1) Be creative:

Use a creative title that entices the reader.

*Descriptive Title: Gaza 100 run (not interesting)

*Creative Title: I let my feet do the talking and set the world record!

Choose the most interesting 250 characters as your standfirst. It should include the main point of the article and an interesting or provocative statement.

2) Be brief:

People are more likely to read your contribution if it is short and to the point. 150-300 words make a good average length for a contribution. If you can't say it in less than 600 words, cut out some words, or make another contribution.

3) Be informative:

Mention information about the main point in the first couple of sentences. You want to grab your readers before they click away.

4) Be objective in reporting:

Try to be as accurate as possible in summarizing what happened and what others have said.

When reporting on what others have said or written, use direct quotes (he said, " ") ONLY if you can provide a link to actual text or a video.

If you can't find or remember what they said, summarize in a general way.

5) Be subjective in your views:

It's your contribution, so give your opinion on the topic you are writing about.

6) Be provocative:

Raise one or two important issues that you think people should be talking about. It's your goal to start a discussion, not a monologue.

7) Be questioning:

If you want people to respond, why not ask them?
Put in a one sentence question to drive discussion:

Questions should try to be open rather than closed. Open questions have more than one answer and invite people to respond:

* Closed: Did you like Obama's speech about Islam?
* Open: What did you think about Obama's speech on Islam?

Questions should have substance to spark a discussion:

* Shallow: What did you think about Obama's speech?
* Deeper: How will Obama's speech affect Islam-West relations?

8) Be critical:

Your words are powerful. Don't just repeat what other people are blogging. Think before you post.

9) Be ethical:

Make sure that your contributions are consistent with Campusalam's community standards. If they are not, your contribution may be flagged by a member of the community and deleted.