Intermediate English Writing (1)

Finishing things off (2013.06.04 &  06.11)

Starting with the last session in May, we wrapped up Units 5 and 6 and wrote reaction essays. The final exam will be another in-class essay, to be administered June 11 at regular class time. On that day, please also bring hard copies of your best three final drafts from writing assignments the second half of the semester (units 4-6) to hand in to the instructor. At least one of those final drafts must be a reaction essay.

Thanks!

JBH

2013.05.21

    
1. Go over Unit 5 in class.

2. Go over Pinning it Down.

3. Homework: I.) Write an improved second draft of the Unit 5 Writing on page 131 and post it as a comment under your first draft on theblog. II.) Also, pre-read and answer exercises in parts 1-3 of Unit 6, AND III.), write the last exercise from Pinning it Down (teacher). Post the teacher writing by email to the blog before class time (5-28).

Thanks!

JBH
     
     

2013.05.14

  
This week's class was focused on lookiing at common problems to work on from our recent drafts.

In addition, we talked about using specifics and details to strengthen our writing. Students were asked in class to find ways to make improvements to their earlier writing, both in problem areas and in the specific details then used. Please type your improvements and bring them to class next week to hand in.  Also for next week, please move on in Unit 5 and write a first draft from page 131, exercise 5. First draft and feedback deadlines apply.  We will talk more about details when we meet.

Thanks,

JBH
   

2013.05.07

    
In the first part of our class today we looked at first drafts of last week's writing on the blog and gave people helpful feedback on their excellent writing.

We then spent the second part of the session working on a timed writing exercise, following the instructions on page 112 & 113, but using a different topic. Please use the fourth topic on page 114, the one that deals with timesaving devices in our homes. Please complete the timed writing exercise in 60 minutes on your own, and post it to the blog as soon as possible. Also, for next week's class, please complete a second draft of last week's Unit 4 essay from page 103 and paste it as a comment under your first draft of that essay.

Thanks!

JBH
       

2013.04.30


In our class session Week 9, we continued looking through Unit 4 of the text on argumentative essays. We talked about a few controversial areas dealing with copyright, intellectural property (IP), and plagiarism issues, Kim Dotcom's MEGA, Cialdini's Influence, and more. 
We also talked about writing an argumentative/persuasive essay on the topics mentioned above.

For next week (2013.05.07) please pre-read and pre-answer all individual questions in the remainder of Unit 4.

Also, please write the first draft of a persuasive essay, following directions on page 103, and post it by email to the class blog by class first-draft deadline time (Saturday midnight). Give feedback to two classmates before class time, following the guidelines on page 103 of the text, as well as any relevant questions from the Evergreen feedback form we used at the beginnning of the course.

Have fun!

JBH
    
   

2013.04.23 Preview

      
In class this week, expect to write an essay exam on a process or cause/effect topic. This is not a test of your background knowledge. It is, however, a test of your ability to sit and write in class under time pressure, a good skill to develop for the future.


Also, please bring hard copies of your best final drafts  of a process essay and a cause/effect essay that were written for this class. The essays should be typed, double-space, legible 12-point font, indented paragraphs, etc. Please make sure your name and your class day and time are on the front page.


Thanks!


JBH
     

2013.04.09

 
In Class:  
1. Another angle on cause and effect: Cause and Effect examples and observations
2. How to succeed
3. Book -- Unit 3
4. Blog

For next week, please write a second draft of your process analysis essay (Causes of Happiness) and post it as a comment on the blog under your first draft. Also, do the first half of Unit 4 in the text.

In class next week we will be doing a timed writing practice for the exam.

See you in class!

JBH
        

2013.04.02

  
Let’s step back and look at what we have written.

What was supposed to be the main focus of process essay? Pg. 30 – sequence connectors and time clauses; Process analysis organization page 36 gray box; Page 43 gray box sequence connectors; Page 45 gray box time clauses; Page 47 Editor’s checklist number 3 and 4.  Time and sequence signals are critical parts of Process Essays. Remember that in case I ask you to write a process essay for the Mid-term Exam.(hint, hint)

We looked at the class blog, took a break, and  then started on Unit 3. We did some freewriting and talking about Cause/Effect essays.

For next week, finish Unit 3 and write the first draft of the essay assignment on page 75, exercise 7.

See you in class!

JBH 
    

2013.03.26

   
In class, we went over the grammar and writing exercises in Unit 2. We also looked over a few peoples’ papers on the blog, making suggestions about ways to improve their writing using the add, remove, or replace formula.

For next week, please write a second draft of your essay from the first part of Unit 2.

Also, please time yourself (40 minutes) and write an “essay test” response to the Timed Writing topic at the top of page 56 or one of the optional topics on page 58 (#2). Use as much time as you want to organize your ideas and material, but please be fair and force yourself to write this "essay test" in only 40 minutes.

In the book, please read and answer all individual questions from the first half of Unit 3 (parts 1-3).

See you in class!

JBH 
  

2013.03.19

     
First, quick look at blog. Questions? Problems?
Volunteers?

Then, hit the book.
Wrap up Unit 1, move on to first three parts of Unit 
Then, talk about your ideas with a partner or two. Go through the book
together and discuss what you are planning. Help each other do some
brainstorming. You don’t need to use anyone’s ideas if you don’t want to, but
almost everyone can do things better if they talk their project over with a
person or two before they get too far. 
 
Pg. 34 Freewriting. Who did it? Again?

Pg. 36 game plan for process essay --- Due
Saturday midnight. Feedback for two classmates by class time 3-26. We WILL look at
some writing in class.’

Also, finish Chapter 2 in the book for 3-26 class.
Pre-read and answer all individual  questions.

See you in class!

JBH
    

2013.03.12

         
This week, class really got started with a look at the preliminary material in the book and an introduction to our writing process, entering posts on the class blog, and making comments on our classmates' work.


We pretty much wrapped up all the general info in Unit 1. If there are any questions or confusion about any points in that first unit, please bring them to class and ask about them to help everyone in class.  


For next week, there are a few things on the list.
First, please email your TV writing (from last week) to the blog, following the instructions below.
Then, using the feedback form linked below, please give helpful feedback to at least two classmates about their TV writing. 
Finally, please read and pre-answer all individual questions in the first three parts of Unit 2, up to the essay assignment on page 46. You DO NOT need to write the essay yet, save your ideas for next week. Just do a good job posting the TV draft, giving feedback, and getting the first part of Unit 2 done.


See you in class!


JBH
        

9 a.m. Class Blog

11 a.m. Class Blog

Feedback Form

2013.03.05    

Our first introductory session was a quick one. The instructor told students a bit about the class, and about himself, as well as showing some photos of his life outside the campus gates. 

We started off the session writing answers to the Three W's: Who, Why, and What. Then JBH told us about the class and his family, before moving on to an open question session.

Class finished off with assignments from the book as well as some writing for next week. Please get a copy of Effective Academic Writing 3, by Davis and Liss (Oxford), and pre-read and pre-answer all individual questions in the first three sections of Unit 1 (pages 1-19). Be ready to talk and do activities when we meet next week.
Also, please write 150-200 words on the following topic: TV: Could you do without it?

Bring a copy of your typed answer to that question when you come to class next week.

See you then!

JBH