Guidelines

    This blog assignment is a little bit different. For this one, you'll be revising (or composing something new if you prefer) that can be submitted to FoundSF to post on their website.
  • GOAL: "To create an original contribution to Shaping San Francisco’s online archive, Foundsf.org. The goals for these projects are to be multimedia (e.g. including photographs, interviews, video), geared toward a broad public audience, properly cited, and be exciting platforms for people to pursue further research (i.e. they include further resources.)"
  • LENGTH: approx. 8-12 well-developed paragraphs
  • References: Use inline references (Author date, page number) (e.g. Johnson 2000, 208). Include a bibliography at the end with Chicago Manual of Style.
  • Topics: Open
  • Images: You can upload 5 images or include links to images/maps/visualizations you've made. The "< iframe>" style works with FoundSF's platform.
  • Must include ABSTRACT (see directions below)
  • Remember to ENGAGE with your PRIMARY SOURCES. Don't just narrate a history using secondary sources, but directly discuss your primary sources, analyze them, and explain why they are important!
  • After you submit and I grade your piece, I'll send you directions on uploading this to FoundSF.
  • In light of recent events, I'd also be open to you preparing a piece to share with a news outlet / digital media source. If you're interested, send me an email and we can talk about this.

Here are some suggestions of what make's a successful FoundSF entry, according to their directors. (From FoundSF document)

The piece contains:

  1. an abstract summarizing what the reader will find in the piece.
  2. not just facts and info, but also forms of critical analysis.
  3. historical context – think in terms of internal links to other related histories in FoundSF & external links as well as suggested further readings
  4. multimedia elements with artifacts such as photos, clips from oral history interviews, and historical ephemera like posters, fliers, handouts
  5. an answer to the question: So What? The reader should understand why author feels this is significant and has implications for now.
  6. includes info on where the issue/place/person/event is now? Why does it still matter today?
  7. links facts with “people’s lived experience” / people’s history / ethnography / interviews
  8. highlights big questions that are raised by this entry even if those questions can’t be investigated in the context of the actual piece

How to Create an Abstract for your Piece: (from FoundSF document)
Many entries in Foundsf are over 5 paragraphs long, sometimes much longer. We recognize that someone coming to these long entries might want to have a summary of what the article contains. For the abstract, please compose a 2-3 sentence (ideally around 130 words) blurb summarizing the article. We are looking for broad themes that invite the reader in to learn more about the piece. A couple tips: Please do not begin the abstract with, "This article says...", instead simply quickly summarize what the article has to say. Please also do not include commentary (whether yours or that of the author), but rather try to get at the heart of the topics covered in the piece without too much detail.

  • Due by 11:59PM on Sunday 10/20.
  • Audience

    Write for a public audience that includes your peers

    Goals

  • To increase your proficiency and comfort at analyzing primary sources and practicing using the digital tools we learn about in class
  • To engage with the public, including your peers, in offering thoughtful responses to historical materials
  • To gain experience and comfort in blogging and digital communication
  • To provide regular opportunities for synthesis, writing, and historical analysis in the classroom.

  • Grading

    Blog posts will be graded on a thirty-point scale.
    Exceeds Expectations Meets Expectations Needs improvement
    Thesis (6 pts) Your post includes a concise argument that is within the topics assigned. It is thoughtful, specific, and provable. You state your thesis in or near the introduction of your post and reference it, directly or indirectly, throughout the post. Includes a thesis statement that addresses the topics posed by the assignment, and it is in or near the introduction of your post, but your thesis
  • is wordy, lacks clarity, and/or lacks specificity
  • was not referenced sufficiently throughout the paper.
  • Your thesis…
  • is overly vague
  • does not address the question posed by the assignment
  • cannot be located
  • is not relevant to the content or argument of the paper
  • Content, support and organization (6 pts) You support your argument with specific and relevant examples and excellent analysis. Your paper has a logical organization, transitions between paragraphs, and a thoughtful introduction & conclusion. You support your argument with specific examples and adequate analysis, but your paper…
  • could use more or fewer examples
  • could improve from analysis that is more thorough & insightful
  • could use improvement in your organization, transitions, and/or introduction & conclusion
  • Your paper…
  • is lacking adequate examples that support your argument
  • does not adequately analyze your sources
  • lacks organization and/or transitions between paragraphs
  • needs stronger introduction & conclusion.
  • Critical Edge / Innovation (6 pts) Your paper has a “critical edge,” meaning that you pay attention to complexity, contradictions, and nuance. You challenge taken-for-granted assumptions, shed new light on old topics, and/or explore alternative viewpoints. Your paper notes some complexity, contradictions, and nuance, but could move to the next level by challenging taken-for-granted assumptions, shedding new light on old topics, or exploring alternative viewpoints. Your paper lacks attention to complexity, contradictions, and nuance, and instead focuses on a single perspective and/or generalizations.
    Use of sources (6 pts) Your paper provides appropriate and thorough citations for all your sources. Your paper includes at least (if not more than) the required quantity of sources and makes excellent use of these sources in the paper. Your paper uses the appropriate number of sources and generally cites them accurately, but your paper…
  • could benefit from greater attention to detail in citations
  • could reference more of these sources in your paper
  • could make better or stronger use of these sources
  • Your paper…
  • does not include the proper number of sources
  • does not include proper citations or citations are sloppy
  • does not reference a sufficient number of these sources in the paper
  • does not use sources appropriately
  • Professionalism and Style(6 points) Your post follows the basic rules for clear writing. Your paper is thoroughly proofread, and is well-written in an appropriately professional tone using crisp language, vivid descriptions, active verbs, and unique phrases. Your personality is apparent in your writing. Your post meets all requirements (length, etc.). Your post generally follows the basic rules for clear writing and is generally well-written, but it has a few proofreading errors . The tone is appropriately professional. Your post meets all or most requirements (length, etc.). Please pay attention to your use of A) unnecessary words / B) passive voice and/or C) unclear language. Don’t be afraid to show your personality in your writing. Your post would be stronger if you invested more time in proofreading and revisions. You may be writing in too informal of a tone. Your post may not have met all of the requirements (length, etc.). Please pay attention to your use of A) unnecessary words / B) passive voice and/or C) unclear language.