DIRECTIONS FOR CREATING A WORDPRESS BLOG FOR SCIENCE WRITING ONLINE Create a science blog on www.wordpress.com AND read other people s science blogs. 1. Open up your internet browser (preferably Google Chrome). 2. Type in www.wordpress.com in the address bar. Click ENTER. 3. Click CREATE BLOG button in center of screen. 4. This will prompt you to the screen Step 1 of 5. You will be prompted with the question, What is your blog about? Click EDUCATION & ORGANIZATIONS button. The next screen will further prompt you to be more specific. Scroll down the screen and click GENERAL EDUCATION & ORGANIZATIONS. 5. This brings you to Step 2 of 5. Now you get to Choose a theme. Scroll down to see your options. Click on one option (for instance, Dyad ). Remember: A blog should reflect a writer s personality and sense of style and organization. Pick a theme that you like 6. This brings you to Step 3 of 5. This step is called Let s find a domain. This really means you get to create a name for your blog website. Type in a name for your blog website in the box Enter a domain or keyword. Before typing in a website name, consider the following: o What do I think of when I think about science? *Think connotations! o What kind of personality do I want my science blog to have? Fun? Serious? Awareness-oriented? Action-oriented? o How can I shorten the name for my website? Try the names out. If the name is already taken, the screen will prompt you to make a new name. Keep trying variations until you find one that works!
Wordpress will allow you to create a blog for free using a website address with the example.wordpress.com format. This is the free domain/address you want to select. DO NOT SELECT THE OTHER VERSIONS OF YOUR DOMAIN THAT CHARGE MONEY. 7. This brings you to Step 4 of 5. This is called Pick a plan that s right for you. Click the first option which is FREE. It will allow you to see the features of this service and then show you a blue button called SELECT FREE PLAN. Click that button to complete step 4. 8. This brings you to Step 5 of 5. This is called Create your account. Type in your school email address. EMAIL USERNAME PASSWORD Use your CDSD credentials (school email address, school username, and school password). 9. Click CREATE ACCOUNT button. It will take you right away to your blog. Congratulations! You now have your own Wordpress blog for science writing! Unfortunately, until you verify your email account, you won t be able to do much or publish anything. So, let s verify your email to unlock the power of your blog! See PART B below
VERIFY YOUR EMAIL 1. Open new tab and access your school email. 2. Find Wordpress email. 3. Click on link. Follow directions from there. 4. Log out and close your email once you verify your Wordpress account. Check your Spam or Junk Mail folder in your school district email. In the past, Wordpress verification emails have been blocked by our district s filters. Let me know if this is the case and I will request our district address this issue. My school email address is asedun@cdschools.org CUSTOMIZE YOUR SCIENCE BLOG 1. Click on CUSTOMIZE YOUR SITE at top left side toolbar. 2. Play around with various features and settings. Avoid CUSTOM DESIGN because it costs $$$ money. 3. Click SAVE AND PUBLISH when you make changes you want to keep. 4. Close this menu by clicking on the X at the top left bar on the menu.
READING SCIENCE BLOGS 1. Access your Wordpress blog (log in if needed). 2. Move your cursor over the page image at top left of screen. 3. Click RECOMMENDATIONS. 4. Begin by clicking on Tags, then typing in science and hit enter. Then click on Tags again and type in nature and hit enter. Continue to add tags that customize the kinds of articles and blogs you want to see (think of your interest in a particular kind of life science topic like biodiversity or migration or sea lions, etc). 5. Read blogs that look interesting to you. 6. Click FOLLOW on black toolbar at top of blogs you enjoy. 7. Repeat Steps 2 7 as desired. LEARN FROM OTHERS AND THEIR BLOGS ASK YOURSELF: WHAT DO I NOTICE? WHAT DO I LIKE? WHAT DO I FIND VALUABLE AND ENJOYABLE ABOUT THIS BLOG OR THAT BLOG? HOW CAN I IMITATE THESE THINGS IN MY OWN BLOG POSTS? Since we are all new to blogs, it s OK to give yourself time to read science blogs you enjoy before beginning to post your own writing. Good writers listen and learn from others. That s what you are giving yourself permission to do. And it will help you enjoy writing on your own blog more! WE WILL SOON BE CREATING SEVERAL BLOG POSTS AS A COLLECTION OF YOUR DIGITAL WRITING FOR YOUR BLOG PROJECT.
HOW TO BLOCK BLOGS YOU DON T WANT TO SEE The nature of public spaces like malls and sidewalks is that you might occasionally encounter something you really don t prefer to see or interact with. The good thing about your Wordpress blog is that you can actually block blogs you don t want to see feeds or updates from, even if you don t follow them in the first place. Follow the steps below to learn how! 1. Access your Wordpress blog (log in if needed). 2. Move your cursor over the page image at top left of screen. 3. Then click DISCOVER or RECOMMENDATIONS. 4. Scroll down the listing of blogs and notice that there is an ellipsis ( ) at the bottom right hand corner of every blog post by anyone. 5. Click on this ellipsis ( ) to see your blocking options. 6. Click on BLOCK SITE.