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Writing for Online Media
Professor Nicholas Leshi
Grading
Letter Grade Numerical Equivalent
A 4.00 – Excellent. Honors level work.A- 3.67 – Still excellent.B+ 3.33 – Very good. High level of performance.B 3.00 – Good, solid, above average performance.B- 2.67 – Good. Still above average.C+ 2.33 – Average level of performance.C 2.00 – Satisfactory. Acceptable performance.C- 1.67 – Minimally acceptable.D 1.00 – Passing, but unsatisfactory.F 0.00 – Failure. Inferior performance.
Deadline Reminders
“Guest Post” ProjectEmail link to [email protected]
Before April 5
Final PaperEmail electronic copy to [email protected] later than end of day May 10
(Include a mailing address if you want the papers returned)
Final Paper
Minimum Length Five Pages(Double Spaced, 12 point font size,Times New Roman, 1-inch margins)
First Half Your experience blogging.What have you learned?What did you most enjoy about it?What was challenging about it?How has your blog changed since you started?
Second Half Your thoughts on the future of online writing.
If You Love Writing Online Reviews, ThenReview City of Kik on Amazon.com
If You Still Love Writing Online Reviews, ThenReview Nicholas Leshi on RateMyProfessors.com
REVISITING CLASS BLOGS
Screen Capture and Mission Statement
Critics Rave
Praise
Constructive Criticism
When Critics Clash
Highlight
Music, Mind, & 808sby Jonathan Ayaz
Mission Statement
“This blog will focus on not only showcasing incredible music, but highlighting the creative processes behind these pieces of work, including the songwriting, production, and everything in between.”
Critics Rave!
“Great idea, great writing, and great music, all in one spot!”
“Compelling!”
“A very dynamic blog!”
Praise
“The blog does exactly what it sets out to do in its description: discuss various tracks in terms of their creation and inspiration.”
“For some reason, the title of your blog reminds me of a smooth jazz radio station. It definitely works with the vibe that you are going for.”
“The dark blue and black background gives it a nightlife vibe that resonates well with the blog’s theme, which is the production and showcase of music.”
Constructive Criticism
“Because many of us in the class already know the artists Jonathan writes about, it would be neat to see Jonathan do profiles on up-and-coming artists. For example, he could discuss one of his favorite artists he found on Spotify or YouTube.”
“The posts themselves may tackle too broad a musical subject area. Long term, he may be biting off more than he can chew by trying to cover pop and house and EDM and production and writing and, as he says, ‘everything in between.’ That could very well be stressing out his writing process, which is a bit clunky and guarded.”
“I’m a little confused by the name (unless I am just livingunder a rock). Totally get the Music and Mind, but the 808part is a little unclear to me. Maybe give a little descriptionof what it means in the blog bio, just so your readers know exactly what to expect.”
When Critics Clash!
“The blog’s simple design places the primary emphasis on the writing and songs themselves, which I feel is important for Jonathan’s blog as it is a music blog first, not one that should overwhelm the viewer with complex design elements.”
“It might be interesting to play around with a different template that’s a bit sleeker and up-to-date.”
Highlight
“It’s awesome that he was able to share a song that he’s featured in! ‘A Collaboration from Coast to Coast’ explores the process he and his friend went through to create their song ‘Let Me Know.”
Controversial Callsby Parker Barnell
Mission Statement
“Controversial Calls is a blog that will analyze and prove that there are rules in sports that need to be changed
in order to enhance the viewer and athlete experience.”
Critics Rave!
“A unique perspective on a familiar idea!”
“Detailed research and nuanced perspectives!”
“An easy read for sports lovers across America!”
Praise
“Parker’s narrative voice personalizes his posts so that it sounds more human/intimate and conversational than a sports article from the Times or ESPN, but still portrays Parker as a knowledgeable resource for sports commentary.”
“The articles do a great job of taking on issues in all sports and not focusing specifically on a single sport – an important element in attracting a large audience.”
“Parker also brings something to this that’s often missing in sports blogs. He’s an athlete himself. It is evident in the way he talks, particularly about baseball, that he has an insider view. He’s not some armchair manager whose on-field experience ended at Pony League.”
Constructive Criticism
“The comments section needs to be more apparent. Buried under a mountain of text, it was hard for me to find when reading his blog for the first time.”
“Much of what the writer talks about goes over my head as I know nothing about the nitty-gritty rules and regulations these posts have discussed. Because of that, it makes it difficult for me to read his first three posts all the way to the end.”
“In terms of your layout, the green background in the middle contrasts too much against the gray on the sidesand the blue for the banner heading. I would suggestchanging the gray and blue colors or the green pictureto something else. Located on the bottom of your page, your blog overview is difficult to read with your background and font color, so changing that would be beneficial toreaders.”
When Critics Clash!
