Two gadgets for sidebars

For our writing course, two of the most important gadgets to have in your sidebars are a Recent Comments gadget and a Labels gadget.

Labels gadget

Labels gadgets help visitors find posts of interest on your blogs. If you haven't added a Labels gadget to your blog yet, ask a classmate or peer who has to help you do so. Here's a breadcrumb trail you can follow:

• Dashboard (yours): Design: Page Elements: Add a Gadget (sidebar): Basics: Labels: "+"

Please remember to Save your Labels gadget after you make sure the title is in English ("Labels"), and after you configure it as shown in the first screenshot below. 

You also should note that Labels gadgets will be invisible on your blogs unless they have at least one post that has labels on it (see: Critical Step for Startup Labels posts, April 21, 2011).

Recent Comments gadget

The Recent Comments gadget, as you can see in the next screenshot (below), should be at – or very near – the top of (one of) your sidebar(s). (Some blog templates have more than one.) That will enable all blog visitors to see at a glance what's new (your most recent blog post) and what's hot (most recent comments) whenever they open your blog.

That is, as long as the graphic in your banner (and other elements in your header) aren't so big they force posts and sidebar elements out of sight. If they do, you probably need to rethink your blog layout (;-{))!

The breadcrumb trail leading to Recent Comments gadgets is as follows:

• Dashboard (yours): Design: Page Elements: Add a Gadget (sidebar): More Gadgets ...

From there, however, finding the right gadget gets tricky, unless you know some tricks, yourself. At present, there are over 1000 More Gadgets to choose from. The trick to remember here is to use the search function:

Though we'll be getting more gadgets where those came from, those two should be enough to get your through today!

[334 words]

1st Semester Portfolios: Discussion Post

In this post I quote liberally from student comments on a previous post (10 portfolio posts from Writing IV (2009-10), 2010.06.29). Concerns and questions that I gleaned from those comments focus on four aspects of coursework:

1. Word Counts, 
2. Blog Posts, 
3. Blog Designs, and 
4. Portfolio Development. 

I'd like to reflect a bit on each in turn.

1. Word Counts

Niina said, "I was puzzled about [the] number of words, because there were some person who they reached 10000 words[,] and there were some person who they didn't reach 10000 words in first semester" (WED JUN 30, 11:17:00 AM JST).

Asaki asked, "Should I post more than 10,000 words, right?" (WED JUN 30, 10:08:00 AM JST).

Though the questions in the previous post (10 portfolio posts..., 2010.06.29) focused on second semester portfolios, Niina's right; some of the 1st semester proto-portfolios included in those second semester portfolios last year (2009-10) occasionally did reveal total word counts less than 10K words. That may be why Asaki asked whether she should "post more than 10,000 words...." She's right, too; everyone should exceed the target for original writing, by writing – not copying – 10K+ words this semester.

The closing date for word counts, book reviews, and other blog posts is the due date for 1st semester Portfolios; please check the Calendar of Events page and Writing Studio Blog calendar for details.

2. Book Reviews (BRs) and Other Posts

YUKI asked, "How many BRs do i need to finish in this semester?" (WED JUN 30, 10:21:00 AM JST).

Kana said, "I'd like to know what to write except diary" (WED JUN 30, 09:57:00 AM JST).

As I have told students who asked in person, in class, the target number of original book reviews is 12 or more [for] this semester. Book Review Showcases in Portfolio Templates (sheet 1_2_BRs) already have space for 15 or more. That's one per week, on average. If you write more, you can increase the number of rows in your spreadsheet; if you need help doing so, please ask someone who knows how.

Regarding what to write about in routine weekly posts (three or more per week, on average), your imaginations are the limits. For more about topics and foci for day-to-day posts, please see Beating Blogger's Block and Citing Sources (WSBlog, 2008.10.10).

3. Blog Designs

Hitomi said, "I concerned about their blog design[-s]. Some blog is cute" (WED JUN 30, 11:31:00 AM JST).

I'm concerned about blog designs, too. Two of my main concerns are: 1) ease of reading, and 2) efficient use of your time to demonstrate and develop your writing ability. You may wonder what that means.

