Key Terms and Main Ideas
- Intrinsic motivation > refers to behavior that is driven by internal wants (rewards). Your motivation is driven by satisfying your internal desires
- Extrinsic motivation > behavior that is driven by external rewards such as money, fame, grades, and praise
- blog > a regularly updated website or web page, typically one run by an individual or small group, that is written in an informal or conversational style
- blogosphere > personal websites and blogs collectively
- belligerent > hostile and aggressive
- Rhetorical questions > a question asked in order to create a dramatic effect or to make a point rather than to get an answer
- Autonomy > freedom from external control or influence; independence
- Quasi-academic style > of or relating to a college, academy, school, or other educational institution, especially one for higher education
- Serendipity > the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way
- Blog Aggregator > client software or a web application which aggregates syndicated web content such as online newspapers, blogs, podcasts, and video blogs (vlogs) in one location for easy viewing
Main Idea: The idea throughout the entire article pertains to the reasons for writing blogs including creativity, a road to being an expert, and finding intrinsic motivation, as well as the basic structures and components of blogs.
Summary
Reid begins by expressing the necessary components of becoming an expert in writing. He emphasizes the fact founded by Malcom Gladwell that in order to become an expert at writing, you need 10,000 hours of writing experience. This would be possible only over a specific number of years (it would take forever to become an actual writing expert!). This just emphasizes the point that there is always room to improve. Reid explains how blogging is one way to gain experience and become a better writer if you desire. He later goes into finding a desire to write for your own satisfaction, which is intrinsic motivation. As one gains more experience, and continues writing a blog on a continual bases, then one will gain motivation to write for themselves and it will become a habit and a necessary component of their life. Reid ends by going over specifics of blog components and explains how being on a regular schedule of writing will give you motivation.
Making Connections
From the article, “Why Blog,” by Alex Reid, I understood his point completely as I made connections with aspects in my own blogging experience thus far. He began the article by relating the topic of blogging to writing and becoming an expert. Reid used the words of Malcom Gladwell saying, “…it takes some 10,000 hours of dedication to a craft or profession to become an expert” (Reid 302). Although this may be scientifically proven, I agree with Reid when he defines writing experience as becoming better and better. You don’t necessarily need 10,000 hours of writing to become a very good writer, but if you do write consistently, then you will become a better writer. I have found this true within my own life. I used to feel uncomfortable writing papers and finding words to put down on the sheet. My vocabulary did not represent an intelligent student. Over the many years of schooling I have received, I have become much more comfortable with my writing and finding certain words to emphasize my many points. Another major point of Reid, was that if you continue writing on a consistent scheduled bases (such as blogging), you will find intrinsic motivation. You will begin to write because it satisfies you and your wants. I have also found that true, like when I began writing this note on making connections I was not very inspired and did not want to do it, but at this point I have soooo much I want to say. Time results in the internal motivation of writing to rise and experience to show accomplishments.
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