“Parker’s blog has an appealing homepage background. It stands out as soon as one enters the page.”
“The page’s homepage color scheme clashes and the background looks elementary. The use of the field could be effective, but changing the top banner in order to better match the green would go a long way for the visual element of the blog.”
Highlight
“I really like the post about the 4-point line because how wild would that be, right?”
Morality & Frugalityby Louis Baxley
Mission Statement
“Being a socially conscious consumer and not spending your whole paycheck is easier said than done. Morality & Frugality is a blog that explores
ways to shop ethically in New York City while on a budget.”
Critics Rave!
“A well-written, in-depth guide on how to dress fashionably without breaking the bank!”
“A very smart topic for a blog!”
“The blog is genius!”
Praise“This blog’s mission statement really resonates with me – buying sustainable and ethically-produced clothing is so important, yet often is difficult on a college student’s budget.”
“The content itself is something fresh and interesting, not a series of personal stories or a brag-book of stuff she buys. Nor does she urge sacrificing quality or shirking consumerism entirely like many frugality blogs do.”
“Your blog has introduced me to brands and services that I have never heard of before, but that I have definitely checked out after reading your posts.”
Constructive Criticism
“The ‘about’ page is not filled out. I feel like this is an important space for Louisa to promote her unique brand and online identity to new readers and she’s not yet utilizing it.”
“The blog needs to implement more pictures ans links instead of simple block text. Not implementing these elements is a missed opportunity.”
“I was a little disappointed that one of the clothing brandsthat she decided to highlight, Birdsong, was so expensive;I felt that post was a bit contrary to her message, as mostcollege students could not afford the price of the clothingon the brand’s website. The author should continue tosearch for frugal ways to shop morally, but make sure thatthe brands she highlights are actually affordable.”
When Critics Clash!
“She may want to experiment with adding more voice and personality into her writing.”
“Louisa gives helpful advice in a very friendly tone, which made me more likely to follow her cousel.”
Highlight
“I never knew that about jeans! The fact that you can get them repaired or even rent them are both great ideas.”
Fordham Speaksby Emily Belmonte
Mission Statement
“Our mission is to give members of the Fordham family the recognition they deserve while also enabling followers to learn more about the extraordinary community
of academic leaders around them.”
Critics Rave!
“Extremely professional!”
“An intimate look at the student body and faculty members!”
“Incredibly interesting and very thoughtful!”
Praise
“Originally I was expecting all posts about Fordham students, but I like how the author sought out professors and Fordham staff to diversify the blog.”
“It reminds me in many ways of the Humans of New York series, but with a Fordham twist. The concept is effective.”
“The admissions office at Fordham should utilize this blog since it does an excellent job of showcasing the plethora of excellent people at Fordham.”
Constructive Criticism
“The author could improve the layout by making sure the images are all the same size by cropping them, as that might give the website a more polished and professional feel.”
“Although the blog itself is informative about other people, there is no information about the author herself. For someone who has clearly put a lot of work into this blog, she should acknowledge herself!”
“She could perhaps improve by asking deeper questions to her interviewees.”
When Critics Clash!
“The questions asked to each person are thorough and well-planned to extract the most captivating stories.”
“The questions can be a little boring at times.”
Highlight
“In one blog post, she interviews Dr. Janet DiLorenzo, a role model for many Gabelli students. It broadcasts the voices of members of the Fordham community that intend to inspire fellow Rams.”
The Political Grindby Jordan Black
Mission Statement
“I like my coffee like my name – black, and politics are darker than ever. Get a political perspective, have a few laughs, and read some non-alternative facts
from a true millennial cynic all while learning about different types of coffee that will help you make it through the weekly DC catastrophe.”
Critics Rave!
“Insightful blend of both politics and coffee reviews!”
“Undoubtedly one of the best written blogs in the class!”
“Educational and humorous!”
Praise“The writer’s personality really shines through in each blog post. You can get a taste of his humorous, sarcastic, and sometimes satirical tone which makes his posts much more interesting to read.”
“While I do not always agree with what Jordan says, it is captivating to hear what another Fordham student thinks about today’s politics. His honest viewpoints make readers reflect on their own.”
“As someone who actively avoids reading much about politics as I find it quite aggravating and depressing, this blog makes me want to read about politics, which is an impressive feat.”
Constructive Criticism
“Perhaps in the future, Jordan could add more photos or paragraph breaks to his posts. It can be intimidating to see a block of text on the screen.”
“Jordan needs an editor. There are 34 exclamation points throughout the page, and only about six of them are (perhaps) necessary.”
“Personally, I’m on the fence on whether or not the coffee twist on the blog is necessary. It doesn’t really add to theblog, other than providing readers with future places tograb a cup, I suppose.”
When Critics Clash!
“Throughout every piece, the tone remains consistent while also keeping a reasonable length that allows Jordan to delve into complicated political questions without boring the reader.”
