ESL 114E

Our picture!

2010-04-19T20:15:00.001-05:00

Hey all,

Here's our picture! :D

Joy

Friday's task!

2010-04-14T15:40:00.003-05:00

Hi all,

Today, we'll continue to think about how to make an effective presentation, and I want you to make a simple ppt file with your group members before you actually have a presentation about your research paper.

Here's an article that you've already read before, which is about euthanasia. Please take a look at this article again, and think about how you can highlight the main points of this article during the presentation in an effective and impressive manner.

One of the group members should be in charge of presenting the ppt file on behalf of other group members, so be ready for the presentation as well. Each group will have 4 minutes. (Just FYI, you will have 6-7 minutes for the final research paper presentation.)

Enjoy,
Joy

Making an effective presentation

2010-04-14T15:23:00.003-05:00

Hi all,

This video would be helpful to get a good sense about making a good presentation. Hope it helps.

Joy

APA Guidelines

2010-04-14T15:21:00.001-05:00

Hi class,

Doing citations is really important in academic writing, but learning the specific ways to cite is very challenging. I know it's always hard for a few classes to cover how to use the APA styles in a proper manner.

I know you need more time to get familiar with the APA styles, but get prepared yourself for the world of the academic writing! Please visit the following link, and you will find further information about the APA. Click on here!

Joy

The answer keys are here!

2010-04-09T15:30:00.000-05:00

All right, here goes the answers to the task! :D

Joy

Today's task!!

2010-04-09T13:45:00.001-05:00

Hi all,

TGIF!! Here's the task you're going to do in class! Click on this link!

Enjoy! :D

Fall 2010 Schedule

2010-04-07T09:54:00.002-05:00

Hi all,

It's going toward the end of the semester, which means you're supposed to think about your schedule for Fall 2010 in advance. Basically, most of you end up with going to ESL 115, which is the next level of ESL 114. In order to register for ESL 115, you NEED TO get the pre-approval from me first, and I'll go over this during either class period or individual conference. What you need to think about beforehand is your schedule. Think about what you'll be taking next semester, and let me know your 1st and 2nd choice about the ESL classes. Once you choose the ESL class, it's very hard to change the schedule, so be sure to think carefully. Also, FYI, there's no instructors settled for each class. All right, take a look at ESL 115 schedule below:

Section G 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM MWF room 169 Davenport Hall
Section H 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM MWF room 169 Davenport Hall
Section N 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM MWF room 169 Davenport Hall
Section T 04:00 PM - 04:50 PM MWF room 169 Davenport Hall

Joy

Individual Conference

2010-03-31T15:57:00.002-05:00

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

Presentation Schedule

2010-03-29T16:13:00.003-05:00

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

Friday's task!

2010-03-17T16:31:00.001-05:00

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!

It's time to choose a topic!

2010-03-17T16:17:00.001-05:00

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

Argumentative essays (2)

2010-03-12T13:58:00.003-06:00

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

Argumentative essays (1)

2010-03-12T13:58:00.000-06:00

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

Free Grammar Tutoring

2010-03-08T16:23:00.002-06:00

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

Friday's task!

2010-03-05T13:55:00.002-06:00

Hello class,

Here's today's task!

Enjoy!

Peer review session

2010-03-05T13:45:00.003-06:00

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

Compare-and-contrast essays (2)

2010-03-03T16:10:00.001-06:00

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

Compare-and-contrast essays

2010-03-01T17:57:00.005-06:00

( 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

Just for fun!

2010-02-26T14:19:00.001-06:00

Do you guys know how many meanings 'dude' has? See the following video! Enjoy!

Friday's task

2010-02-25T20:21:00.004-06:00

Hi all,

A cause-and-effect essay is one of most common academic writing patterns that you'll be dealing with in college, and in this essay, it is significant to focus on the relationships between cause(s) and effect(s). Please remember three different types for cause-and-effect essays that I mentioned in class: (1) a single cause and multiple effects, (2) multiple causes and a single effect, and (3) causal chains. Your essay would be one of these three types, and in any case, make sure to clearly articulate the logical chains between cause(s) and effect(s).

In addition, it is still important for your essay to have a clear thesis statement and topic sentences. As for cause-and-effect essays, your thesis statement and topic sentences should include reason(s) and result(s) about a topic that you're focusing on. Also, don't forget to provide convincing supporting details to underpin your claims.

