Unit 1 #designyourblog

This topic will enable you discuss aspects of blogging: what is a blog, why
people blog and how to set up your own blog.
At the end of this topic, you will be able to:
1. develop a blog.
2. Identify the reason people blog
3. Create your own blog account.

BUZZ 1.1: WHAT IS A BLOG?

To answer this question, lets click the web link below:
http://simple.wiktionary.org/wiki/blog
Still dont understand? If not, try watching this video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjwUHXoi8lM

BLOGS
Weblogs or blogs can be described as a form of personal,
easytomanage Web sites with content presented in reverse
chronological order. (Schiano, et al., 2004).
Schiano also said blogging is about yourself, unlike
avatars or other digital identities

BUZZ 1.2: PAIR-REFLECT

Watch the following videos and list down reason people blog.

There are many reasons why people blog. They use blog to express their
feelings, to share information and experience.

BUZZ 1.3: POST-SHARE-DISCUSS.

Do you agree with them? In less than 20 words, express how you feel about
blogging. Post your answer here:

Knowing reasons why people blog will give you clearer reason of why you blog.

WHY PEOPLE BLOG.

Schino et, al. (2004) said that by people blog to documents one life and
to express deeply felt emotion. Other advantages of blogging are:

BUZZ 1.4: GROUP-DISCUSS-POST

Discuss on other possible advantages of blogging and post your findings here.

Knowing the advantages of blogging will give you a purpose in writing and
making you more aware of the aspects of blog writing.

HOW TO SET UP A BLOG ACCOUNT?

In order to know more about blog and blogging, we have to learn how to make
a blog. Click on the link below to learn how :-)
http://www.wikihow.com/Start-a-Blog-on-Blogger

TASK 1.6: CREATE-APPLY

Apply the skills that you have learned by creating your own blog. Use the links
below to create blog. Remember, if you do not know how to create your blog,
go to the previous Buzz to learn how.
Copy and paste your blog url here.

Unit Summary:
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Unit 1 has covered:

Unit

Getting to know about blog.

Why people blog.
Advantages of using blog.
Create a blog.

#knowmoreaboutblog

This topic will enable you to discuss the following areas: what are the types of
blog, what are the blogging dos and donts and why it is important to have the
code of Ethics.
At the end of this topic, you will be able to:
1. differentiate the types of blog.
2. list the blogging dos and donts.
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3. justify Code of Ethics.

BUZZ 2.1: PAIR-DISCUSS-POST

List down types of blog and post your answer here.

Basically there are many types of blog. Knowing the definition of blog enable us
to differentiate the types of blog.

THE TYPES OF BLOG.

Personal Blog.

The most common and favorable type of blog and easiest to find content
for. This is because it features personal life experiences and events or
author opinions and thoughts.

Personal blog acts like online diaries and journals that carry a personal
tone.

Examples of personal blogs:

http://ryannabella.blogspot.com

http://scarflet.blogspot.com

http://www.myamethyst-shea.com

http://theretrogamer.tumblr.com
Themed/Niche Blogs

This type of blog may or may not be written in a personal tone depending
on the authors preference. Themed or niche online properties however
distinguish themselves from the personal kind because they revolve
around a specific area of concentration, usually excluding highly
unrelated topics.

Themed blogs can either be broad or specific. For example in the area of
sports, you can choose to blog about all kinds of sports or you can
concentrate on the specific topic of parkour.

Example of themed/ niche blogs:

o Broad topic: Sports

http://ssdhaliwal.blogspot.com

o Specific topic: Parkour

http://www.parkourmalaysia.com/blog/why-practice-parkour/
o Broad topic: Language Learning

http://theenglishlearnersblog.wordpress.com
o Specific topic: Writing

http://teenscanwritetoo.wordpress.com

Corporate/Official Blogs

These are the kinds of blogs written for and about a specific company,
organization, movement, institution or public figure. Bloggers or staff
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members are usually commissioned to write according to the values,

principles or identity of the official owner.

Examples include:

http://ninjamalaysia.blogspot.com

http://autosurfcafe.blogspot.com

BUZZ 2.2: THINK-GROUP-SHARE.

Think of which types of blog that you would like to write about and why did you
choose that type of blog.

The best type of blog will depend on your intentions, purpose or objectives for
blogging. Blogging is a platform for you to connect with an audience, talk about
what you know and share information.

BLOGGING DOS AND DONTS.

a) Blogging dos.

Blogging Dos.
1) Do fellowship with other blogger.
2) Do join a blog community, and check
out other bloggers and follow
discussion threads.
3) Do try to comment on blogs that you
have visited.
4) Bloggers love to have other bloggers
to link to their sites.
b) Blogging donts.

Blogging Donts.
1) When commenting on other blogs or
leaving messages on their tag boxes,
please dont type in many URLs after
your comment.
2) Dont ignore comments that visitors
make on your blog posts.
3) Dont plagiarize other blogs content.

BUZZ 2.3: GROUP-DISCUSS-POST

Blogging dos and donts that you would like to add to the list and post here.

Knowing these dos and donts and adhere to them will make you respect
others and other will respect you too.

CODE OF ETHICS

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BUZZ 2.4: PAIR-DISCUSS-POST

Think of reason why legal issues are important and post your answer here.

Knowing the ethics in blog writing is important so that you would not offend
people and most importantly is for you to know that you are accountable for
every word that you post online!

