Blog: [Link]
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Blog/Diary Entry
Text type
A distinction: both text types typically present personal experience and comment, but a blog is more of a
public statement, whereas a diary is more of a private reflection. Beyond that, there is a problem: are there
conventions for the relatively new blog – or for the anarchically personal diary?
Basic Format
Heading
Blog - title (perhaps quirky, witty); there may be multiple entries over various days. These should be latest
first, but accept any clear indication of day or date.
Diary - date; or dates, if multiple entries. 'Dear Diary' may be unrealistic, but we should accept it as the
student is at least conscious of the text type and is informing the examiner of this and signature
Lucid paragraphing
While there may be real examples of both blogs and diaries which ignore basic paragraphing, students writing
an exam script are expected to show that they understand that sensible paragraphing aids clarity
Approach
> organisation - What should govern the effective organisation of these text types?
- if a blog is a 'public statement', ideas can be expected to be organised to show some evident and consistent
purpose
- even if a diary is a (more) private reflection, an exam script can still be expected to show a clear and
organised flow of ideas. This may include :-
> control of narration – the diary is usually set to address a narrative of some sort, so effective explanation
and control of the events is expected
> narration plus comment – what distinguishes the diary from other forms of narrative is that the diarist
reflects on the events and draws personal conclusions.
> register : informality enriched with sophistication - if both text types are personal, some informality can be
expected in register and rhetoric, but higher marks will go to exam scripts which combine colloquialism with
dashes of complex phrasing and effects.
Blog example
Example – You might be an expert in theme park rollercoasters
The Greatest Rollercoasters in Europe
July 1st
At the Blackpool Amusement Park in the north of England, they have just opened the tallest
rollercoaster in Europe. It is called, quite simply, “The Big One”. It is 159 metres high, and on
the top you can enjoy a beautiful view of the sandy beaches, before it plunges you down the
first drop at terrifying speeds. The length of the track clocks in at a mile and a half, but you
only take 2 minutes to zoom around it. So this is undoubtedly one of the finest rollercoasters
in Europe.
The Corkscrew can be found in the Dutch theme park, Efteling. It is not as high or as fast as
“The Big One”, but visitors to Efteling will queue for hours to ride on this monstrous coaster.
NOTE – Remember blogs are often written in an informal jokey way to grab people’s attention.
Diary Entry example
You are going on a school picnic with your classmates and teachers.
You are very excited. The night before the trip you sit down to write
your diary. Describe in about 150 words what you have planned for
the picnic and how you hope to enjoy yourself there. You are
Jitendra/Jayashree Malik.
Friday, 22 June 2007
9 pm
Dear Diary,
My class picnic
I am feeling very excited tonight. I am going on a picnic tomorrow with my
classmates. Some of our teachers will also accompany us. We have been
planning for this trip ever since our principal gave us permission a month ago.
We are going to Nehru Park. It has a large ground where children can run
around and play freely. I have packed some food items including potato chips
and chewing
gum. My mother has made a dozen sandwiches and a cake. My friends will also
be bringing some food, and we shall all share and eat. I am also carrying my
cricket bat with me. We plan to play a match. I feel I just cannot go to sleep
tonight. I keep imagining all the fun that we are going to have tomorrow. But
my mother came into the room just now and warned me that if I do not go to
sleep now, I might fall asleep at the picnic! As if that is ever going to happen!
But may be she’s right. So, good night!
Jayashree
The burning topic of debate in the nation is ‘The
reservation issue for OBCs, SC/STs has given you food for
though’. Make an entry in your diary expressing your
feelings on the issue.
Friday, 7 July 2007
1300 hrs
Dear Diary
Mandal II in the making
When will the reservation issue end? A replay of the anti-
reservation stir is anticipated, and if it happens, there will be chaos
all over again. The AIIMS doctors have been protesting against the
issue since the last ten days, but to no avail. The leaders are
showing a callous attitude towards the issue. What they don’t
realise is that it is their own people who are being affected
adversely. I think the increase in the reservation is brutal and
insensitive. The general category of students shall suffer for no
fault of theirs. It’s such a desperate and helpless situation. Will we
be given some respite from the issue? I hope and pray that we
emerge as winners in this agitation.
Rahul