Blog Post #2

              I journeyed around R-Island, and came across something strange, a class based around their politics. They gathered in a sweltering room in this somewhat dilapidated building called "West Hall," and all sat down in a these awkward looking triangulated desks. I joined one of the members of this class and watched as he seemed to cram all this information in as each second past, and then suddenly this intimidating indiviual ( he seemed well educated) entered the room. With him he had a copious amount blue books, I don't know why. He preceeded to had them out, and then for some reason gave me one. I was extremely puzzled why, I mean I'm just a traveller, I know nothing about this place let alone the politics, but I assumed it was some ritual.

               I began to define these strange terms like: nomothetic, idiographic, or the 2 pillars of social science even though I had no idea about then I was down. I got up returned the book to this intimidating figure and left. I felt like I just took some sort of college exam. It was weird.

Blog Post #1

    This starts week one of my daily blog of my experiences at R-Island, here I will detail my experiences, encounters, and strange adventures while I journey through this exotic territory out in the in the hills.

    For my 1st couple weeks here at R-Island I encountered some strange characters, seemed to be indigenous to the area and addicted to running, almost as if they ran track. Of all things. They offered me the once in a lifetime opurtunity to come to one of there gathering on this oval that resembles a track, it must some sort of religious thing I assume. I went to the track and began to warm up with them, after that they began to do some strange body rituals that I have never seen before. They began to contort their limbs in awkward and uncomfortable positions that would make the most sadistic human cringe, others began to bounce as if they were frogs. I was confused yet interested by all of this, so of course I joined in.

    After all of that, the leader of the group asked me to work out with him and some of the others. They were something that involved intervals or something awful. Back where I'm from I was a pretty good runner, I ran both track and XC, and did run about 5 to 12 miles a day. Until I got injured this summer. But even if I wasn't injured I was still worried to run with these guys, they all seemed extremly good for some reason; almost like they've all ran track or something. So I ran with them, and stayed with them for the whole practices, and after that they allowed to come to more gatherings.

INQ 110

Other Places:  Travel, Literature, and Identity

Travel Blog Assignment

Part I:  Setting up your ePortfolio

Due:  no later than noon, Sunday, 31 August

This part of the assignment is relatively simple:  following the instructions on the syllabus, I need you to use the portfolio template I’ve provided and create your own INQ 110:  Other Places ePortfolio.  Be sure to give it a name that helps us (and you) easily identify whose portfolio it is and what course it’s for. 

Once you’ve created your own portfolio (and made sure that we all have access to it), then I’d like you to do the following:

• Go to the “About Me” section of the portfolio and follow the instructions there.  Be sure to give this some thought:  done right, this can really set the tone for the rest of the semester.  (Don’t forget to include a picture!)
• Once you’ve done that, go to Portfolio Tools and click on settings.  There, I’d like you to:
  • Customize the backdrop of your portfolio by choosing a color or image or pattern that gives us a sense of who you are. 
  • Customize the banner of your portfolio with an image or words that—again—give us a sense of who you are. 
  • Where it says “Comments,” click on the buttons that say “Anyone” and “Show Comments Immediately.”

Please note: once you have created your own portfolio, return to the class portfolio page, click on the “Portfolios” tab, and take a look at some of your classmate’s portfolios.  Be sure to comment on at least three of them by midnight, Monday, 1 September, and to send me an e-mail naming the three people whose blogs you’ve commented on. 

Part II:  Posting

Due:  Noon, every Sunday from 7 September to 10 November, unless otherwise noted on the syllabus.

One of the things travel writers do is use writing as a means of exploring and coping with new environments.  That in mind, I want you to spend the next two months writing a “travel” blog, wherein you explore and come to understand Roanoke College and your experiences there by writing about it as though it were a foreign country. 

More specifically, at least once a week I’d like you to create a blog post in which you explore some component of the Roanoke College experience.  The particular length of these posts is entirely up to you, as long as:

• They demonstrate a sense of narrative arch
• They bring some insight as they attempt to answer a major dramatic question
• They do a good job of making the writer feel as though they are living the experience—that is, they engage our five senses   while also exploring our internal responses to the world around us. 
• You include a relevant picture with each post.  These can come from your own images or from images you find on-line (be sure to cite the latter). 

Almost anything can make a good travel article:  people have written about toilets, food, relationships, getting lost, going to jail, politics, geography—the list goes on and on.  In terms of content, the only real requirements are that:

• You not discuss anything illegal.  This includes recreational drug use and underage drinking.
• You not use the name of Roanoke College.  Instead, give your hypothetical institution its own name.  Anything is fine, as long as it contains the letter “R” and wouldn’t embarrass your mother. 
• Your writing is at all times respectful of those around you—in other words, no derogatory language regarding others.    

Post your weekly blog in the “My Blog” section of your portfolio.  Number each entry—e.g., Blog #1, Blog #2, etc.  Credit will be given if a post follows the guidelines stated above and is posted on-time.  No credit will be given for late posts. 

Part III:  Commenting

Due:  Midnight, every Monday from 1 September to 11 November, unless otherwise noted on the syllabus.

Every weekend, you must read and comment on at least three of your classmates’ blogs.  Because this is informal writing, you should focus your comments on the positive:  what does each writer do well?  What talents do they demonstrate as they choose a major dramatic question and attempt to bring the reader into the world they’re exploring?  Beyond this, please adhere to the following guidelines:

• Be polite.
• Be substantive.
• Be detailed.  Refer to specific lines or phrases or images or ideas from the post.
• If you have questions, ask them.  Are there areas or details you would have liked the author to explore more?
• Comment on different blogs every week.  Don’t put a second comment on a particular blog until you’ve commented on every other blog first.  Don’t put a third comment on a particular blog until you’ve commented on every other blog at least twice, and so on. 
• Once you have commented on three blogs, send me an e-mail giving the names of the three people whose blogs you’ve commented on.  Please note: if you do not send me these names, you will not get credit for your comments.