AF: Please. Read the instructions.

Do you realize the summer homework assignment is right there, 9 detailed pages, linked to that blonde?  See where it says, The Summer Homework, explained.  The Nitty Gritty. Click on the angry lady.

What does that mean?  "Here it is.  All explained.  All the details.  Click on this lady."

The lady is growling, "LOOK IT UP" and that is because it is only June 15, and I have received six or seven messages that say something like this:

• Sorry to bother you, but what is the blog? 
• What are we supposed to write about?
• Where are we supposed to write XYZ?

If you click on the angry lady, this is what you will see on the front page:

Blog Assignment — informal, academic writing:

• Pursue themes and questions raised by any text in the summer homework -- also, posts covering relevant news items, podcasts or other media are also welcome, 4 posts, 8 comments.  Ridiculously easy.

Then, when you read the detailed assignment (AP students are supposed to read instructions, don't you think?), I wrote the following:

Part IV:  Blog

This is our blog:  http://apbloggers19-20.blogspot.com

You will become a blogger this summer. Writing for an authentic audience with expectations is excellent practice for writers and thinkers.  You must be clear; you must discuss things that merit discussion; you must make sense. When you cannot make yourself understood, you are effectively silenced, no longer a part of the ongoing conversation and exchange in the world of ideas.

“If thought corrupts language, then language can also corrupt thought.”  — George Orwell (In other words:  sloppy writing reveals sloppy thinking)

The basic ground rules:

1. You must email us first so we can clear your participation on this semi-closed blog:  afletcher[at]busd.k12.ca.us or kcolln[at]busd.k12.ca.us
2. Your User Name should be your actual name, and please use a Gmail account that is NOT your school email.  It’s easy, free, and safe. You must sign each post with your real name.
3. NO TROLLING ALLOWED.  Absolutely, positively no ad hominem arguments [look this up if necessary].  You may question one another, ask for clarification, admit that you don’t understand what somebody is talking about, add a point that you believe somebody has missed, but you must NOT attack people.  Challenge ideas, ask for clarity, but maintain civility. If we have to step in, that will be your first and only warning. The second time, your access to the blog will be blocked and we’ll simply enter a zero for this part of the assignment, followed by a tense and uncomfortable conversation.
4. Please do not waste time with “Me too!” and “I agree with you!” responses in your comments.  Such posts are useless at best, and annoying. If you agree or disagree, EXPLAIN. Say something.

Start Four Conversations

You must write four posts — that is, you have to originate four conversations. You can write about ANYTHING you encounter that connects to our summer homework; you can write about the books, about what you read on The Long Read or Room for Debate, and about things that you read or experience that connect to what we are working on.

When you post, refer directly to what you are reading and the question you want to raise.  Use your questions from Postman, or use a passage in Huxley. (Believe me, once you start paying attention, modern media provides you with plenty to critique and think about.  After you have written your post, but before you publish, write a terse, descriptive subject line.  (A misleading or unclear subject line is annoying, don’t you think?)

These conversation starters should be at minimum 150 words long.  Anything shorter will not be effective. For example, these two paragraphs explaining that you must start four threads are 199 words long.

Respond to Eight Conversations

You must respond to other writers at least eight times.  You may also respond to a response. I expect some conversations will become quite lengthy.  Your responses should also be complete thoughts, fully explained. I don’t want to get all nit-picky on word counts; just don’t go overboard (rambling is never a good idea), and make sure you say enough to make a point.

These recommendations are on the low side.  You can definitely participate more than this.  We’d like to see you involved over a course of several weeks.  

A blog is a conversation, and it is rude to run into a conversation as it draws to a close and just blurt out a bunch of stuff without giving anyone an opportunity to respond.  In previous years, some people have tried posting everything in one day. That is not blogging; that is procrastinating and cramming.

• BLOGGERS WHO BEGIN THE WORK LATER THAN JULY 15 WILL RECEIVE 75% OF THE CREDIT THEY WOULD HAVE EARNED EARLIER.
• ANY BLOGGER WHO BEGINS THE WORK LATER THAN JULY 29 WILL ONLY RECEIVE 25% CREDIT OF THE CREDIT THEy WOULD HAVE RECEIVED EARLER.

Anything posted after 11:59 p.m. on Friday, August 2 will not be counted for summer homework credit.

⭐Ms. Fletcher