Class requirement: 10% of your grade
Register on least two of the discussion websites below. (Nearly all of them are blogs, and a few are discussion forums). Registering will allow you to add your comments to the online discussion.
Be sure to choose from at least two different columns. Note that the groupings are intended to provide diverse choices, and not to represent any specific political categories. I strongly encourage you to explore a wide range of viewpoints. Whatever your own personal political inclinations, you should know how to communciate effectively with a variety of audiences.
Note that this list is limited to discussion forums and blogs focusing on U.S. politics. Not included are numerous influential political blogs that do not allow members of the public to freely publish comments on them. The sites below all allow anyone who registers to post comments, at minimum. Some of them, such as Daily Kos, also allow users to initiate discussion of a topic by posting their own threads (also called diaries).
How to register
Registering for any blog should be free and should require you to provide no personal information other than an email address. If any of these blogs requires more, contact me first. To protect the privacy of your GWU email address, you may want to create an address at hotmail.com or yahoo.com that is used only for this class assignment.
Blogger ettiquette
It's OK to disagree, but don't be a troll. Effective writing on blogs is persuasive, not abusive. If you flame (insult) other bloggers, they are likely to ignore the substance of your comments and respond angrily to your lack of civility. Before posting on a site, please read over its policies. Here are suggested norms for two
Be sure to keep a record of your posts!
In an email or Word document, record the URL of each blog comment you post for this class assignment. During the next 10 weeks, I will periodically ask you to send me the URLs in an email so that I can give you feedback and credit for your work.
Use a screenname, not your real name
When you register for the blog, you will also be asked to choose a username or screenname. For this class exercise, please choose a nickname screenname (or "handle") that gives you a measure of privacy, instead of using your full real name. Examples of blog screennames:
pontificator, Manhattan Dan, katiebird, Alumbrados, Redcitizen, paradox, Kagro X, buffalo soldier, Rayne, GreenSooner, Delaware Dem, vox_freedom, ReagansRaiders, vicki, freepatriot32, philgoblue, mndan, Tuffy, juls, all about meme, polecat, Unstable Isotope, supergreen, CleverNickName, x, lawnorder, memberofthejury, eyeswideopen, mentaldebris, Joe Sixpack, Dr Know, RabidNation, deepfish, vinylgirl, reichstagfire, john doh, figdish, littlewillie, red moon dog, kbudhram, mpearl, Carnacki, object16 — you get the idea.
A word of caution
Although you will be using a screen name (not your real name) when you post to the blogs, remember that you are creating a permanent public record nonetheless. Because you are using a screen name, your writing probably will remain anonymous, but don't count on it. Always assume that anything you write — on paper, in an email, or on a blog — can become part of your public identity, even if it was written for a private audience, or under a screenname. Never write anything that might cause you deep embarrassment if it became widely known that you wrote it.
That said, go save democracy!
