Why Write?

msrobinson — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 19:26:11 +0000

Why write? Every time we sit down to the sometimes grueling, often exhilarating task of composition, we can answer that question differently. We write because we need to work through a feeling or idea, demonstrate what we know, or show who we are. Sometimes we write because it’s the only thing we can do; sometimes we write when it’s the last thing we want to do.

Unfortunately, the high school writing experience is often limited: students typically use writing to prove mastery of subject matter to a teacher. The act of composition can be so much more.

The purpose of the online writing portfolio is to remedy this situation through expanding your audience and honoring texts written for a variety of reasons, both personal and academic. Furthermore, the process of creating this collection will help you to reflect on your work: you’ll recognize your current strengths and weaknesses, acknowledge how far you’ve come as a writer, and perhaps find direction for future texts.

Getting Started

Step 1: Watch this video on blogging: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NN2I1pWXjXI&feature=channel_page

Step 2: Go to http://wordpress.com/

Step 3: Set up a cool blog. The blog that is linked to my page should only contain work related directly to my class. You can get other blog sites under the same account on wordpress to use for non-class writings. It is not sufficient to separate your classwork from your personal writing on different pages of the same site: you must have one website solely for your work in this course.

**Do not use your first and last name in your URL, blog title, or posts. Never identify others in photographs!

Step 4: Provide me with your blog’s URL. I will not know that your blog exists if you do not do this crucial step!

Step 4: Add me and your classmates to your own blogroll (optional).

Step 5: Publish amazing work.

PORTFOLIO COMPONENTS

Comments Directions

COUGAR PRINT

Why Write?