Lesson Plan for Blogs in the classroom:

Title: Reader Response Blog

Objective: Students will learn to use critical reading and writing skills to evaluate literary works in a web based format.

Materials: Internet access and your choice of literary work

Standards: LA.910.1.7.5: The student will analyze a variety of text structures (e.g., comparison/contrast, cause/effect, chronological order, argument/support, lists) and text features (main headings with subheadings) and explain their impact on meaning in text; 

 LA.910.1.7.6: The student will analyze and evaluate similar themes or topics by different authors across a variety of fiction and nonfiction selections;
    Cognitive Complexity: N/A    l    Date Adopted or Revised: 01/07 

http://www.floridastandards.org/Standards/FLStandardSearch.aspx

Lesson Instructions:

Place students into groups of 3 based on chapters in a text. You may want to use this assignment for the first half a longer reading assignment. You may want to use media center time to give students a tutorial on creating a blog. Have the groups create a blog for the chapter they have been assigned. The blog should contain three posts. Students should decide as a group how to delegate responsibilities. You may want to have students turn in a task card (an index card with names and responsibilities of each member) and consider using group evaluation sheets.

Post One: Write a brief summary of major events in the chapter
Post Two: Perform a character analysis of any character based on their actions during the chapter you are assigned. Be sure to remind students to include a thesis statement and back up their response with textual support.
Post Three: Describe two instances or uses of symbolism and/or figurative language and discuss the way they shape the text.

Students should present their blogs as the class moves the reading. Every student should create a reply to one of the blog posts for each chapter with the exception of the one they present.