Blogging
Blogging holds an increasingly important role in the online community. Blogs are easy for anyone to launch, and the informal style in which they are often written makes them accessible to a larger audience. Furthermore, on a personal level, the act of writing regularly—even a small amount for a weekly blog—improves writing quality.
In the year-long Rhetoric and Civic Life course, we created a total of three blogs: a passion blog, a civic issues blog, and a rhetoric and civic life blog. Below is some more detailed information on my blogs.
In the year-long Rhetoric and Civic Life course, we created a total of three blogs: a passion blog, a civic issues blog, and a rhetoric and civic life blog. Below is some more detailed information on my blogs.
SPACE IS THE PLACE: A blog about astronauts and space exploration
This blog explores a passion of mine—astronauts and space exploration. The blog is geared towards a rather limited audience of space enthusiasts and as such received limited attention from other class members. However, I believe my entries are informative and entertaining for everyone to read. Furthermore, I integrate many sources into each post, from countless links to articles to videos and even books.
Many of my posts build upon each other and reference earlier things I have written. While this is good blogging practice, it does make it harder for newcomers to fully appreciate a random post they may stumble upon. I make sure to include relevant links so that any reader could become informed if he/she so desires.
Click on the image to the left to visit the blog!
These are two posts I feel are especially well-written:
Many of my posts build upon each other and reference earlier things I have written. While this is good blogging practice, it does make it harder for newcomers to fully appreciate a random post they may stumble upon. I make sure to include relevant links so that any reader could become informed if he/she so desires.
Click on the image to the left to visit the blog!
These are two posts I feel are especially well-written:
Good Morning, Earth
This was my very first post on my passion blog, and I still think it is one of my best. It introduces the audience to an astronaut by the name of Chris Hadfield and explains how I first became interested in the topic of space. It is meant to pique the reader's interest in Col. Hadfield and hopefully in the blog in general. To accomplish this, I use a very informal and engaging tone. The post is also structured into many small paragraphs and includes a list and embedded video to break up the monotony.
This was my very first post on my passion blog, and I still think it is one of my best. It introduces the audience to an astronaut by the name of Chris Hadfield and explains how I first became interested in the topic of space. It is meant to pique the reader's interest in Col. Hadfield and hopefully in the blog in general. To accomplish this, I use a very informal and engaging tone. The post is also structured into many small paragraphs and includes a list and embedded video to break up the monotony.
NASA wants you!
This is an example of a post I wrote specifically to engage more of the class. Many of my posts, especially those focusing specifically on astronauts, were not as well-received—which is as expected, since this blog is written for an audience that does not necessarily overlap with the class. This entry describes ways everyday citizens can get involved in space exploration and scientific communities from the comfort of their own homes.
This is an example of a post I wrote specifically to engage more of the class. Many of my posts, especially those focusing specifically on astronauts, were not as well-received—which is as expected, since this blog is written for an audience that does not necessarily overlap with the class. This entry describes ways everyday citizens can get involved in space exploration and scientific communities from the comfort of their own homes.
other selected Entries
Below are a few selected entries from my two other blogs:
Discrimination in the Workplace
This blog explores a contemporary civic issue, namely gender discrimination in the workplace and the effect that our family structure has on this discrimination.
Discrimination in the Workplace
This blog explores a contemporary civic issue, namely gender discrimination in the workplace and the effect that our family structure has on this discrimination.
Introduction
In my opinion, this post does a good job breaking down a complicated issue into simpler terms. I pull the information mainly from one textual source, but I try to make the information less philosophical and easier for a bystander to read and understand. The information I include surprised and intrigued me when I first learned about it, so this post is my attempt to spread knowledge of this issue. I received positive feedback; others expressed their own surprise and interest, and thus I consider this post a success.
In my opinion, this post does a good job breaking down a complicated issue into simpler terms. I pull the information mainly from one textual source, but I try to make the information less philosophical and easier for a bystander to read and understand. The information I include surprised and intrigued me when I first learned about it, so this post is my attempt to spread knowledge of this issue. I received positive feedback; others expressed their own surprise and interest, and thus I consider this post a success.
Parental Leave
I examine this topic in much more detail in my policy paper (see the Papers tab), but this post serves as a nice introduction to the problems with America's parental leave system. I include credible and timely sources and have a picture to break up what could otherwise become a long textual post. This post generated some interesting comments and as such could have opened the door for further deliberation.
I examine this topic in much more detail in my policy paper (see the Papers tab), but this post serves as a nice introduction to the problems with America's parental leave system. I include credible and timely sources and have a picture to break up what could otherwise become a long textual post. This post generated some interesting comments and as such could have opened the door for further deliberation.
Rhetoric and Civic Life Blog
The purpose of this blog is to identify and analyze instances of rhetoric in the world around us.
All You Care to Eat
This post explores a relevant issue to college campuses—the all you can eat buffet. I look at the effect that a simple change of words, from "all you can eat" to "all you care to eat" can have on our mindsets and eating habits. The post examines the logos of this word choice, and is an interesting reminder of the rhetorical thought that is put into many aspects of our lives.
This post explores a relevant issue to college campuses—the all you can eat buffet. I look at the effect that a simple change of words, from "all you can eat" to "all you care to eat" can have on our mindsets and eating habits. The post examines the logos of this word choice, and is an interesting reminder of the rhetorical thought that is put into many aspects of our lives.