Project 1 Instructions

Course Blog

Overview

In your group, you will use the Blogger platform to create a group blog to engage in an on-going critical conversation of film. Over the course of the first twelve weeks, each individual will be responsible for two discussion topic posts on the group’s blog and four comments on other groups’ blogs. At the end of the project, your group will have a total of 12 discussion topics and 24 comments. Posts and comments beyond this requirement are always welcome.

Content 

The discussion topic posts will introduce and focus in-class conversation. They should speak to the core issues, tensions, and stakes of that week’s reading/movie and connect back to larger course themes. These are not to be questions that one can answer objectively with reference to the text, but a critical analysis that stakes a claim. Posts should require a bit of contextualizing, quotation, and explanation to support their points. Feel free to include clips from the films to help support claims and point to specific moments in the movies. Posts are expected to be 2 pages (500 words).

Comments  should be short and focused, around a page in length in length (250 words).    They should not simply agree or disagree but engage with the post’s ideas. You can extend the author’s ideas by offering additional evidence from the film, or complicate the author’s ideas by offering conflicting evidence from the film, or pose a question and offer the rationale for your question. They should explain what part of the post they are responding to and make one solid point. Above all, they must be respectful and aimed at advancing our discussion. 

Guidelines

• Create a blog –In the first week, set up a Blogger site for your group and send me the link to post on the class blog (which will serve as a central point for accessing all of the groups’ blogs). Your blog doesn’t have to be anything fancy; just make sure it’s well-organized and everyone in your group has access to it. However, make sure that you use your REAL NAMES as logins, so Rachael can know who posted what. If you have any questions about setting up a blog, see Rachael.
• Have a point – These posts are not the place to report on things, or engage in “Hey isn’t this cool” posts. Strive to bring us to a specific insight or focused question. Don’t ramble just because it’s a blog format.
• Be economical – This is not the place for long essays. A couple prose paragraphs at the most (excluding any images, etc.).
• Be clear – Work hard to be clear about reading concepts or technical jargon, and read over your writing for clarity in phrasing.
• Proofread! – While the style of writing is more informal because it is a blog, it doesn’t mean that we can get sloppy. Make sure to check spelling, grammar, your links, etc. In general, please take pride in your writing.

Due

• Discussion topics are due every Friday by 5 pm, with the final post on 11/16.
• Comments are due every Sunday by 9 pm, with the final comments on 11/18.