Learn about Blogs:
Use any or all of the following resources to learn about blogs:
- Video: “Blogs in Plain English“
- Article: “How Blogs Work“
- Article: “Starting a Blog – Blogging Basics for the Beginner Blogger“
- Article: “Blogging Basics“
- Article: “The History of Blogging“
Create Your Research Journal:
Create a blog using Blogger. You can take a tour of Blogger, or you can watch this video or the first videos in this playlist if you need help getting started. Any time you need help, go to the Blogger Help page.
This blog will be your research journal. Make sure that the title of your blog includes your first and/or last name, so I can identify the author when I’m reading your posts.
When you have created your blog, e-mail the web address (copy and paste it from the box in your browser) to me at the e-mail address in the syllabus.
You may use any layout or color scheme or widgets that you wish on your blog, as long as they are professional. Please, though, make sure that the combination you choose for your font and background is readable. Generally a dark font on a light background is easier to read.
Please turn on comment moderation and turn off word verification for comments on your blog. To do this, click on the Settings link below the name of your blog in your Dashboard. Then click on the Comments link (fourth from the left). First, scroll down to “Comment moderation” and click on the circle in front of the word “Always” and input the e-mail address of the account you use most often so you will be notified when someone comments on your blog. Next, scroll down to the question “Show word verification for comments?” Click on the circle by “No.” Finally, scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on Save Settings.
Learn about Tagging:
Use any or all of the following resources to learn about tagging:
- Video: “Tagging & Folksonomy“
- Video: “Tags: Content Tagging and Its Importance“
- Article: “Tags“
- Article: “Tags and Tagging: How Do You Create Good Tags?“
- Presentation: “Tagging That Works“
- Presentation: “Tagging“
- Presentation: “Tagging in an Academic Setting“
Post in Your Blog:
Post in your blog (research journal), using the phrase in bold as the title of your post:
RJA #1: Areas of Academic Interest–Create a list of your scholarly and academic interests on which you might base your research and writing for class this semester. This could include classes you have taken or are taking now as well as areas you have studied outside of class.
Use the department and course number (ENG 1020 or ENG 122) and other appropriate tags (”Labels” on Blogger) for the post.
