We are creating a game format in which students will post current events to share with other students. Readers will "like" postings, and the one with the most "likes" will be chosen as the current event for everyone to comment on the following week. Those comments will also be up for "liking."
Posting a current event (or two) will earn a badge. Responding to the article chosen for the following week will earn a different badge. A complete set of four badges can be traded for a token.
One random current event and one random response posting will win a token.
What's a token? A magical device that can be used to extend a due date by 24 hours during the course. Unused tokens can be converted to points on a one-to-one basis at the end of the semester.