COMM 1057 Public Relations Theory and Practice (SP5, 2016) Assessment 3: Journal Assessment #3 - Journal Aim: This task allows students to demonstrate their understanding for the course content on an ongoing basis throughout the second half of the semester and addresses all of the course objectives. Task: From Week 9 to Week 12 (inclusive), write an insightful blog post each week (500 words) reflecting on the readings, your learning, and/or any other material relevant to the nominated weekly topic. Students will create four blog posts and be encouraged to completely them weekly. Students will receive feedback on their first two posts, and need to have completed these by week 12 and bring their URLs to class for in-class feedback. Managing this assignment: Further instructions on the task are posted on the Course website, including a guidance document on establishing a blog. Guidance will also be given in class as to how to establish a blog. Students can make their own start by going online to http://www.wordpress.com, http://www.blogger.com, https://medium.com/ or another similar blog hosting site. Referencing: Students must attribute words and ideas that are not their own on the blog. This could be done via a hyperlink or by using the Harvard referencing style where needed. Marking criteria: Students will be assessed on: • quality of content, including: demonstrated understanding of the relevant topic; critical and analytical reflection of the topics being discussed; appropriateness of written expression and structure; • timeliness of completion; • engagement in class discussions throughout the whole term (but in the final four weeks is when we will be taking note) • Blogs 1 and 2 are worth 20% of the final grade for this course (ie 45% of assignment 3's grade) and Blogs 3 and 4 are worth 25% of the final grade (ie 55% of assignment 3's grade) Submission: The URL for your blog should be pasted into the appropriate learnonline submission box by the due date. Students must ensure that the URL is hyperlinked (follow the instructions on the course site). Students must also ensure the four blog posts are visible on their blog landing page. Markers will not be expected to go searching for missing blog posts and marks will be deducted if blogs are missing. Instructions This assignment requires you to establish and maintain an online journal in the form of a blog, reflecting on your learning as you undertake this course. "A journal is a record of your thoughts about your learning within a course or professional setting. It is written regularly over a specified period of time. In journals you draw on lectures and wider reading, describe events, experiences and issues associated with your study or professional placement and also analyse and reflect on them. Your journal will show that you have been thinking about the process of your learning and the development of your understanding. You often explore ideas or issues that are widely debated and discuss the various arguments associated with them." UniSA Learning and Teaching Unit For further guidance on journal writing, see the links on the course website under assessment 3. While this blog/journal will allow you to reflect on your learning this semester, it will have the secondary benefit of helping you become familiar with an often used tool of trade in Public Relations – the Blog. Blogging incorporates interactive audio/visual elements and allows readers to use a number of tools to interact with your post, not just read the words. This assignment enables you to develop your knowledge of both the writing style used in blogging and the technical aspects of establishing and maintaining a blog. Establishing blog Students are to create a blog by the end of Week 9 (ie by 9 October 2016). At this point in time, the blog should contain, as a minimum, an engaging title, a brief description on the "About Me" page and a "Comment Policy" (see below). Please use http://www.wordpress.com http://medium.com or http://www.blogger.com, Follow the instructions to set them up and if you have difficulties post a question on the course forum to see if others can help. Advice on how to establish a blog on Wordpress is available on the course website. Students may choose any template format for their blog. But all FOUR posts must be visible from the main landing page. Tutors will not be expected to spend time trying to find your blog posts if they are not readily viewable from the main page. Have a look at some US public relations students' blogs here at the PR Post Blog at http://prpost.wordpress.com/2012/12/17/top-student-blog-posts-from-fall-2012/. Setting up a blog Use your UniSA user ID as your user name for the blog. Ie https://burky004.wordpress.com/ This is what you will submit to Learnonline on the 7th of November Maintaining the blog Students must write a blog post of approximately 500 words by the time and date listed below. In each post you should reflect on your readings, your learning or any other material (such as something in the news) relevant to the weekly topics. You can link to other sites that you think may be of interest to others. Task Complete by Topics Set up 150 words 9 Oct Establish your blog, including at least "About Me" and "Comment Policy" pages. Optional: an introductory blog post about your personal reasons for blogging and what you hope to get out of the experience, or your initial thoughts about public relations and why you are studying it. Blog 1 500 words 16-Oct EITHER Media management and agenda OR Corporate and international PR Blog 2 500 words 23-Oct EITHER Content management news and social media OR Internal communication and social responsibility Feedback will be given individually in week 12 tutorials on your first two blog posts Blog 3 500 words 30-Oct EITHER Issues and Crisis communication OR Government and non-profit PR Blog 4 500 words 6-Nov EITHER PR campaigns; research and the planning process OR The impact of the changing landscape on PR SUBMIT BLOG URL DUE ON 7- Nov Submit your BLOG URL to learnonline To get your thoughts flowing, consider completing one or more of the following sentences: • I believe the key messages from this week's reading were... • The readings made me think more about public relations theory/practice in that.... • The readings related to the other reading I've done in previous weeks in that.... • The key points in the readings could be applied to my work in that they.... • The following current issue in the news relates to our studies in that... • My recent experience of ______ relates to our studies in that... • My understanding has changed since... • I disagree with this week's readings in that.... Note: the first four suggestions are from James, M 2008. Invite others to leave comments and opinions – perhaps even pose a thoughtful question to encourage others to reply. Cautions Do not include personal detail on blog for privacy reasons. Your name and a brief student bio would be fine, but do not include addresses, phone numbers or email addresses. Be careful about the content of your blog, ensuring that you do not give away personal information inadvertently, and do not offend others, particularly your fellow students and the staff in the course. Make sure your blog has a 'comment policy' – look at others for inspiration here (some links below). Be respectful in posting comments on other blogs. Consider their comment policy and remember that we are all beginners in this process. Remove any unwanted comments as soon as possible and discuss any concerns you have with your tutor. Notes This is a Blog landing page URL (and this is what you submit to Learnonline); https://nataliyblogs.wordpress.com/ This is a blog post URL; https://nataliyblogs.wordpress.com/2015/10/30/what-an-issue/ Note the difference – one is to the blog, one is to a post contained on that page. All your posts must be visible on the blog landing page. Your tutor will arrange a way you can share your blogs with other students so students can view and comment on your blog. This will be discussed in week 10. Links Search the net for advice on blogging – here are some to get you started, but see what else you can find. http://www.problogger.net/how-to-write-great-blog-content/ http://weblogs.about.com/od/bloggingtips/tp/TipsWriteBlogPosts.htm http://www.mamablogga.com/protect-your-blog-with-a-comment-policy/ http://realestatetomato.typepad.com/the_real_estate_tomato/2008/02/blogging-etique.html Dr Leanne Glenny has a blog, it's is a few years old, but was aimed primarily at students of public relations) http://lglenny.wordpress.com/ - you may want to look at the comment policy too. Grading You will receive a final grade for your four blog posts. The final grade is worth 45% of the grade for this course. You will be given formative feedback, in the manner of your tutor's choosing, in week 12 on your first two blog posts. You may not receive individual grades for each component, but tutors will give you a fair indication on your progress based on your first two posts. You may also seek further feedback from your tutor during the last four weeks of the semester. Times for individual consultations will be made at the discretion of your tutor. Reference: James, M 2008, 'The reading journal blog assessment task: Public relations student's perceptions' Power & place: Refereed Proceedings of the Australian & New Zealand Communication Association Conference, July 9-11, Wellington