Blog Basics
Let’s begin with some definitions. A bit dry, we realize, but this is a necessary evil. First we’ll define the word this whole site is based around – blog. A blog is a frequently updated online personal journal or diary. It is a place to express yourself to the world. A place to share your thoughts and your passions. Really, it’s anything you want it to be. For our purposes we’ll say that a blog is a page on our website that we are going to update on an ongoing basis. Blog is a short form for the word weblog and the two words are used interchangeably.
So you may be asking why anyone would want to have their own blog. We believe the answer lies in the fact that every human has a voice and wishes their voice to be heard. The Internet is a medium that is unparalleled in its reach. Never before have average people like you or me been able to reach a global audience with so little trouble. Bloggers have the opportunity of reaching hundreds or even thousands of people each and every day.
What are the benefits of blogging? There is one thing I have learned in the past two weeks – creativity breeds creativity. I write a post and the ideas just rush in. It is our hope that the blog craze will catch on in our classroom and students will get excited about this new way of writing.
Common Features of a Blog
Blogs can use any layout and can cover many different topics, but they all have basic characteristics in common:
Blog entries are posted in reverse-chronological order. The order is similar to a backwards diary, running from the most recent at the top of a page to the least recent at the bottom.
Blog entries usually include the date and specific time that they were posted (a timestamp). The blogger’s name is usually listed with the timestamp. By default, blogs usually end “Posted by [blogger’s name].”
Older blog entries are usually found in an archive. Often the archive is sorted by months and years. The archive links are usually in a sidebar on the page.
Readers and the blogger can usually comment on (or reply to) a blog entry. The comments can turn into a dialogue, with the readers and blogger talking together.
Depending upon the blog site, you may also find other kinds of information with each blog entry. Blog entries usually have a title that describes or relates to the content of the entry.
Titles are usually set off in a layout with a bold font.
Blog entries can list categories, assigned by the blogger. When a blog includes categories, you will usually find a list of the categories in a sidebar on the site.