“The only thing I’d say to improve on is the length of the blog posts. I know you’re passionate about what you’re writing about and I love reading your posts, but even still I seem to lose focus once I’m ¾ of the way through the post simply because it’s very long and my attention span is not that great. Maybe look at areas of your posts that you could condense a little bit.”
Highlight
“The breakdown of the current state of the American political system in ‘Fire Sale! Everything Must Go! Legislation Sold to Highest Bidder!’ is both humorous and informative.”
Sweet Pirouettesby Delia Brengel
Mission Statement
“I have two passions in life: dancing and eating dessert. Follow my musings on my personal ballet endeavors, performances I see,
and the sweet confections I taste and review along the way.”
Critics Rave!
“A very dynamic blog!”
“Ballet and dessert, a beautiful combination!”
“Looks great!”
Praise
“Clean, clutter-free, and easy to navigate, the aesthetics of the blog are a strength. It has an open feel that invites the reader without any distracting patterns or jumbled sidebars.”
“The idea behind Delia’s blog, combining desserts and dancing, is very unique. I don’t think I’ve ever seen another blog focus solely on these two topics before.”
“After reading this blog, I want to go to the ballet while indulging myself in macaroons.”
Constructive Criticism
“I feel at times the combination of desserts and ballet can come across forced.”
“I, personally, would make the font and the pictures a little bigger across the board, because sometimes I found it difficult to read.”
“At the moment it seems like she’s writing two different blogs under one. It would be really fascinatingif she could draw a connection like in doing certain ballet poses she thinks of a certain dessert that she’s going tohave later.”
When Critics Clash!
“Most of the posts on this blog were a bit too long for me. My main suggestion would be to make them shorter to avoid losing your readers’ attention.”
“I like how the paragraphs are small in her posts. It makes it easier to read – especially when the posts are long…It is nice that she breaks them up with plenty of pictures.”
Highlight
“Her first post, ‘French Dancing and Dessert-ing,’ set the tone for the rest of the blog.”
Forgotten Metalby Mike Dobuski
Mission Statement
“Forgotten Metal seeks to highlight everything odd, influential, or off-the-beaten-path in the car world.”
Critics Rave!
“An automotive blog that is engaging for any car fanatic!”
“Great blog and awesome pictures!”
“An absolute joy to read!”
Praise
“Mike can make an old car come to life. He is a fantastic writer, owing to the fact that he writes about what he loves. Mike keeps his readers engaged due to his creative writing and colorful images.”
“He does a good job linking out instead of spending too much space explaining some of the jargon that shows up (understandably) in the posts.”
“Another great feature of his blog is his use of images. Throughout his posts, he inserts big, bright pictures of the cars in conversation. More so, the pictures are his.”
Constructive Criticism
“There are some comments that he has not responded to yet, which he should because he wants to keep his readers coming back and engage with them.”
“Either add content to the About page or delete it; no point in keeping blank pages lying around.”
“While reading Mike’s posts, I was hoping to learnabout the car owners’ lives. Therefore, when Mikegoes exploring, he should interview the car ownersin order to find out why these cars are significant intheir lives.”
When Critics Clash!
“To be honest, I really do not have any critiques (please don’t give me a bad grade).”
Highlight
“Mike’s humor makes me want to check into his blog every week. I’m specifically referencing a quote from one of Mike’s more recent posts – ‘Saying that Cadillac has a bit of an image problem is like saying ‘The Young Pope’ is ‘a bit’ verbose.’”
Logically Technologyby Sean Duffy
Mission Statement
“A blog devoted to the latest tech news, reviews, recommendations and everything in between.”
Critics Rave!
“A blog sure to be enjoyed by most techies!”
“Always an interesting blog to read!”
“Timely and useful!”
Praise
“The author seems to have a good handle on how to blog effectively. Every post I read ended at the perfect moment.”
“Sean tackles a topic that defines the millennial generation: technology. So already Sean has a shared interest with his readers and an automatic connection with them.”
“I love the appearance of the blog. The layout is different from everyone else’s blog and makes it interesting.”
Constructive Criticism
“The only drawback from this blog is that the Internet is oversaturated with technology blogs and there isn’t an interesting spin on this one to separate it from the rest.”
“I’d love to see the author’s personality shine through a little bit more. Some of the posts include reviews, but it would make each review even stronger if you included more of your personal experiences with these different types of products.”
“I always have trouble loading it when I use Safari asmy search engine.”
When Critics Clash!
“The dynamic graphic and excellent digitalized logo are great features to a technology page and sets the tone from the get-go.”
“The animated banner is a bit distracting…The animation takes away from the clean, easy-to-navigate look. The first move I make when I go to the site is to scroll down and get away from the animation.”
