What makes a good comment?

One of the brilliant things about blogs is you can add your own comments to them.
So, what makes a good comment? Here’s our tips.

1. Say what you know
2. Remember who’s reading – put yourself in their shoes
3. Be safe (so you can keep having fun)
4. Give two stars and a wish

1. Say what you know
Good comments are based on facts, even when you’re putting your own point of view. For example, if you don’t like school, you could write “I don’t like my school”, which is a fact about you. This is different from writing something like, “All schools are rubbish”.

2. Remember who is reading – put yourself in their shoes
Actually, remember that anyone in the world could read what you put on the web (and they could copy it as well). So, try to

• write interesting things that other people will want to read
• write things you would be comfortable with everyone seeing (think about your family members, people in school, future employers…)
• be polite – for example, don’t swear, and don’t be sarcastic or unkind about someone, or racist, sexist or homophobic…
• be fair to other people – for example, don’t tell other people’s secrets
• be safe.

3. Be safe (so you can keep having fun)
Staying safe online is mainly about keeping certain things about yourself private. Top tips:

• keep your personal details secret – that means never put your email address, phone numbers, where you live, what school you go to or any passwords you have on a website or tell them to anyone online
• use an image to represent you, not a photograph of you
• keep online friends online, but if you really do want to meet someone face to face, tell an adult you know well and take that adult along to the meeting; never go alone
• chat in open, public chatrooms and forums – don’t go into private chats with just one other person.

Click here for more info about staying safe and in control online.

4. Give two stars and a wish
Try putting two stars and a wish in your comments: two things you like about what someone posted, and one thing you think they should change.

If you write a good comment, you can

• help other people by telling them what you know
• put across your point of view and see if other people agree or disagree with you
• ask a question (and hopefully get an answer!).

Have you written a comment yet? Do you agree with this info? Got any more top tips?

Enquire gets lots of helpful information about blogging from the Scotedublogs community. We based this page mainly on the East Lothian Self-publishing and social media pupil guidelines.