Today, you will develop an outline for the essay before you start to write it down. (You DO NOT have to finish an entire essay.) Here's a sample outline (click on the link) for the cause-and-effect essay, which would be helpful for you to come up with ideas. (This is a student's work, so it might include some grammatical mistakes.)

*Before you start, please read the following instruction carefully.

Instruction:

Your outline:

should have a thesis statement including three major factors, which would be cause(s) or effect(s).
should have three topic sentences, which consist of each body.
should have a couple of supporting details (examples) for each topic sentence.

DO NOT submit the outline via e-mail or Dropbox; instead, POST the outline to your own BLOG by 4:00 P.M.

Enjoy,
Joy

Cause-and-effect essays

2010-02-22T13:20:00.001-06:00

 

CAUSE AND EFFECT ESSAY 
(Copyright @ 2006 Bogazici University SFL)

 
 
 
 
Definition:  
In this kind of essay, the aim is to explain the causes (reasons) or the effects (results) of an event or situation. 
    e.g. Causes of air pollution (multiple factors leading to air pollution). 
    e.g. Effects of watching too much TV (many effects of a situation).
 
  
Sometimes an event causes something to happen, and that situation leads to another event, and it causes another event to happen. This is called the causal chain or domino effect.  
    e.g. Use of deodorants will bring the end of the world.  
  
There may be several causes or effects of a situation. However, in a student essay, it is advisable to keep the number of major points to 2 or 3, which form separate developmental paragraphs.
 
  
Organization:  
Depending on the topic, there may be three patterns of organization: 
 
 
1. Multiple causes-->effect 
In this pattern, the organization is as follows: 
  
thesis statement: Air pollution is caused by the following factors: exhaust gases from cars, uncontrolled factory releases, and burning of low-quality coal for heating. 

I. exhaust gases from cars  
    A. government does not have enough control  
    B. citizens are not conscientious  
II. uncontrolled factory gases  
    A. no regular checks on gases released  
    B. factories are inside the borders of residential areas  
III. burning of low-quality coal for heating  
    A. no governmental control  
    B. other forms of energy too expensive 
  
  
Each developmental paragraph is devoted to one of the causes of air pollution. Each cause is supported by two minor supports. While writing, these major and minor ideas should be adequately explained and exemplified as well.
 
  
2. Cause-->Multiple effects 
In this pattern, the effects of a certain situation are explained in separate paragraphs, with the following organization: 
  
thesis statement: Watching too much TV is one of the major 
sociological issues of this century, which has many effects on 
the physiology and psychology of people. 
I. eating disorders 
    A. TV meals  
    B. obesity 
II. communication problems 
    A. more violence 
    B. no interpersonal talk 
     
Again, we have grouped related effects under two main points: physiological and psychological. Then, we have supported each effect with two minor supports (A and B). While writing, we should explain these major and minor supports by giving examples and/or defining what we mean, as well.
 
  
3. Causal chain / Domino 
In this pattern, the events lead to one another, as in the following organization: 
  
thesis statement: Using deodorants with chlorofluorocarbon gas will bring the end of world. 
I. Chlorofluorocarbon gases are contained in most deodorants  and released by  some factories  into the air.  
II. This gas causes the ozone layer to become thinner and finally disappear in patches. 
III. The unfiltered ultraviolet rays of the sun cause overheating in the poles of the earth, where the icebergs start to melt. 
IV. The huge amount of water released from the poles leads to a rise in the sea level. 
V. The sea will cover the land and this will be the end of the world.  
 
Again, each major point should be supported with examples, statistics that show that there are some factories and deodorants that release chlorofluorocarbons, that there is a rise in the sea-level, etc. 
 
 
Language: 
To explain reasons and results, we use: 
As a result, As a consequence, Consequently, So, Since, As,  Because, One reason why ... One of the most important reasons why ..., The main reasons why ..., There are other reasons, too, ..
 
  
Do not forget that using transitions enables the piece of writing to be coherent; it is easier for the reader to follow our ideas when transitions are used to link them together. However, overuse of transitions causes a traffic jam and should be avoided. We should be using transitions sparingly (only when necessary). 
 

How to avoid plagiarism?

2010-02-19T13:33:00.002-06:00

Hi class,

Today we're going to talk about the importance of academic integrity and how to avoid plagiarism. To avoid plagiarism, use the following three ways: quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing. (*Details for how to quote, paragraph, and summarize will be dealt with in ESL115, and ESL114 will not go deep.)