Highlight
“The first time I heard about Snapchat glasses was on Sean’s blog.”
Discovering Techby Camila Fernandez
Mission Statement
“Each week I will pick a tech invention that I find a bit odd and talk about it from a different point of view.”
Critics Rave!
“Extremely interesting!”
“Humorous take on the often crazy world of technology!”
“A funny and interesting blog!”
Praise
“Camila’s editorial choices, in terms of deciding what fascinating technologies to cover, really stand out in her blog. She knows what her readers are going to want to read about – the outrageous.”
“Immediately readers are struck with Camila’s personality that is both endearing and opinionated. Although I don’t know her, I feel as if I do through her writing.”
“The pictures and videos that she incorporates with each post make for a fun, fresh, and cheerful user experience.”
Constructive Criticism
“It would be helpful to have links that lead to the specific product websites so that we could do some further research or even purchase something.”
“I was a little confused about the writing, which may be a problem more with my reading, as I couldn’t tell sometimes if the author thought some of the products were legitimately good ideas or if she was being a bit coy and sarcastic.”
“The title doesn’t do this topic justice. It seems safe for theunique and sometimes weird devices Camila is featuring. It’s definitely ‘tech’ and definitely ‘discovery,’ but to makethis stand out like it should for the oddball tech she features,the title should be stronger.”
When Critics Clash!
“The writing comes across as messy.”
“Her writing, and the use of the blog template, comes off as very well organized and well-thought-out.”
Highlight
“Vacuuming shoes…how brilliantly ludicrous!”
Alumni Alertby Brittany Healy
Mission Statement
“Alumni Alert is a lifestyle blog that touches on a variety of topics but always connects back to the daily struggles of a soon-to-be college graduate.”
Critics Rave!
“Well-written and thought out!”
“A very interesting and varied blog!”
“I am a sucker for lifestyle blogs like this!”
Praise
“Brittany is such a friendly writer! Reading her posts feels like having a conversation with a friend who I’ve known for years.”
“I like how most posts are varied topics – covering everything from books to fashion to snacking – but are structured in a unifying list format.”
“Brittany provides high quality, beautiful pictures with her food blogs, while providing useful tips on her exercise and beauty posts.”
Constructive Criticism
“Alumni Alert has a simple design with no true reference to a university or the anxiety associated with departing the safe space of college. Additionally, there is nothing to highlight the fleeting time remaining such as a countdown or other feature that would show this. Overall, I do not see how the name accurately reflects the visual content or the writing.”
“My main piece of criticism for Brittany is to find a way to separate the different posts. As I was scrolling down and reading through, I would find myself unknowingly reading the next one without even realizing the one before had ended.”
“The author needs to find a way to differentiate herselffrom other successful lifestyle bloggers…There is certainly nothing wrong with the posts, but they can be found allaround the web and don’t really offer anything new to thereader.”
When Critics Clash!
“The blog is lacking with its aesthetic appeal…The template is boring.”
“The basic color scheme and design of Brittany’s blog helps her posts to stand out.”
Highlight
“The book recommendation post was great…I love how she ties in fashion with diet and literature.”
The Elephant in the Roomby Joe Iorio
Mission Statement
“The Elephant in the Room analyzes current political news from the perspective of a Republican college student.”
Critics Rave!
“An interesting premise!”
“Refreshing!”
“A great example of informative political writing!”
Praise
“The Elephant in the Room should be used as a writing model for political journalists. What works well with Joe’s blog is his focus on objectivity, which is something lacking in mainstream journalism.”
“The title and logo let you know exactly what the blog is about in a humorous way, and the elephant photo is a great choice. The Winston Churchill quote pulls it all together.”
“It never felt like Joe was trying to persuade or push an agenda; he simply writes what is occurring in an honest manner.”
Constructive Criticism
“One critique is the underwhelming amount of blog posts compared to how many weeks it has already been in the semester. It would be much more compelling to follow Joe’s thoughts on a a consistent week-by-week basis.”
“Some of the sample posts from when the blog was created are still around, which makes it a little less professional.”
“I find it hard to read a lot of the posts and take a lot of his word for it as there are no links and no sourcing of hisinformation or why he thinks the way he does. In futureposts, I feel like his posts will have more credibility andmake it easier to take his opinions if he injected someevidence.”
When Critics Clash!
“The elephant picture with the white font over it describing the site does not work…It doesn’t work visually with the lettering over it.”
“The title and image are awesome! They are definitely things that readers will remember.”
Highlight
“His piece on Flynn resigning in particular was interesting because I was curious to see how Joe would approach the article.”
Top5 Sports Lists
by Kyle Kroen
Mission Statement
“Sports are one of the only topics that are universally accepted as good conversation. Politics, religion, and the economy are all too personal for light conversation. My lists on Top5 will rank people, teams or anything
related to sports for a certain category and will probably not be agreed with.”
