For your first assignment, you are required to register for Blogger and then build your own blog. I sent invitations to each of your Penn State email accounts. Click on the link in the email and then, if you don't already have a Blogger account, you'll need to register or sign in with your Google account. Once you are logged in, you will arrive at your Dashboard page. In the right hand corner of your Dashboard, next to "Manage Blogs," click "Create a Blog." Choose a title that suits you -- one which is also appropriate for a college English course. Once you've found a suitable title and an available URL (the unique address at which we can find your blog), then you'll be sent to a page where you can choose from a variety of design templates. Again, pick a template that will suit the aesthetic and feel of the blog you are developing. Once you're done, you can Start Blogging. At the top of your blog page, you'll see a "Design" tab. Click on it. Here you can rearrange the elements on your page. You can also customize your site more fully by clicking on the "Template Designer" link. Upload a background, change your fonts, the color of your text. Just make sure that your design choices allow for easy readability. Serif fonts are best for large chunks of text, while sans-serif are good for titles. Don't choose something like a white Impact font on a busy background image. Again: readability is the most important issue.
Once you are satisfied with the look of your blog, you can finally post your first entry. Each Thursday, I will post a prompt for a writing exercise that will be due the following week. Please post your writing on your own blogs by the following Thursday's class.
For this Thursday, I would like you to write about a piece of clothing you own, or once owned, that was involved in several important events in your life. This may seem gimmicky or limiting, but, trust me, it's not. In fact, it was beginning with the description of a simple t-shirt I owned that led me to writing this personal essay. It's quite amazing what seemingly insignificant material goods can conjure and then lead to rich storytelling. The only rule: Please write no less than 400 words.
