Communicating with Cantu

1. Spelling that should be picked up by a spell check and is not – is a mistake.
2. Words that are spelled correctly, but not the right word (out vs our / dog vs dig) and are not changed – are mistakes.
3. Grammar mistakes – not commonly used slang words, but just lazy overlooked writing – are mistakes.
4. Apostrophes, capital letters, proper nouns – if you check ‘em you can catch ‘em.

#2 -10 MINUTE REPOST
You have up to ten minutes to repost your original post. So, if you write it up, post it to this blog, and take a look, and after surveying the situation – you find a spelling error, or something just doesn’t feel right – you can still change it. You have ten minutes. All you have to do is label the next post with – REPOST – and then go ahead and make your changes. Make sure that you type “REPOST” as your first word in the body of your blog posting. If you do not note REPOST – I will not accept the new posting. If you do, I will delete the previous post and grade the new one. Posts are time stamped, so don’t procrastinate for more than ten minutes.

#3 – BE NICE
Even if you disagree with a viewpoint, mine or another student’s, keep it to the subject and don’t make things personal. We want to start dialogue not shout somebody down or make them feel bad. We want people to check the site, get involved. So, with that in mind, while I do not want you to shy away from the exploration of issues, and I certainly would like to hear what you have to say, remember there is somebody on the other keyboard…who feels equally as justified in their beliefs.

#4 – TEXT LANGUAGE
Unless a specific assignment calls for slang or text message or some other kind of new modern funky language – then we are doing blog assignments in standard English. In order to grade them, I have to be able to read them. Thanks.

#5 – NEW IDEAS
What’s great about this thing is that it is fluid. Any ideas that you have for readership, or for people to get involved, or new categories or posting pages, would be greatly appreciated. This is after all an interactive web site. That means interactive with YOU. So, if you don’t like things as they are, provide suggestions to make it better. You’re the

#6 – GRADING RUBRIC
Blog assignments will be posted each Friday at the end of the day online. Each will count 20 points total. The score will count under homework on your marking period grade. In order to receive any points you must post under the correct category. As for spelling, errors will be bolded in your posting and any points subtracted will be noted at the end of your posting. Your score will follow and will be noted in parenthesis and totaled out of twenty.

As for the point scoring breakdown. I’m laying out a rough idea below – the scoring is subjective and will be fluid – any suggestions please let me know. All scoring for blog assignments will be posted in bold after the assignment.

20 pts – Critical thinking post…
You’re digging deep – not only through critical thought, but by posing critical questions as well. Quality, not length is the key for a critical thinking post. Maybe you are piggy backing others posts, maybe you are digging into outside sources, maybe you’re just talking out of your rear end, but you’ve nailed it. Who knows? To get a twenty you’re really going to need to do some deep thinking.

18 pts – Pretty darn good
16 pts – Not bad
14 pts – OK
12 pts – Better than a ten

10 pts – You made it to the blog…
and not much more. You’ve looked at the question. You’ve covered your bases by offering an answer – but you’re not digging in. We need to hear your voice! If you’re getting a lot of 10’s out of 20’s, we aren’t hearing enough of it.

8 pts – Come on
6 pts – Geeze
4 pts – Ughh

2 pts – Your name is spelled correctly…
and that’s about the extent of it all. If you’re getting two’s on a twenty point blog

#7 – 11:00 RULEPosts are due by 11:00pm the Thursday after the assignment has been posted.
 

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