Blogging How you can become a blogger

Blogging is a piece of cake! To start your own blog:  Sign up to Google Accounts (you will need an address)  Fill in the necessary information and click next step  Then go to eblogger (  Sign in using google account  Give your blog an address (this will become your website address). When naming your blog, keep it simple. You'll have to play with various options until one works. No spaces allowed; it will end in.blogspot.com  Push continue  Choose template and continue  Click on “create blog”

Dashboard  This is your main navigational page for Blogger  Your new blog is listed as a link in the centre of the dashboard  Clicking your site takes you to the “postings page”

Settings Click on the “name” of your blog and it will take you to the main Dashboard (navigational page) of your blog Click on “settings” bar (left-hand menu) notice that it will default on “anyone can view this blog” Go to “posts and comments” sub-tab of settings VERY IMPORTANT: under “Who can comment?” click on “User with google accounts”

More settings... Under “comment moderation” click on “always” (this ensures that if people post a comment on your blog you will always get an notification first and view it before you let it become public) type in your —this is where you will be notified when someone comments on your blog click “save settings” Finally, go to the “Language and Formatting” sub- tab on the left-hand menu under settings and change the Time Zone to “Eastern Time – Toronto” SAVE settings

Designing your blog if you wish to change the appearance of your blog, go to the “Template” sub-tab on the left- hand menu you can preview any design and click on “apply to blog” if you would like to select one or, you can click on “customize” to do the same thing if you would like to add a personal picture or two, you can do so by clicking on “layout” on the dashboard menu and click on “add a gadget” where you would like the picture to be; then scroll down to “picture” and follow the directions

Add a link to the Class Wiki on the dashboard, click on "Layout" on the right hand side click on "Add a Gadget" scroll down the gadgets list to "Link List" type in the class wiki address ( under "New Site URL" give it the "New Site Name": ENG4CI Class Wiki click "Save" now click on “View Blog” and test out your new link!

Link your blog to the Class Wiki: Log into the class wiki: might want to put this in your favourites) Now, use your password (which I gave to you) to log in Go to the sidebar and click “edit” On the text editing page, click “edit” After “Ms. DeMarco’s blog” press enter twice Add your name in the same format: eg. Jon Smith’s blog (HIGHLIGHT THIS) Click on “add link” on the upper right side of the text editing page Now type in the URL for your blog (the name you gave it) and press enter SAVE sidebar page (*important!)

Start blogging! Post #1: Introduce yourself. Do you have a job or extra- curricular activities? What were some of your highlights of semester 1? What expectations do you have of yourself for this course? Post #2: Write a movie review of a movie you've seen recently. Read the sample "Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" first (under "Notes and Handouts"). Try to include some of the six elements of a movie review. Step #3: Comment on someone else's blog!