English 4040: Schedule for Unit 1

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Note: In every course I teach, I provide schedules on a unit-by-unit basis. For a class on blogging, such a strategy seems even more crucial. While we’ll need to schedule all of your presentations ahead of time, I want to leave things somewhat flexible so that we can spend more time where more time is needed, add readings and topics that come up and seem relevant, and generally make this as needs-tailored and moment-respondent as possible. The schedule here may be too slow, or it may be too fast: we’ll have to try it out and see.

Week 1: What’s a blog: technicalities

Tues, Jan. 17: Introduction to the course; what is a blog; setting up your blog

We’ll take a look at these readings in class:

· Jill Walker, Final Version of Weblog Definition (http://huminf.uib.no/~jill/archives/blog_theorising/final_version_of_weblog_definition.html)

· Sheila Ann Manuel Coggins, “Top Free Blog Software / Hosting for Bloggers” (http://weblogs.about.com/od/weblogsoftwareandhosts/a/topfreeblogs.htm)

· Dori Smith, “The Best Blogging Tools for the Mac” (http://www.macworld.com/2005/10/features/betterblog/index.php)

Thurs., Jan. 19: Setting up a bloglines account; using technorati and other search engines to find blogs; more on technical basics of blogging

We’ll take a look at these readings in class:

· Roland Tanglao, “How Blogs Work in 7 Easy Pieces” (including comments) (http://www.streamlinewebco.com/blog/_archives/2004/3/23/28903.html)

· Sheila Ann Manuel Coggins, “Top Ten Weblog Tools in 2005" (http://weblogs.about.com/od/weblogsoftwareandhosts/tp/top10tools2005.htm)

Week 2: What’s a blog: common practices

Tues., Jan. 24: History of blogging, blogging choices

Please read these before today’s class:

· Anton Zuiker, “Blogging 101" ( http://www.unc.edu/~zuiker/blogging101/)

· Rebecca Blood, “There Is a Blog in Your Future” http://help.blogger.com/bin/answer.py?answer=1049)

· George Siemens, “The Art of Blogging” (http://www.elearnspace.org/Articles/blogging_part_1.htm)

Thurs., Jan. 26: Reading, linking, commenting

Please read before today’s class:

· Michael Conniff, “Just What Is a Blog, Anyway?” (http://www.ojr.org/ojr/stories/050929/index.cfm)

· Meg Hourihan, “What We’re Doing When We Blog” (http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/a/javascript/2002/06/13/megnut.html)

· Will Richardson, “Blogging vs. Posting” (http://www.weblogg-ed.com/2004/11/21)

· Mark Bernstein, “10 Tips on Writing the Living Web” (http://alistapart.com/stories/writeliving/)

Week 3: Blogging ethics, rights, & dilemmas

Tues., Jan. 31: Weblog ethics & rights

Please read before today’s class:

· Rebecca Blood, “Weblog Ethics” (http://www.rebeccablood.net/handbook/excerpts/weblog_ethics.html)

· EFF, “Legal Guide for Bloggers” (http://www.eff.org/bloggers/lg/), especially section on Student Bloggers

Technical presentation:_________________________________________________

Thurs., Feb. 2: Blogging and anonymity (or notoriety)

Please read before today’s class:

· EFF, “How to Blog Safely” (http://www.eff.org/Privacy/Anonymity/blog-anonymously.php)

· Daniel J. Solove, “Is Anonymous Blogging Possible?” (http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2005/11/is_anonymous_bl_1.htm)

· Trevor Jonas, “If You Blog Anonymously, Are You Really Blogging?” (http://blog.bitepr.com/2005/04/if_you_blog_ano.html)

Blog-in-news presentation:_________________________________________________

Week 4: Reading and extrapolating

Tues., Feb. 7: Before class, locate three blog entries that you consider to be especially good or exemplary in some way: post an explanation of what you admire to the class blog.

Technical presentation:_________________________________________________

Thurs., Feb. 9: Continue discussion of blogging practices to emulate.

Blog-in-news presentation:_________________________________________________