Assignment #1: 10 Tips for Your Weblog Entries

One of the major advantages of weblogs (and one of the reasons I chose this format for the first assignment) is that they allow users to begin actually posting information to the World Wide Web with a relatively small set of technical skills. They let writers focus on content first, and give them the option of taking on more complicated technological tasks as they gain those skills.

By now you have all created your initial weblogs and are continuing to develop them. Here are a few tips to consider as you put together the entries for your weblog:

1. The minimum number of individual entries ready by Sept. 15 is two; the minimum total word count for your entries (new words, that is; not quotes) is 300. More of each would be better;
2. Focus on quality (of thinking) and clarity (of meaning) in your entries;
3. You may include entries on any topic you wish, but you should include material that is relevant to new information technologies, online journalism, or related topics;
4. The course readings (which are available as links on the course weblog) are very good sources for material for your entries;
5. You should also expect to look for other information sources on your own;
6. Reactions and responses to material you read (questions, new perspectives, tips for supplementary information) are very useful topics for entries;
7. Be sure to use links to point readers to information you write about, and apply other tools as you can;
8. If you quote material in an entry, be sure you use quotation marks (or the "quote" formatting in your blogging system) to identify it as such;
9. Look to other weblogs and web sources for ideas about how and what to write (Cyberjournalist.net maintains a list of journalism blogs; use any search engine to find more weblogs);
10. Take the assignment seriously--remember that you are writing as a journalist/media professional in training--but have some fun with it, too!

If you have any questions, please let me know.