By "ease of reading," in general, I'm talking about neither too large nor too small fonts, and neither too colorful nor too plain texts. For example, too little contrast between texts and background colors defeats readability. You may have heard me say, "I think pink stinks!" That is, especially, light pink on white or dark pink on red. It is best to stick to dark text colors on light backgrounds, or light text colors on dark backgrounds.

Standard blog templates usually take both readability and color coordination into consideration. They are quick and easy to choose or replace.

By "efficient use of your time...," I mean that, if you spend hours and hours trying to get your blog design just perfect, right away, or trying to turn almost every word in a post a different color, you may lose hours and hours that you might better have spent:

• Writing or re-writing blog posts, book reviews, or essays;
• Commenting on classmates' and peers' posts; and 
• Responding thoughtfully to comments on your own.

4. Portfolio Development

Chika mused, "What shall I do to make a good portfolio?" (WED JUN 30, 10:15:00 AM JST).

Chika's musing is spot on. A short and general answer for now is to keep looking around, listening carefully to, and learning from your classmates, peers, and predecessors. Weak or strong, they provide the best examples and models available.

Now, in hope of promoting a[n] open exchange regarding portfolio development and enhancement, I'd like to leave this post open for follow-on comments. Please feel free to express additional concerns and questions about your portfolios for this semester in comments on this post, as well as to respond here to those of your classmates and peers. I'd also like to ask in advance for your understanding that questions about portfolios and their composite elements for this semester, at least questions not voiced in class, belong in comments here – on this post – rather than in individual mail messages.

[769 words]

PS: Even if you don't comment on this post, you SHOULD "subscribe by email" (at the foot of the comment window) to get notified immediately whenever classmates or peers comment here.

[+ 33 words]

Looking Forward by Looking Back: Best Portfolios

In this post, I'm listing up the best student portfolio posts from last year. I'd like you to browse through them all, to get a clear idea of what's ahead in Writing III and IV, namely course portfolio development.

The portfolio posts listed below show how proto-portfolios fit in to provide an overview of your blogging each semester. They also show how course portfolios comprise both showcases of, and reflections upon the work you do in our Writing Studio.

Granted, the examples below are la crême de la crême, which makes this post a showcase of showcases. Nevertheless, your predecessors were able to achieve such developments without the benefit of a preview like this. Given this preview, you should be able to equal or exceed your predecessors' achievements.

§1A: Best in Show (2008-09)

• nojomi's portfolio
• Jam's portfolio
• chusong's
• Aaaai's

§1C: Best in Show (2008-09)

• Kaori's
• yuu's
• Saori's

I'll be reworking the portfolio template again, to try to eliminate a few more bugs in it, and to tailor it to fit your work this semester. I'll make a revised template available as soon as possible, so you can start building yours between essay assignments. In the mean time, please feel free to post impressions, observations, or questions regarding course portfolios, in comments on this post.

[214 words]

Follow-up on classwork from June 6

For those of you who had excused absences for student teaching, or were unable to attend an entire studio session on Saturday, June 6, 2009 (during a regular class period, or an earlier one), and let me know in advance; I'm compiling snapshots and follow-ups from class notes. The first three images below will illustrate three parts of the meal served to those who were present:

1. Antipasta (Reminders)
2. Prima piatto (Tasks underway)
3. Secondo piatto (Next steps)

The two snapshots that follow amplify the reminder regarding typing speed trials [which you may view directly only if the typing homework spreadsheet owner grants viewing privileges].

• Typing track records for §1A (2009.06.08)
• Typing track records for §1C (2009.06.08)

Antipasta

Prima piatto (Tasks underway)

Secondo piatto (Next steps)

Sadly, there never seems to be enough time for dessert!

Typing track records, §1A (2008.06.08)

Typing track records, §1C (2009.06.08)

That's about it! If you have concerns or questions about the reminders , classwork, or homework from our June 6 meetings, please spell them out in comments on this post.

[159 + 15 words]

Word Counting on Your Blog

In Writing 3: June 13th, Rick mentions a handy tool for counting words, the Cut & Paste Word Count tool from JavaScript Kit. You can add it to a widget at the foot of your blog (that is, if your template has a footer), and count words in quickposts without having to open a word processor. I'm going to try it now!

