Classwork and Homework

Today we learned about the "Excellence Is" competition and we started brainstorming for our own "Excellence Is" quotes that we will turn in on Thursday in class. The examples are in the PowerPoint for today, if you need a reminder/refresher. The next part of class we reviewed APA References, In-text citations, and signal phrases, and played a game to keep the energy high with some competition. :) Lastly, we reviewed the importance of the revising stage of an essay, which is what we will be doing this week.

Homework:

• Spend at least 40 minutes total working on: 
• Your reference page (If you need help, here is an APA handout)
• Developing other body paragraphs in your essay 
• Your conclusion 
• Drafting your “Excellence Is” quote 
• Go to a tutor and get feedback on your essay (You can do it this week or next week, just go!).
• Bring a printed copy of your essay on Wednesday, because we will be doing a peer review.

THERE IS NO JOURNAL THIS WEEK! HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

Classwork & Homework

Today we finished our presentations and took our Vocabulary List 5 quiz. For the remainder of the class, you can work on revising your essays.

The requirements for Draft 1 are:

• Be at least 1 page in length.
• Have an introduction
• Have at least 1 developed body paragraph
• Have all topic sentences (in short, less developed paragraphs [2-3 sentences])
• APA Requirements
• A reference page (you don't need to have the references perfect yet)
• At least 1 paragraph with in-text citations

Homework:

• Sign up for Writing Conferences next week!
• "The Real Thing" body paragraph breakdown (purple worksheet) DUE TODAY by 5 pm.
• Draft 1 DUE TOMORROW by 5 pm
• Journal DUE TOMORROW by noon

Classwork and Homework

For class today, we first talked about the different types of feedback that you can expect at the ELC. The feedback that I give you on your drafts is formative. We also reviewed citing sources in APA, and talked about both in-text citations and reference page citations. Next we talked about the differences between details/examples and commentary. Lastly, we broke into groups so that we could prepare brief presentations on good paragraph writing that will be presented tomorrow (make sure you know what you're doing!). The PowerPoint we used in class can be found here.

Homework:

• Complete your last page in your purple packet, “The Real Thing.” This is due by 5 pm tomorrow.
• You must have it all filled out, if you’re missing some commentary, write some more commentary, if you’re missing a detail, add a detail.
• Draft 1 is due by 5 pm on Friday.
• Journal is due by noon on Friday.

Classwork and Homework

Today we reviewed introductions and peer reviewed each other's papers using the principles that we learned yesterday. In addition to that, we reviewed how integrated writing is scored on the TOEFL (I will be giving you a score and feedback for the second integrated writing practice [the in-class one] by the end of this week). Lastly, we talked about how to improve our thesis statements and write topic sentences (the PowerPoint from class can be found here), and had some time in the lab to work on the thesis statements and topic sentences.

Homework: 

• Spend at least 40 minutes working on drafting your essay. You should have the following completed by tomorrow:
• A revised thesis statement 
• All of your topic sentences 
• 1 full body paragraph for your essay 
• This can be handwritten or typed. 
• You can print it out OR email it to me before class time.

Reminder! Please bring your Commentary in Main Paragraphs Packet with you tomorrow (purple)! If you have lost your packet, you can download and print one here.

Classwork and Homework

For class today, we  first looked at styles of learning and took an quick inventory on what learning style we have: visual, auditory, or kinetic. For the rest of class, we went through two types of common introductions used in academic papers, the "funnel" and the "turnabout." The PowerPoint we used in class can be found here.

Homework:

• Check the feedback that I will have for you on your outline on turnitin.com
• Read it, and start thinking about how you will write your 1st draft
• Bring a “working” introduction to class (3-5 sentences long)
• It can be handwritten or typed, just bring it to class tomorrow so it can be used in an activity.

Journal Week 6

For this week's journal, I would like you to practice doing a 30-minute essay prompt. You can choose any from the official TOEFL practice list, but here's one to start you off.

• Is the ability to read and write more important today than in the past? Why or why not? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

Classwork and Homework

Today in class we took a review quiz on Academic Word List 4. We also reviewed our topics and went through how to create our thesis statements and outlines for our classification essays. We went through the green packet and identified or brainstormed about the principle of classification as well as the categories for each of our essays. Here is the PowerPoint from today. Below are links to help you with your outline writing.

• Classification Essay Outline Requirements - This is the green handout from class today that you used to brainstorm for the final outline that you will turn in tomorrow
• Student Outline Example - This is an old student's outline I showed you in class today. Her essay was on different types of technology. 
• Classification Outline Template - This is the document that you can use for your own outline. Remember to fill it out all of the way, and put your reference links at the end!

Homework:

• Classification Outline is due tomorrow (Friday) by 5 pm on turnitin.com

QuID Survey & Classwork & Homework

Hello! For the first part of class, you need to click on the link below to take the QuID survey. This survey is designed for you to give me feedback about my class and teaching. It is completely anonymous, so you may feel comfortable giving as much or as little feedback as you wish.

