Linguistic Accuracy A: April 2011

Thursday, April 7, 2011

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, April 6, 2011

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, April 5, 2011

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, April 4, 2011

Monday, 4/4

Classwork

Spelling quiz
Reviewed homework
Article quiz

Homework

None!

Friday, April 1, 2011

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.

Prompts

The date indicates the day that we wrote the first draft in class and consequently the folder in which you should save any late work.
Task 12 (3/30): 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.
Task 11 (3/29): 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.
Task 10 (3/22): Some people prefer to get up early in the morning and start the day’s work. Others prefer to get up later in the day and work until late at night. Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your choice.
Task 9 (3/9): Some high schools require all students to wear school uniforms. Other high schools permit students to decide what to wear to school. Which of these two school policies do you think is better? Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.
Task 8 (3/8): Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Boys and girls should attend separate schools. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
Task 7 (3/2): Some people prefer to eat at food stands or restaurants. Other people prefer to prepare and eat food at home. Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
Task 6 (3/1): Nowadays, food has become easier to prepare. Has this change improved the way people live? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
Task 5 (2/23): 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.
Task 4 (2/22): Should governments spend more money on improving roads and highways or public transportation? Why? Use specific reasons and details to develop your essay.
Task 3 (2/16): Imagine that you have received some land to use as you wish. How would you use this land? Use specific details to explain your answer.
Task 2 (2/15): You have money to purchase either a house or a business. Which would you choose to buy? Give specific reasons to explain your choice.
Task 1 (diagnostic): What are some important qualities of a good supervisor (boss)? Use specific details and examples to explain why these qualities are important.

Late 10-Minute Paragraphs

1. In the list above, find the prompt for the day that you were absent.

2. Open TextEdit.

3. Type this header:

Your Name

Task #

Draft #

Date on which you are turning it in

4. Type for 10 minutes.

5. Do not use any dictionaries, websites, friends, etc.

At School

6. Save your document as "your name.task#" in Classes, Gigger, Linguistic Accuracy Winter 2011, and the folder for the date that we completed the paragraph in class.

7. Print your document. Staple it on top of the preceding draft(s).

8. Place it in my box in 103.

From Home

6. Save your document personally. When you return to school, save it in the classes folder as outlined above.

7. Email your document to emgigger@gmail.com.

8. Place the preceding draft(s) in my box in 103 as soon as possible.

Updated Late Policy

This policy replaces the confusing policy outlined in your syllabus. The updated policy will apply to all assignments for the second half of the semester.

1. If you are absent, you are responsible for any classwork, homework, quizzes and/or tests that you missed. I will not ask you for the work. I will simply post the assignments online daily. It is your job to consult this log or a classmate.

2. If I returned or handed out any papers in class, I will place them in my box in 103. You can then pick them up Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

3. Any homework can be made up within a week. You will lose 10% for each business day that it is late. The only exceptions are for doctors' notes and extreme emergencies.

4. If you miss a quiz or test, you should reschedule with me face-to-face or in a comment on the relevant posting. You should make-up the exam within one day of your return. Every day after that, you will lose one participation point.

5. If you make up classwork, you will regain your participation points.

6. If you make up homework, you will regain your homework points.

7. Remember that if you turn in one draft late, all subsequent drafts will be late. Get those drafts in!