A blog (or weblog) is your own website formatted so you can publish your thoughts (and pictures, if you want). We'll use Blogger, and here's what you need to do to set up your own piece of cyberspace:

Go to www.blogger.com and click on the Create Your Blog Now orange arrow near the bottom of the screen. Blogger then takes you through three steps.

• choose a user name -- this is the name you'll use to login to Blogger. Your user name can be anything you want -- just make it something you can remember easily.
• enter password -- make up your own password
• retype password -- you know the drill
• display name -- name you want to use to sign your posts
• email address
• click the box next to "I accept the Terms of Service."
• click the orange arrow that says Continue

• Blog title - think of something that expresses you; what do you want your webspace to be called?
• Blog address (URL) - This line shows "http://___________.blogspot.com" and you need to fill in the box. Again, pick something that expresses you (it can be the same as your blog title, your username, or something completely different). Give me your blog address as soon as possible!
• IGNORE the "Advanced Setup" and click on the orange Continue arrow at the bottom

• you'll see about six different boxes -- choose the template you like and click in the circle at the bottom of the box (you'll have more choices once you get your blog set up)
• click on the orange Continue arrow at the bottom

Create Your First Post
A post on your blog is the same as an entry. When you click on the Start Posting button, you'll see a page that Blogger calls the Dashboard (control panel). You'll see tabs at the top that read: Postings, Settings, Template, View Blog. The Postings tab is selected by default and you'll notice that you're at "Create," which means you can enter a title for your posting in the title box (just pick something that tells your reader what you're talking about) and then enter your posting in the text box. When you're done, scroll down to the bottom of the text box and be sure to set the time to the correct time. Then click on the Publish Post button. You'll get a message that your post was successfully published and you can view your blog by clicking on the "View Blog" tab.

How Do I Get My Blog Address to Dr. Shattuck?
Your blog address is not your user name, the name you sign to your posts, or your password. Your blog address appears at the top of the browser screen in the Address or URL line. If you forget your address, then sign in on Blogger and when you get to your Dashboard, click on your blog name (it's the left column of your Dashboard). Then click on "View Blog" at the top of the screen. Your blog should come up, and you can read the address at the top of your browser screen. PLEASE check to make sure your blog address works before you give it to me. How do you know it works? Type your blog address into the Address or URL line at the top of your browser and click "Go." If your blog appears, you've got the right address.

How Do I Comment on Other Blogs?
All blogs for each class are listed on my blog for the class. Go to my blog (teaching journal if you're in World Lit. II and blip blog bleep if you're in Advanced Comp.) and scroll down on the right side of the blog. You'll find the name of all writers as well as links to blog assignments and the course websites.

Remember!

• Blog=website, and some new bloggers confuse the terms "blog" and "post." If you click on the blue button that says "Create a blog," you're creating another website, so avoid doing this unless you want to set up another blog for your personal use or for another class.
• Notice that you always go to www.blogger.com so you can login with your user name and password to gain access to your blog(s) (so you can create new posts, edit old posts, change your template), but all blogs on Blogger have a web address that reads http://blogname.blogspot.com.

first published: 25 aug. 2004
last revised: 11 jan. 2006
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