Creating a Blog

Welcome to English 250 and to the blogging experience!

To get started, open a new browsing window and type in: www.blogger.com
To set up your own blog, you will be prompted to register an account. Choose an email account and work through the registration prompts. During registration you will be asked to create a web address. BE SURE TO RECORD YOUR WEB ADDRESS and PASSWORD on a separate sheet of paper. I will need to collect your web addresses in our first class meeting in order to link our blogs together.

Once you have worked through the registration process, you will be asked to choose a template for your blog. This is where you have the opportunity to "style" your blog. I will show you how to add links, pictures, etc. in a future class. For now, choose a template that you like. Once you have chosen your template, you are ready to go! To begin blogging, log on to your blog. This should open your "Dashboard." Under the dashboard you should see your blog listed. You can click "New Post" to start writing your first blog. A window will pop up that allows you to title your post and type in your responses. When you are ready to post your response, click "Publish Post." Another window will come up that allows you to "View" your blog.

You can always change the content of your posts or the "look" of your blog. Nothing is permanent. If you make a mistake and you are unsure of how to fix it, don't worry at this point. You can always go back and edit your posts. A quick way to do this is by going back to your "Dashboard" and clicking on "Edit posts"--you should see a list of all of the posts you have written. Here you can select a post to edit, and the same data entry window will pop up.

The best advice I can give you is to spend some time browsing around the features offered by the blog. The program is pretty user-friendly. You can click around and generally find your own way by reading the options that come up after each click.

I will be happy to answer any questions you have regarding your blog in our next meeting. If you absolutely cannot figure out how to create your own blog, type your introduction, print it, and bring it to class with you. You should have very few problems, however.

See you all soon!
Dr. Mortimore-Smith

Welcome to English 250!

Welcome to English 250! I'm excited to read and engage in each of your personal blogs. In your blog, you will be asked to write on any topic/issue/idea that captured your attention or interest in the reading or in-class discussion. Each week, I will ask you to review the ideas shared in class and in your reading and post a blog of your ideas and perspectives. You will also be required to post a comment on each of your response group member's blogs. Your blog is due on Friday of each week and your comments are due by the following Monday, unless otherwise stated. Please refer to your syllabus for specific blog expectations. Blog record sheets will be collected and graded sporadically throughout the semester.

For your first (test) blog, please introduce yourself to your peers. What are your interests/hobbies? What is your major/minor? What interested you in this class? What was the last book you read? What type of popular culture are you interested in? Music, movies, television, video games, art, etc. What are your past experiences reading "literature"? What is literature, in your opinion?

In addition, you should be personalizing your blog with biographical info, pictures, videos, your blog lists, etc. Setting up your blog is your first assignment in this class. Please ask your peers for help, ask a computer attendant on campus, or ask me if you are having difficulty setting up or designing your blog. Don't wait until the last minute, or you will fall behind in your weekly blogging. One class period will be spent on setting up and personalizing your blogs.

In each of your blogs, I am looking for honesty, evidence of critical thinking, knowledge of the texts assigned for reading, thoughtfulness, and originality. Stretch yourself. This blog represents the major written component of this class, and as such, I expect it to be carefully composed and prepared.

By Friday of the first week, you should have your blog set up and "styled." You should also have your personal "introduction" posted. Be sure to answer each of the questions posted here in your first blog. Check Desire2Learn for copies of any course materials you may need: Syllabus, schedule, blog record sheets, etc. Return to class ready to discuss any assigned reading with both your peer groups and in whole-class discussion.

I'm looking forward to reading each of your blogs and engaging in your ideas throughout the semester! Happy blogging!