Virtual Environments: Is one life enough?

CLASS SUMMARY:

We discussed writing – the types used and the conventions around them.
Main points:

• Forms of writing we use include Narrative, Descriptive, Reflective, Critical,
• Sourcing information – where to look- make sure sources are reliable and credible (judging sources)
• Referencing – why and How (Chicago style): Give credit when due!
• Writing to topic: don’t go off point. Use your heading as an anchor

Mostly, the aim this module is to enable you to become accountable and confident in your writing.
The following three links give some more detailed information about academic writing.

DIT’s Study & IT Skills Survival Guide for Academic Writing
Purdue Online Writing Lab page on Academic Writing

Here is a guide to the Chicago referencing style

We also talked about how your work for this module will be assessed. You need to write at least one post to your blog each week. Your blogs will be assessed at certain milestones so ensure they are up to date always. We assess for quality in writing, your writing should go beyond narration and description to be also reflective and critical.
The introduction to the group project deserves a blog post of it’s own!

ACTIVITIES FOR NEXT CLASS:

1. Bearing in mind what you learned today, have a look at http://www.johnoconnor.org/, compare the writing style with your own blog.
   Write a new blog entry, this time address the module objectives from your perspective. Justify why they are important to you, while applying the conventions of academic writing given in the class. This will be a mix of descriptive/information, critical/reflective writing.
2. Visit the following blogs to see a selection of different ‘voices’:
   http://dolcemerda.com,
   http://vandalhandle.com/
   http://confusedlaowai.com/
   http://yumiko-froehlich.hazeliris.com/page/2/ ,
   http://illustrationfriday.com/blog/
   http://joasiakafka.blogspot.ie/
   http://www.stylepantry.com/
   Think about how you would identify these blog authors…what impression of the person behind the blog do you get?
3. Read: http://www.forbes.com/sites/dailymuse/2012/02/14/the-first-step-to-building-your-personal-brand/ and relate it to what the blogs you have just looked at are doing.
   Now think about yourself (ie, your avatar). Who are you? What is your online identity?
4. Prepare a 30 second ‘elevator pitch’ about yourself and the identity you want to portray online. (ie, who you are and what you are about).