Task 13: Wrapping Up

Just to clarify, here's what's due today:

Task 8: Current Event Summary and Analysis
Task 9: Product Review
Task 10: The Life of a __________________
Task 11: Comments
Task 12: Reflection

Please go over your blog to see that you've completed each of these tasks.

If there are comments from me regarding changes, make the changes.

If you missed tasks from Mods 1 or 2 and would like to make them up, do so and let me know--you can still improve your grades from Mods 1 and 2, which will improve your quarter grade.

Let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Task 12: Reflection

Today you will write a 250 word reflection on the quarter. Include the following information.

• What you've learned
• What you enjoyed
• What frustrated you
• Your favorite/best task
• You least favorite/worst task
• How blogging changes writing for you
• Blogging in the future?
• Any other information about blogging

Task 11: Comments Please

Today you will read and respond to some of the writing your classmates have been working on.


Directions:
Step 1. Read "Important Information: Commenting Guidelines"
Step 2. Carefully read a post on a classmate's blog.
Step 3. Write a comment, following the guidelines.
Step 4. Repeat. You should comment on at least 3 posts--each from a different blog.

Step 5. Review the DCALS Writing Blog to be sure that you've completed all the assigned tasks. Tasks 8, 9 and 10 are what's due at the end of Mod 3, so far. 

Task 10: The Life of a _____________________:

Today you are going to write a short story with a twist--the story will be told from the perspective of an inanimate object--a hammer, a soda machine, a banana, etc.
 Directions: 
1. Select an inanimate object, preferably one that is connected to your topic.
2. Find out as much as possible about this object using your best research skills.
3. Write from a first person point of view, using the pronoun “I.”
4. Include realistic details to accurately portray the inanimate object’s location, purpose, size, material, value, and life span.
5. Try to write at least 250 words, using correct grammar, a title. 
6. Include an image of the object. 
This website includes a bunch of great examples!


*Here is the "Lord of War" intro that we talked about yesterday. Hope it give you some ideas.

Task 9: A Product Review

Directions:

Think of something that you use often and about which you have strong feelings. I love Origin's Vitazing; linked is a great example of a review on this product.


Include the following information in a 250 word review:

• A description of the product --how it looks, sounds, feels, tastes, smells- whatever is appropriate
• What claims the company makes about the product, or what it is supposed to do AND how lives up to these claims or suppositions
• The cost of the product and where you can find it
• Comparisons of the product to other similar products 
• An image of the product

Post 8: A Current Event

Directions:
Find an article about a current event--one that you find interesting and that pertains to your focus.

Read the article closley, then write a 250 word summary about it.

End the summary with your thoughts about the impact this event will have and what you think will happen next.

Be sure to create a link to the article and cite the source in which you found it. i.e. According to an article on Politico.com...

Task 7: Creating Community

Think of today's task as a blog role scavenger hunt and an opportunity to see what your classmates have been up to.
Answer the prompts in the form of a link; include a brief explanation for the ones that include an * (asterisk)
You may cut and paste the following prompts into your blog:

A blog that is similar to mine:
A blog that is very dissimilar to mine: 
*A blog that I think is neat:
A blog that has all the tasks completed: 
A blog that includes an embedded video:
*A post that I agree with:
*A post that I disagree with:
An image I like:
*A post with info that I'd use:

Blog of the Week

Carl's Blog http://streetracing11.blogspot.com/
 Some things I like about Carl's Blog:

• Keeps up with and follows the assignments
• Includes interesting details 
• Good use of color
• Clean layout 

Task 6.5: Creating and Configuring Labels

At this point we are moving forward quickly, adding new posts with images and links--providing new material for our readers. But because Blogger provides us with such a flexible medium, we will take advantage of it by going back and improving old posts, mainly by fixing our mistakes, but also by adding and organizing the information.
Today, you will improve your posts by creating labels based in the content of each post and creating a Label Categorizing Gadget that will allow your audience to easily locate posts that interest them.

Directions:

Step 1: Read through each post and in the bottom left corner add a label--a word that captures the main point of the blog. You'll want to repeat these labels, so try to be general.

Step 2: In the Design Tab, click on "Add a Gadget", then click on the blue plus symbol next to "Labels".

View your blog and magically, your list or cloud of labels will appear.

Task 6: Exploring the Blogosphere

Time for a little research...Find at least three blogs that you admire and add them to your "Blog List", a gadget you'll find in the "Design" tab. Pick one of these blog to review. Include the following elements and be sure to include a link to the blog you're reviewing. 

• Design - The first thing that you see when looking at a website is its design. Is the design pleasing to the eye? Is the site cluttered or difficult to navigate? Are there any glaring design flaws or glitches, or is the site a work of art?
• Focus – What is the focus of the site? If you can’t figure it out, then the author is doing something wrong. Focus should be apparent without hunting around too much. Typically by using design elements, or simple headlines or sub-headlines a site must convey its focus.
• Content – The most obvious element to cover in your review is the site’s content. Does the content of the site match its focus? If not, there is a problem! Is the content easily readable? Does it make sense? What are some of the highlights? Is there a page, article or section of the site that really stands out as being fantastic?
• Writing Style – Writing style is one element that many people often ignore. Does the author share his/her voice? Do you find yourself relating to what you read? Is the style professional or does the author blab on about their dying goldfish in every post?
• Grammer and Punctuation – Does the site use proper grammatical elements? Are there spelling mistakes and punctuation errors all over the place?
• Message Effectiveness – Overall, do you find that the site is effective in putting out its message?
• Website Audience – Who is the intended audience for this site or blog? Are the intended and actual audiences different?
• Info about the author – Is there anything interesting to note about the author? e.g. I was watching the news last night and they were talking about a blog written by a boy with cancer. Is the author an expert or do they have no idea what they are talking about? Do they have any qualifications to write what they are writing?
• Anything else you think is important – Of course, there are other elements that you can discuss as well. Anything about the site that stands out, good or bad, should always be covered in a review.

