Individual Conference

Here's the schedule for the individual conference. Please mark the time on your diary.
You have to show up ON TIME; otherwise, it will be considered as the absence of two classes. As mentioned in class, the classes on 23rd and 26th will be canceled. 

	4/21 (Wed)		4/23 (Fri)		4/26 (Mon)
2:00	1 Nhan	2:00	4 Shuang	2:00	11 Jack
2:15	2 Jeong Ki	2:15	5 Miguel	2:15
2:30	3 Anqi	2:30	6 Bek	2:30	12 Wendy
2:45		2:45	7 Wanlan	2:45	13 Han
3:00		3:00	8 Ke	3:00	14 Eunji
3:15		3:15	9 Xin	3:15	15 Brooke
3:30		3:30	10 Deng	3:30	16 Xianchen
				3:45	17 Lucas

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Presentation Schedule

4/28 (Wednesday)

• Xin
• Anqi
• Xianchen
• Bek

4/30 (Friday)

• Kecheng (Lucas)
• Nhan
• Qian (Brooke)
• Siqing (Wendy)
• Shuang

5/3 (Monday)

• Liang
• Han
• Ke
• Miguel
• Eunji

5/5 (Wednesday)

• Hainan (Jack)
• Jeong Ki
• Wanlan

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Friday's task!

Hi all,

The wonderful Spring Break is almost there, yay! :D Here's a task you're supposed to do before you enjoy the Spring Break. Please click on this, and rename the file name as soon as you get it. After you finish the task, please put the file to your essay3 folder in Dropbox.

Enjoy,
Joy!

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It's time to choose a topic!

Hi all,

We have two essays left: an argumentative essay and a research paper. As I told you in class, I do not want anyone of you to get stuck in the end of the semester, so I would like you to choose a topic that you can recycle for your research paper.

Basically, you can choose a topic for argumentative essays first, and keep in mind that it is important to choose a specific topic, which seems to be controllable. Do not try to talk about 'World Peace' or 'the Freedom of Human Beings,' which you cannot cover in your 3-5 page long papers. Instead, you would be able to look at this site to explore various topics for the argumentative essays. Again, please narrow down the topic as much as you can. Let's say, if you choose a topic such as "Violence in the Media," then focus on more detailed claim, like "the Side-Effects of Violence in the Media in American TV Shows to Teenagers."

It is always better to talk to me in advance if you are in trouble. I am willing to help you choose a topic if needed.  :D


Joy

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Argumentative essays (2)

In argumentative essays, the introductory paragraph should have a thesis statement that shows your opinion on the issue. If often mentions the opposing view first.

• E.g. Police departments say that the laws to control teenage gangs are necessary, but I believe that such laws are unfair, unconstitutional, and counterproductive.

When you state an opinion, you should indicate that it is an opinion by using a transition expression.

• In my opinion, everyone should be allowed to own a gun.
• In my view, no one should be allowed to own a gun.
• I believe that a Honda is better than a Toyota.
• I think a Lexus is better than a Honda.

In the body paragraphs, support your opinion with reasons. Each reason is a paragraph in the finished essay.

E.g. Theses statement: Although many people feel that doctors must do everything possible to keep their patients alive, I believe that euthanasia should be legalized for three reasons.

• Reason A: These patients have no change of recovery. --> body1
• Reason B: Medical costs are very high. --> body2
• Reason C: The family suffers. --> body3

In the concluding paragraph, you may (1) restate your thesis statement in different words or (2) summarize your reasons. In your final comment, you may call for action, as in the following example. Your final comment should be powerful –one that your readers will remember.

Joy

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Argumentative essays (1)

An argumentative essay is built around a specific statement (or main premise) that is debatable within the field in which you are studying. In other words, your readers may agree or disagree with the statement. Your essay will need to support that statement in a manner that convinces your readers of its truth.

Debatable statements
Statements with which other people might or might not agree. These are sometimes called "arguments", "assertions", "propositions" or "premises".

• E.g. Solar energy is the best way of meeting Australia's energy needs in the 21st century.

Non-debatable statements
Statements with which nobody would normally disagree or argue. These are sometimes called "facts".

• E.g. Coal and oil are the main sources of energy in Australia in the 20th century.

Remember!

When you write an argumentative essay, your topic sentence is an opinion. You can support your topic sentence with both opinions and facts. It is better to use facts, but it is possible to use opinions. Your paper will be stronger if you use more facts, however.

Joy

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Free Grammar Tutoring

Greetings all,

I write to let you know great information about FREE grammar tutoring. There will be three one-hour individual tutoring sessions during March and April. Tutors will be students in MATESL program or undergraduate students, whose native languages are English. Please leave comments if you're interested. :) Also, if you have any questions, please contact Dr. Tania Ionin at tionin@illinois.edu. 