There it is, right between the proto-portfolio and the WinK Events calendar:

[74 words]

Mr. T's Book Review Recipe

This post presents a screenshot of an outline composed of questions to guide you in writing your weekly book reviews (an on-going assignment from Writing III-IV). The outline derives from one Mr. T shared via personal correspondence today (book review template text, 2008.06.11). I've added comments and explanations to the list of questions reiterated below.


BR 1-##: [+ title]

To shorten the title of your post, please use the abbreviation BR for book review, followed by a single space, a semester code (1- or 2-), a two-digit book review number (01-99;-), a colon (":"), another space, and the short(-ened) title of the book you're reviewing. No brackets or quotation marks are necessary.

Introduction

It is a good idea to write out your answers to these first two questions before you write a brief summary of the story.

1. Why did you choose this book?
2. What was interesting about it (something on the cover, in the title, or in the first few pages)?

Brief summary of the story

It is a good idea to write your summary from memory. Write about what was meaningful and therefore memorable for you. That way you will avoid copying or plagiarizing passages from the books you read.

1. What do you remember without looking back over the story?
2. What was the most impressive passage that you can recall?

If you cannot remember much without reviewing the text, page through it again quickly to jog your memory, close it, and put it down (front cover face up). Then write about what you do (or don't) remember.

Conclusion

Answers to these last two questions will round out your book reviews, which needn't be much longer than your current typing speed trials. Again, it is a good idea to concentrate on what you can and do remember, and how you feel about your choices of the books you are reviewing.

1. Do you recommend this book? Why (not)?
2. Would you read it again? If so, when and why?
   

[336 words]

WSB 1-02: Points to Remember While Blogging

The purpose of this post is to highlight a number of suggestions that I've made in the course of recent visits to students' blogs. I would like you all to pay attention to each of these points as you write on your own blogs, and as you comment on those of classmates and peers.

The list below covers seven plus items. These are examples, explanations, and illustrations that you ought to take on board as lessons for yourselves.

0. Language Setting

To learn English yourself, and to accommodate blog visitors who want to learn and to use English, too; I urge you to switch your blog settings to English. If you are in the A class, you should consider this a requirement for an A.

The remaining points are organized very loosely from fundamental to fine-tuning, or general to specific if you prefer.

1. Pointers regarding blog designs,
2. Suggestions for creating more posts,
   
3. Notes about word counts put on every post,
4. Suggestions, nay requirements for titles and labels,
5. Ways to respond to multiple comments on posts,
   
6. Inquiries leading to citation of sources, and
   
7. Strategies for correcting comments.

• Blog designs and readability issues

As I dropped by to see how you're coming on your book reviews, I noticed that the text color you chose for your review of Another World is almost impossible to make out against the dark background from the blog template that you've chosen. If you are keen on using dark colors for text, you should choose a template with a light background to make what you write easier to see and read.

While most ready-made blog templates respect these general design principles with automatic text colors, some of you obviously like to play with the colors yourselves. If you do, please remember that the opposite is also true. That is, if you have chosen a blog design with a light or white background, you should choose black or dark text colors if you are going to change them.

• Creating more posts

If you are shy of posts (Isn't everyone?), or you desire to push your skills, extend your writing, catch the interest and satify the curiosity of blog visitors, below is an example of a few steps you can take to do so. In this case, I'm talking about spring-boarding from a list of ideas in one quick post or typing speed trial post, to get a handful (or more) separate posts started.

... Which places did you enjoy visiting the most?

Why don't you write separate blog post[s] about at least one place in each prefecture. That would get you started towards the 60+ posts you need for Writing III this semester.

While you're at it, why don't you add a few pictures to give all of your readers a sense of what they're missing when they sit in front of a computer instead of heading out on the road again?

• Word counts on every post for Writing III and IV!

This point, in particular, gets the good news, bad news treatment - first the good news scenario:

Thanks for excluding the lyrics from your word count.

If you include in any post more than a few words of which you are not the author, please exclude them from your blog post word counts. Do remember that we require word counts (in square brackets, at the lower corner next to the sidebar) on every post for Writing III and IV.

Now for a not-so-good news scenario:

I hope you enjoy the holidays, too, and even get some blogging done during them. One thing you really need to do is add word counts to all of your posts for Writing III. Please don't wait any longer to start counting! [emphases added]

• Requirements for titles and labels on all book reviews
• (and sharing the wealth!)

