Welcome, MHS Service Learning students! It's a great pleasure to welcome you to your home on the web--your class blogsite.Ever since we first began using online bulletin boards as a way to converse about literature and writing (all the way back in the early '90's, and please don't feel the need to comment about how long ago that was, or how old you were then), it was always my intent to do the same in my classroom. I have found this format to work superbly to aid you in the work we will do. I have put this space together for the benefit of your academic pursuit--to expand your ability to converse about the topics we will be discussing. This space is essentially yours to post relevant--and presumably intelligent--comments and questions.
Please note the following rules:
1. ONLY students currently enrolled in MHS English IV Pd. 2 may post comments here. This is not a discussion board intended for the world--and each of my other classes has their own blogsites, to which they are similarly confined.
2. anyone who posts must do so with their REAL first name. Any posts found to be made using names other than real (for example, posting using another student's name) will be dealt with according to school disciplinary policy.
3. all discussion will proceed in respectful manner.
4. to ensure that #3 is obeyed, I will personally monitor all discussions on this blog. It's not that I don't trust teenagers to behave in responsible ways. . .oh, wait--yes, it is. I don't. Don't take it personally.
5. Do not expect me to comment on every posting, even if a question has been directly asked of me by one of you. I am much more interested to see whether your fellow scholars are capable of suggesting viable answers and explanations. I reserve the right to comment when and if I deem it necessary. Frequently, I will allow a discussion thread to continue unabated, in order to bring that thread into class for further investigation.
6. From time to time, if the mood strikes me, I may make a comment or pose a question, or refer you to some additional reading I've discovered. Just because I've done that does not make you obligated to respond. . .at least, not yet.
7. Oh--and, yes, the blog will be a required element of your grade each marking period; that is to say, every RELEVANT, SCHOLARLY, THOUGHT-PROVOKING post or comment you make is worth points toward your end-of-marking-period blog/participation grade. (Yes, I am the ultimate arbiter of what fits those characteristics and what does not). Posts that START discussions are generally (but not always, depending on content) worth more than comments that continue discussions--but be assured that I am expecting each of your to be participating on BOTH sides, as posters and commenters. So make blogging a part of your daily online ritual (along with checking your Facebook and playing World of Warcraft). Check it frequently, and post or comment consistently. The concept of "participation" is now no longer restricted to the classroom walls!
That's all I can think of at the moment, but I also reserve the right to change/adjust/modify/ invent as we go along. (Because I can, that's why!) I look forward to hearing your thoughts, and working with you throughout this year.
Mr. LAZ
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