QuID Survey: https://byu.az1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_eaqDysIaF5Xtsup

For the remainder of the class period, you will be working on finding information for your classification essay topic. Please download the document below and save it to the desktop as "classification-essay-planning-day-1-Your Name." You can then move it to your student folder or save it to your email after it is saved on the desktop. You will need to bring this to class tomorrow completed!

Classification Essay Planning - Day 1

If you have time, you can review Academic Vocabulary List 4. For the quiz tomorrow, you should review definitions, collocates, and synonyms of the words. I will be giving you questions like you will see on your midterm.

Academic Word List 4 Definitions

Academic Word List 4 Word Associations (synonyms)

Homework:

• If you need to, finish your Essay Planning (Due tomorrow in class)
• Bring your essay topic to tell me at the beginning of class tomorrow.
• Study Academic Vocabulary List 4 for the quiz tomorrow 
• Journal Week 5 (Due Friday at noon)

Classwork and Homework

Today in class, we reviewed how to classify and distinguish the principle of classification as we went over our homework from yesterday. We also applied these principles to our own ideas for our essays by filling out a chart in our green packets. For the remainder of the class, we wrote paragraphs in groups using words from Academic A Vocabulary List 4. The PowerPoint for today can be found here. Please meet in the lab (Rows 3-4) for class tomorrow.

Homework:

• Read essay on pg. 187-189, “Kinds of Consumers”
• Answer questions 1-6
• Finish the chart on the back of the "Classification Planning and Information" section in your green packet (pg. 6).

Classwork and Homework

In class today, we talked about motivation and demotivation and how they can affect your language learning (If you want to look at more funny Demotivators like we saw in class, you can go here). Remember that you are in charge of your motivation and how you deal with it. You are the masters of what is important to you, and how you prioritize your life. Here is the PowerPoint that we looked at today in class.

Homework:

• Read p. 183-185, and do Exercise 3 & 4 (Due tomorrow)
• Start thinking about your topic
• What do you want to write about?
• Look at your brainstorming
• Journal Week 5

Journal Week 5 (June 16-20)

As you write this week’s journal, remember the story of Nico Calabria and the effect that demotivators can have on you.

Prompt: Think about the demotivators you face as you learn English. What are some specific things that cause you to be demotivated? Now, describe ways that you can overcome these demotivators. You can go and review ways to help at: http://www.howtolanguages.com/uncategorized/overcoming-de-motivation-in-language-learning/

Lab Day

Here are documents for class today:

• Compare Constrast Final Instructions

Extra help:

• Example APA format: APA Paper Template
• Sample A+ paper: The Most Effective Economic System
• References Sheet (green paper from class): APA Quick Reference

If you finish your revisions early, you may work on your journal, or study academic words on Quizlet for Academic A Vocabulary List 4.

Homework:

• Journal (due Friday by noon)
• Turn in rubric, Peer Review (for your paper), and tutor form to by box in 103 on FRIDAY by 5 pm
• FINAL DRAFT due Friday by 5pm on turnitin.com

Class Today and Homework

For class today, we reviewed conclusions and specifically talked about what makes a conclusion weak or logical. Remember that a conclusion must:

• Restate the main points (subtopics) discussed in the essay. The restatement must be brief (short) because you have already discussed them.
• Restate (or rephrase) the thesis statement in different words. When you restate the thesis shows how important it is to the essay.
• NOT introduce a new topic.

(Smalley, Ruetten, & Kozyrev, 2012, p. 115, adapted)

Then we worked in groups developing paragraphs with the Academic A Vocabulary list. We also learned how to check the academic words in our essays using the LexTutor website.

Homework:
For tonight: Take the text of your latest draft (Draft 2) and put it into the AWL checker

1. Go to http://www.lextutor.ca/vp/eng. 
2. Copy the title and text of your essay (not your title page or reference page).
3. Paste the text into the box, and click submit.
4. The academic words are in the yellow.
5. Write down the percentage, and bring it to class tomorrow.

Other Homework:

• Writing Conference! (Come and see me and get feedback and a lollipop!)
• Go see a tutor to help you with your paper
• Journal (due Friday by noon)
• Turn in rubric, Peer Review (for your paper), and tutor form to by box in 103 on FRIDAY by 5 pm
• FINAL DRAFT due Friday by 5pm on turnitin.com

Journal Week 4 (June 9-13)

Required Journal Entry:

• At least ½ page in Blue Book (For the other 1 ½ pages you can write what you want to).
• At least ¼ page typed double-spaced (For the rest of the ¾ page you can write what you want to).

Prompt: Think about how you changed your essay from the first draft to the second draft. For this journal, please write about at least two things that you have changed between your drafts and why you changed them.

Integrated Writing #2 and Homework

Next Friday (6/20), you will be taking your first Integrated Writing test in the lab. Remember, we have 5 Integrated Essays that we will do throughout the semester, so we're going to take today and do another practice.

