Major Quest I: The Blog Monsters
Using the materials from the Game Studies and Text sections of each Unit, you will need
to write a blog at the end of each Unit, and in so doing you will slay the mythical Blog Monsters
that block your progress in the course. The topic of your blog is up to you, but it must meet the
following requirements:
• Have a title
• Have an argument and interpretation–go beyond summary
• Be related to the course in some way: discusses some aspect of meaning-making,
representation, identity, or community in games
• 500 words long
• Have research: use at least 1 source from the course, and 1 external academic source
• Properly cite your research, including in-text citations
• Have a Works Cited in MLA, Chicago, or APA format. Be consistent.
Suggested Topics:
• Consider your own position as a player: how is your experience of online spaces affected by
your own experiences in the actual world? What’s different? What’s similar?
• Explore a prominent theme or idea in a text (game, novel, scholarship, etc.)
• Compare/Contrast two readings or games–make sure you explain why the difference matters!
• Write about a social issue brought up in the games or readings
• Challenge an argument made in a Game Studies reading, and offer your own argument
• Create your own similar topic
No matter what topic you choose, you MUST go beyond surface-level engagement. In other
words, do not merely summarize a text and its major points. Dig deeper, and develop your own
interpretation and argument. You should have specific points that support your interpretation/
argument, and tie those points back to the text. In this way, provide evidence for your points.
This entire process becomes much easier if you take good notes while you read or play. So don’t
just skim read or play mindlessly–pay attention to what you experience, and think and reflect on
it. Doing so will give you a stronger idea of what interests you and what you want to write about
when the time comes.
IMPORTANT NOTE: While this Major Quest consists mostly of the blogs themselves, I will
also consider the quality of your engagement with discussion posts and other activities that lead
up to the blogs. So don’t blow these off–use them to help you prepare for the blogs.
SOURCES: What sources you use are up to you, but at least 1 must be from the course and 1
must be an external academic source. The word “academic” is important here–you should find
your external source through the MSU library, and it should be a reliable, scholarly one.
CITATIONS: You must have both in-text citations and a Works Cited at the end of your blog.
You can use MLA, APA, or Chicago style for this, but be consistent. If you are confused about
citation style, use Purdue OWL (Online Writing Lab) as a guide. You can find this with a quick
Google search. Purdue OWL has guides for all major citation styles, and will not steer you
wrong.
Sample Solution