This week, I’d like you to blog on whatever suits your fancy. BUT… I’d like you to follow the style and structure laid out for your first blog (“My Story“).

That means the post isn’t a list or review but rather a straight narrative post with an engaging lead, a succinct nut graf, short pararaphs and, ideally, an ending that brings us back full circle to your lead.

See tips on this structure here as well.

Tip Sheet #1: Blog Writing (+ Sourcing & Copyright-Free Images)

Blog-writing tips and style guide. I’ll expect you to follow these guidelines in your posts:

• Tips for Blog Writing-1.doc (see attached) Proper Sourcing:

• You MUST cite ALL outside sources in your writing. This includes articles you read and get ideas from, even if you don’t directly quote them.
• Hyperlink to original sources in your blog posts. Do not make a list of sources at the end of the post!!
• EXAMPLES:
  • According to the Pew Research Center (Links to an external site.), when they began tracking social media adoption in 2005, only 5 percent of American adults were using least one social media platform each day. “By 2011 that share had risen to half of all Americans, and today 69% of the public uses some type of social media.”
  • As author Ronan Farrow noted in a New Yorker article (Links to an external site.) about ousted CBS Chairman Les Moonves…
  • As author Ronan Farrow noted in a New Yorker article titled, “Leslie Moonves Steps Down from CBS after Six Women Raise New Assault and Harrassment Claims,” (Links to an external site.)….

Structure

Start with an anecdotal lead describing the turning point / moment in time.

Then, transition from that event to today and add a nut graf (tell readers what you’re writing about here).

The rest of the post tells us more about the past event and its relevance to the present.

Style guidelines are linked to above.