In Class April 7

From here to the end of the semester you’ll work on your self-sponsored plan of action. Central to this plan is developing a broader community of readers, so keep track of your efforts and of your results. Both count. Use your journals to advantage—plan, document, reflect. I’ll be looking at your journals and posts and comments and emailing you regularly to ask questions. I’ll also be commenting on and approving your plan of action.

Grace Period: If you completed your Friday and Tuesday assignments on time you’ve earned some extra points—up to 3.  If you did not make the deadlines, take some extra time. Go finish up—you’ve got another week to earn regular credit. 

Note: many of you did not practice your HTML in the comment screen. Go back and do it—create a link. I want to be sure you get the hang of it if you are not already HTML knowledgeable.  Geoff, Jamie, Alex, Victor—who else is exempt? Let me know.

1. Active Community-Making: Mechanical and Artful

--Thirtysomething Gamers and Inconsistent Beauty for example of artful community making.

--Change the Change—artful solicitation of outsider comments (and new design).

--Thirtysomething Gamers Recent Comments feature—mechanical

--A Penny For Your Thoughts  Google Alerts -- mechanical

2. Attention-getting writing: how it works for some writers

--Using cultural knowledge and sarcasm: Arianna Huffington “Obama Happens” p. 194 of HuffPost Guide.

--Inserting the self image:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/christine-whelan/how-i-almost-committed-el_b_79695.html

--creating a puzzle; using exaggerated verbal imagery: p. Adam McKay “Obama Cracks My TV in Half” 193 of HuffPost Guide

--Mile Marker—post titles and voice

--Sports Across the Pond—human interest and voice

3. Technical Presentations