Hi ...,

I'd like to ask you to do me three favors:

1) Would you please use the key string + number prefix that I've explained in class, and spelled out in WSB 1-01 in the title of all of your book reviews: past, present, and future? That will make them easy to find in your archive.

2) Would you please label all of your book reviews with at least these two labels: "books" and "reviews"? Then they will show up in various searches.

3) Last, but not least important, would you please ask [cajole/remind/tell] all of your classmates and peers in courses that I teach to do the same?

Cheers.

• Ways to respond to similar comments on different posts

Here I suggest creating a new post to respond to comments on two different posts, by three different people.

I've been wondering the same thing, as has Rick, who commented on your April 16, 2008, reading habits post.

Why don't you make a new blog post that explains to everyone how to do it, and then point out the new post in responses to comments here and there?

I'll be waiting to read your follow-ups.

Easy follow-up comments such as, "Please see my new post (Short Title..., date [+ link])," will inform return visitors, as well as those who have chosen to get mail notification, where to look for answers to questions or responses to ideas that they've posted in comments on your blogs.

• Queries about sources leading to citations

Where did you get the definitions of the words [that] you listed at the end of BR 1-07: Snow Games?

If you are using any content at all from other sources, you must mark it clearly, and spell out where you got it. For example, I've formatted all of the comment clippings in this post as block quotations, and italicized them so they stand out from the original text of this post. Now I'll spell out, in general, where they're from.

All of the comment citations in this post are from the same type of source, namely comments that I've posted on individual students' blogs recently. I wrote them myself, and I grant myself permission to collect and reuse them here for teaching purposes (:-).


Correcting comments after you've posted them

If you notice glaring errors after you hit the orange publish button, either on purpose or by mistake, it is possible to correct them. However, in Blogger, the only way you can do it yourselves makes a mess of the blog spaces in which you have left comments, at least until blog owners tidy up behind you.

So it is always better to preview your comments, editing them repeatedly if necessary, before you publish them. Here, unfortunately, are two examples of what I did after I failed to follow my own advice.

Example One

Oops, I made a mistake in my previous comment, but there was no way to edit it. So I've copied, pasted, and corrected it here:...

Do you know how to make word counts align with the... [right] margin, to make them easy to spot at a glance? If not, please ask in class, and I'll show you.

Please note that the two italicized and indented passages in Example One show that I'm making a quotation of a previous quotation. The series of periods (...) show where I've trimmed away unnecessary or incorrect wordings, and the square brackets ([...]) show where I've added or corrected wording. I suggest that you try to avoid this at home, folks, unless you really have to, to make a point.

I'm a paid professional, but I still make mistakes! Below is another example, with more of my self-corrections.


Example Two

I guess I am too anxious to get out; I typed two mistakes [three, actually (I've just found one more)] in the first paragraph of my previous comment, and then hit the publish button instead of the preview button....

Anyway, here is what I posted earlier, cut, pasted, and corrected in this new comment (I hope I get it right this time):

Hey ...,

It sound[-s] like you had a nice road-trip this spring. How many friend[-s] went with you[?]...

Although I went back to my original comments on each of those posts and trashed them, only the blog owners can trash them completely. So what I've left in my tracks on a couple of students' blogs looks like this:

Comment deleted

This post has been removed by the author.

May 3, 2008 2:00 PM

and this:

コメントが削除されました

この投稿は投稿者によって削除されました。

2008/05/03 15:28

Sadly, those left-overs break the flow, and take up space on lists of comments attached to blog posts. If the blog owners themselves wish, they can remove those left-overs completely and finally from their blogs. If you find comments removed by their authors on your own blog, please do all future visitors a favor and trash the comments completely. Cheers.

[1489 words]

Reflections on Blog Portfolio Development

A final task for Writing IVc is to share your thoughts about the development of a blog writing portfolio fall semester, based on the two proto-portfolio elements posted in October and November, and then incorporated into the complete template posted here at the beginning of January (Portfolio: Writing IVc, 2008.01.06).

...

Please post your thoughts about portfolio development in an original comment on this post during the final meeting on January 30, 2008. Your comment should include both negative and positive aspects of your experience using a blog to develop a writing portfolio.

