English 26-397

Advanced Composition Theory and Practice:

Theory and Practice of Blogging

Dr. Dale Jacobs       

Winter 2009 

Your final portfolio should include the following elements:

1) 7-10 pages of your best blogging from the semester.

2) A 3-5 page analysis of your own blog and blogging practices in terms of the theory we have read this semester.  In this analysis, you will be considering your blog as a whole, your process of blogging, and the pages you consider the best of your blog.  How does the theory inform your experience of blogging?  Your blog as a writing project?  What connections do you see between the theory and practice of blogging, as evidenced by your experience and your blog?  How does your blog work as an overall project?  How do the entries you chose for the portfolio fit into that project?  How did you address rhetorical issues such as audience, purpose, tone, context?  Make links between theory and practice as you consider your blog and your practice of blogging.

3) A 4-6 page piece of revised writing that uses one or more of the entries as its starting point and that is intended as a genre other than blogging.  Imagine a specific print publication and revise your work for that intended venue.

4) A 1-2 page description of the writing choices you made as you revised a blog entry or entries for a different genre and rhetorical context; specify the imagined print publication for your new piece of writing.  Consider rhetorical issues such purpose, audience, tone, and context and show that you are self-conscious about the writing choices you are making as you move between genres and rhetorical contexts.

This material should be organized in a logical manner and, where appropriate, should use MLA format.  The final portfolio will be due in my office by noon on Monday, April 6, 2009.

Final Portfolios which receive A+/A/A-: These portfolios demonstrate highly effective blogging in the posts you have chosen, as well as a sense that these posts fit into the larger, overall project of the blog.  As well, these portfolios show a thorough and detailed understanding of and engagement with theories and issues of blogging in relation to your own blog and blogging practices.  Portfolios in the “A” range also show the ability to move fluidly between genres, adapting work originally composed for a blog for a different rhetorical and generic context.  Finally, work in this range demonstrates a thoroughly self-conscious awareness of the choices made in writing in different rhetorical and generic situations.  “A” range indicates that the quality of work is excellent.

Final Portfolios 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.  “B” range indicates that the quality of work is good/very good.

Final Portfolios 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.

Final Portfolios which receive D’s and F’s:  These assignments are missing one or more required element or are significantly deficient. “ D” and “F” range indicates that the quality of work is unsatisfactory.