Critics Rave!
“An interesting spin on an oft-talked-about topic!”
“A pleaser for those who really enjoy sports, and for those who don’t!”
“Easy and fun to read!”
Praise
“The post frequency is ideal and the blog’s layout has a commenting feature that is intuitive.”
“I am not a huge sports fan, but Kyle still finds a way to make his articles appealing to non-sports fans.”
“As an avid sports fan, I love the idea of creating lists on different sports subjects (we all know how much ESPN loves that). I enjoyed reading this, because these topics invite a lot of debate, which could potentially benefit your blog.”
Constructive Criticism
“The blog would become more aesthetically pleasing if the ‘text widget’ and dysfunctional social buttons are deleted.”
“The header image is a little grainy, so a clearer image would go a long way to making the blog look more professional.”
“The white background makes your page look like it hastoo much blank space; perhaps using some more pictures or colors on your home page will liven it up.”
When Critics Clash!
“It would help your lists if you included more research. Although your lists are very valid even being strictly opinion based, I think statistics would help persuade the reader to view the list in a more agreeable and non-negotiable way.”
“His writing comes off as being authoritative/knowledgeable. The reader takes him seriously.”
Highlight
“I loved his article on the best sports movies because it incorporated movies even I have seen!”
Makeup Is My Life, Makeup Is My Viceby Rachel Lung
Mission Statement
“Through personal opinions, ideas, and experiences, this blog informs readers about makeup
and how social media platforms have changed its industry.”
Critics Rave!
“Wow! An amazing blog!”
“A very in-depth blog about the ins-and-outs of the cosmetics industry!”
“A fabulous job!”
Praise
“Her article titles are very witty and she clearly knows her stuff when it comes to makeup.”
“Your incorporation of visuals really helps keep the reader intrigued while also offering examples for products that the reader may not be familiar with.”
“I do not know the first thing about makeup, but I found myself coming back, because I enjoyed the stories that were told.”
Constructive Criticism
“The title of the blog is a mouthful. A shorter title is easier to type and easier to remember.”
“The author should consider making her posts a tad bit shorter. Many readers on the Internet struggle to get through long blocks of text, and so shorter posts might be more appealing to more people.”
“My one critique would be to work on the appearance of the blog a little bit. I love the colors, but the typefaces and the centered text is a little difficult to read at times.”
When Critics Clash!
“The whole aesthetic of this blog is on point. I like how Rachel kept it simple but with a fancy font and very organized.”
“My only comment is improving the template and design. It doesn’t give the same vibe as your posts/topic.”
Highlight
“Her firsthand account of meeting James Charles is the strongest post.”
Soft Spotby Gabrielle McGovern
Mission Statement
“Many of us have a soft spot for animals. This blog explores how animals enrich our lives and how we learn from them.
Pet owners' unique stories will be told. Important and timely news reports relating to animals will be discussed.
Viral videos of our furry and scaly friends will be shared.”
Critics Rave!
“A hub of cuteness!”
“Awesome idea that works well!”
“So flipping cute!”
Praise
“I absolutely love the banner picture of the cat and dog sleeping together; it’s so cute and fitting for your blog.”
“Soft Spot’s writing is conversational enough to keep the reader engaged week after week.”
“Soft Spot uses a plethora of pictures throughout posts, which does a great job in breaking up posts, and most importantly, highlights the animals in question.”
Constructive Criticism
“The continuous scroll is tedious and takes away from the content itself, obscuring earlier posts. For this particular blog, a grid format seems like a better fit.”
“The comment function could be made a little more apparent since it is currently nestled at the top of each post with small text saying ‘leave a comment.’ If this were bigger and easier to access, people may be more inclined to engage with you on every post.”
“The picture chosen for the homepage is too pixelated (even though it’s adorable).”
When Critics Clash!
“Soft Spot could be improved by removing a few of the pictures and adding more text to let the blog’s personality shine through. Although pictures are a good thing…there is not enough text to balance them.”
“I love the amount of pictures you’ve included that highlight the adorable animals you’re discussing.”
Highlight
“She speaks about issues such as the treatment of animals in zoos. This sparks discourse and gives readers something to think about when visiting public zoos.”
The Vanity Filesby Olivia Micheli
Mission Statement
“The Vanity Files is a destination for all things beauty. It's your source of inspiration, mixing timeless basics
with hints of the season’s latest trends and reviews of the industry's best beauty products.”
Critics Rave!
“Classic take on the very popular fashion blog!”
“One of my favorite blogs overall!”
“An ideal destination for anyone looking for advice on both cosmetics and fashion!”
Praise
“The appearance of this blog is beautiful. You can tell the author has a great eye for design and keeps everything looking clean and sophisticated.”