Quotations must be identical to the original, using a narrow segment of the source. They must match the source document word for word and must be attributed to the original author.

Paraphrasing involves putting a passage from source material into your own words. A paraphrase must also be attributed to the original source. Paraphrased material is usually shorter than the original passage, taking a somewhat broader segment of the source and condensing it slightly.

Summarizing involves putting the main idea(s) into your own words, including only the main point(s). Once again, it is necessary to attribute summarized ideas to the original source. Summaries are significantly shorter than the original and take a broad overview of the source material.

If you're more interested in strategies above, you can go to this website to get further information.

Joy

International Mother Language Day

2010-02-17T22:50:00.008-06:00

Hi all,

Sunday February 21st is International Mother Language Day, as decided by the U.N. This is taking form here at UIUC as a campus-wide event that entails a poster board being passed around to various buildings here at campus. Students can use this board to express themselves in their mother tongue, with the board ultimately becoming a multilingual tapestry, promoting pride in one's mother tongue.

Here is an advertisement for the event that also displays the other locations where the board will be hosted. (To see the details Click here!)

For more information on the event, please visit the following page:

http://portal.unesco.org/culture/en/ev.php-URL_ID=38724&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

Enjoy,

Joy

How to use a comma?

2010-02-17T22:46:00.002-06:00

One student asked me when to use a comma and when to exclude a comma, so I introduce a link that has detailed information about using commas. Hope it helps. Here's the link:
Click on here!

Joy

Run-on & Comma splices mistakes

2010-02-17T22:44:00.001-06:00

Identifying Independent and Dependent Clauses

When you want to use commas and semicolons in sentences and when you are concerned about whether a sentence is or is not a fragment, a good way to start is to be able to recognize dependent and independent clauses. The definitions offered here will help you with this.

Independent Clause

An independent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and verb and expresses a complete thought. An independent clause is a sentence.

E.g.) Jim studied in the Sweet Shop for his chemistry quiz.

Dependent Clause

A dependent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and verb but does not express a complete thought. A dependent clause cannot be a sentence. Often a dependent clause is marked by a dependent marker word.

E.g.) When Jim studied in the Sweet Shop for his chemistry quiz . . . (What happened when he studied? The thought is incomplete.)

Dependent Marker Word

A dependent marker word is a word added to the beginning of an independent clause that makes it into a dependent clause.

E.g.) When Jim studied in the Sweet Shop for his chemistry quiz, it was very noisy.

Some common dependent markers are: after, although, as, as if, because, before, even if, even though, if, in order to, since, though, unless, until, whatever, when, whenever, whether, and while.

Connecting dependent and independent clauses

There are two types of words that can be used as connectors at the beginning of an independent clause: coordinating conjunctions and independent marker words.

1. Coordinating Conjunction

The seven coordinating conjunctions used as connecting words at the beginning of an independent clause are and, but, for, or, nor, so, and yet. When the second independent clause in a sentence begins with a coordinating conjunction, a comma is needed before the coordinating conjunction:

E.g.) Jim studied in the Sweet Shop for his chemistry quiz, but it was hard to concentrate because of the noise.

2. Independent Marker Word

An independent marker word is a connecting word used at the beginning of an independent clause. These words can always begin a sentence that can stand alone. When the second independent clause in a sentence has an independent marker word, a semicolon is needed before the independent marker word.

E.g.) Jim studied in the Sweet Shop for his chemistry quiz; however, it was hard to concentrate because of the noise.

Some common independent markers are: also, consequently, furthermore, however, moreover, nevertheless, and therefore.

Some Common Errors to Avoid

Comma Splices

A comma splice is the use of a comma between two independent clauses. You can usually fix the error by changing the comma to a period and therefore making the two clauses into two separate sentences, by changing the comma to a semicolon, or by making one clause dependent by inserting a dependent marker word in front of it.

Incorrect: I like this class, it is very interesting.

Correct: I like this class. It is very interesting.
(or) I like this class; it is very interesting.
(or) I like this class, and it is very interesting.
(or) I like this class because it is very interesting.
(or) Because it is very interesting, I like this class.

Fused Sentences

Fused sentences happen when there are two independent clauses not separated by any form of punctuation. This error is also known as a run-on sentence. The error can sometimes be corrected by adding a period, semicolon, or colon to separate the two sentences.

