Assignment One: Build a Blog, And They Will Come

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, click "Create a Blog." As you begin adding titles and design elements to your blog, remember that all your choices are part of a rhetorical situation in which each decision you make plays its own role. Choose a title that suits you and your interests and is appropriate for an English 15 class. 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. You can also customize your user profile.

Once you are satisfied with the look of your blog, you can finally post your first Blog Entry! Here's the prompt:

Think about your past experiences as a writer and rhetor. What are two of your strengths as a writer and rhetor? What are two of your writing weaknesses? Specifically, how would you like to improve as a writer? What could you do or learn to make such improvements? How do you anticipate that this particular course will help you improve as a writer and rhetor?

Answer these questions in 500 words or more. Also, include examples, via at least two hyperlinks, of writing or rhetorical situations that inspire you to be a better writer. It could be song lyrics, a scene from a television show, your favorite book, or a recent article you read. For example, I just read "Away" by Amy Bloom and I found the lyricism of her prose to be incredibly inspiring. It's often the way she writes about feelings or events more than WHAT she writes that really brings her story to life for me. I am also a big fan of the new Fleet Foxes record. I love the heavy amount of reverb on songs like "Grown Ocean." It sounds so lush and the lyrics are achingly beautiful. Here's a video for the song:

What inspires you?