Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
– Mark Twain
Blogs have become powerful vehicles to develop digital professional profiles, and they have become a space where professionals can explore issues, connect with colleagues, and make deeper impacts on their fields. Writing a blog post is a craft that can be developed. Think about creating a blog that is not already well-covered on the internet. Compelling, widely read blog authors approach critical topics in niche areas and avoid broad topics or jumping between disparate topics. Well-developed blog posts offer new content, new ideas, and critical discussions.
(Don't let the idea of "critical" throw you. Think opinion that is grounded.)
So why do this?
Develop a Single Blog Post
1. Topics will be based on your academic and/or professional interests.
2. The post must cover new topics related to your field of study (e.g., analysis and discussion of new technological advancements in the forms of theories, practice, or tools). 3. The post must be no less than 200 words and no more than 400 words.
4. Must include five links to other information
5. Must include three to five visuals (Some can be your and others can be found at free photo sites.)
Structure your blog like this:
1. Opening Paragraph – The first sentences should overview the topic and draw the reader into the discussion. Make a case for the issue and explain why it is relevant and important for your readers to engage. (5-8 sentences)
2. Supporting Paragraph – In this section, you should provide detail about the topic/issue being discussed. (5-8 sentences)
3. Conclusion Paragraph – Wrap up key issues, point toward future concerns, call to action for community, call for comments and blog interaction
Here are some of my favorite blogs. They are all different and that is the point.
A View From The Wing
Seth Godin
Reading without Walls Blogs have become powerful vehicles to develop digital professional profiles, and they have become a space where professionals can explore issues, connect with colleagues, and make deeper impacts on their fields. Writing a blog post is a craft that can be developed. Think about creating a blog that is not already well-covered on the internet. Compelling, widely read blog authors approach critical topics in niche areas and avoid broad topics or jumping between disparate topics. Well-developed blog posts offer new content, new ideas, and critical discussions.
(Don't let the idea of "critical" throw you. Think opinion that is grounded.)
So why do this?
23 Essential Elements of Sharable Blog Posts
Assignment:Develop a Single Blog Post
1. Topics will be based on your academic and/or professional interests.
2. The post must cover new topics related to your field of study (e.g., analysis and discussion of new technological advancements in the forms of theories, practice, or tools). 3. The post must be no less than 200 words and no more than 400 words.
4. Must include five links to other information
5. Must include three to five visuals (Some can be your and others can be found at free photo sites.)
Structure your blog like this:
1. Opening Paragraph – The first sentences should overview the topic and draw the reader into the discussion. Make a case for the issue and explain why it is relevant and important for your readers to engage. (5-8 sentences)
2. Supporting Paragraph – In this section, you should provide detail about the topic/issue being discussed. (5-8 sentences)
3. Conclusion Paragraph – Wrap up key issues, point toward future concerns, call to action for community, call for comments and blog interaction
Here are some of my favorite blogs. They are all different and that is the point.
A View From The Wing
Seth Godin
To the Best of Our Knowledge (My favorite)
You assignment:
This is a three part assignment:
1. Go look for 4-5 blogs that will interest you. Goggle your favorite topics (the more obscure the better for some) and get an idea of how other bloggers work. If you like travel, you will see a big list of bloggers. Check out 5-6 before moving on to another topic. Make notes about what you like and don't like about the blogger's style, how they put information together, who advertises, what you would add or change if you were doing it. Get to know the genre of blogging.
2. Develop an idea for a blog - not just a post but an a blog idea you can run with for the rest of your professional life. It can be on anything but you have to justify your ability to do it. For example, my husband knows how to build a nuclear bomb. He has taught be the fundamentals of what it means to make one. We talk about nuclear issues all the time -- but I still don't have enough expertise to write a blog about nuclear issues - get it?
Do a 20-minute puke about what you think you could talk about with some authority week after week. What do you feel like you know about better than most people?
2. Make a practice blog post. Use the criteria set above for your first. You can you stock photography but it is always better when you can use your own.
This assignment is due Thursday, Oct. 26 by noon. You can write each section in a single Google Docs, put it in your folder and share it with me or in Word and move it into your Google Docs folder and share it with me. You do not need to include the puke. That is your own research work.