TOPIC SUMMARY
Unit 2 has covered:
a) Types of blog
b) Blogging dos and donts.
c) Code of ethics

UNIT 3: #engaging you readers

This topic will enable you to discuss the different techniques: use of informal
language, capitalizing words and using modal and how that could help to
engage your audience.
At the end of this topic, you will be able to:
1. Identify the different techniques in blog writing.
2. Recognise the impact of the different techniques on the blog entry.
3. Modify a blog entry to make it engaging

TASK 3.1: REFLECT-POST

Refer to these two blog entries about surviving IB Programme. Compare the
two entries. Which one appeals more to you as a reader? Why?

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http://alexlovallo.hubpages.com/hub/How-to-Survive-InternationalBaccalaureate

http://www.thecurrentonline.org/features/2013/02/21/surviving-the-ib-program/

Post your thoughts here.

Knowing what appeals to you as a reader reflects the importance of language

in attracting audience.

KNOWING YOUR AUDIENCE

According to Wiggins (2009), aside from journal or diary entry, you are never
writing for yourself. Therefore, it is very important that as a writer, you always
keep your readers in mind while writing. How do you engage them with your
writing?
Verbal expression
Word choice
Formality
Tone

Reaching
Your
Audience
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Appropriate conventions
Spelling
Punctuation
Capitalizing words

Knowing your audience is very important for you to be able to write to engage
them in reading your entries.

BUZZ 3.2: THINK-PAIR-POST

Samples from blogs and identify the tone of the writer.
http://alexlovallo.hubpages.com/hub/How-to-Survive-InternationalBaccalaureate
http://www.thecurrentonline.org/features/2013/02/21/surviving-the-ib-program/
How do the writers indicate their tone through their choice of words and
structure?
Highlight your answer, compare them with your partner and post the findings
here.

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Aa a writer, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO BE AWARE OF YOUR CHOICE OF

WORD AND HOW YOU CHOOSE TO STRUCTURE THEM IN A SENTENCE. Writing
can often cause misunderstanding if you fail to employ the right strategies.

BUZZ 3.3: GROUP-DISCUSS-POST

Modify the following blog entry to incorporate the use of verbal expression and
appropriate conventions that would engage young audience in reading the
entry.

http://www.thecurrentonline.org/features/2013/02/21/surviving-the-ib-program/
Post your modified version here.

One of the characteristics of a good writer is to have the ability to edit your
own work. Always proofread your entry before post it online.

TOPIC SUMMARY
Unit 3 has covered:
a) The different techniques in writing a blog entry.
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b) The impacts of using different techniques in writing.

Unit 4: #catchyheadlines

This topic will enable you to discuss the following aspects: what are the
different types of headlines and how to write catchy headlines.
At the end of this topic, you will be able to:
1. Write a catchy headline
2. Know the importance of having catchy headlines
Learning outcomes
1. Look at samples of catchy headlines
2. Learn about catchy headlines
3. Write a catchy headline
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BUZZ 4.1: REFLECT-POST

Do you think these headlines are catchy?

http://livingtheteenagelife1.edu.blogs.org

http://crapteenager.blogspot.com

http://romanticfawn.blogspot.com

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http://teensknowbestpaul.blospot

If you think that they are catchy, post

catchy, post

and if you think that they are not

here.

Headlines are the one of the most important aspect in writing a blog. Normally
the headline is neglected. Therefore it is important for us to know and learn
how to write catchy headlines.
It is important to have a catchy headline in your blog in order to grab attention
of the audience. It will make your blog more attracting.

WRITING CATCHY HEADLINES

People say that you never get a 2nd chance to make a first good impression. In
blog writing, your 1st impression is through your headlines. There are 5 tips and
ways to write catchy blog headlines.

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A successful blogger should be able to write catchy headlines to attract

audience.

TASK 4.3: APPLY-SHARE

Create a catchy headline for this video.

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www.youtube.com/watch?v=0z5C_W-ccJ0

Post your catchy headline here.

Applying these techniques would help you to create catchy headlines. It is vital
to make your blog more interesting and informative.

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Topic Summary
Unit 4 has covered:
1. different tips on how to write catchy headlines.
2. create their own catchy headlines.

UNIT 5: #blogit

This unit will provide you with an opportunity to put into practice the skills that
you have learned about blog writing by viewing a movie and writing an entry
on it.
At the end of this topic, you will be able to:
1. Write a blog entry that can be simply a review or a reflection of movie.
2. Integrate all the techniques of writing a good blog entry.

USEFUL PHRASES
In order for you to effectively write an entry that is reflective of the purpose,
below are a few links that will help you with the right phrases to be used. Keep
in mind of all the techniques of blog writing that you have learnt and make sure
that you apply them in tandem with the skills.
Phrases for Writing a Movie Review

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http://www.slideshare.net/alinaemma/film-review-suseful-phrases

Phrases for Writing a Reflective Entry

http://www.port.ac.uk/media/contacts-and-departments/student-supportservices/ask/downloads/Reflective-writing---a-basic-introduction.pdf
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TASK 5.1: MOVIE VIEWING

Watch the following movie and write an entry about the movie. Your entry can
be either a review of the movie or a reflection in which you associate your
personal experience or your thoughts in relation to the movie.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1392170/

5.2 ASSESSMENT
The whole point of having a blog is for you to share your thoughts with people.
Therefore, you have to get people to read your blog. Promote your blog to your
friends through other mediums of social networking sites like Facebook or even
by commenting on other peoples blog. Get them to evaluate your entry by
leaving a comment. Another indicator that you are a good blogger will depend
on the numbers of comments and also followers.

Topic Summary
Unit 5 has covered:
1. Writing a blog entry.

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