Private vs. Public
- Anyone can read this: professors, classmates
- Don’t write about your love life or last weekend’s activities unless you want your professors (or the academic dean) to read about it
- Take caution when complaining about classes or classmates
- Also, watch what you write – don’t link to pictures of you doing anything illegal while at school. Someone will invariably turn you in.
Academic=Thought
- As with everything, try not to make hasty generalizations about issues, and don’t be offensive to people or groups!
- Don’t start out your homework assignments with the title: “Homework.” That is very boring. Few will actually read it.
- Add links and use them well. Don’t type out the address – make the words describing the link be the link.
- Don’t plagarize, and attribute what you “borrow.”
Foster Discussion
- Comment on other people’s blogs. It makes them feel loved and needed.
- Intellectual sparring is okay, but few people enjoy personal attacks
- If you write it, it will be misunderstood
- Use emoticons when you think you might be taken the wrong way (but don’t use them when blogging or commenting on a serious or professional issue)
The Upside
- Your own weblog not only gives you a handy personal publishing outlet, but it also is much better than jweb’s forums.
- You get to know your classmates better. Make friends through your blog.
- Future employers might read your blog, and might want to hire you because of it.
- Well-thought-out weblogs aren’t born every day – just look at the recently updated lists of Blogger.com and LiveJournal. You’ll stand out in a crowd.
Helpful hint: before you click “save,” highlight and copy it should MT foul-up. Also, thanks to all of you who provided examples for this educational purpose… ;) —Julie Young —Getting the most out of your academic weblog (Work in Progress)
A good overview, written by a former student who has since graduated.