“In terms of her writing style and tone, one can really tell she has an immense passion for fashion and lifestyle brands. Olivia writes not to brag about her expertise with fashion products, but to instruct and inform. Her writing voice, which is exciting and upbeat, makes each of her posts fun to read.”
”The Vanity Files might just be one of the most well-designed and professional looking blogs in the class. I’m not sure if the author just picked an awesome template or is simply more WordPress-savvy than I am, but I’m definitely impressed.”
Constructive Criticism
“To improve the blog, the sidebar could be utilized more to link social media accounts to gain a bigger following.”
“I would suggest removing the ‘text widget’ that has sample text within it and also discard the social icons that do not serve any purpose.”
“The one thing I’d say to work on is the length of theposts. I love the thoughtfulness that goes into each post, but sometimes they can get a little long.”
When Critics Clash!
“I like how she puts the images beneath the text so it doesn’t interrupt the viewer’s reading.”
“I would recommend adding the pictures into the text instead of separating the two.”
Highlight
“You have a good idea of what topics to discuss, especially topics that people may not know a lot about like applying sunscreen in the winter.”
The Building Blogby Arianna Miskel
Mission Statement
“What stood in Howl's place before it turned into a sports bar? Who built the neighborhood we call home?
The Building Blog unravels the history of the various buildings and structures that spark my interest around the Bronx and wherever else I may be.”
Critics Rave!
“Great idea!”
“This blog has been one of my favorites!”
“A cool and interesting topic with wide appeal!”
Praise
“Arianna’s blog has opened my eyes to the beautiful buildings and rich history that surround me every day.”
“This has appeal for not only Bronx residents, but the greater city and the masses of people beyond who find its architecture and history fascinating.”
“It’s extremely clean, reminding me of an Architectural Digest magazine.”
Constructive Criticism
“You do a great job describing the details and rich history, but don’t talk much about what stands there now. Maybe just a brief comparison along with a recent picture at the end of each blog post will help the reader better understand the change and significance of each location.”
“I do wish the articles were more visible, because the picture on the top is so huge that it can overshadow the area for recent posts.”
“Consider a name with more impact(Google ‘building blog’ and you can see).”
When Critics Clash!
“I suggest adding more content/history where possible to lengthen the posts.”
“The length of every piece seems to be very fitting for this blog’s subject matter.”
Highlight
“I really liked the post on Arthur Avenue’s Retail Market.”
Bramenby Jimmy Nguyen
Mission Statement
“Follow this broke college student week by week as he reviews cheap packaged ramen neatly prepared
to satisfy your curiosity and his hunger.”
Critics Rave!
“A great read for any foodie looking to expand their horizons!”
“I absolutely love this blog!”
“Very enticing!”
Praise
“Your writing style elicits a sense of familiarity, and your memes and dog pictures make you personable to your audience.”
“The rating of the ramen noodles at the end of each post is a nice finishing touch, along with his roommate’s dog that adds a little randomness to the posts.”
“The title and the banner photo say it all: this bro is going to whip up some gourmet ramen and share it on this blog.”
Constructive Criticism
“Bramen’s homepage has a natural visual that depicts fresh vegetables on a cutting board, which contradicts the blog’s theme of preparing packaged preservative-laden noodles. I think the blog looks great, but a different image may be better suited to match the theme.”
“One critique of the blog I have is in the formatting. Some of the links on the homepage I would click don’t actually go anywhere like ‘Go to Blog’ or ‘Read More’ under the bio.”
“Try and give your readers the information as to wherethey can purchase the ramen you’re reviewing.”
When Critics Clash!
“One thing I’d say to Jimmy is that a lot of his cooking instructions are similar.”
“Even though you repeat the preparation section in each post, I don’t find it boring or overly repetitive.”
Highlight
“The guest appearances of the author’s dog bolster the personality that characterizes the blog.”
Two Years in the Lifeby Rebecca Peretz
Mission Statement
“A time hop by way of blogging – follow my journey as I compare my everyday existence in the Bronx
to my experiences studying abroad in Europe exactly one year ago.”
Critics Rave!
“I really enjoyed reading this blog!”
“The traditional travel blog meets lifestyle commentary!”
“A pleasure to read!”
Praise“What makes this blog compelling is the author’s tone. The thing about blogs that have the feel of a diary is that they can be monotonous, but the author has found a voice that is both funny and relatable.”
“Beautiful photographs and beautiful writing abound in this blog. Her voice clearly shines through in her writing style, which draws you in and makes you feel as if you are also in Amsterdam, London, and Venice along with her.”
“While I was reading her blog, I felt like I was standing right next to her while she was showing me pictures and personally telling me about her trip. I think that is very hard to achieve.”
Constructive Criticism
“When you first get to the blog, there’s a lot going on. At first glance, it can be a bit overwhelming.”
“One thing that needs to be improved upon is the post frequency, since it is very hard to gain any sort of following or traffic without posting content weekly.”