Complete explanations are better than short ones. The more details and examples that you provide, the better. Follow-up comments later will be welcome, too.

[118 words]

PF Clippings: Too Little, Too Much, & Too Many

This post is to share and amplify comments that I've made on student blogs regarding template clippings for fall semester portfolios (PFs).

1. Too Little, Too Much, and Untitled

This is a comment I made today on a fall semester portfolio (PF). The PF post on which I commented was untitled:

It looks like your untitled clipping from the Writing IVc: Portfolio template is missing several lines at the beginning:

Student ID: vwxyz
(last five digits of
your student no.)

Writing IVc: Portfolio [Please use this title.]
(See: Note 1, below.)

0.0. Overview
Reviews, Posts, and Words
(See: Note 2, below.)


[Your clipping also] includes too much at the end:

///// [copy to here] end of template Posted by pab at 13:50 1 comments Links to this post [Photo] Labels: assignments, books, comments, essays, graphics, labels, links, media, portfolios, reflections, reviews, writing

• The missing lines at the beginning are necessary parts of the portfolio [from "Student ID" to "(See: Note 2, below)" ].
• The extra lines at the end ["/////...", including the graphic and labels from the Writing Studio Blog] are inappropriate in your portfolio post.

Please note that the extra lines at the end is a recurring fault I had pointed out in July (Your Portfolios: Common Faults to Fix ASAP, item 1.).


2. Too Many PFs or Pieces of PFs

Though your completed fall semester PF must consist of a single post (as your spring PF was to have consisted), some students in Writing IVc have published multiple draft PFs this week. One has published her/his draft PF for fall semester in many separate pieces.

On your blog you should publish only three PF posts for fall semester; they should have these exact titles:

1. Proto-Portfolio 2-01: Reviews, Posts and Words,
2. Proto-Portfolio 2-02: Essays, &
3. Writing IVc: Portfolio.

You should label all three of those fall semester posts as "portfolios".

[316 words]

Fine-Tuning Formatting: Show 14 Days

To make it easier for visitors to your blog to see all of your recent posts at a glance, please revise the formatting settings found through your Dashboard:
For the rest of fall semester, I would like you to set your main page to show all posts that you've made during the last fortnight (14 days).

[56 words]

Proto-Portfolio 2-01: Reviews, Posts & Words

Please copy and paste the entire table below into a new post on your blog entitled "Proto-Portfolio 2-01," and start filling it in with the numbers of book reviews, blog posts, and words that you wrote during August (08), and September (09). You needn't worry about totals, fn, or indices now; we'll introduce those later. However, to make sure that you copy the entire table, please include the slash marks (beginning and end), too.

beginning /////

Proto-Portfolio 2-01: Reviews, Posts and Words

Months	08	09	10	11	12	01	Totals	fn	Indices
Book reviews
Blog posts
Words
Sub-totals								---

///// end

Before you save your new post, please be sure to add the label, "portfolios" (plural), to it.

Your Portfolios: Common Faults to Fix ASAP

I will use this post as a collection point for faults that I've noticed while previewing Writing IIIc portfolios. I will list and number faults that I've observed on more than one blog, so everyone can identify similar problems in their own portfolios, and fix them.

Please review each numbered item carefully. If what I describe matches (a) problem area(-s) in your portfolio, please take whatever steps are necessary to fix your portfolio immediately. Then explain in comments on this post what you've done to fix the problems, and give item numbers for reference (I'll do number 0. - 1. as examples).

From now till exam time, return frequently to this post to see whether I've listed additional faults, or your classmates have made new suggestions for fixing those faults in comments on this post.

Portfolio Faults to Fix ASAP

0. Of absolute importance!

0.1. Portfolios are invisible to visitors, or
0.2. Comments become invisible to visitors.

(see: Comments for fixes).

1. Clippings from the portfolio template (Writing Studio Blog, Writing IIIc: Portfolio; July 6, 2007) include too much, namely: comment and label links from the foot of my blog post:
• If you have included that part of my template post in your portfolio, those links may lead reviewers and visitors away from your blog.
2. Portfolio posts for this (1st) semester lack titles, are not separate entries from proto-portfolios, or are incorrectly entitled, for example, "Proto-portfolio (2)."
   
