1. Assessed Blogs in a Children’s Literature Module Chris Ringrose University of Northampton

2. On the Plus Side Regular engagement with course material Regular engagement with course material Quick and focused feedback Quick and focused feedback Extends the classroom experience Extends the classroom experience Literary-critical writing practice Literary-critical writing practice Opportunity to share with others Opportunity to share with others Capacity for podcast feedback Capacity for podcast feedback Variety of writing tasks and modes Variety of writing tasks and modes

3. On the Minus Side Can be time-consuming to mark Can be time-consuming to mark If non-assessed, commitment will slip If non-assessed, commitment will slip If assessed, sharing with other students becomes problematic If assessed, sharing with other students becomes problematic Pitching the level of formality in style can be tricky Pitching the level of formality in style can be tricky Need to devise ways of maintaining interest in the task Need to devise ways of maintaining interest in the task

4. Our ‘Prompts’ Reflecting on the last seminar Reflecting on the last seminar Assessing a printed source: book or article Assessing a printed source: book or article Assessing an electronic source Assessing an electronic source Giving an impression of a set text after first reading Giving an impression of a set text after first reading A close reading exercise A close reading exercise ‘Skills’ exercise (using MLA Stylesheet) ‘Skills’ exercise (using MLA Stylesheet)

5. To Bear in Mind The issue of word limits The issue of word limits The possibility of ‘writing in role’ and other (re)creative blogs The possibility of ‘writing in role’ and other (re)creative blogs Writing a blog doesn’t mean you don’t have to research the topic Writing a blog doesn’t mean you don’t have to research the topic Blog overload? Blog overload? How far to be directive How far to be directive