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.