ANNOUNCEMENTS

Last Updated on July 1, 2009


NOTES on Abbreviations: P = Presentation, W = Writing, R = Reading, Tbk = SS Textbook, SCW = Success with College Writing (Writing Textbook), HW = Homework, Ex = Exercise, Ch = Chapter, OP = Optional.

For Class on Friday, April 17, 2009

1. Read the following sections of Study Skills (SS) Textbook (Tbk) and review the class on Wednesday, April 15, 2009:
(1) pp. 4-5 for very important information about SS.
(2) pp. 9-10 for goals and structure of SS.
(3) p. 13 for goals and tasks in the writing section of SS.
(4) p. 14 for suggestions about dictionaries. Also, see this web site to learn more about English dictionaries.
(5) "Goal of the section" on p. 35 for goal of the reading section of SS.
(6) p. 51 for goal and outline of the presentation section of SS.
(7) pp. 52-53 and p. 55 for body language of (a) posture, (b) eye contact, (c) gesture, and (d) voice control.
2. Read SCW (the writing textbook, "Success with College Writing"), p. v. and p. 3 and prepare for the class on Friday, April 17, 2008.
3. See Tbk, p. 20 (and books on Microsoft Word, if necessary), and start learning how to write English with computers.
4. Start the KITIE homework (Today's Handout, pp. 5-6) and finish it by May 31.
5. Start looking for a book or a movie to talk about in your Speech #3 in June.

For Class on Wednesday, April 22, 2009

1. Read Ch 2, SCW (pp. 11-16)

For Class on Friday, April 24, 2008

1. Read Ch 3, SCW (pp. 17-19): Read and answer the following questions.
(1) What are the three methods to develop a paragraph (i.e., develop the main idea [= the topic sentence])?
(2) What do you do in the three methods?
(3) What does the concluding sentence do in a paragraph?
2. Read Tbk, pp. 37-39, about Paraphrasing which you will use a lot not only in writing, but also in reading and presentations in this course and answer the following questions:
(1) What is paraphrasing?
(2) When do we use paraphrasing? What are the three purposes of a paraphrase?
(3) How long should a paraphrase be?
(4) Why is paraphrasing importan?
(5) How can we paraphrase? What are the six ways to paraphrase?

For Class on Friday, May 1, 2009

1. Do Exercise 1 (Tbk, pp. 22-23)
2. Read SCW, Ch 5 and finish Exercise 1
3. If you did not finish Handouts, pp. 10-12, complete the tasks in these handouts. We will check your paragraphs at the beginning of this class as a part of the review on the last class.

For Class on Friday, May 8, 2009

1. Read Steps 1 and 2 [for Reading Skill] (Tbk, pp. 40-41)
2. Start the homework for May 13 (Class Handout, pp. 13-14)

For Class on Wednesday, May 13, 2009

1. Very Important Homework of Writing #1 (Class Handout, pp. 13-14)
Note: Don't forget to copy Page 29 of the SS textbook and attach the copy to your Paragraph #1.
2. Homework on Sptes 1 and 2 (Handout, p. 15)
3. Read "Stpe 3" in Academic Reading (Tbk, pp. 43-44)

For Class on Friday, May 15, 2009

1. Read SCW, Ch 6 and do #3 and #4.
2. Do Ex 2 "London" on pp. 30-31, Tbk.
3. If you have not finished the KITIE homework (pp. 5-6) yet, start it NOW. It takes time to finish the homework. You now have only two weeks to complete it.

For Class on Wednesday, May 20, 2009

1. Do Steps 2 and 3 on "London" (Tbk, pp. 30-31)

For Class on Friday, May 22, 2009:

For Class on Wednesday, May 27, 2009:

1. Very Important Homework of Writing #1 (Final Version) (10%)
Staple the following before you submit the homework:
(1) Old Writing #1 and Its Checklists
(2) New (and Final) Writing #1 and New Checklist (= Copy of p. 29, Tbk)

For Class on Friday, May 29, 2009:

1. Prepare for Speech #2 "Show and Tell" (Handout, pp. 39-40)
Note: This is a "show and tell" presentation. So BRING the object to class, SHOW it to your audience, and TELL info about it. If the object is too big for you to bring to class, you can show its picture instead.

Sunday, May 31, 2009:

For Class on Wednesday, June 3, 2009:

1. Homework of Writing #2 (Multi-paragraph Essay) (10%)
(1) Use Handout (pp. 17-18) and finish the final version of your Writing #2.
(2) Copy p. 29 of Tbk and staple it to your Writing #2.

Class on Friday, June 5, 2009:

This class has been canceled due to the instructor's health problem. Therefore, the very important mid-term presentations of Speech #3s will be given in the next class on Wednesday, June 10. Use the worksheet (Handout, pp. 43-44) and prepare/rehearse a lot. I will be looking forward to your speeches.
Here are some hints to improve your Speech #3:
(1) After the last class on Wednesday, a couple of students asked me about "Overview" in the Introduction section of Speech #3. As the worksheet (II.2.(3), p. 43) says, first look at Section 4 (Tbk, p. 69) and the left section on p. 32 (Class HO). Here, you just tell us what you are going to talk about in the Body section. So you may say, "Today, I will cover the following three things about xxx (= the name of your movie or book). First, (I will give you some) information about the movie or the book. Second, (I will summarize) its story. And, fiinally, (I will give you) my opinion about it." Note that this is only an example, and you can be creative. But remember, you have only 90 seconds overall.

(2) In Speech #3, not only physical message but also story message (or the content) will be important. And, according to the worksheet, you need to talk A LOTt in 90 seconds. As a result, many studnets without enough rehearsals went overtime in the past. This means you need to rehearse with a watch and physical message a lot so that you can cover all points smoothly within the time limit. I hope no one in our class will go overtime.
Good luck with your Speech #3!!!

For Class on Friday, June 10, 2009:

1. Self-evaluation of Speech #2 (Handout, p. 42)
2. Speech #3 (Mid-term Speech) (pp. 43-44) (10%)

For Class on Wednesday, June 17, 2009:

1. Self-evaluation of Speech #3 (Handout, p. 46)
2. Introduction Section of Final Speech (Speech #4) with Poster(s): From Arai to Yoshida

Friday, June 19, 2009:

Final Presentation Rehearsals, Part I: Kouzuma to Arai

Wednesday, June 24, 2009:

Final Presentation Rehearsals, Part II: Yoshida to Kobayashi

Friday, June 26, 2009:

Final Presentations, Part I: Arai to Kouzuma (20%)
Note: This is like a final examination in the Speech section of Study Skills. If you get sick on the day of your Final Speech, see a doctor on the day or the next day and get an official document from him/her. Without such a document, we CANNOT postpone your final speech. Take a good care of your health and finish your final presentation according to the schedule.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009:

Final Presentations, Part II: Kobayashi to Yoshida (20%)
Note: This is like a final examination in the Speech section of Study Skills. If you get sick on the day of your Final Speech, see a doctor on the day or the next day and get an official document from him/her. Without such a document, we CANNOT postpone your final speech. Take a good care of your health and finish your final presentation according to the schedule.

For Class on Friday, July 3, 2009:

1. Finish Handout (pp. 21-22) and prepare for the Final Examination on Reading and Writing (on July 8)
(1) Use your watch/clock and try to finish the handout (pp. 21-22) in 70 minutes.
(2) Look at the hints in the new class handout (p. 57) and check your answers in Part I.
(3) Finish the new handout, p. 57.
(4) Come to this class with (i) your own answer to Part II and (ii) the finished handout on p. 57.