Blogging Guidelines

Follow these basic guidelines for safe and appropriate blogging:

1. Only post things that you would want everyone (in school, at home, in other countries) to know.
• Ask yourself: Is this something I want everyone to see? Is there anything in my post that should be private?
2. Do not share personal information. Use only first names. Be safe.
• Ask yourself: Could someone find where I live based on this information?
3. Think before you post.
• Ask yourself: What could be the consequences of this post? Is anyone harmed in any way by this post?
4. Know you are communicating with people all over the world.
• Ask yourself: Who is going to look at this, and how will they interpret my words?
5. Consider your audience and that you’re representing the school.
• Ask yourself: Do I have a good reason/purpose to write this?
6. Know how to give constructive feedback.
• Ask yourself: What will I cause by writing this comment? Is my comment helpful, or just criticism?
7. Treat other people the way you want to be treated.
• Ask yourself: Would I want someone to say this to me?
8. Use appropriate language and proper grammar and spelling.
• Ask yourself: Would I want this post to be graded for grammar and spelling? note: style for blogging is more familiar, conversational, narrative, etc.; less formal than academic writing, but you should still use good diction and grammar.
9. Only post information that you can verify is true (no gossiping).
• Ask yourself: Is this inappropriate, immature or bullying?
10. 10. Anytime you use media from another source, properly cite the creator of the original work.
• Ask yourself: Who is the original creator of this work? Can my reader tell who should get credit?

Thanks to Mike Gwaltney for these blogging guidelines.