Task 5.5: Fixing Common Errors

There are some common errors that I noticed while reading through all of the blogs, last night.  Below, I explain two of these errors. I'd like you to skim through each blog post in the editing format and fix the following errors should you find them.

1.  Perhaps this common spelling error began because there does exist in English a word spelled “allot” which is a verb meaning to apportion or grant. The correct form, with “a” and “lot” separated by a space is perhaps not often encountered in print because formal writers usually use other expressions such as “a great deal,” “often,” etc. You shouldn't write “alittle” either. It’s “a little.”

Incorrect: Alot

Correct: A lot










2.  I (pronounced /aɪ/) is the first-person singular subjective case personal pronoun in Modern English. It is used to refer to one's self and is capitalised, although other pronouns, such as heor she, are not capitalised.

Incorrect: i really like it when students use the rules of grammar. 

Correct: I really like it when students use the rules of grammar. 

Task 5: A Process Piece

This week, You're going to focus on explaining how to do something that is related to your topic. For example, if you're writing a fashion focused blog, you could explain how to reconstruct a t-shirt, as shown here on Dirty Laundry. Be creative-- the possibilities are endless! You could explain how to throw a football, roast a turkey, apply make-up like Jennifer Lopez, etc. Remember to edit your post, and develop it into about 250 words. Also, be sure to add helpful images or links to your post.

As you write your process essay, consider the following:

• What process are you trying to explain? Why is it important?
• Who or what does the process affect?
• Are there different ways of doing the process? If so, what are they?
• Who are the readers? What knowledge do they need to understand this process?
• What skills/equipment are needed for this?
• How long does the process take? Is the outcome always the same?
• How many steps are there in the process?
• Why is each step important?
• What difficulties are involved in each step? How can they be overcome?
• Do any cautions need to be given?
• Does the process have definitions that need to be clarified?
• Are there other processes that are similar and could help illustrate the process that you are writing about?
• If needed, tell what should not be done or why something should be done.

Task 4

At this point I am going to assume that you're almost an expert on blogger. You've created an account, published at least three posts, inserted images and created links. Congrats--you now officially have a new skill. That leads me to today's task, which is to write about an expert in your field; someone, possibly well known, who has found great success in whatever it is you're writing about. If you are writing a journalish blog, then write about a person that you know who has attained what you'd describe as "success".  This post must be at least 250 words in length and contain a..wait for it..link and an image--or better yet, an embedded video of this person doing what it is they do best.

Also, become a member of the dcals writing blog.

Task 3

Now that you've created and become more comfortable with your blog, explain how you feel about using it. What do you like/dislike about blogging? What problems have you experienced? What problems do you foresee happening in the future? How is this class better or worse than a traditional writing class? Answer these questions in a paragraph.


Next, create a post that reflects your creativity as well as what's current with your focus. If it's fashion--write about a new trend; if it's sports--how about those football games last night? Use interesting details and be sure to insert at least one image and create at least one link.

Task 2

Now that you've set up your blog and completed "Your First Task", explore the myriad options you have to personalize your blog--change the format, colors and gadgets; go ahead and monetize. Check your stats, etc.


Minnehaha Creek Stone Bridge

Once you've finished, begin to draft your second post, which should answer the following question in no less than 250 words and include a link and or an image: What did you do this past weekend that relates to the subject matter on which your blog will focus? For example, if I were writing a blog about things to do in Minneapolis, I would have described walking along the Minnehaha Creek, eating at dinner at Cafe 28 and having lunch at The Eatery.

Your First Task

1.) Read Important Information.
2.) Click on theses links to explore a few blogs and collect ideas and inspiration.
    http://emilysblog3s.edublogs.org/
    http://harleyspaws.blogspot.com/
    http://www.vivafashionblog.com/
    http://www.skateboarding-blog.com/
3.) Create your own blogger account.
4.) Write your first post--in no less than 250 words, respond to the following questions:
                                           a. How do you connect to the world through the internet?
                                           b. If you could take your blog in any direction, what would it be? Why?

Important Information

Grading Policy:  Each post will be worth 10 points. Your posts will be graded on originality and clarity of the ideas expressed, use of enhancement--links, images, audio, etc, and writing quality.  A half point will be deducted for each major grammatical error, which includes missing capitals, periods, and commas as well as spelling errors, so be sure to edit your work.  You will also responsible for participating in the blogging community by commenting on and citing other blogs. 

Rules to Blog By: 
Remember that everything you write is public and represents not only you--as a student and a writer--but DCALS as well as me.  For this reason, please consider the content and style of your posts and stick to the following guidelines.

1. No last names, personal email addresses, IM screen names etc.

2. Always make sure you check over your post for spelling errors, grammar errors, and your use of words. Using IM or chat lingo to substitute words is not acceptable (e.g. “u” for you or “2″ for two).
3. Watch your language! This is part of our school community. Language that is inappropriate in school is also inappropriate in your blog.
4. Never disrespect someone else in your blog, whether it’s a person, an organization, or just a general idea.

Commenting Guidelines
As a blogger, you will be commenting on other people’s work regularly.
Good comments:
• Are constructive, but not hurtful; consider the author and the purpose of the post
• Are always related to the content of the post
• Include personal connections to what the author wrote; answer a question, or add meaningful information to the content topic
• Follow the writing process. Comments are a published piece of writing.