Based on what we’ve been reading and discussing about effective digital writing, I have used your ideas to come up with the following grading criteria for your blog entries, which can also be accessed as a PDF file.

Grading Schedule

Thus far, I have graded you on individual blog postings pass/fail. If you completed the assignment, you earned a pass (3 points). If you did not post anything to your blog (or it was of extremely low quality), you earned a fail (0 points). Thus, the grading schedule looks like this:

• Blog due 9/13 (Pass/Fail)
• Blog due 9/20 (Pass/Fail)
• Blog due 9/27 (Pass/Fail)
• Blog due 10/4 (Pass/Fail)

Beginning with the blog post due 10/11, you will earn a combined grade for a set of blog entries and comments. I will use the blog criteria below for determining your grade out of 3 points. While I expect you to post an entry to your blog and make a comment on a peer’s blog at least once each week (ideally by midnight on Friday), you can see the dates when I will be checking your blog posts, which allows for some flexibility.

Approximate date I will check your blog entries	Number of blog entries due at that time (corresponding Friday due dates)	Number of comments due at that time (1 per week)
Oct. 28th	3 new entries(Oct. 11th, 18th, and 25th)	3 new comments
Nov. 18th	3 new entries(Nov. 1st, 8th, and 15th)	3 new comments
Dec. 9th	1 new entry (Dec. 6th)	1 new comment

Blog Grading Criteria

	3 points	2 points		1 point		0 points
Number of entries	Meets minimum requirement for grading cycle.	Meets minimum requirement for grading cycle.		Missing only one entry for grading cycle.		Missing more than one entry.
Length of entries	Most entries clear and concise, typically 250 to 500 words.	One or more entries overly verbose or significantly under-developed.		Most entries overly verbose or significantly under-developed.
Headlines	Most entries employ short, informative, and intriguing headlines that draw in the reader.	Some headlines are too long, unclear, or generally uninteresting.		Most headlines are missing or are too long, unclear, or generally uninteresting.
Purpose and Audience	Most entries have a clear purpose and focus related to the blog niche and that would be engaging for an audience of Atlanta-based readers.	Some entries do not have a clear purpose or focus, seem unrelated to the blog niche, and/or do not seem engaging to an audience of Atlanta-based readers.		Most entries do not have a clear purpose or focus, seem unrelated to the blog niche, and/or do not seem engaging to an audience of Atlanta-based readers.
Blogger’s ethos and credibility	Most blog entries present the writer as trustworthy, transparent, credible, and accountable. When possible, entries link to relevant online content used to help write the entry. The entries give credit to other authors and artists when using portions of their writing, images, and/or other media.	Some blog entries may cause readers to question the transparency, credibility, or accountability of the writer. Entries may not link to relevant content and/or may not clearly identify sources for borrowed or referenced material.		Most entries cause readers to question the transparency, credibility, or accountability of the writer. Entries do not link to relevant content, may include broken links, and/or do not clearly identify sources when material has obviously been borrowed.
Effective digital writing style	All entries incorporate at least two components from the list below to enhance readability and scan-ability and to demonstrate effective digital writing style.	All entries incorporate at least one component from the list below to enhance readability and scan-ability and to demonstrate effective digital writing style.		Most entries incorporate at least one component from the list below to enhance readability and scan-ability and to demonstrate effective digital writing style.
Comments	Posts minimum requirement for grading cycle.		Missing one comment out of minimum requirement for grading cycle.		Missing more than one comment out of minimum requirement for grading cycle.

List of components to enhance readability and scan-ability and to demonstrate effective digital writing style:

• Subheadings,
• Highlighted key words,
• Typeface variations,
• Use of color,
• Bulleted lists,
• Short paragraphs that use “chunking,”
• A sentence or paragraph that is set off or boxed off visually to stand out from the rest of the entry,
• Strategically placed and appropriately chosen hyperlink(s) to external websites, and/or
• Strategically placed and appropriately chosen image(s) or video clip(s).

Once each grading cycle, I will identify at least one blog to feature on our course website. Here are the benefits of being selected:

• A “re-blog” feature on our course website,
• Guaranteed maximum 3 points (unless you’re missing other entries),
• One point of extra credit on your final course grade,
• Possible line for your resume,
• Praise, glory, and bragging rights! 🙂