Incorrect: My professor is intelligent I've learned a lot from her.

Correct: My professor is intelligent. I've learned a lot from her.
(or) My professor is intelligent; I've learned a lot from her.
(or) My professor is intelligent, and I've learned a lot from her.
(or) My professor is intelligent; moreover, I've learned a lot from her.

Sentence Fragments

Sentence fragments happen by treating a dependent clause or other incomplete thought as a complete sentence. You can usually fix this error by combining it with another sentence to make a complete thought or by removing the dependent marker.

Incorrect: Because I forgot the exam was today.

Correct: Because I forgot the exam was today, I didn't study.
(or) I forgot the exam was today.

Run-ons - Comma Splices - Fused Sentences

Run-ons, comma splices, and fused sentences are all names given to compound sentences that are not punctuated correctly. The best way to avoid such errors is to punctuate compound sentences correctly by using one or the other of these rules.

1. Join the two independent clauses with one of the coordinating conjunctions (and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet), and use a comma before the connecting word.

_________________________, and _________________________.

E.g.) He enjoys walking through the country, and he often goes backpacking on his vacations.

2. When you do not have a connecting word (or when you use a connecting word other than and, but, for, or nor, so, or yet between the two independent clauses) use a semicolon (;).

__________________________;_____________________________.

E.g.) He often watched TV when there were only reruns; she preferred to read instead.

__________________________; however,____________________.

E.g.) He often watched TV when there were only reruns; however, she preferred to read instead.

So, run-ons and fused sentences are terms describing two independent clauses which are joined together with no connecting word or punctuation to separate the clauses.

§ Incorrect: They weren't dangerous criminals they were detectives in disguise.

§ Correct: They weren't dangerous criminals; they were detectives in disguise.

§ Incorrect: I didn't know which job I wanted I was too confused to decide.

§ Correct: I didn't know which job I wanted, and I was too confused to decide.

(http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/598/02/)

Tips for formatting in MS word program

2010-02-12T13:57:00.015-06:00

Times New Roman font, 12 point
Double spaced
Make sure the paper size is set to letter size (8 ½ x 11 inches)—NOT A4
Have 1 inch margins on all sides

If you are using an East Asian (Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan) version of Microsoft Word, however, there are additional things you will need to do:

1. Instead of double spaced, set your line spacing to Exactly 28 pt. East Asian versions of Word create more space between lines of text than North American versions, and just setting Word to double spaced will leave too little text on the page.

2. Click Format, then Paragraph, then Asian Typography, and make sure there is NO CHECK next to the sentence, “Allow Latin text to wrap in the middle of a word.” Without doing this, East Asian versions of Word will inappropriately cut English words at the end of a line:

The majority of freshman writing assignments are expressive in na ture, writing based on your own memories, impressions, and emotion s—what’s “in your head,” essentially. As you advance to higher-lev el classes, however . . .

Writing concluding paragrpahs

2010-02-12T13:50:00.002-06:00

Hi class,

For today, we will talk about how to wrap up a paper in an effective way. Compared to introductions and body paragraphs, it is bit of simple to write a conclusion as long as you keep some guidelines. In class, we'll look at several tips for a concluding paragraph as follows:

Restate your thesis statement (normally in the first sentence),
Summarize your topic/central ideas and why they are important,
Provide a sense of closure or “wrapping up.” (e.g. by using transitional expressions)
Call for action or overview future research possibilities.
Briefly state a forecast or warning based on facts developed in the paper.

You do not always have to provide possibilities or forecasts in your paper, and it depends on genres you deal with. However, if you just follow the tips for 1, 2, and 3, it would be a good start to practice writing a conclusion.

Joy

Writing body paragraphs

2010-02-12T13:44:00.000-06:00

Hi class,

We talked about body paragraphs last class, and how we make body paragraphs effective. As I said in class, body paragraphs support your main idea, which is expressed in a thesis statement. Also, each body paragraph has a topic sentence, supporting details, and a concluding sentence. However, a concluding sentence may be optional depending of the flow of sentences.

Body paragraphs are also required to have features like unity and coherence. I mentioned several techniques in class, if you want to take a look at them again, click on here.

Joy

An introductory paragraph

2010-02-08T16:46:00.004-06:00

Hi all,

Today, we talked about an introductory paragraph and a thesis statement. As I mentioned in class, an introduction (1) gives a direction of what you're going to talk about, and (2) it plays an eye catcher's role.

