How To Write a How-To

Here's the deal, guys, we've been blogging a lot about media, recently, and have lost sight of the main topic of our blogs. To rectify this situation, I'm asking you to deliver to me a how-to that relates to your blog's theme. For example, if you're writing a technology blog, write me a how-to for a new program or electronic device. How-to's are simple, they just explain how to perform an action or task. How-to's are just step-by-step instructions in essay format, rather than list format. This means they must be written in paragraph form, with proper spelling and punctuation.

Your how-to is due the first day in class after break and should be published to your blog. It should be a minimum of 10 steps long.

Tips:

1. Use pictures to illustrate the post.
2. You don't need to do something terribly complicated, you just need to explain it so that anyone can follow along and possibly perform the steps, also.
3. List all of the tools and/or equipment needed at the beginning.
4. Be creative, find something fun to explain.
5. Check out this link to see some great how-to's.

The Dichotomy of the Healthcare Battle

Alright, we know about the battle over healthcare reform. We know that congress is essentially split on the idea, and that a healthcare bill was recently passed by a narrow margin. We also know what healthcare is and why people need it.

So, what's the big deal?

That's what you guys need to figure out. Your job is to search the web and find two articles on healthcare that explain the argument. This means you have to explore the dichotomy of healthcare. One article should be pro healthcare reform, the other should be anti healthcare reform. Once you've found the two, link to them in your blog and then compare and contrast the two articles. This means looking at similarities and differences. Find out why some are for it and some are against it. Then, form your own opinion and bacjk it up with factual information.

A few tips:

-The more articles over the dichotomy, the better. You don't necessarily need to stop at two.
-Pictures are great. There have been rallies and protests on both sides. Pictures of these would be a great way to raise interest in your blog and show the dichotomy through a visual medium.
-This should be a somewhat longer blog, so let's say five paragraphs, minimum.
-Don't be afraid to open up a conversation in the comments section of others' blogs.

Good luck and happy blogging.

The Next Big Thing

A lot of bloggers try to predict "the next big thing" in their niche, or blog topic. Tech bloggers try to predict what the new waves of technology will be, fashion bloggers try to figure out what the hot style will be for the next season, and sports bloggers try to figure out what the next shift in playing dynamics will be. Now, it's your turn.

Pick a topic, any topic, and predict what the "next big thing" will be. I'd prefer for you to try and make the prediction based on the topic of your blog, but if you find yourself stumped, turn to a separate interest.

There are some requirements, though...

1.) This needs to be a little longer than the typical blog because you need to give your prediction and back it up with some sort of source. So let's make this blog post 3 to 4 paragraphs long.

2.) As I just mentioned, you need to have some sort of source that helps to support your prediction. This means you need to link to that source.

3.) I'd like a picture or two (or three, even), that supports your post. So make sure you're finding good pictures that support your writing.

Happy blogging!

Who owns you?

Recently, we discussed the "Big Ten" corporations, those giant companies that pretty much own all of Modern Media. We also discussed the ways they influence us, but not in any great depth. So here's the deal, you're going to pick five pieces of media and figure out which of the Big Ten companies own them. This will involve a little research, and may take longer than the average blog post. But, it will also give you greater understanding of the people who own the media.

Here are the requirements:

1. Pick an album, a movie, a television show, a book, and a magazine that you are interested in or have regular contact with. Once you've done this, find out which of the big ten companies owns them.

2. Figure out if those Big Ten companies own any similar ventures, such as record labels or recording artists, publishers, or production studios. How may this affect the way you look at media? (i.e. if the label that publishes your favorite album also publishes bands and artists of the same genre, how might that Big Ten company use that to control media?)

3. Finish the following statement in 2-3 paragraphs.

"It is important to understand who owns the media because..."

If there are any questions, please, ask me as soon as possible. This is a different kind of blog post, so I expect there may be some confusion.

Good luck and happy blogging.

Blog Assignment Due March 12

Part of blogging is visiting other blogs to get new ideas, start conversation, or to just browse. It should be easy to predict, then, what this assignment is about.

A week from now you need to post the link to a blog you visited. Then, in your blog post, you need to respond to, and rate, that blog. Here's how you should go about this.

-Give me three things you really liked about the blog.
-Give me two things you think the blogger should improve.
-Give me one question you would like to ask the blogger about his/her blog.

Pretty simple, right? Well, here's the catch. The blog MUST NOT be one of your classmate's. Use a random blog you found on the internet. You never know, you might find a blog that you can visit every day.

Good luck.

Blog Assignments Due by March 10th

Alright guys, here's the deal. At the end of this post are a few prompts from the list you guys gave me. Complete THREE of them in separate posts. Each post should be two to three paragraphs and include a picture. That means three posts and three pictures for this assignment.

Prompts.

1. If you were forces to get at least one tattoo by law, what would it be and what would the personal value/meaning of it be?

2. If you could go back in time, how far would you go and why?

3. Describe the worst experience you've ever had at a fast food joint.

4. Pick one book you would suggest to someone. What is it about? Why would you suggest it?

5. If you could plan out your life from now until you die, what would it look like? Your college, career, family, home, etc.

Happy blogging