Assessment Outline

Learning and Assessment Task No 2: Local Blog

Marked out of 100 – Weighting 50% of final assessment

1. Assessment Task Description: Each student will develop a news and resource blog for their local area that includes:

• Three current news stories (300 words each)
• Two short profiles of local people (400 words each)
• A set of links to local resources (400 words)
• A description of the local area that includes a brief history and description of local attractions and/or problems (400 words)
• Photographic elements that enhance entries

These are minimum requirements and students are encouraged to add other elements that give their blog a focus and sense of particular identity

Associated In-Class Learning Tasks:

In order to assist students with this assessment task a number of exercises and resources will be provided by the workshops:

• This assignment is a capstone project that should bring together and demonstrate all the skills in news gathering and news writing that have been developed in class exercises through the semester
• It follows on directly from the first learning and assessment task – the research portfolio
• It will build on their experience of blogging begun in week 2 through the establishment of a personal reflective blog
• Week 8 will de devoted to developing effective blogs
• Students must present preliminary ideas in class week 9 for peer feedback.
• Students will work with the subject co-ordinator in weeks 11 and 12 to refine their blog

Associated Out-of-Class Research Activities

In order to complete this task satisfactorily students must engage in a program of independent study and research. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Read and reflect on the allocated weekly readings from the text book and associated e readings
• Regularly read newspapers and online news sites
• Regularly read local news publications
• Visit local resource areas such as council and library
• Regularly visit a range of blogs

2. Assessment Criteria: Students must show that they are developing:

• An ability to identify interesting news stories;
• An ability to research news issues
• An ability to write effective news stories
• An understanding of the unique characteristics of blogging and its application to news reporting

3. Due date: The finished blog must be ready for assessment by midnight Saturday 24 May. The url must be emailed to the subject co-ordinator with a brief statement (200-300words) that sets out the particular focus and purpose of the blogging project.

4. Must attempt: Yes

NOTE: Students are required to keep copies of all material on their blogs in word format this includes both stories, links and photography. This is a precaution in case of file corruption or the failure of third party blogging software.