Blog Requirements for Monday, February 9

AP Lang: 15 posts since Jan. 1, totaling 6000 words

Perspectives: 15 posts total, totaling 3750 words

Assignment: AP Lang & Comp

I've mentioned before, I think, that Andrew Sullivan is my favorite blogger. In the tradition of some of the Orwell-inspired "Why I Write" essays, Sullivan has written an essay in the new Atlantic Monthly entitled "Why I Blog." On his blog today, he had this to say about the essay:

If you feel me working up to another celebration of Montaigne, you're not wrong.

One other thing. The essay is a defense and celebration of blogging - but not as a replacement for long-form writing or in-depth journalism. In fact, I think blogging makes the long, deep take more important in our ADD culture.

Please read it and write a notebook entry.

Assignment: Blog Review #2

Hey everyone,

I'm still battling whatever virus this is, and I'm starting to take my comprehensive exams anyway, so think good thoughts for me.

In the meantime, here's the deal: I want another blog review out of you. Make sure you title it "Blog Review #2" and include your name, the date, and the hour of your class in the upper right. Down below the title, make absolutely sure you include the name (or names) of the blogger (or bloggers), the title of the blog, and the url (the address you type in).

Hopefully, since this is the second time you've worked through this list of questions, you'll have a little extra time. Oh, one other thing: this time it has to be a blog that I have not linked to.

Otherwise, the instructions are the same as last week. Plus, if you're not sure you did the right thing last week, I've posted an example.

Assignment: Blog Review

Over the past couple of weeks, you've been looking for blogs that suit your interests. Today, you're going to write about a couple of these blogs. Here's what I want to know about each of them:

• Purpose. What reason does the blogger seem to have for continuing to update the blog, and what reason does the reader have for continuing to visit it? What topics are the focus of the blog?
• Point of view. Describe the author's perspective. What credibility does s/he seem to have on this topic? What attitude does the author take toward his/her topic, and toward his/her audience?
• Quality of presentation. How easy is it to navigate the site? What kind of content is included? How much does the blogger rely on content found elsewhere on the Internet? How often is other media (images, video, audio) included?
• What about this blog appeals to you? Why is this one of the blogs you'd be interested in reading on a regular basis?

Write about one blog at a time, providing the title, blogger's name, and url (the web address). Provide the above information in a clear format, single-spaced.

AP Assignment

AP students: please read chapter two of Patterns of Exposition (excluding the essay in that chapter), and Donald Murray's "Why I Write." Do a RN (reading notebook) entry on Murray's essay.

"Tangled Web"

Kelsey Beltramea, former AP Language and Perspectives student, has the cover story in the current Student Press Law Center magazine. The SPLC is, according to its website, "an advocate for student free-press rights," and is located in Washington, D.C.

This is a big deal. Congratulations, Kelsey!

ASSIGNMENT: Write a Letter

You already know all the interesting stuff about you. But I don't.

So I'd like you to write me a letter introducing yourself. The more I know, the better chance there is that I can make this class work for you.

Tell me any important stuff you think I should know. You could tell me about previous LA experiences, what you do outside of school, your hobbies, interests, jobs, plans for the future... anything at all. Be as formal or informal as you wish, but don't abandon common sense. It is a school assignment, after all.

Please do type it, rather than handwriting it. Easier for me to read.

This letter is due on Tuesday, September 2.

Looking for Blogs

On Thursday, I asked all students to make a list of 5-10 topics of interest, and then to go find blogs related to those topics. I want you all to get a sense of what blogs are like, how they work, and to find at least a few that you enjoy reading. Some suggestions:

• I'd start with Google, Yahoo, or some other search engine, and type in a few key words related to your topic. Be sure to include the word "blog," so you don't just get any old website or news article related to the topic. You want blogs.
• Blogs often have a set of links down one side or the other, sometimes called "blogroll." Even if you don't like a particular blog, you can use that blog to find other blogs on the same topic.
• Hopefully, you'll be able to find a couple you enjoy reading. If you do, write down the titles and authors (or "bloggers"), so you can find them again later, or copy and paste the URL (the address) into a Word document.

Photo Essays

Here are a few examples of photo essays available from Slate.com. For many of these, you need to click wherever it says, "To view a slideshow, click here":

Matisse and Picasso

"Wars: Middle East"

"The Art of War"

An Essay on Gardening

"A Brief History of the Bikini"

"Men without Tights" (about superhero comics)

AP Test Prep

You'll notice there is now a link off to the side of this page, so you can always find the Iowa AP Academy Online.

About this Blog

The purpose of this blog is to provide students, parents and guardians, and other interested parties with a tool to keep track of assignments and due dates for AP Language and Composition and Perspectives in Literature and Composition. As time permits, I will update the blog with links along the side, providing additional tools for completing assignments.