Integrated Writing In-Class Practice 2

Please follow these instructions:

1. Open the document in the IW Writing #2 folder called “IW 2 YOUR NAME”
2. Save the document as “IW 2 John Smith” on the desktop. You will write your response there. 
3. Open the document called “IW Notes and Planning” if you want to take notes electronically. I have also provided you with a paper copy. Save this document as “IW Notes YOUR NAME” on the desktop. 
4. Reading: When your teacher tells you to, please click this link and start your reading. Reading Passage
5. Listening: You have two minutes to listen to the lecture. You may only listen to the lecture one time. Take good notes. Open this link Listening Passage in a new tab. Check your headphones and if the listening passage works. (If that doesn't work, the file is also located in the IW Writing #2 folder).
6. Writing: Please open this link in another window/tab Online Timer. Set the timer for 20 minutes. GO ON to the writing document called “IW 2 YOUR NAME”. Start the time and start writing your essay.

When you finish writing, then select the document(s) and drag them into your personal student folder. If you need help, raise your hand and I will help you.

HOMEWORK:

• Revise your essays 
• Go to a tutor this week
• Bring a printed copy of your latest draft to class tomorrow.
• Bring your yellow Compare/Contrast packet

Draft 2 Helps & Homework

Today in class, we talked about credibility and how to make what you write more credible. Here is the PowerPoint that we used today in class. We also talked about how to format your papers and I showed you some sample essays.  While you work on your essay for the rest of the class, you can use these to help you.

• Incorrect Essay Format - This is just here so that you don't make the mistakes you can find in this paper. Whatever you do, DON'T do this. :

• Correct Essay Format - This paper shows a perfectly formatted paper except for the references. You will want the cover page and body of your essay to look as close to this paper as possible.

• APA Paper Template - This is a template, which means that you can use it to start the formatting for your own paper. I would suggest downloading this, and then putting your essay into the format that is set up already for you. This has a perfect example of a Reference page.

• Additional Essay Help - Are you still confused about how to organize your paper? This document gives you resources for organizing the paragraphs your paper (in point-by-point or block styles!), making better topic sentences, the requirements for draft 2, as well as page numbers in your book that can give additional help for all the things we've learned!

Homework:

• Draft 2 - uploaded to turnitin.com 
• Journal - 2 pages in Blue Book, or 1 page double-spaced typed.

Instructions for Class Time

Hello students!

Today in class, after instruction, you will have the rest of the time to do the following:

1. Review the PowerPoint slides for Beginning Online Research (slides 1-16 and do the practice activities on slides 11 & 16. Click here to access the slides.
2. Create a reference page for your essay using the sources your brought today. Use resources such as Purdue's OWL (Online Writing Lab) & the handout I gave you today.
3. Revise your essay using the feedback I gave you on turnitin.com. 

Homework:

• Work on finishing your essay Draft 2 for Thursday night.
• Weekly Journal (Due Friday at noon!)

2nd Draft Requirements
Essay Content and Length:
An introduction with a thesis statement, three points of comparison in body paragraphs with support, and a conclusion
2 or more pages, double-spaced
Plagiarism

Any place that you used words directly from another source should have “quotation marks” around those words.

A Reference Page at the end of your paper that lists all of the resources you used for your ideas (with links to the websites). These do not need to be formatted correctly, but the link must be shown.

Classwork and Homework

Today in class, we looked at sources and APA. We hopped right in and learned from swimming in the deep end! :) The one thing I want to remind you of is to not stress out about this. We will have lots of time to get better at this throughout the semester!  Here is the PowerPoint we used in class (Use it to help you with your homework).

Homework: 

• Complete the APA Reference Game worksheet 
• Bring 3 sources that you have looked at or used when writing about your paper. 
• You need to have the author, year, title, and publishing information.
• You can use the sources we used for background knowledge, or new ones that you have looked at to get additional information (The ones from a couple of days ago). 
• Write them out like the example below. This is one of the background knowledge sources. It was very hard, so I did it for you.
• DO NOT SPEND MORE THAN 40 MINS ON ALL OF THE HOMEWORK - TIME YOURSELF! I want you to just try. It doesn't have to be perfect.

Example: 

Author: Gary E. Clayton

Book Title: Economics: Principles & Practices.

Publisher: Glencoe

Location: New York

Year: 2005

Pages: 33-39

Classwork and Homework

Today in class we talked about measuring performance and what we need to do in order to accomplish our goals. Then we talked about transitions for comparison and contrast and did some activities with them. The last part of class we focused on the Integrated Writing, and then went down to the lab to do an activity with the last Integrated Writing prompt we did. Here's a link to the PowerPoint that we used today.

Daily Homework: Pg. 166-167 Ex 10, #2,3,5,7; Start revising your drafts for Draft 2.

Weekly homework:

• Draft 2 Due Thursday 11:59 PM on turnitin.com
• Journal: Due Friday 12:00 PM in 103.

Journal Week 3

Your journal prompt for the week is a 30-minute prompt based on this Expect Excellence quote:

"The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision. –Helen Keller

What do you think that this quote means. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.