Iowa State University History and Commercialization of Grapes Discussion Thread
Question Description
Spin a thread assignment
I am not a big user of social media, but lately, I have found numerous scientists that use this media in a very creative way. I have attended several Twitter conferences that were very engaging, effective and innovative.
This assignment is inspired by Twitter type posts. You do not have to have a Twitter account, nor do you have to open one to complete this assignment. Do consult Twitter for inspiration. A lot of accounts are public and can be viewed without having a Twitter account.
On Twitter, you can make individual posts, or you can create a thread. A tread is made out of several posts that are connected to each other because they are about the same topic. Each post has a limited amount of characters, so you need to thread several posts to tell a story or, in the case of a Twitter conference, to present your paper.
This assignment is asking you to create a minimum of 8 posts as a thread (and no more than 10 posts). Each post must have a 150-word limit (excluding sources and visuals). All posts are connected with each other by a topic (in this case a fruit crop).
Your topic for this assignment is to write about a fruit crop from the list I provide you below and write about it in a thread.
Assignment guidelines:
Choose one (1) fruit crop from this list: bananas, avocados, grapes, oranges, or pineapples. Create a minimum of 8 posts related to the crop of your choice (no more than 10 posts), each posts is 150 words long, as follows: 2 posts on the history of the fruits crop you chose, 2 posts on how the crop is grown (land usage, water usage, inputs, etc), 2 posts on labor, transportation, packaging, markets, etc, 2 posts on how climate change is affecting and will affect this crop in the future. If you choose to write 10 posts use the extra 2 posts for information you find interesting, very important or maybe just fun (ex: why are banana peels slippery?).
In addition, after each post, use a visual, such as a picture, to emphasis what your post is about. Give the source of your picture as URL or if you are using a picture you too, give yourself the credit.
Also, dont forget about sources, include sources after each post. To create your posts/thread, use Microsoft Word, Microsoft Power Point or Google slides. Upload your file in Canvas.
*Note 1: There are lots of Twitter templates available online. Most require opening an account or buy the template. Do not purchase anything for this class. The simplest way is to use Microsoft Word and just created one post after another and embed the visual on the page. Click on Tools and then Word Count to make sure you are reaching the 150 words/staying in the limit for each post. To insert visuals in Microsoft Word click Insert, and then chose the visual you want. Pictures or graphs must be saved in your computer first (before you embed them on the page).
Here is a visual of your assignment:
Title (your chosen fruit or a longer title that includes your fruit, for example: My favorite fruit, the pineapple)
Post 1 (150 words) |
sources for post 1 as URL or in case of a book: author, title, year. |
Visual for post 1 such as a picture, graph or any other visual source related the post |
source for visual as URL or if picture is taken by you/friend/family give them credit. Picture can be from Microsoft visual bank, give credit by just writing Microsoft visual/picture. If you create a visual, give yourself credit. |
Post 2 (150 words) |
sources |
visual |
sources |
.
.
.
.
Post 8 (150 words) |
sources |
visual |
source |
* Note 2: You don’t have to create a table as I did below. Just write one post after another with visuals in between the posts. If a table helps you, you can create one. If your use Power Point or Google slides place each post on a different slide. In this case, you my embed the visual on the same slide as your post.
How will you be graded:
1. Your thread is about a fruit crop from the list provided.
2. Imagine that the reader of your thread has never heard, nor seen the fruit you have chosen. Your posts synthesize the information from multiple sources and extracts the most important aspect of the crop you have chosen (see guidelines above on what to write about).
3. Your thread is original, your language is clear and engaging and error free. Your visuals are appropriate and complete the post with either new information or by visually emphasizing the most important aspect of your post.
4. You demonstrate skillful use of high quality, credible, relevant sources. Sources and visuals ARE NOT counted in the 150 words. If your source is listed as URL, make sure the link works!!!!
5. You create 8 to 10 posts with visuals and sources. the post flow together and make sense to the reader.
6. Please spell check and also check your grammar. I have read papers that have words missing, text is full of grammar errors or spell check errors. Please show respect for yourself and your work by using spell check and fix grammar errors. Ask someone to read your posts. The ISU Media and Writing Center is available to help. make an appointment with them.
Note 3: Please make sure you are uploading the right file in Canvas. You can see the file you are uploaded so make sure it is the correct one. To make sure the formatting you worked on stays the same when the grader opens the file, I recommend saving and uploading the file as PDF. This is not required but is recommended.
Here are a few Twitter accounts for inspiration. Find others too. Start by searching for a scientists you admire. While not everyone is on Twitter or using the media for professional purposes, many do and are posts as extensions of teaching. You can also google Twitter posts on a certain topic and go from there.
The list below is just an example:
https://twitter.com/foodsystems?lang=en (Links to an external site.)
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