Guideline for the Blog Task: Winter 2011 (Japanese 120B)
For what purpose do I blog? New!
Ø To have ownership of your Japanese language learning in blogs; to be responsible for developing your language use and learning in blogging.
Ø To reflect on your Japanese language use and learning in blogs; in other words, think critically and analyze your language use and learning in order to develop your Japanese proficiencies.
Ø To practice expressing thoughts and opinions, to provide comments about the content, to clarify the meanings of the language, or to discuss with one another through communicating authentically in Japanese with peers, teachers and native speakers in order to develop your Japanese proficiencies.
How can I start blogs?
Ø We will use Blogger.com for blogs and Google Docs. for portfolios (i.e. self-assessments). New!
Ø Create your google account and blogger account this weekend.
Ø After creating them, please send your blogger URL and email address that you will use in Googledocs. to Hashimoto sensei. Please send them by Friday night.
Ø Please consult your sensei if you have any concerns about your computer use in Japanese or blogging.
Ø You will have a pre-training session on January 10 (Mon.) for 9am session or 11(Tue.) for 2pm session, to find out more about it!
The Deadlines and the Procedure of this Blog Task
Week | | | Reading and Commenting on Peers’ Blogs | |
Week 2 | Jan.16, Sun.11:59pm | Entry #1 | N/A | N/A |
Week 3 | Jan.23, Sun.11:59pm | Entry #2 | Comments on #1 | Replies to #1 |
Week 4 | Jan.30, Sun.11:59pm | Entry #3 | Comments on #2 | Replies to #2 |
Week 5 | Feb.6, Sun.11:59pm | Entry #4 | Comments on #3 | Replies to #3 |
Week 6 | Feb.13, Sun.11:59pm | Entry #5 | Comments on #4 | Replies to #4 |
Week 7 | Feb.20, Sun.11:59pm | Entry #6 | Comments on #5 | Replies to #5 |
Week 8 | Feb.27, Sun.11:59pm | Entry #7 | Comments on #6 | Replies to #6 |
Week 9 | Mar.6, Sun.11:59pm | N/A | Comments on #7 | Replies to #7 |
Ø Please put the entry number such as 1 or #1 in your entry title. New!
Ø Comment on at least two peers’ blogs including your assigned blo-tomo (i.e., blog buddy).
Ø Reply to all the comments you receive in the comment function of your blog. You will receive a comment from a Japanese native speaker every time.
Ø Follow these deadlines! You are required to complete posting entries, comments, and replies by the deadlines so that your audience will be able to respond to them easily and we will be able to have a fruitful communication through blogs. You can continue communicating with your audience about a specific entry as many times as you want, even past the deadline. We will count them as extra credit. New!
What should I write? (Topics) – Please choose a topic depending on your interests but follow the criteria below. Sensei will provide you with suggested topics that will be posted in “トピックの箱 (Topic Box),” New! which you will find as one of the “Labels” in チュー太ブログ(Tutor Blog). The box will be updated periodically.
Here are some suggestions for you to decide on a topic:
Ø Reflect on your experience regarding the topic (like your journal).
Ø Share your knowledge and interest related to the topic.
Ø Share your opinion or perspective regarding the topic..
Ø Include your thoughts or perspectives, and your audience will easily relate to your blog entries! New!
Ø Write your blog entries in meaningful ways to improve your Japanese proficiency. New!
Here are other guidelines:
Ø You can post images, audios, and hypertexts but it is opitional. Only texts will be graded.
Ø Plagiarism will not be accepted. Create entries in your own words. For online resources, references must be provided. If you plagiarize, you will lose all the points in the entry.
What is helpful to blogging? (Resources)
Ø Use dictionaries or textbooks to increase the accuracy of your Japanese, so that you can make yourself understood effectively while communicating with others. Refer to the useful resources that will be introduced in the forth-coming pre-training session.
Ø Use the functions such as “Follower” that you can easily follow your peers’ and tutor blogs. Refer to the handy tools that will be introduced in the pre-training session.
How can I get any feedback on my entry?
Ø Through the comment function, your peers, your instructor and tutor, and several native speakers will give you feedback. You will have two assigned blo-tomo: one from your peers and the other from Japanese native speakers. New!
Who will assess your blogs and how? New!
Ø You and your instructor will. First, you will assess your blogging in your portfolio at Google Docs, then, your instructor will grade your portfolio including blogs at the end of this quarter.
Ø You will create your portfolio at Google Docs. you can link to in your or peers’ blog website.
Update your portfolio regularly and become responsible for maintaining your portfolio including blogs. You will reflect on your blog entries, your process of blogging, and your progress of Japanese proficiency. See the detail at the pre-training session.