Link, comment your way to extra credit

NEW YORK — A good way to attract an audience is to provide content members of that community will want to read, so the very first post for this blog will address an issue most, if not all, online journalism students are interested in — extra credit.

Yes, it is possible in this class, but you have to do well in a contest designed to enhance everything we do in our assignments and on our discussion board.

This blog is dedicated to online journalism and you can earn extra credit by helping me add content and discussion or by finding grammar, spelling or fact mistakes within the course on Blackboard. Tally enough points by submitting links to me related to online journalism, by commenting on posts from others in this blog or finding my gaffes and you can boost your grade.


 A brief summary of the ways are:

• If you come across an interesting story about online journalism or a piece of online journalism that you think is good or bad, send me a link about it via e-mail (cmachnia@umflint.edu) and at least a paragraph or two with your thoughts about it. Please make connections with anything you've learned in this class or already know about online journalism from your own personal experience. I'll then repost it here and you'll earn a point. The link could be from “E-Media Tidbits” or some other journalism-based blog. It’s that easy.
• Once I start posting people's links, you can earn a point by submitting a comment about it. You can also earn points by commenting on my posts related to our readings or any online journalism examples I provide (No points for commenting on posts related to how this class runs, such as this one). Your comment must be at least a paragraph or two and be relevant and thoughtful to the post or someone else's comment. Questions or off topic comments won't count.
• If you find any spelling, grammar or factual problem within the course shell on Blackboard, you can earn points by letting me know. I actually like when you find problems. This gives you good editing practice while it improves the course.

At the end of the semester, the person with the most points will receive a 5 percent boost to their grade. Second place will receive 4 percent. Third will receive 3 percent. Fourth will receive 2 percent. For all others, those with at least 15 points will receive a 1 percent boost. I'll be keeping score for all to see in a table I'll set up on the right hand side of this blog.

Some rules:

• If there's a tie, both people will receive the same percentage.
• You must be the first to submit a link.
• If you just send me a link or make a comment without a thoughtful analysis, it won't count. Yes, I'm the referee here, but I'll be fair.
• To receive extra credit, you must earn at least 15 points over the course of the semester. You won't qualify for extra credit if you don’t reach the minimum. If you earn 15 points, you'll be guaranteed at least 1 percent point. That could be a difference between grades at the end of the semester.
• You can only earn points on the first two links you submit, the first comment you make and first mistake you find per week (I define week like a I do in the syllabus — Tuesday through Monday). To earn your extra credit, you have to do this with some consistency over the semester. You're welcome to submit more, but they won't count. 
• I reserve the right to provide additional ways to earn points over the semester as this blog evolves.

So, I hope this contest generates another avenue in which we all learn more about online journalism.

Send me those posts and start commenting — The contest starts now.

Good luck!