Title: Unit 1: Blogger
Course: Advanced Composition for the Digital Age SP14 > Section: Unit 1: Blogger

This unit focuses on the set up and updating of student blogs using Google's Blogger or tumblr.

Estimated Completion Time: 7 hours
(Blog is to be completed over the course of the semester.)

Unit 1 Blogging: Objectives

What is a Blog (and what's up with that name)? Why do people Blog? What makes a good Blog? Blogging has revolutionized how people access information and you're about to create one.

Step 1: Answer these questions about Blogs by clicking on Unit 1: Blog Questions then go on to Step 2.

Step 2: You have two options for creating your blog. Look them over to see which one you prefer. If there is another platform you'd like to use clear it with your instructor first by sending a message with another alternative and why you'd like to use that one versus the options below.

Option 1: To create your own blog on Blogger with your Google Account go to: http://www.blogger.com/start

Click on the orange arrow in the middle of the page “Create your blog now”

Enter the designated information and click continue. If you already have your Google Account set up through Gmail then you have a Blogger account. Use that to log in.

Video tutorial that will walk you through some of the features in Blogger (if it's not enough there is also the BloggerHelp YouTube channel.):

To make changes to your blog go back to blogger.com and log in. Here are some instructions for advanced blogging with Blogger if you really get into it.

Option 2: Go to http://www.tumblr.com/ and click on Sign up Then click Sign up and start posting. From there you can give your name and email account, verify your account through your email and get started.

Step 3: Follow the rest of the directions and post your first blog entry. Post your blog URL for the rest of the class in the Unit 1: Blogging Forum once you have finished setting it up. Describe any special plans or features you have for your blog.

Update and add new posts to your blog at least 9 times this semester. See this page for some ideas for potential entries. (10 points for posting about it in the Forum and 10 points for each blog post will be assigned at the end of the semester.) Your blog entries should be longer than a few sentences (we're talking a few paragraphs here) and provide some information or insights into the topics of your choice.

Step 4: Find a blog by someone with whom you have nothing in common and submit a comment on one of his/her posts. This kind of interaction with people all around the world can help foster greater understanding between points-of-view and cultures. Write about your experience in the Blogging Forum. Was your comment approved? Did anyone respond?

If you have questions about how to do something, post it in the Help Forum first.

Why you should care: Technology for its own sake is useless. Using it to speed up old ways of doing things and to connect people are both good reasons for adopting it into your daily life. A common criticism of technology is that it is impersonal and isn't as good as making personal face-to-face connections. There are many people who would be willing to challenge this idea. Here's an example of how a student was able to use this assignment for something more than earning a few points in this class...

A student enrolled in this course because she needed a few more credits to graduate. The problem was that she had such severe anxiety that finishing out the year in the public school just got to be too much to handle. Online classes were determined to be her only option.

She started a blog for this course and wrote a post about a book that was helping her to get over some of her issues of anxiety. One day while googling herself, the author of that book found the student's blog post. She left a comment and the two started talking. It was an amazing example of how these tools can be used to connect people beyond classroom walls. By the end of the semester the student had a job at a coffee shop and was enrolled in college courses.

I would challenge you to develop your blog into something worthwhile instead of just writing a few sentences to get the assignment over with. What's important to you? Is there someone you'd like to help? Is there an issue about which you'd like to direct attention? Use this as an opportunity to connect or allow others to connect with you.

Move on to Unit 2: Education Essay

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