Thursday, 4/7

Classwork

• Typed a 35-minute essay with the goal of 75% of the class reaching 350 words. If you were absent, please save this file in Classes, Gigger, Final 30-Min Essay Practice.
• Reviewed errors from Task 7: 1. If a noun form exists for a word, you usually don't use the gerund form. For example, it would be better to use reduction than reducing. 2. Watch for so and and. If you have a lot of sentences with these connectors, study the relationships between the clauses and replace them with more specific and academic connectors.

Homework

• Task 7 Draft 2 (3/2)
• Draft 2 of your 30-minute essay on the characteristics of good leaders. You can find this file in Classes, Gigger, 30-Min Essays 2. Your essay should be 350 words long with a thesis statement and topic sentences for each of your body paragraphs.

Wednesday, 4/6

Classwork

• Analyzed an example 30-minute essay for organization.
• Started revising your diagnostic 30-minute essays, which can be found in the class folder, under Linguistic Accuracy Winter 2011, Diagnostics, Your Name 1.

Homework

Revise your diagnostic 30-minute essay. Add any necessary content so that you reach 350 words. Add or revise your thesis statement and topic sentences as necessary. Improve your transition words.

Tuesday, 4/5

Classwork

• Finished grading articles test. Discussed any questions.
• Reviewed 30-minute essays. First weaknesses: Length. Essays should be about 350 words. Our class average is 326. You can add general information in the introduction, a quote or common situation for a hook. If you are a thesis, you should definitely add one. In the body paragraphs, you should add a topic sentence if you don't have one. You can also add details (see handout for ideas). For the conclusion, you can return to the ideas in the introduction and comment on them.
• Discussed brainstorming ideas in groups. Main consensus: Take 3 to 5 minutes at the beginning to do it. It really does help.

Homework

• For your 30-minute essay, type a second draft that is at least 350 words. Use the ideas above and the handout to add more information. Staple it to your first draft.
• Task 6 Draft 2 (3/1)

Monday, 4/4

Classwork

• Spelling quiz
• Reviewed homework
• Article quiz

Homework

None!

Thursday, 3/31

Classwork

• Reviewed Grammar Dimension, Ex. 11, 12, and 13, pgs. 326-328.
• Practiced writing sentences with the following words from AWL SL 5A: external, facilitate, and alter. The best collocates for external were factors or injuries. Many students confused external/internal with foreign/domestic, as in foreign policy/enemies vs. domestic policy/enemies. Facilitate is followed by a direct object that is a positive result, as in Facebook facilitates communication for friends as well as revolutionaries. I will discuss the differences between alter and change on Monday.

Homework

• Study for your last spelling test (succeed to writing)!
• Do Ex. 5, 6, 7, and 8 in the handout.
• Study for articles test.
• As far as I am aware, you do NOT have a 30-min essay test on Friday to make up for the technical problems last week. I will not hold you responsible for one.

Wednesday, 3/30

Classwork

• Reviewed Grammar Dimensions, Ex. 9, pg. 324.
• Did Activities 2 and 5, pg. 329 and 330.
• Typed the final 10-minute paragraph, Task 12: Your city has decided to build a statue or monument to honor a famous person in your country. Who would you choose? Use reasons and specific examples to support your choice.

Homework

• Grammar Dimensions, Ex. 11, pg. 326-327
• Ex. 12, pg. 327
• Ex. 13, pg. 328

Tuesday, 3/29

Classwork

• Used an answer key to correct Ex. 1, 2, 3, and 4 from the handout.
• Studied Focus 5 (Grammar Dimensions, pg. 321) and Focus 6 (pg. 323).
• Typed Task 11: A foreign visitor has only one day to spend in your country. Where should this visitor go on that day? Why? Use specific reasons and details to support your choice. Students were allowed to use their brainstorming notes for help.

Homework

• Task 5 Draft 3: Some people think governments should spend as much money as possible exploring outer space (for example, traveling to the moon and to other planets). Other people disagree and think governments should spend this money for our basic needs on Earth. Which of these two opinions do you agree with? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.
• Grammar Dimensions, Ex. 9, pg. 324