First, to show readers a direction about where to go, an introductory paragraph needs to have a clear thesis statement, which has to be specific, reliable, and interesting. As well, to attract your readers, you can use sources such as historical reviews, anecdotes, famous people's quotes, statistics, intriguing questions, and surprising statements.

This could sound simple and easy. However, since you're not professional writers, so you need to try to refine an introductory paragraph always remembering those tips above. You need to practice writing consciously at first, but once you get used to writing an academic writing, you don't have to remember all the tips whenever you write a paper.

Here's the pdf file for the presentation. If you want to take a look at it again, download the file.

Joy

Journal topics

2010-02-06T10:47:00.009-06:00

Hi all,

Hope you're enjoying this sunny Saturday morning (a bit of cold though). We have two upcoming assignments: a journal and an essay. It would be smarter if you're done with the journal first not to get stuck in the hectic schedule.

For the journal topics, feel free to refer to the previous post on the blog including several essay questions. Another possibility is that you could write about favorite books, movies, or trips, and you would be able to refer to news articles or famous quotes for your journals. I've included some gadgets on the course website regarding news and quotes, so feel free to use them as journal topics. It is also recommended to visit your classmates' blogs to explore their topics and ideas as well. (I've put the blog links on the left of the course website, so just click on them! :-D ) Make sure that reading lots of writing is always good for you to improve your critical thinking and to broaden your ideas.

Finally, I hold office hours on Wednesdays and Fridays, so drop by my office to ask any questions about this course and your homework. I'm willing to help you with pleasure.

Enjoy!

Joy

Helpful tips for introductions

2010-02-05T16:05:00.001-06:00

Hi class,

Everybody wants to give a good first impression when they meet a new person. The same holds true for written introductions. Whatever topics you write about, whatever genres you deal with, make sure that introductions will be giving a first impression to your readers. To be a good writer, therefore, you could use several tips to make intros attractive and intriguing. Here are some tips that I mentioned in class. Hope it helps. Feel free to apply these tips to your papers!

Ask a provocative or disturbing question
Begin with a story or anecdote
Offer a quotation
Cite a little-known or shocking fact or statistic
Move from general to specific
State a commonly held misconception or a position that you oppose
Describe a hypothetical situation
Begin with an intriguing statement
Begin with a striking example
Make a comparison

Joy

Alternative topic for the first essay

2010-02-03T14:32:00.000-06:00

Essay question

“Despite our inter-connectedness, we're now more alone than ever.”

Do you agree with the above statement? Why or why not?

Lonely Planet

By Johannah Cornblatt | Newsweek Web Exclusive

Aug 21, 2009

There are more than 300 million of us in the United States, and sometimes it seems like we're all friends on Facebook. But the sad truth is that Americans are lonelier than ever. Between 1985 and 2004, the number of people who said there was no one with whom they discussed important matters tripled, to 25 percent, according to Duke University researchers. Unfortunately, as a new study linking women to increased risk of heart disease shows, all this loneliness can be detrimental to our health.

The bad news doesn't just affect women. Social isolation in all adults has been linked to a raft of physical and mental ailments, including sleep disorders, high blood pressure, and an increased risk of depression and suicide. How lonely you feel today actually predicts how well you'll sleep tonight and how depressed you'll feel a year from now, says John T. Cacioppo, a neuroscientist at the University of Chicago and coauthor of Loneliness: Human Nature and the Need for Social Connection. Studies have shown that loneliness can cause stress levels to rise and can weaken the immune system. Lonely people also tend to have less healthy lifestyles, drinking more alcohol, eating more fattening food, and exercising less than those who are not lonely.

Though more Americans than ever are living alone (25 percent of U.S. households, up from 7 percent in 1940), the connection between single-living and loneliness is in fact quite weak. "Some of the most profound loneliness can happen when other people are present," says Harry Reis, professor of psychology at the University of Rochester. Take college freshmen: even though they're surrounded by people almost all the time, many feel incredibly isolated during the first quarter of the school year with their friends and family members far away, Cacioppo says. Studies have shown that how lonely freshmen will feel can be predicted by how many miles they are from home. By the second quarter, however, most freshmen have found social replacements for their high-school friends. Unfortunately, as we age, it becomes more difficult to recreate those social relationships. And that can be a big problem as America becomes a more transient society, with an increasing number of Americans who say that they're willing to move away from home for a job.

