Blog Basics: Format

Hello student!

Today were going to talk about the format. The first requirement is writing THE CORRECT URL. Ideally, the URL of your blog should be your last name (as it appears in the class list), followed by your first name (not your nickname), followed by ".blogspot.com." For example, if I were to make a student blog, my URL should be: celestinodustin.blogspot.com

Rule #1: Use the proper URL.

[Sa Filipino: "Hijo/Hija, kung ang nakalagay sa ID mo na first name ay "JUAN," wag kang mag-feeling at palitan ito ng "JOE" or "JOHN" kasi hindi ko mahahanap ang blog mo, at hindi ka rin mahahanap ng may crush sayo.]

I have around 200 students this term. That's a lot. So, I won't have time to scrutinize each and every single post that you will write (your other English teachers will though). However, it is important for me to to know how many posts you have, currently. So, make sure that you put a number before every single post title to indicate how many blog posts you have. The format is "[post number] - [title of post]."

For example, if I were to write my first blog post, I would have to write the title as "1 - I am Awesome." If I were to write my 11th blog post, I would have to write the title as "11 - I am still Awesome."

Rule #2: Indicate how many posts you currently have by including a number before the title.

[Sa Filipino: "Hijo/Hija, lagyan mo ng number yung title mo, kung pang-ilang post na yan, para alam ko kung tamad ka.]

Lastly, DO NOT PLAGIARIZE aka COPY-PASTE

Alright, full-on anger-mode time! If there's one thing I hate about students, it's their ridiculous tendency to underestimate the intellect of their professors. Trying to plagiarize is a student's subtle way of telling his or her professor, "I don't respect your intellect, and I don't think you have the common sense to realize that I did not write this."

If I catch you publishing stuff you did not write, I will contact the Avengers, warm-up my Jaeger, buy a chainsaw, start a riot, and, once I'm ready for war, I will contact your parents and encourage them to ground you, cut your allowance, and not invite you to your own birthday party! Seriously.

DO  NOT  MESS  WITH  ME.  I  WILL...  I  WILL...  I 'M  SO  ANGRY,  I  DON'T  EVEN  KNOW  ANYMORE!!!!!11111111

Rule #3: DO NOT COPY-PASTE (I know where you live.)

Also here are a few samples of cool, student blogs written from a few years ago. Check 'em out, yo!:

a - http://michellesuniga2.blogspot.com/
b - http://lissanubla2.blogspot.com/
c - http://redsalonga2.blogspot.com/
d - http://kimberleywarne2.blogspot.com/
e - http://emmanuelbriones2.blogspot.com/

Cheers!


-- Sir Dustin

Blog Basics: What to Write About

Another question students ask me forever and ever is:

"Sir Dustin, what do I write about?"

There are so many things you can write about. Honestly, in my own blog, I write about random stuff. I write about the MRT. I write about love. Sometimes, when I'm feeling a little emo, I write #HUGOT about my "special lady friend" (she's totes adorbs).

Think of a blog post like a Facebook post, except better, because you have more space for #HUGOT.

However, if you're really having trouble thinking of topics to write, use this Blog Topic Generator: http://blogtap.net/blogtopicgenerator/

What does it do? Well, it gives you a random topic to write about.

Click on the drop-down list to select a theme, and then, click on the "Generate another topic button." It is recommended that you inform me that you used the generator though, because sometimes you will generate topics like, "Shoveling your self out on a snowy day," and I might be tempted to report you to the Discipline Office thinking, "Snow? Is this kid on drugs?"

There are many blog topic generators found online. Feel free to explore. That's what this is about, really. I'm supposed to help you find a voice, a medium, a manner of expression that can help you convey who you are as a human being.

If you're too lazy to look for a fun topic generator, just download this list instead: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_YIu9gEFaOZcVdWbHVOa0psc0E/edit

By the way, try your best not to write about the same topic twice. Push your boundaries, expand your horizons, fly like an eagle!

-- Sir Dustin

Blog Basics: How to Make a Blog

Hello, student!

This is probably the most asked question I have received in my entire life as a human being:

"Sir Dustin, how does one make a blog?"

The truth is, it's really not that difficult. Nothing in life is difficult, as long as you're willing to work hard and ready to be determined. However, this particular task does not even require hard work and determination. All you need, really, is a temporary absence of laziness - just click the link and read what's inside.

I just need you to "click" once on the link (well, you have to read too, of course) to learn how to blog. If you can "click" 10,000 times playing DOTA2 or LOL (more if you have a habit of flaming your teammates - "Noob jungler. AFK na ko!"), surely, you can "click" once to learn how to blog.

The great thing about having a blog and doing it properly is that sometimes - after reading your thoughts and getting to know you a bit - people randomly fall in love with you. Also, you sometimes learn how to write well.

-- Sir Dustin

What is EEP?

The vision of this program is to allow students to learn and interact in a medium that they already excel in. These generation of millennials grew up as part of a digital community. They engage in social media on a daily basis, and have already developed an affinity for technological communication.

Forcing these students to write on the printed page (or on yellow pad) will not only be counter-inutitive to what they understand as communication, but also counter-productive. The English Enrichment Program (EEP) is a progressive program that seeks to enhance a student's natural affinity for online communication. They will be given a venue where they can learn academic skills through a medium that is already integrated in their daily lives.

Although grammar exercises are seen as relevant by traditionalists, the students are not invested in these lessons at all. These blogs, however, is something that they own. They're not going to feel as if they're investing in an "academic task" or "wasting time on homework," because blogging is part of their identity. This is something they can link to their own social media accounts, post on Facebook, or something they could "tweet" about. It's part of who they are as people.

In addition to writing blogs, students will be encouraged to read each others' work, and provide feedback. The hope is that it will become a venue where students can freely discuss matters of interest to them. In a sense, it also creates the feeling that they're not just writing to please a teacher, but writing to express themselves more, and connect with their classmates.

This is an activity that will enrich their communication and social skills, not because they were forced to comply due to a grade, but because they will be rewarded by the meaningful connections they establish with real people, with real emotions, and real ideas.

Hello Freshmen!

I'm Dustin Edward D. Celestino and I would like to welcome you to the greatest show on earth - other people's personal lives! Just kidding. I'm just here to facilitate, to guide you in your own personal journey towards being a more interesting person.

We're all going to be writing, reading, and, hopefully, laughing together too. We're going to learn a whole lot about each other. If you're not used to that idea, well, too bad. This is the age of information, and in this age, everyone knows a little something about everyone else. But that's not such a bad thing. It's pretty awesome, actually.

To make it easier for you to have access to important information regarding the construction of a blog, I've decided to turn this sample blog into a resource blog. You can find a few guides on how to make a blog, and if you're struggling to find a suitable topic, there will be several guide topics and samples entries linked in this blog.

From time to time, announcements are also going to be made here. So, feel free to browse around. Later on, I'll probably create a table of contents to make browsing for the information you need more convenient. Or not. We'll see. This place is all about spontaneity and freedom. Honestly, I'm just doing this for fun, and so should you.

Writing, sharing, and connecting with people should be it's own reward. Think of this venue, your blogs, as an intellectual playground where everyone is invited. It's like one big emotional party, where there are no strangers, and everyone's family.

I'm looking forward to your entries. Cheers!

- Sir Dustin