Phase Three - Getting to Know Your Topic

For Phase Three of your blog you'll begin to actually research the issue you identified as your topic in Phase Two. This phase, however, has two components to complete.

1. Using HACC's Library Databases (click this link), begin searching for magazine, newspaper, trade journal, and academic journal articles about your topic. 
• Specifically, find two  articles that approach your issue from different perspectives. You want sources that are not simply informational but actually take a stance, make an argument, or suggest a proposal for some aspect of your issue. For example, if you were researching nuclear power, you might look for one article that supports the continued use of nuclear power and one source that advocates dismantling all nuclear power programs. Or perhaps one source examines the financial implications of dismantling a nuclear power program, while another one focuses exclusively on the environmental issues of such a dismantling.
• Once you've located your two articles, write a one paragraph summary (4-8 sentences) for each source separately. An effective summary uses neutral language to highlight key points made within the source, especially focusing on the bottom line or conclusion that the source draws. Do not use direct quotations from the article for the summaries. Before each summary, include an APA References citation for the source.
• Write another paragraph explaining why you chose these two sources for Phase Three, noting what you find especially interesting about each.
• Write one more paragraph exploring your grasp of your topic so far. How well do you understand the issue? What additional questions have you generated about your topic? What do you hope to learn next about your topic?
2. Using "My Blog List" on the right of this page, find one of your classmate's blogs and leave a comment for their first blog post (Phase Two). Contribute a meaningful response or question to the topic they are researching. Why do you think it's an interesting topic? Have you heard of it before? What questions does their topic raise in your mind? If you have any insightful advice, offer that to them as well. (In the next blog phase you'll be asked to respond back to the comment you receive). Look through the blog list until you find a classmate's blog with no additional comments (other than mine) on Phase Two.

Phase Three is due by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, March 8th. 

Need a Topic?

On my way home from class tonight I was listening to National Public Radio (NPR) and heard an interesting story that could be a good blog topic for someone in our class.

The title of the segment is "MoneyWorks: Intermodal Transportation Growing in Midstate," and discusses local, growing interest in using the rail lines to transport cargo typically carried via highways and interstates.

Click this link to hear the story!

Phase Two - Your Topic

Phase Two for your blog project is due Wednesday, February 20th by 11:59 p.m. To submit this blog phase, you need to log into your blogger account and create a new post by clicking on the orange box with a pencil icon (located next to the title of your blog on your Dashboard page).

As you publish each new post, remember that your blog is public. Anyone on the internet can find it and read it. Therefore, keep your writing polished and professional, knowing that you have an audience.

For Phase Two you will introduce your classmates to your topic. I want you to use HACC's library website and databases to search for your topic instead of a typical Google search. Remember, it must be a documented issue, problem, or controversy within your field of study and ultimately narrowed and focused to keep the research and report manageable. This issue, problem, or controversy should be an issue that professionals and tradesmen in your field are currently discussing and attempting to solve.

Once you locate your topic, your post should answer all of the following questions.

1. What is your topic and how did you learn of this issue, problem, or controversy?
2. Why are you interested in this topic?
3. How do you think researching this topic could help you on the job?
4. What do you already know about the topic?
5. What do hope to learn about the topic?
6. Who is a potential audience that could be interested in your following your blog as you research this topic?

Make sure your post is published by the deadline because I will only guarantee feedback for those posts that are submitted on-time. Before completing the next phase of your blog you will want to read the comments I have left on your post because my feedback could affect your next research move.

I'm looking forward to seeing your first post!

Getting Started

Welcome English 104ers! 

First, here are some easy steps to setting up your blog:

1. Start by clicking on this link here.
2. If you already have a Gmail account, click the "Sign In" button on the top right screen and follow the simple instructions from there. You should see an option to start a new blog.
3. If you do not have a Gmail account (it's free to sign up), fill in the requested information (starting with name) on the right hand side of the screen. 
• Click "Next Step" on each subsequent screen until you are given the option to go "Back to Blogger."
• Once you've selected to go "Back to Blogger," you will be asked to confirm your profile. Read through the instructions and then click "Continue to Blogger."
• On the next screen you should see a button to create a "New Blog." Click this button.
4. Whether you signed in with an existing Gmail account or created a new one, you will be at the right screen to set up your new blog for our class.
5. You'll need to select a name/title for your blog, a unique URL, and a template. When naming your blog, please do not use any variation of English 104 or Technical Writing. It's more helpful if I can identify you through the blog's name. Fill in these three fields then click "Create Blog."
6. You'll then be taken to your Blogger Dashboard page (this is not your public page). This is the page where you can create and publish all your blog phase posts. 
7. Before signing out, add this blog's URL to your blog's Reading List on the left side of the screen. Simply click the "Add" button, paste my blog's URL (http://byxbeslearningbywriting.blogspot.com/) into the box, and then click "Follow." When you log into your account you can see any new updates I've made to my blog.
8. Before signing out, remember to click the "View Blog" button to go to your blog's public page. Copy and paste the URL from there into the appropriate discussion forum on D2L.
9. That's it for Phase One! 

Happy blogging!