Blog Post #4 - Unit 6 (Explanatory essay about the importance of place in a movie or book)

For this blog post, you will revise the essay you worked on in class today (9/30). You should write about a movie or book in which the setting/place is very important. The essay should include details and examples to explain why the place is such an important part of the movie. You can see the example essay about Midnight in Paris on page 136 of the textbook. Use the suggestions made by your partner to improve your essay and then post the final version on your blog.

Posts should be made before class on 10/14.

Grading Rubrics

Click below for the grading rubrics for the formal essays, blogs, and class participation. These provide details on all the grading criteria. Please comment below or let me know privately if you think something is unclear or unfair. Questions, comments, and suggestions regarding the grading rubrics are welcome!

Formal Essay Grading Rubrics

Blogs Grading Rubrics

Class Participation Grading Rubrics

Blog Post #3 - Unit 5 (Geoturism)

I am so sorry for posting this late! I posted it on the blog for my Tuesday class, and I didn't realize I forgot to also post it on the blog for this class until just now.

For this post, see textbook pages 109-114. You will write a short cause-effect essay focused on the possible effects of geotourism for a particular tourist destination. You can choose to focus on a destination in Korea, or any other part of the world. Think about what ways geotourism might change this destination. These changes can be positive and/or negative changes. Try to include some of the language for writing about cause-effect relationships (If..., (then)...). Think creatively, and as always, let me know if you have any questions. Good luck!

Posts should be before class on 9/23. However, since I made a mistake and failed to get this note posted earlier, I will not count your posts late if you get them in by later this week.

Essay #1 - due 10/7

You will need to type, print, and submit your essays in class on 10/7. You may choose one of the following options:

Option #1. Art - Write a descriptive essay about your favorite painting. Provide some background details about the painting, then describe (what you see), interpret (what you think it means), and evaluate (what you like and/or dislike) it.

Option #2. Literature - Think of two fictional characters from books you have read. Write a comparative essay explaining some of the similarities and differences between these two characters.

Option #3. Education - Imagine Korean universities decided to stop using the Suneung exam for university admissions. Write a cause-effect essay discussing the possible effects of this decision.

Option #4. Global Issues - There is currently a refugee crisis in Europe as millions of Syrians are forced to leave their homes due to the war. Germany is welcoming many of these asylum seekers, but more countries need to help. Write an opinion essay explaining whether or not you think the Korean government should welcome more Syrians into the country.

An essay about writing essays

As we prepare for the first formal essay, which will be due on 10/7, I thought it might be helpful to give you an example of an essay that explains the formatting and organization requirements. Please find the link to the example essay here

Blog Post #2 - Summary of one reading from Units 1-4

Although we will not be spending much time with the first part of the book, please choose one of the readings from Units 1-4. You should write a short summary of the reading passage. You may also choose to share some of your opinions and reactions to the readings. Posts should be a minimum of one paragraph, but feel free to write as much as you'd like. Remember, these are your blogs.

Here are the options for the reading passages. Again, just choose one (although you are certainly welcome to read more):

1. Unit 1, Lesson A: "The Ape in the Office" (pp. 5-7)
2. Unit 1, Lesson B: "Gender in the Wild: Three Studies Reveal New Findings" (pp. 12-14)
3. Unit 2, Lesson A: "Tech Detectives" (pp. 27-29)
4. Unit 2, Lesson B: "King Tut's Family Secrets" (pp. 34-38)
5. Unit 3, Lesson A: "Living on an Urban Planet" (pp. 51-53)
6. Unit 3, Lesson B: "The Urban Visionary" (pp. 59-61)
7. Unit 4, Lesson A: "Coping in a World of Risk" (pp. 73-75)
8. Unit 4, Lesson B: Yellowstone's Smoking Bomb" (p. 80-84) 

Summaries should be uploaded to your blogs before class on 9/16.

Skills from Units 1-4

Sorry to go so quickly through the skills in class today. Remember that we will be able to slow

down and spend more time on each unit as we move forward in the course. You might want to go back and review some of the skills we briefly discussed. As always, please let me know if you have any questions.

Unit 1 – Social Relationships

Reading and Critical Thinking Skills

                  Evaluating supporting arguments (p. 8)

                  Identifying main and supporting ideas (p. 9)

Writing Skills

                  Making comparisons (pp. 17-18 and 22)

                  Reviewing paragraph writing (p. 19)

Unit 2 – Science and Detection

Reading and Critical Thinking Skills

                  Distinguishing fact from speculation (p. 30)

                  Identifying a sequence of events (p. 31)

Writing Skills

Review of modals of obligation and possibly (pp. 41-42 and 46)

                  Writing an opinion paragraph (p. 42)

Unit 3 – City Solutions

Reading and Critical Thinking Skills

                  Evaluating sources (p. 55)

                  Identifying reasons (p. 56)

Writing Skills

                  Using the simple past and used to (pp. 64 and 68)

                  Writing a thesis statement (p. 65)

Unit 4 – Danger Zones

Reading and Critical Thinking Skills

                  Analyzing and evaluating evidence (p. 76)

                  Organizing your notes (p. 77)

Writing Skills

                  Using parallel structure (pp. 87-88 and 92)

                  Writing an introductory paragraph (p. 88)

You might also want to read the example paragraphs and essays in Lesson C of each unit (pp. 19-20, pp. 44-45, p. 67, and p. 90).

New Classroom - 성-706

I requested a classroom change, so our class will now be meeting in 성-706. I hope that works for everyone! See you next Wednesday in our new classroom, where we will meet for the rest of the semester.

First blog post - self introductions

Please write a paragraph introducing yourself to me and your classmates. You may choose to mention some of the details you talked about in class today, such as your hobbies/interests, study abroad experience, future goals, favorites, reasons for taking this class, goals for the semester, etc. Please write freely and share as much about yourself as you would like. Also, try to let me know what you hope to get out of this class (goals/expectations) and any questions or concerns you might have about it at this time.

Make sure to post your self introduction before class on 9/9.