Blog 07

Guidelines

In this blog post, you'll be producing a narrative map using StoryMap JS. This post will be a lot like Blog 04 in showing off your product, explaining its significance, and detailing your workflow. For help with StoryMap JS, view the tutorial. Here is what your post needs to include:

• A link to your StoryMap JS production:
  1. Required Topic: Project must engage with a neighborhood as a particular place with a particular identity. Which neighborhood you choose, the time frame, and how you approach this project may vary based on your interests. You might use this as a way to explore a possible neighborhood/topic for your final project.
  2. Your map must include a title slide, 6-8 slides with media/captions/titles/text. At least five of these must have customized text (approx. 150-250 words each). Others can include quoted articles or other text pieces (but be SURE to CITE).
  3. You have flexibility in how you approach this -- whether you want to organize your slides in some sort of temporal order, or if you'd like to take the reader on a guided tour in a different way that makes sense to your narrative. Regardless, your map should tell a coherent, and interesting story.
  
  
• A short text piece (Word Count: 300-400 words) that addresses the following (in any order that makes sense to you):
  1. The topic of this map -- how did you choose this topic? What story does this map convey?
  2. Workflow -- Provide a short description of your process in creating this map. How did you decide what information to gather and include? How did you gather it? (You don't need to give me a detailed step-by-step like in our tutorials, but rather a brief summary of the actions you took)
  3. Reasoning -- Why did you choose this topic? Why did you choose to represent it this way, with these media choices?
  4. Shortcomings / Inadequacies of Map: Are there any potential shortcomings or inadequacies you might find in this map? How would you expand it if you had the opportunities.
  5. Bibliography/Citations: Be sure to cite the sources you've used!
  6. References: (If needed) Use inline references (Author date, page number) (e.g. Johnson 2000, 208). Include a bibliography of sources at the end using the Chicago Manual of Style.

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• Due by 11:59PM on Friday 10/7.

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 15-point scale.

	Exceeds Expectations	Meets Expectations	Needs improvement
Writing / Content / Ideas (10 Points)	Your post 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. You include specific, detailed examples, and approach the topic from an interesting or exciting viewpoint.	Your post 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. You include examples but they may be lacking in appropriate detail.	Your post lacks attention to complexity, contradictions, and nuance, and instead focuses on a single perspective and/or generalizations. To improve in this area, seek a more innovative viewpoint. Your post may also be lacking in detailed examples.
Professionalism (5 points)	Your post follows the basic rules for clear writing. Your post is thoroughly proofread, and is well-written in an appropriately professional tone. You include proper citations as needed. Your post meets all requirements (length, number of sources, etc.).	Your post generally follows the basic rules for clear writing and is generally well-written, but it has a few proofreading errors and/or is missing citations. The tone is appropriately professional. Your post meets all or most requirements (length, number of sources, etc.).	Your post would be stronger if you invested more time in proofreading and revisions. You may also be missing citations or be writing in too informal of a tone. Your post may not have met all of the requirements (length, number of sources, etc.).
Skill Practice (15 Pts)	Includes a map that includes all the required elements. Skillful narration, excellent choice of slide topics/media, and an interesting narrative depicted.	Includes map with necessary components, but may have small formatting, proofreading, or other minor errors and/or less than thorough text on slides and/or lacks interesting narrative.	Includes incomplete map and/or little attention paid to details within and/or many formatting/proofreading errors and/or map missing or improperly linked.