“My critique (or suggestion rather) would be to alsospeak about the people that she’s met along her travels.Talk about her new friends, if they still keep in touch, who they remind her of, similar likes and interests, etc.”
When Critics Clash!
“The photos are lovely, but their positioning on the home page does not work.”
“The layout of the homepage is excellent as it displays large images of London.”
Highlight
“Her article about midterms in Venice resonated with me.”
Wake Up NYCby Joseph Rametta
Mission Statement
“Wake Up NYC is a blog that will provide a comical critique of the real world and the quirks of modern culture today.”
Critics Rave!
“The concept of this blog is a good one!”
“A charming blog that has a definite attitude and tone!”
“Brings up topics that are quite important!”
Praise
“Not only are the stories amusing, but they are also very relatable to almost everyone’s daily life due to Rametta’s vivid social commentary.”
“Joe’s titles are very conducive to what he is writing about, while also not giving everything away.”
“I love the picture of the little boy with his mouth open on the front page.”
Constructive Criticism
“It’s hard to grasp what your blog is about, because you’re covering so much content.”
“I would suggest changing the layout of your blog. Although I was able to read your most recent post, I couldn’t figure out right away where your previous posts were.”
“I think Joe could improve by adding more of hisown flavor and language so it is more appealing to the reader.”
When Critics Clash!
“I think the name Wake Up NYC is deceptive.”
“The title is clever and his explanation of it on the About page is precisely what it seems like it might be.”
Highlight
“His guide to NYC museums was helpful and interesting to read.”
MTV Blogzby Jake Shore
Mission Statement
“Blog chronicling the pitfalls and successes of my everyday plus one rap song which made it all ok.
Culture, politics, and the state of the world also likely topics.”
Critics Rave!
“Unfiltered, raw, and authentic!”
“Extremely entertaining to read!”
“Jake’s blog is hilarious!”
Praise
“I like how he concludes each blog post with a ’song of the week’ that kind of ties everything together.”
“Jake’s blog makes me laugh out loud. His blog has a light, quirky tone, which I quite enjoy. As I read it, I feel like I am inside his head. I can relate to the stories he shares as a college student.”
“By using humor, relatable personal anecdotes, and cultural references, Jake finds a way in each post to connect with the reader on a deeper level.”
Constructive Criticism
“The choice of title also creates some issues. First, there is already an MTV Tumblr blog created by the television channel and that could potentially confuse the audience.”
“I didn’t like the ads/sponsored content that kept popping up on my screen as I was scrolling through Jake’s blog. I’m not sure if that’s a general feature of Tumblr, or if that hust happened to me, but it was distracting me from Jake’s writing.”
“The issue with Tumblr is that since each post lacks a comment section, readers will glance over the hyperlink to commenting. Perhaps if there is a way to emphasize reader participation, I feel like Jake will garner morecommenters.”
When Critics Clash!
“Antoher issue I found with Tumblr as a platform is that it uses annoying pop out video advertisements in the bottom corner that take up a majority of the reading area and are not visually appealing.”
“Tumblr is a good choice of platform.”
Highlight
“Kudos to him using the word ‘schmoozing’ in his article ‘Fakin’ the Funk,’ which is a great song by the way.”
Hypebeast Havenby Keith Spiteri
Mission Statement
“Hypebeast Haven is a blog that will explore the different aspects and latest news within streetwear and sneaker culture.”
Critics Rave!
“A very informative blog!”
“Original and helpful!”
“Passionate and well-founded!”
Praise
“Keith’s blog is minimal, aesthetically pleasing, and straight to the point. I believe he has chosen a WordPress theme that fits exactly what it is he is trying to write about.”
“Keith’s posts are succinct and easy to read, which makes them attractive to casual readers. Hypebeast Haven emphasized the graphics and information, which are the nuts and bolts of blogging.”
”His knowledge and research is thorough, and readers can tell he truly enjoys what he is writing about and engulfs himself in the culture.”
Constructive Criticism
“If you are speaking about specific sneakers, I recommend putting in a direct link to where readers can purchase them.”
“Since sneaker talk can get repetitive, maybe venture out into more hype-beast topics like fashion name brands, music, even memes.”
“Adding an About section could help clarify exactly what a Hypebeast is for readers who are not as familiar With modern fashion terms.”
When Critics Clash!
“It would be nice to see more pictures in each blog post.”
“The author uses an incredible number of images on both the homepage and throughout each post.”
Highlight
“I especially loved his piece on shoe reselling because I find it fascinating that people make a good living on flipping pairs of shoes and making incredible profits on them.”
Beyond the Mortal Coilby Lindsay Stall
Mission Statement
“Death is at once the marrow of human experience, and that which we fear, avoid, and obsess over most.
