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First Blog Post Writing Assignment

Why You Truly Never Leave High School

Directions: Based on our discussion of what it means to have an idea and the “notice and focus” reading strategy, your next writing assignment is to write about an original idea you have after reading an article from New York Magazine, entitled “Why You Truly Never Leave High School.”

For homework, as you read the article, apply the “notice and focus” strategy that we learned in class today. You can take notes in the margins—this will help you arrive at an idea that you will write about on our class blog. 


You can write about anything that interests or strikes you based on what you read.  Keep your post centered around one main idea, insight, or observation you came to while doing the notice & focus strategy.  As you write, make sure you refer back to specific details from the article to help you develop ideas and connections with more depth. 

Note: This assignment asks you to write about an original idea you have. Please do not repeat other classmates’ ideas. This means that you need to read previous blog entries before submitting yours for everyone to see.

Don’t forget to construct your entry with your audience in mind. Your personality and your voice in writing is what makes a blog engaging. Also, avoid writing long paragraphs—long blocks of texts are difficult for readers on a computer to digest. Remember to include a catchy blog post title—you want your entry to stand out from the rest! Your blog entry should be approximately 300 words long (circa one page typed). 

Blog Posts

Tips for an effective blog entry

Tips on a Good Blog Entry

How do you write an interesting entry that gets read? Here are ten tips that make a blog entry grab readers:

1.     Choose an attention-getting and accurate title.
Like a newspaper headline, a good blog title draws readers in. It’s your chance to convince a reader to take a look at what you’ve written. Just make sure that your title reflects the content of the entry.

2.     State your opinion clearly.
Take a stand and make it clear. Your blog isn’t the place for meandering. If your opinion isn’t appropriate for the general public, choose a different subject. If you wouldn't stand up in front of your peers and share your opinion, don’t post it on your blog.

3.     Back things up with specific examples from the text.
Once you state your opinion, explain it. Discuss specific quotes/ details from the text we are reading that validate your opinion. Show. Illustrate. Don’t just tell!

4.     Keep it short (300 words).
You have a few seconds to catch someone’s attention. People rarely read every detail of longer posts. Focus on one specific topic, state what you have to say, and end the post.

5.     Chunk your text.
People read webpages quickly. They scan more often than they read every word. Because of the way people read on the web, it’s best to use short paragraphs and lists to chunk your content. If you have a really long entry, you might want to use subheadings.

6.     Link to outside sources.
Sometimes it is necessary to add examples and explanations to your text by linking to outside resources.  Identify the source you are linking and why you are bothering to connect it to your blog entry.

7.     Go with an informal, first-person style. No need to use formal, academic prose. Go ahead and use words like I, me, and mine. Be conversational and informal. You’ll draw in more readers. But your blog post shouldn't look like a text on your phone; basic grammar still applies.

8.  Proofread!
Take the time to reread your entry before you publish it. Little errors can slow readers down. And when your readers include English teachers, they’re bound to notice any typos.