|
This week, we're going to review some of the different types of blog posts. Hopefully, this will give us all some fresh inspiration, and additional writing ideas.
The first type of blog post we'll discuss is the essay. This type of blog post is great for those who are hoping to attract academic traffic, from educational institutions, as well as for submission for possible cross-posting (the bloggers' version of "syndication") to the op-ed sections of online newspapers or magazines.
Although the rules can be relaxed a little for blogging, as opposed to academic writing, the basic outline of an essay is as follows:
Introductory Paragraph (Explain your topic, and the purpose of your essay.)
- Introductory Sentence - Explain why you are writing this essay.
- 3-5 sentences describing the main points of your essay
- Concluding sentence - Summarize the point you want to make with your essay in one sentence.
Main Point #1
- Introductory Sentence - Explain briefly the importance of this point.
- 3-5 sentences elaborating on your point, giving further information and details
- Concluding sentence - Wrap up your point in one sentence.
Main Point #2
- Introductory Sentence - Explain briefly the importance of this point.
- 3-5 sentences elaborating on your point, giving further information and details
- Concluding sentence - Wrap up your point in one sentence.
Main Point #3
- Introductory Sentence - Explain briefly the importance of this point.
- 3-5 sentences elaborating on your point, giving further information and details
- Concluding sentence - Wrap up your point in one sentence.
Conclusion (Review your main points, and summarize your essay.)
- Introductory Sentence - Review your purpose for this essay
- 3-5 reviewing the main points of your essay
- Concluding sentence - Summarize the point you want to make with your essay in one sentence (a more detailed version of the concluding sentence in your introductory paragraph)
Essay posts often link to online journals and other publications. In blogging, hyperlinks to those resources can replace the need for footnotes or endnotes. If the resource you are quoting or references is not online, however, you'll want to include an end-note section. The endnotes can be in any format, as long as they give enough information to properly identify the source.
Also see:
 Jennifer Pointer (e-mail) is a trainer and tech writer in Tulsa, OK. She promotes a simple, a low-tech approach to effective online profile management, search engine optimization and social networking. Her weakness is the mocha frappuccino.
|