In order to demystify our fate, this blog seeks to explore death as we best understand it from medical, philosophical,
and cross-cultural perspectives.”
Critics Rave!
“Probably the most unique premise for a blog that our class came up with!”
“An unbelievably creative idea!”
“This is fun!”
Praise“Your blog is the definition of ‘don’t want to look, but can’t look away.’ I find myself gravitating towards your blog every week to see your posts. They are well-written and extremely captivating. There’s something so fascinating about serial killers and the taboos surrounding death.”
“Every post invokes an eerie feel since extremely dark topics are discussed with a cheery tone. This works to give the blog personality and ultimately matches the nerve-racking subject matter of the blog quite nicely.”
“Lindsay’s brilliant writing and storytelling ability saves this blog from suffering an ironic death.”
Constructive Criticism
“If I’m being completely honest, I could not read the first two posts about ‘The Night Stalker’ for fear I might get sick.”
“The blog’s layout needs to be adjusted in order to make it easier for users to find older articles. Posts that were published weeks ago are buried under the ‘recent posts’ category and are really not easy to find.”
“To be honest, I was completely avoiding this blog.The concept of death terrifies me and I can’t evenwatch ’Gone Girl’ without being petrified when I go to sleep at night. But here I am…Then I read the article about cannibalism and I got a headache from fear. I got through as much as I could, I promise I tried.”
When Critics Clash!
“I would suggest inserting hyperlinks/relevant videos to even better inform your audience.”
“I would recommend making your links clearer…I know they’re there because I went searching for them to do some more reading on things I was interested in.”
Highlight
“The ‘5 of the Strangest Funerary Traditions’ post is very reader-friendly.”
The Fordham Gramby Nora Vulaj
Mission Statement
“Each week I will choose which Fordham superstar really wowed us all with a news-worthy Instagram post, dissecting what made it so great
with added interviews from each winner.”
Critics Rave!
“Incredibly unique and quite hilarious!”
“So socially savvy!”
“Very culturally relevant!”
Praise“Nora’s posts are light-hearted and humorous, and it’s fun to see which Ram she chooses to feature every week and what fellow Fordham students are posting personally.”
“The Fordham Gram is a great example of how to blend humor with writing. Nora does a great job incorporating her voice into her blog posts.”
“I like that she used a Fordham logo and just edited it in Microsoft Paint; it’s funny and clues you into the fact that the blog will be Fordham related, but not necessarily a traditional perspective.”
Constructive Criticism
“A suggestion would be to change the background color to maroon and the text to white to fit Fordham’s color scheme.”
“If Nora wants to expand her readership, I recommend she provide background information on the Rams she describes so all potential readers can better understand who they are and how their Instagram posts match their personalities.”
“The pictures for the articles could be better displayedin the home page. Some of them are cut in the middleand since the picture is the main subject of the article it should be what is used to draw the reader’s attention.”
When Critics Clash!
“The posts are charmingly short and have a humorous tone that works for the author.”
“I recommend the blog posts to be made a tad longer.”
Highlight
“Describing her friend’s rooftop in the Bronx, she states, ‘The colorful sky seems like it belongs in a vineyard in Tuscany…’”
The Highlightby Cynthia Wang
Mission Statement
“The blog will be presenting two highlight stories on Weibo and discuss the cultural differences between U.S. and China.”
Critics Rave!
“A very interesting weekly read!”
“Great concept and supreme originality!”
“This is one of my favorite blogs!”
Praise“Cynthia’s blog stands out, because it highlights the issue that the media across the world need to cover underreported stories.”
“Each story is accompanied with a lot of photos that help to add context to the story and further engage the reader.”
“It is always great to learn about something which you have very little prior knowledge of, and it is for this reason that I enjoy reading The Highlight. I have never been to China, but hearing about handpicked news stories from someone who knows the country firsthand is a great way to broaden my horizons.”
Constructive Criticism
“With the absence of an About or Intro section, it is hard to get a clear picture of what this blog is trying to accomplish. The posts seem to be all over the place and lack a consistent theme.”
“Cynthia includes pictures of messages written in Chinese. If she could translate the messages underneath that might be a good addition for non-Chinese speakers.”
“There are some grammatical errors in the text from (what I assume) English being her second language, so maybe have a friend proofread in the future.”
When Critics Clash!
“I love how the author makes an effort to include her personal thoughts in each blog post.”
“A suggestion I have would be to add more of your thoughts and opinions.”
Highlight
“I particularly enjoyed ‘The Story Back Home,’ in which the writer added a personal touch by mentioning her own suitcase filled with Taiwanese snacks.”
Assignments Due Next Class
Post at least one new entry in your blog.Read your classmates’ blogs and comment where/when appropriate.
Continue working on your “GUEST POST” ASSIGNMENT due before Apr. 5. Continue working on/thinking about your Final Paper.