Joy 

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Friday's task!

Hello class,

Here's today's task!

Enjoy!

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Peer review session

Hi class,

For today, we will have a peer review session in which you give feedback to your classmate's outline and get comments about yours at the same time. It's not scary at all as the picture above shows. :D Peer reviews are very helpful and constructive since you can share different perspectives about a similar essay topic with your peers, and in so doing you can reflect your own writing based on what you and your peer discussed.

Students from some cultures do not seem comfortable when they give feedback to peers and get comment from others. However, to peer review is totally different from criticism, which is not healthy and constructive. Also, here are some tips that you keep in mind when peer reviewing, so please take a look. Plus, here is an interesting Youtube video, in which elementary school students do peer-reviewing.

 

For yourself:

1. Think of your reviewer as your partner. Be grateful to their help!

2. Tell your reviewer about the purpose and audience. Don't simply ask reviewers to "look it over".

3. Tell your reviewers what you want them to do. Direct their attention to the particular features you want to have advice about.

4. Stifle your tendency to be defensive. (à It’s quite important because we tend to view suggestions as criticisms. This may halt the willingness of reviewers to give feedback.)

5. Ask your reviewers to explain the reasons for their suggestions.

6. Take notes on your reviewers' suggestions. Don't just let them go!

For reviewers:

1. Think of yourself as a coach, not a judge.

2. Consider all writing by your peer as “works in progress.”

3. After hearing or reading a peer’s writing, briefly summarize it to check that you and your peer are clear about what the peer said or meant to say.

4. Start with what you think is well done. No one likes to hear only negative comments.

5. Be honest in your suggestions for improvement.

6. Based your responses on an understanding of the writing process, and remember that you’re reading drafts, not finished products. All writing can be revised.

7. Give concrete and specific responses. General comments such as “This is good” or “This is weak” don’t offer much help. Describe specifically what is good or weak.

Joy

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Compare-and-contrast essays (2)

There are two ways to organize a comparison/contrast paragraph. One way is called block organization, and the other way is called point-by-point organization.

1. Block Organization

In block organization, you group all the similarities together in one block and all the differences together in one block.

2. Point-by-point Organization

In point-by-point organization, you write about similarities and differences by subtopic.

Remember!

If you have a lot to say about each subtopic, you may need to write a separate paragraph for each one. The pattern of organization you choose depends on your topic. Also, whether you discuss more similarities or more differences (or both) depends on your topic. (Caution: limit your paragraph to one subtopic; otherwise, your paragraph will not have unity.)

A topic sentence for a comparison/contrast paragraph should name the topic and also indicate comparison/contrast organization.

• E.g.) The left and right sides of your brain process information in different ways.
• E.g.) When buying wireless telephone service, you should compare different plans on four points.

A concluding sentence for a comparison/contrast paragraph may repeat the main idea.

• E.g.) The hiring decision is difficult because both applicants are so similar.

A concluding sentence may also make a recommendation.

• E.g.) However, JX would be the better choice for the receptionist job because of her experience with patient contact and preference for working with other staff.
• E.g.) In my opinion, the TeleVox telephone is the best choice for our company.

Use comparison and contrast signals to show similarities and differences.

• For comparison: similarly, likewise, also, too, as, just as, equal, the same, similar to, equal to, (just) like, the same as, equally, both…and, not only…but also.

• For contrast: in contrast, on the other hand, however, but, yet, while, whereas, although, even though, though, different(ly) from, unlike, differ (from) (in).

Joy

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Compare-and-contrast essays

( The picture is from http://www.spotthedifference.com/ )

Hi all,

We've moved  onto a different topic about compare-and-contrast essays. Before we get started, take a look at the differences between comparison and contrast as follows:

Compare vs. Contrast

1. To compare is…

to examine (two or more objects, ideas, people, etc.) in order to note similarities and difference.

E.g.) Compare two pieces of cloth; compare the governments of two nations.

2. To contrast is…

to show unlikeness or differences; note the opposite natures, purposes, etc.

E.g.) Contrast the political rights of Romans and Greeks

Also, you can frequently see the following words in the compare-and-contrast essays:

like, similar to, also, unlike, similarly, in the same way, likewise, again, compared to, in contrast, in like manner, contrasted with, on the contrary, however, although, yet, even though, still, but, nevertheless, conversely, at the same time, regardless, despite, while, on the one hand … on the other hand.

Like transitional expressions, the words above give readers a direction about what you're doing in a paper, so do some practice to use those words in an appropriate way.

We're going to continue to work on compare-and-contrast essays this week, so get prepared in advance. See you!

Joy

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