READ 110 BLOGS

MAINTAINING YOUR BLOG

In the discussion board on Blackboard you will post weekly blogs regarding your independent reading selections and your progress in reading improvement. Click on “Post Your Blog” in the Blackboard course menu. This will take you to the discussion board. Take a look at "Carla's Blog" for an example of how your blog should be formatted.

Blog entries should be at least 2 paragraphs in length to receive full credit. Be sure the title and author of the book you are currently reading are included with each entry as in the example below.

A FORUM FOR YOUR BLOG ENTRIES

Click on “Post Your Blog”

1. Find the “How to Post Your Booklists and Weekly Blogs ” forum; do not enter this forum.

2. Read the information under “Description” where you will find the "Read 110 Blogs" link. This
link will take you to the online version of this handout.

3. Find and enter the forum entitled “Carla’s Indie Book Lists and Blog Example.” Click on and enter one of the "My Indie Book List" threads. Notice how I have indicated books completed with the title, author, my rating and a brief review of each completed book. Click "OK"

4. Find and enter the "Entry #1 - Book #1" thread. This is an example of a weekly blog. Click "OK" and then "OK" again.

5. Highlight and copy the blank booklist (BOOK #1 through BOOK #7).

6. Find and enter your Forum (“Your Name’s Blog”).

7. Start a new Thread in your Forum (click on "Create Thread" in the upper left). Enter the subject as "My Indie Book List." In the Message box, paste the booklist you copied in Step 5. Enter the title and author of your first Indie book choice. When finished, be sure to click on “Submit” rather than “Save.” Later, when you have finished your first Indie book, you will "edit" this posting by adding your rating and brief review as well as the title and author of your second book choice.

8. When you are ready to post your first weekly blog, create a second thread in your Blog. Enter the subject as "Entry #1 – Book #1 – Title by Author." In the Message box, you will type your 2 paragraph blog entry for the week. Click “Submit.”

Each week create a new thread for your new blog entry. Do not wait until you have completed a book to write a blog about it. Sometimes you will have multiple blogs on the same book.

9. Click on “Harry Hypothetical’s Blog” to see an example of how your forum should look after you have posted your booklist and your first weekly blog entry.

POSTING YOUR WEEKLY BLOGS

Before the due date each week go into your Forum and add a Thread (click on the "Create Thread" icon in the upper left).

In the “Subject” box:
“Entry # ____ - Book # ______ - Title by Author”
Example: Entry #1 – Book #1 – The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis

Number your entries so that by the end of the semester you and I will both know that you have posted the requisite number of blogs.

The book number should correspond to the order of genres (see above.) If you decide to read your classic before your banned book, your classic will still be called “Book # 5.”

Title, of course, is the title of your current indie reading selection and should be underlined. Then you will list the book’s author.

In the “Message” box, write at least 2 good solid paragraphs each week - enough to let me know what's going on with your indie reading and your progress toward reaching your goals.

BLOG ENTRY CONTENT

You may respond to your reading by discussing the content of the book you are currently reading or by reflecting on your reading process. Check "FAQ - What should I write in my blog?" or see the “Weekly Blogs” handout in your lab folder for ideas on what to (and what not to) include in your blog.

Your completed blog should contain a variety of entries from each of the suggested categories. Be creative; do some original thinking. Do not write a literal level, blow-by-blow retelling of the plot. NO SPOILERS ALLOWED!!!

Remember whenever you take a position, state an opinion, or make an evaluation, you must include support in the form of evidence, reasoning, logic, or past experience. Don’t just tell your readers what you think, be sure to tell us why.

SUBMITTING YOUR BLOG

When you are finished with your entry, click on "Submit." If you click “Save” instead, your blog will not be posted to the discussion board.

When you are ready to post your second entry, go into your blog and add another thread. Your second entry will most likely be more thoughts on your book #1. Do not wait until you finish your book to post your blog. The blogs will be weekly updates on your reading and response to what you have read.

Example: Entry #2 – Book #1 – The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis

You may also communicate what's going on in lab and any successes or difficulties you are having with improving your reading. In that case, use a subject similar to the following:

Entry #12 - Lab and Reading Progress

Though this writing is somewhat less formal than a word-processed review or report on your reading, maintain appropriate academic content and style.

WEEKLY BLOGS - CONTENT

Feel free to choose from the following suggestions when writing your blogs:

Literal comprehension:

Although it is acceptable to abstract the literal content of your book in order to make a point, avoid blow-by-blow accounts and too much detail.

Make predictions. What do you think will happen next (or eventually)?

Critical comprehension:

Evaluate the book, writing style, characters, or author. Remember to include the reasons for your responses and/or opinions. You may choose to evaluate style, pacing, point of view, structure, tone, subject matter, plausibility, etc.

Compare this book to another you have read or are reading.

Make or ask for recommendations for further reading.

Affective comprehension:

Discuss a particularly meaningful, puzzling, controversial or striking passage.

What connections to characters or situations come to mind as you read?

What applications can you make to your own life?

Discuss characters you identify with or respond to with particularly positive or negative emotions.

What feeling does the book, or a particular passage, evoke? How do you visualize incidents or characters introduced? How does the book spark your imagination?

Metacognitive reflections on the reading process:

Discuss

reading rate

focus/concentration/retention

strategies attempted and results

progress (assess your personal growth as a reader)

plans/goals

anything in your reading that caused confusion and your strategies/plans to clear up that confusion

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