Vocabulary. We started class by talking through some of the words from your vocabulary page. I asked you to put a new date on your page, and add (at least) five more words. Keep working on creating definitions in words from English that you already know. Defining new words in words you already know will allow you to say the same thing more than one way - a very important skill.
We continued to work on noticing families of words (words with the same "root" or a piece of the word that signaled a connecting meaning). This is a powerful way to learn vocabulary. It lets you learn a whole group of words, and sets you up to recognize new words.
Sentence patterns. I suggested that you read Chapter 5, on the simple past. You took some time to read through the "rules" and I answered questions about what you were supposed to "do". Do the practice exercises, in the textbook and the workbook = as many as it takes until you feel you know the patterns. I know most of you understand that the past tense is formed by adding "d" or "ed" for regtular verbs. This chapter tells you about some other common forms in English for representing past events.
Memoir. Tonight each of you shared the focus of your writing with the class. Your topics sound like they will make great reading for me. Thanks!
Audience concerns: As you are writing, it will be important to remember that you are writing for our class and not just for me. So think of your audience as your classmates and me.
Writing process: I spent some time talking to you about your writing process.
1. Identify your focus: I suggested that you begin by deciding on a general focus for what your memoir will be about - and all of you have done that.
2. Write down some ideas for how to develop your focus. I suggested that you then make a list of some stories or "scenes" that you will write about to tell your reader about your focus. This list will help you keep the big picture in mind - so you know where your overall story is going.
3. Write without editing. After you have some ideas about what stories you want to write - I suggested that you write as much as you can - without editing out anything, and without worrying too much about your word choice and grammar. We will look at that later. For now - write into the flow of your thinking. Worrying too much about grammar and vocabulary is like driving a car with the brakes on! It will slow down your thinking, make you lose the train of your thought, and block out new ideas and associations. So write, write, write - and we will work on making the writing into the language you want -LATER.
For next week:
1. Vocabulary. Make sure you have updated your vocabulary page. Put the date for this week and add your new words. You can add some of the new words we talked about in class. Also, add any new words from you classes or reading that you want to talk about.
2. Sentence patterns. Work on Chapter 5 on using the simple past. Also look at the irregular verbs in appendix 3. This will help you write sentences that are more clear in terms of the sequence of events in you life.
Last week I suggested that you look at Chapter 7 on count and noncount nouns. If you have not looked at that chapter already, do so.
3. Memoir or biography. Write 1 1/2 pages and attach them to your page for in-class writing.
I now have a link to everyone's google.site. I will be reading your writing on Sunday and Monday so I can have some feedback for you either right before or right after class. I am excited to start reading your stories. Thanks for the good class tonight and see you next week.
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