Blog Design
Customize your class blog so that it is attractive, informative and easy to navigate.
Layout
After investigating the advantages and disadvantages of various themes, select one that is flexible and appeals to your individual sense of style. Find one that you feel expresses good stylistic design.
You do not need to create a new Wordpress theme. That is beyond the scope of this class. Use the resources already available to you however.
If you find a theme you would like to use, and it is not already included in the class blogging system, you may request that it be added. Send an e-mail to the instructor with your request and the URL of the desired theme. Realize that not all themes work in all situations.
Widgets
Add sidebar widgets that incorporate feeds from your various social media accounts, photostreams and news RSS sources. The goal is to make your blog contain a steady stream of new content…but not to be cluttered or overwhelming.
If you find a widget/plugin you would like to use, and it is not already included in the class blogging system, you may request that it be added. Send an e-mail to the instructor with your request and the URL of the desired widget/plugin. Realize that not all widget/plugin work in all situations.
Pages
Although the About Me page is mandatory (and should be filled in completely), feel free to create additional static pages.
Due date
A completely customized and aesthetically pleasing blog design is due by the end of the eighth week.
Rubric
| Category | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Layout Professionalism |
There is one clear, well-focused, relevant idea. Main idea stands out and is supported by detailed information. | Main idea is clear but is somewhat irrelevent or the supporting information is general. | Main idea is somewhat clear but very irrelevent to the assignment or there is a need for more supporting information. | The main idea is not clear or the topic is completely irrelevent. There is a seemingly random collection of information. |
| Layout Mechanics |
Writer makes no errors in grammar, punctuation or spelling that distract the reader from the content. | Writer makes 1-2 errors in grammar, punctuation or spelling that distract the reader from the content. | Writer makes 3-4 errors in grammar, punctuation or spelling that distract the reader from the content. | Writer makes more than 4 errors in grammar, punctuation or spelling that distract the reader from the content. |
| Widgets | The length of the blog post is appropriate for the assignment (depending on the subject). | The blog post length is slightly too short or too long to fully answer the assignment. | The blog post is the bare minimum necessary to respond to the topic. | The blog post is entirely too short or too long (less than 300 words or more than 750 words). |
| Title/tagline | The title is understandable, brief, descriptive and keyword-rich. | The title is understandable, but too long or has too few keywords. | The title is vague or has no keywords. | The title makes no sense, is irrelevent to the topic of the post, or much too short or too long. |
|
Blogroll/Links |
The writer creates all original content. |
The writer has a small amount of non-original content or only sometimes gives citation to external sources. |
The writer has a medium amount of non-original content and rarely gives citation to external sources. |
The blog post has contains large amounts of non-original content and does not cite sources. |
|
Pages
|
The post contains at least two relevant links to additional resources or to supporting sources.
|
The post contains two functional links, but one is not relevant or functional.
|
The post contains only one functional link to additional resources or supporting sources. |
The post contains no functional links to additional resources or supporting sources.
|
Resources
- Blog Design and Layout
- 10 Excellent Sources for WordPress Design Inspiration
- Top 50 free Wordpress themes
- 26 Complete WordPress Blog Design
- 15 High Quality Free Wordpress Themes
- 14 Superb Portfolio and Photoblog Wordpress Themes (Free)
- 140+ Brilliant Free Wordpress Themes Around
- 45+ Excellent Fresh Free Wordpress Themes Around
- Wordpress Showcase: 40+ Beautiful And Well Designed Blogs Powered By Wordpress
- WordPress Theme from your Photoshop Design in Seconds
Video - Customizing WordPress themes with Dreamweaver
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