• These collections of your work aren't (or shouldn't be) "proto-" any more.
  
3. Sections 1. (Essays), 2. (Comments), and 4. (Book Reviews) include URLs for blog posts, instead of reader-friendly links.
   
• Long URLs don't fit in table cells, or stretch table cells so far that the tables themselves don't fit in blog layouts.
4. Clippings from the portfolio template [2] (Writing Studio Blog, Writing IIIc: Portfolio; July 6, 2007) include too little from the beginning of the template; they don't include a your four digit ID numbers in the upper right corner:
5. Titles of blog posts in portfolio sections 1., 2. and 4., if copied (Ctrl+C) and pasted (Ctrl+V) from original posts, reproduce spelling and punctuation faults in the original titles; or if retyped, rather than copied and pasted, introduce new spelling and punctuation faults to the titles.
   
6. Blog archives are not at the top of blog sidebars, are not organized by week, do not show week ending dates, or do not show the titles of blog posts.
• Once reviewers or visitors arrive at your blog (via links in your portfolio), a blog archive with titles displayed is one of the most powerful navigation tools that you can make available.
• For instructors and yourselves, weekly displays show patterns of blogging activity that you can focus on in sections six and seven of your portfolio.
  
7. Labels displayed in blog sidebars do not include "essays" (plural), the label "essays" is misspelled or you've labeled other kinds of shorter, less developed posts as "essays."
   
• Precise labels, like blog archives, are among the most powerful navigation tools that you can make available to blog reviewers and visitors.
  
8. Labels are not single words, and comprehensive of many similar posts, for example, "books," "music," "portfolios" & "reviews."
   
9. Book review titles, numbers & subtitles are inaccurate or incomplete on blog entries, or not shortened for portfolio listings (§ 4.1.).
   
10. Typing Speed Trials (§ 3.3.) missing average speeds or (up-)dates for three latest trials.
    
11. ...
    

Writing IIIc: Portfolio (template, July 2007)

ID: wxyz

Writing IIIc: Portfolio

1.0. Essays

1.1. Catalog	Titles of posts with links	Dates (yyyy.mm.dd)	Numbers of words	Numbers of comments
Example	Restaurant: Star of India	2007.03.13	185	1
1st (introduction) April (150+ words)
2nd (campus life) May (200+ words)
3rd (your choice) June 5 (250+ words)
4th (Kumamoto) June 18 (250+ words)
5th (review 1) July 2 (175+ words)
6th (review 2) July 16 (200+ words)
---	---	TOTALS:

Note: Calculate totals without the example.

1.2. Selection and assessment: Which of those essays do you feel is the best, and why? Please remember that a complete answer is better than a short answer, and give at least two reasons.

• ...

2.0. Comments

---	Titles of posts with links	Dates of comments (yyyy.mm.dd)	Numbers of words in comments	Qualities of comments*
2.1. Your first comment on your instructor's blog
2.2. Your best comment on a classmate's blog
2.3. Best comment by a classmate on your blog
2.4. Most comments on:	Titles of posts with link	Dates of posts (yyyy.mm.dd)	Total number of words in comments	Qualities of comments*
2.4.1. Any one of your essays
2.4.1.1. When did you respond to those comments?	---		---	---
2.4.1.2. How did you respond to those comments?	---	---
2.4.2. Any of your other posts
2.4.2.1. When did you respond to those comments?	---		---	---
2.4.2.2. How did you respond to those comments?	---	---

* Please list the most important qualities of comments on each type of blog post.

2.5. Additional reflections on comments:

• ...
  

3.0. Typing Speed Trials (5 mins.)

---	Numbers of words	Dates (yyyy.mm.dd)
3.1. Worst typing speed trial
3.2. Best typing speed trial
3.3. Average speed for three (3) most recent speed trials

4.0. Book Reviews

4.1. Catalog	Titles of posts with links	Dates (yyyy.mm.dd)	Number of words	Numbers of comments
Example:	Vampire Killer	2007.05.16	39	1
1-01
1-02
1-03
1-04
1-05
1-06
1-07
1-08
1-09
1-10
1-11
1-12
---	---	TOTALS:

Note: Calculate totals without the example.

