May 21

Today, we talked about how to create a new post on Blogger. 

1. Sign into your Blogger account.
2. Click on the orange pencil.
3. Title your post where it says "Title."
4. Write your post in the big white box. You can use the buttons about the white box to change your font, font color and such (like you do in Word).
5. Click "Publish." If you do not click "Publish," the post will not appear on your blog.
6. Click "View Blog" to make sure your post actually appears.

We also talked about how to set privacy settings if you do not want the public to see your blog.

1. Sign into Blogger.
2. Click on the title of your blog.
3. Click on "Settings" (which on the side of the page.)
4. Next to "Privacy," it will say "Listed on Blogger. Visible to search engines." Click "Edit."
5. Check "No" for both options.
6. Click "Save changes"
7. Scroll to the bottom of the page where it says "Blog readers."
8. You will see the word "Anybody." Click "Edit."
9. Check "Only these readers."
10. Click "Add Readers."
11. Type in Megan's email address (megan.keaton@cpcc.edu).
12. Click "Save Changes"
13. Your blog can only be viewed by you and Megan now.

Next, we began our writing into the day. For writing into the day, we drew visual maps of our writing processes. Megan's looked like this:

Finally, we got into groups of 3-4 and read/discussed the "Definition Essay Assignment Description" in the syllabus.

• The first draft of this assignment is due on June 4. It will be 30 points. You will turn the first draft in on your blog and bring it to class for workshopping.
• The second draft of this assignment is due on June 6. It will also be 30 points. You will turn in this draft on your blog and on Moodle. Megan will comment on the second draft.
• The final draft is due on July 8 (the end of the semester). This draft will be 40 points.

In thoes same groups of 3-4, we started about about writing process by answering the following questions:

1. What is "writing process"? Define it.
2. Does a person need to have a particular writing process to produce a "good" piece of writing? Why/why not?
3. What do you think about this writing process:
• Cluster web -> Outline -> Draft -> Revise -> Edit -> DONE!

In whole group, we answered the questions in the following ways:

• Writing process can be compared to a custom, a pattern you follow.  There are many customs like there are many processes.  It's what works for you.
• Writing styles are person.
• Writing process is a series of steps made to produce words.  Your style might not work for someone else.
• In high school, it's prescriptive.
• Writing should be your voice.
• Writing processes can get too formulaic.
• Writing is artistic.  You can't structure art.
• Too many guidelines strangles creativity.
• There are "rules" for writing, but, like in music, there are "accidentals."
• Even newspaper articles make mistakes.
• Even just reading over your paper can hep your grammar and spelling.
• Every teacher suggests drafts.
• The process in #3 is a guidelines, but it shouldn't be the standard for everyone.  It makes you afraid to do something different.
• Standardized testing has made these standards.
• Past classes said you have to follow the standard process.
• But the process doesn't work for everyone.  The same students are failing over and over with that process.
• Getting feedback makes writing easier.
• It fits more learning styles.
• Teachers have to follow the standard because of testing. The state requires it.
• It goes back to the heart.  If the teacher has a passion for teaching, he/she will teach differently.
• Grading is easier with the standard.
• It's subjective.
• Grading should be based on whether the student is doing what he/she needs to do.
• Outlines don't always make sense because they may not match the draft.
• Outlines and cluster webs (and sometimes drafts) are essentially the same thing over and over.

Homework:

• Answer the "Introduction Questions" (found on Moodle) in a blog post on your blog. You do not need to put these in your daybook or hand them in to Megan personally. You only need to post them on your blog.