What i think of Blogging

1. Compared to writing traditional essays as you have in other classes, were the expectations of the blog assignment easier, harder or just different? In other words, was it clear to you what the format of a blog was and how to produce one?
I believe that the blog assignments were just different. Though somethings differed the basic format was the same. You had your thesis (conclusion) and you backed this up through a series of paragraphs giving facts (premises) for your claim. In addition it had to be set up to where people who had no idea of what you were talking about would be able to read and comprehend your stance on the issue. The one aspect that made it a little bit easier was how I was able to use first person grammar "i think, i believe etc. etc.". It allowed me to have something of a personal connection with my blog and as a result allowed me to enjoy what i was writing.
2. Did the blog assignments, and the requirement to create a blog, relate to the class topics and course objectives? Why or why not?
Yes it does. The assignments themselves always related with whatever we were doing in class at that time. Each blog assignment was tied to a certain class unit and that allowed us to see how the class information tied into our everyday lives. Also, just the fact that we were required to be able to write down our ideas and thoughts into a coherent essay that others can understand helps not only in my educational but also in my personal life. It makes it somewhat easier to be able to articulate myself so that i am persuasive and at the same time understandable.

3. Did the non-text elements of the blog program contribute to your learning in this class? Did they get in the way? Or did they have no affect at all?
I don't think that they got in the way more so than i think that it was just a kind of fluff. All the extra elements allowed us to be able to see everyone's individuality and get to know them a little bit better while still allowing us to be able to publish our ideas and thoughts on issues that strike a nerve with us. I did use the extra features but only because i had the time i suppose because when i got onto blogger it was just for the assignment and nothing else. Maybe if it wasn't for class i would use it more than i did but since its the mentality that "its for school" mentally blocks of any chance of using the non-text elements of it.