4.2. Selection and assessment: Which of those book reviews do you feel is the best, and why? Please remember that a complete answer is better than a short answer, and give at least two reasons.

• ...

5.0. Blog Layout, Labeling, Linking & Media Presentation

---	Yes	No
5.1. Does your blog have an archive in the sidebar?
5.1.1. Does the archive display the titles of posts?
5.1.2. Is the archive organized by week?
5.1.3. Is the archive at the top of the sidebar?
5.2. Does your blog have labels displayed in sidebar?
5.2.1. Do your labels include each of these required labels (typed accurately):	---	---
"books" (plural)
"essays" (plural)
"quickposts" (plural, with no spaces)
5.2.2. Does your sidebar display other labels?
How many other labels have you attached to three (3) or more posts? ...	---	---
Which labels, and how many posts each? www (n) xxx (m) yyy (o) zzz (p) ...	---	---
5.3. Links & media	---	---
5.3.1. Does your blog include pictures?
Does your blog profile include a picture or graphic representation?
How many of your blog posts include pictures or other graphics? ...	---	---
5.3.2. Posts with multiple links	---	---
How many of your posts include three (3) or more links? ...	---	---
5.3.3. Does your blog include other media?
How many of your blog posts include other media? ...	---	---

5.4. What would you most like to do to enhance the overall presentation of your blog?

• ...
  

6.0. Additional reflections on your blog writing:

• ...

7.0. Suggestions for your peers and successors:

• ...
  

Proto-portfolio (all-in-one template)

Here is a template for a complete, all-in-one, proto-portfolio.

========== beginning of proto-portfolio template

1.0. Essays

1.1. Self-introduction essay

• Title of post with link
• nnn words (in your essay [150+])
  
• 2007.mm.dd

1.2. Second essay

• Title of post with link
• nnn words (in your essay [200+])
  
• 2007.mm.dd

1.3. Best essay: Which of those two essays do you believe is better & why?

• 
  

2.0. Comments

2.1. Your first comment on instructor's blog:

• Title of post with link
• nn words (in comment)
  
• 2007.mm.dd (date of comment)
  
• Do you believe that is a good comment? Why or why not?
  

2.2. Your best comment on a classmate's blog

• Title of post with link
• nn words (in comment)
  
• 2007.mm.dd (date of comment)
  
• Why do you believe that is a good comment?

2.3. The best comment by a classmate on your blog

• Title of post with link
• nn words (in classmate's comment)
  
• 2007.mm.dd (date of classmate's comment)
  
• Why do you believe that is a good comment?

3.0. Typing speed trials

3.1. Worst speed

• nn words
• 2007.mm.dd

3.2. Best speed

• nnn words
• 2007.mm.dd

3.3. Average speed

• average: nn words
  
• number of trials (as of May 23)

4.0. Book Reviews

4.1. Book review 1-01

• Title of post with link
• nnn words
  
• 2007.mm.dd

4.2. Book review 1-02

• Title of post with link
• nnn words
  
• 2007.mm.dd

4.3. Book review 1-03

• Title of post with link
• nnn words
  
• 2007.mm.dd

4.4. Book review 1-04

• Title of post with link
• nnn words
  
• 2007.mm.dd

4.5. Book review 1-05

• Title of post with link
• nnn words
  
• 2007.mm.dd

4.6. Book review 1-06

• Title of post with link
• nnn words
  
• 2007.mm.dd

5.0. Visual presentation

5.1. Archive at top of sidebar (Yes/No):

5.1.1. Displaying titles of posts:

5.1.2. Organized by month (or week):


5.2. Labels displayed in sidebar (Yes/No):

5.2.1. Including:

• books,
  
• essays &
  
• quickposts (with no space in it):

5.2.2. Including other labels that you've attached to more than one post:

• xxx
  
• yyy
  
• zzz

5.3. Links & media

5.3.1. Pictures

• Does your blog profile include a picture?
• How many of your blog posts include pictures?
  

5.3.2. Posts with multiple links

• How many of your posts include three or more links?
  

5.3.3. Other media: Which other media have you used?

• How many of your blog posts include other media?

Additional reflections on your blog writing:

• [Remove the square brackets and type your reflections here.]
  

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