Blog Essay
What is a ? A blog is “a regularly updated website or web page, typically one run by an individual or small group, that is written in an informal or conversational style” (Google). For this assignment, you will be creating a blog which will be a web-based reaction-response essay where you will be discussing two topics and relating them to your own personal life.
What is a Reaction-Response Essay? For this assignment, you will be creating a reaction-response essay. Unlike a critical analysis essay, you will not be as restricted by formal writing standards. For example, you will be allowed to use first person “I” and relate events from your selected topics to your own life. Although you will still follow some academic writing standards, your essay will be more of a personal reaction to the topics—your reasoning for enjoying or disliking the topics.
Reaction-Response: Multi-Strategy Writing For your reaction-response essay, you will combine text, images/photographs, and videos to discuss a piece of literature or film from our class and an another piece of literature—novel, short fiction, poem, drama, comic book/manga—outside our class. To enhance your reaction-response, try to use several rhetorical strategies: comparison/contrast, exemplification, cause/effect, definition, narration, and description.
Topics for the Blog Essay Structurally, for the blog essay, you must first decide on your topics for the writing assignment. One of the topics must be from one of our reading or viewing assignments: “Everyday Use,” Death of a Salesman, “Daddy,” “Boy,” or The Metamorphosis. The other topic(s) will be a literary work of your own selection. Reader Reaction Topic #2 Topic #1
Peer Editing Although each of you will have an individual blog, one of your classmates will be able to view your blog essay and provide peer editing for the assignment. You will be provided a checklist similar to the one that you were given for the Wiki Critical Analysis Essay.
Requirements: Length and Format Length: At least five paragraphs: an introductory paragraph, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion paragraph. 1st paragraph—Introductory Paragraph (Lead-in Device/Attention-Getter, Transitional Sentence(s), and Thesis Statement) 2nd paragraph—Point #1 3rd paragraph—Point #2 4th paragraph—Point #3 5th paragraph—Conclusion (Review of Points, Restate Thesis, and Concluding Device) Format: (Modern Language Association)
MLA Heading Mrs. Ferguson 1123
Title of Blog Essay Do not use the name of the assignment. Do not merely use the title of the topics. Avoid underlining or placing your essay title in bold. Do clearly overview your essay’s topics! Mrs. Ferguson 1123 The Aftermath of Adultery: “The Storm” and Unfaithful
Introduction Paragraph Like the Critical Analysis Essay, use an introductory technique, such as a definition, question, or quotation to open your essay. Mention the essay’s topics (title of works in appropriate MLA punctuation) as well as any authors/creators associated with them. End your introduction with your thesis statement, one sentence which clearly overviews your reaction to the two topics. Lead-in Device/Attention Getter Transitional Sentence(s) Generalized Thesis
Body Paragraphs Although at least three body paragraphs are required for this essay, you should have as many body paragraphs as are necessary to fully discuss your essay’s topics and your reasons for enjoying/disliking them. Each body paragraph should begin with a topic sentence, which clearly states the point to be discussed in the body paragraph and provides transition from previous paragraphs. In your discussion of the topics, use the present tense. Supporting Evidence: Usage of Quotations/Paraphrases from the topics along with your interpretation of that evidence—its relation to your life.
Conclusion Paragraph Do not merely “copy and paste” your introductory paragraph’s thesis. Overview each of your paragraph points in relation to your topics. Make sure to use a creative concluding technique!