*Adapted from http://mrjorgensen.edublogs.org/about/blog-guidelines/

Our classroom blog is a place for us to share our hard work and to continue discussions that we have started in class. Students should be mindful of what they post to the Internet.  With that in mind, there are a few guidelines I would like for them to follow.

• Use appropriate language and be sure that anything you write you are proud of and are prepared to take responsibility for!! Your blog exists as a public space on the Internet. When you put something on the Internet, odds are really good that it will ALWAYS stay on the Internet. If you are not careful about what you write, what you write now could come back to haunt you in the future.
• When you write on the blog, use your first name only.  You may use your last initial but should never use your full name.
• Do not post your address, phone number, or email address on the blog.
• Never post comments that may hurt someone’s feelings or offend someone. Never disrespect anyone or anything in your blog posts. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a person, an organization, or just a general idea. When you write your opinion on a topic, you don’t want someone making a stab at what you are passionate about. So, don’t do it to someone else. Try your best to make sure you’re not going to offend anyone in your posts.
• Always check over your post for spelling errors, grammar errors, and your use of words. (HINT: Try pasting your post in a word processor first and using the spell checker or use an internet spellchecker before posting on your blog.)
• Make sure things you write about are factual. Link to your sources. But never link to something you haven’t read and understood completely. When you link to something, make sure it is something that you really want to be associated with. If a link contains material that might be in poor taste or make some people uncomfortable, you should probably warn readers by using a parenthetical note or some other word of caution.
• Be aware of copyright — especially with sounds and images. Make sure what you use is copyright free!! (Just because you find it on the internet does not mean you are free to use it without permission !!) Please review Copyright Issues on the Web and be sure to see Copyright 1” and “Copyright 2” for more information.
• Remember that blogging is about reading, thinking, and responding.

Remember, this blog represents our class, so make sure you always give your best effort to share great writing!