English 26-397

Advanced Composition Theory and Practice:

Theory and Practice of Blogging

Dr. Dale Jacobs       

Winter 2009   

Blogging Windsor Project

The Blogging Windsor project is a group project on 1) how blogging is currently being used in Windsor, and 2) on the potential of blogging as a way for the citizens of Windsor to develop a dialogue about the past, present, and future of the city.  Each group will create a resource for the rest of the class and for Windsor bloggers and citizens to use in thinking about the place and potential place of blogs in Windsor.  You should begin by focusing on one current Windsor blog (see below).  From this starting point, each group will collaboratively create a page or pages on the class wiki using whatever approach you feel will best help others to think about current and possible uses of blogging in and around Windsor.  These pages should engage the actualities and potential of blogging in Windsor fully, assemble all of the relevant resources about Blogging Windsor, discuss the potential for blogging in Windsor and the issues surrounding using blogging to think through the past, present, and future of Windsor, and show why this is relevant/important to Windsor bloggers and citizens.  In doing so, you should think about the blogging theory we have read and make connections between theory and practice (in terms of both current and potential of Blogging Windsor).  The purpose of this assignment is not to argue for a definitive position, but to explore Blogging Windsor as fully as possible, including links to relevant blogs, webpages, and other resources.  Since each group will have a different starting point, each group should come at the project from a slightly different angle.

Here are the blogs:

Scaledown Windsor

Here Be Dragons

Windsor Eats Blog

International Metropolis

Schnurr's Sound Off

Finally, each of you will be expected to produce a 2-3 page piece of self-reflective writing about the process of collaboratively writing this project. You will be expected to critically engage the writing decisions that were made, the collaborative process, wikis as a collaborative writing and presentation medium, and the relationship between yourself and the other writers.  You will be expected to think about how the theories we are reading about blogging might apply to collaborative writing situations such as wikis.

The Blogging Windsor Project is due in class February 11, 2009.

Wiki Projects which receive A+/A/A-: These assignments demonstrate a thorough and detailed understanding of and engagement with Blogging Windsor.  These projects thoroughly engage the chosen blog as a starting point, move from there to discuss how blogging is currently being used in Windsor, assemble all of the relevant resources about Blogging Windsor, discuss the potential for blogging in Windsor and the issues surrounding using blogging to think through the past, present, and future of Windsor, and connect the theory we are reading with the practice of Blogging Windsor.  Individuals who receive grades in this range will also fully engage in the process of self-reflection about the process of collaboration, writing, and working with technology.  “A” range indicates that the quality of work is excellent.

Wiki Projects which receive B+/B/B-:  These assignments have all the required elements but are not as thorough or developed as the assignments which receive A’s, either in terms of the group project or the individual work.  “B” range indicates that the quality of work is good/very good.

Wiki Projects which receive C+/C/C-:  These assignments have all the required elements but the information presented in them is vague, undeveloped and/or superficial.  “C” range indicates that the quality of work is adequate.

Wiki Projects which receive D’s and F’s:  These assignments are significantly deficient in one or more area. “D” and “F” range indicates that the quality of work is unsatisfactory.