The writing that you post on your student blogsite will make up a major part of the work in this course.  In most cases, I will pose a prompt to you, challenging you to show evidence of your learning in the course.  In other cases, you will self-select pieces of writing to publish, or you will collaborate with your writing group to select topics for your blog.  Before posting, you’ll find it helpful to review the 5 Ps of Posting.  Please read the material below carefully.
1.  Rules for posts – Each post should be:

• Developed.  Your posts should not be one simple paragraph.  Think of your posts as mini-essays or mini-stories.  I expect more thought beyond what you might put into a normal journal entry, chat, email, or text.
• Detailed.  Each post must be at 125 words, but I’m more interested in the quality of your content than your word count. Remember, you are trying to develop your writing, so write with as much thought and honesty as possible.  Try and make every post a work of art.
• On time.  Late posts will receive a rating no higher than a 7 and will not receive any awards or badges.

2.  Grading – I will grade each post on 10-point scale, measuring the effort you put into your post and the degree to which you challenged your writing.

ADVANCED:  Vigorous English.  The difficult or extreme way
POST RATING = 9 – 10

ORGANIZATION:  Magnetic headline.  Opens with a bang.  Strong paragraphing.  Closes with style
DICTION:  Precise and exact word choice signals an advanced vocabulary
CONTENT & DETAIL:  “Killer” ideas.  Concentrates on seeing what they write about.  Specific details give ideas realness.  Captures the imagination.
SYNTAX:  Plays boldly to challenge and expand sentences.  Strong variety in sentence patterns.
TONE:  Written with passion and enthusiasm.  Sounds like natural speech and has a natural rhythm.  Writes with an active voice.
SPELLING & CONVENTIONS:  Edits ruthlessly.  The post is mistake-free.

INTERMEDIATE:  Average English.  The moderately difficult way
POST RATING = 7 – 8

ORGANIZATION:  Effective yet predictable headline.  Moderately interesting lead.  Partially satisfying closing.
DICTION:  Some interesting word choice signals an intermediate vocabulary
CONTENT & DETAIL:  Mediocre ideas.  Some concentration on specific details.  Average imagery.
SYNTAX:  The writer sometimes challenges and expands their sentences.  Some variety in sentence patterns.
TONE:  Some enthusiasm.  Sometimes has the natural rhythm of natural speech.  Sometimes sounds like talk.
SPELLING & CONVENTIONS:  Partial editing.  The post has a few noticeable mistakes.

BEGINNER:  Lazy English.  The easy way
POST RATING = 5 – 6

ORGANIZATION:  Lame headline.  Opens with a dud.  No paragraphing.  Closes lazily.
DICTION:  Obvious and predictable word choice signals a lazy vocabulary for beginners.
CONTENT & DETAIL:  Too short.  Shows little thought.  No concentration on specific details.  Weak imagery.
SYNTAX:  The writer does not challenge or expand their sentences.  No variety in sentence patterns.
TONE:  Dull – as if the writer doesn’t care.  Has a “that’s-the-way-I-really-talk” feel.  Passive voice.  No rhythm.
SPELLING & CONVENTIONS:  Sloppy.  No editing.  The post contains many mistakes.