

Academic Writing
(4) Posts are well-written, and have strong academic writing style.
(3) Posts are well-written, with academic writing style
(2) Posts have are moderately well-written and have casual writing style.
(1) Posts are poorly written with casual writing style.

Blog Community
(4) The student participated actively in the blogging community via comments on other weblogs. (3) The student participated moderately in the blogging community.
(2) The student rarely participated in the blogging community.
(1) The student did not participate in the blogging community.

Enhancements
(4) The student greatly enhanced their weblog space using video, audio, images or other add-ons, which improved readability.
(3) The student enhanced their weblog to some extent using video, audio, images or other add-ons, some of which reduced readability.
(2) There is very little evidence of multimedia enhancement and the student blog is primarily text-based.
(1) The student did nothing to enhance or personalize the weblog space.

Blog project schedule

Research Blog schedule

Your senior research project must be completed by March 26^th, 2009. You will have at least 110 minutes in class every week to complete your posts, but you should come to class prepared with a post already outlined.

Posts #1-3 will fall into the following topics:

Assignment #1 Due 3.5.09

1. KW--What you already know about the subject area and what you would like to learn

Assignment #2 Due 3.9.09

2. Personal--Personal reflection about why you chose this particular subject

Assignment #3 Due 3.12.09

3. Sources--Three examples of both credible and non-credible sources of information about your project.

Assignment #4 Due 3.17.09

Assignment #5 Due 3.19.09

Posts #4 & #5 can be any of the following topics.

1. History—Significant history and background of your subject area
2. Profile--Profile of a prominent figure in your subject area.
3. Current Events--An informative post about a current event related to your subject area.
4. Economics—An informative post about how an issue in economics relates to your subject area.
5. Your choice—a significant and interesting thing about your subject area.

Assignment #6 Due 3.24.09

Post #6 will be on the following topic

1. Reflection—What have you learned through this project?