Introductions. We started class last night by introducing ourselves. We each shared a story about ourselves and gave some information about who we are. We have students from many different parts of the world, with many different levels of experience with English. This is an advantage because you will each bring you own knowledge to the classroom. This means that when you work in groups - there will probably be someone there who can help you figure out what you need to know.
Syllabus. The syllabus is posted to the right on this blog. It lists the major assignments for this course and how they will be graded. As I said in class, we may renegotiate the schedule, the assignments, and what we do in class as we get a better idea of what you want to get out of this class.
Google site. You each created a google site that had pages three pages: a page for you to list your vocabulary, a page for you to list and work on sentence patterns that you want to learn; and a file cabinet page where you can attach documents you write in class. I will b able to give you feedback by looking at what you post on this site, and writing comments for you.
Course writing project. During the second part of class you did some writing for your major project for the course: either a memoir or a biography. A memoir is writing that reflects back on the experiences you have had over your life, and a biography is writing that is about someone else. We will read some short, sample biographical writing, and some memoirs so you have an idea of the form and content of these genres.
The writing you did last night was brainstorming = writing to give you ideas for what you might write about. I encouraged you to make lists and write down ideas, rather than starting in by writing complete sentences. It is too hard to put your ideas into perfect language before you have even worked out what your ideas will be. Some of you were happy with the ideas you wrote, and have a good match for the memoir/biography assignment. Some of you will want to change your focus, or broaden or narrow the focus of your writing. We will do some more brainstorming next week.
What to do for next class.
1. Review your google site. Make sure you have created the pages correctly, and that you have posted your writing from last night. If you have problems or questions, you can send me an email, or stop by my office in CAS 324 during my office hours (12:00 - 2:00). It is best to send an email to make an appointment, since I sometimes have other meetings.
2. Send an email to ENG506.516@gmail.com. The email should be from the email account you will use to communicate with me for this course. Paste the url (web address) for your google site into your email. When I receive your email, I will be able to provide you comments and support for the work you post on your google site pages for vocabulary, sentence patterns, and writing.
3. Look through the first Chapter in your textbook on present tense, and do the workbook sheets as you choose. As I said in class, our focus will be on the language patterns and vocabulary in class writing - but this text will provide an organized structure for working through grammar features in an orderly way.
4. Think of a topic you would like to develop vocabulary for.
5. Bring some personal photographs (or links to your photographs online) to class. These photograph should be relevant to what you want to write about for your memoir or biography. Ideally they should be pictures of people, places, and events that you or someone you know photographed, but if you do not have access to your own (or your friends') pictures, do your best to find images that will work.
What we will do in class on 9.16.
1. We will start class by reviewing this blog - to make sure you understood what is written here. We will make sure everyone has sent an email to the class email, and we will make sure you can access and edit your google.sites.
2. You will work in groups to identify vocabulary for topics or areas of importance to you. You will all have different lists of "new" words (because you have different interests and different vocabularies). Each of you will post your words on your google.site.
If there are words in this blog post that are unfamiliar to you - you may want to put them on your vocabulary list.
3. We will share, talk about, and do some writing using the photographs as prompts.
4. We will look through the text book materials on simple present and present progressive.
5. I will set up the assignments for next week.
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