Loneliness can be relative: it has been defined as an aversive emotional response to a perceived discrepancy between a person's desired levels of social interaction and the contact they're actually receiving. People tend to measure themselves against others, feeling particularly alone in communities where social connection is the norm. That's why collectivist cultures, like those in Southern Europe, have higher levels of loneliness than individualist cultures, Cacioppo says. For the same reason, isolated individuals feel most acutely alone on holidays like Christmas Eve or Thanksgiving, when most people are surrounded by family and friends.

Still, loneliness is a natural biological signal that we all have. Indeed, loneliness serves an adaptive purpose, making us protect and care for one another. Loneliness essentially puts the brain on high alert, encouraging us not to eat leftovers from the refrigerator but to call a friend and eat out. Certain situational factors can trigger loneliness, but long-term feelings of emptiness and isolation are partly genetic, Cacioppo says. What's inherited is not loneliness itself, but rather sensitivity to disconnection.

Social-networking sites like Facebook and MySpace may provide people with a false sense of connection that ultimately increases loneliness in people who feel alone. These sites should serve as a supplement, but not replacement for, face-to-face interaction, Cacioppo says. He compares connecting on a Web site to eating celery: "It feels good immediately, but it doesn't give you the same sustenance," he says. For people who feel satisfied and loved in their day-to-day life, social media can be a reassuring extension. For those who are already lonely, Facebook status updates are just a reminder of how much better everyone else is at making friends and having fun.

Michael J. Bugeja, a professor of communications at Iowa State University and author of Interpersonal Divide: The Search for Community in a Technological Age, says that the encroachment of digital communication into our social lives can amplify feelings of isolation. He describes texting or Twittering in the presence of others as a "prescription for loneliness." Such behavior, he says, sends the message that someone somewhere else is more important. "The human heart is suffering from lack of authentic interaction," he says. "Just being able to engage genuinely and politely with your neighbors is a better fix than Xanax could ever affect for mental stability."

So how many friends do you need to avoid loneliness? There's no magic number, according to Cacioppo. An introvert might need one confidante not to feel lonely, whereas an extrovert might require two, three, or four bosom buddies. Experts say it's not the quantity of social relationships but the quality that really matters. "The most popular kid in school may still feel lonely," Cacioppo says. "There are a lot of stars who have been idols and lived lonely lives."

Pre-writing Strategies

2010-02-01T17:05:00.001-06:00

Hi all,

Last Friday we talked about the writing process. The term, writing process, would not seem to be familiar to you. But, yes! There is a process when you write. Even though you do not recognize every single step you make, there exist several steps to finish up writing.

First, we looked at a big picture when approaching to writing, and then we moved on how we get prepared for writing. We often call this first step 'pre-writing,' which literally means 'something we do before we write.'

In class, we also talked about specific strategies about prewriting, such as freewriting, brainstorming, and mapping & clustering, so we can actually practice the skills for writing. Hope these strategies work for you. See you next class.

Joy

Writers Workshop

2010-01-29T16:13:00.000-06:00

Some students ask more information about Writers Workshop(WW). You can find further information at http://www.cws.illinois.edu/workshop/
Let me briefly explain how the WW is going. WW has four places on campus; you can refer to the links below:

Locations

In order to get the service from WW, you're supposed to create an account. Walk into the WW, and say to a person sitting in the front "I'd like to create an account for WW." Then, you'll be receiving a number which would be your ID for WW. You'll be using the number when you make an appointment. Make sure that you cannot make an appointment online; you need to make a phone call to book the service for WW(yes, it's old-fashioned!) WW is offering free assistance twice a week (50 mins for each) for every student, and you can brainstorm, review, proofread essays with writing experts.

Here's more information:

Writers Workshop

The Writers Workshop, part of the Center for Writing Studies, provides free writing assistance for University of Illinois students, faculty, and staff from all disciplines and at all stages of the writing process. Discuss your writing with consultants who are experienced writers and teachers of writing. Call 333-8796 (or drop-in) to set up a 50-minute session at one of the four Workshop locations. Please see our appointment and schedule pages for more information.

Sessions are interactive. Through close reading and questions, your consultant will help you express and articulate your ideas. Your consultant can work with you at all stages of the writing process, from brainstorming to writing to revising. Consultants will not proofread your paper for you but will help you learn to find your grammatical and mechanical errors and correct them on your own. Bring a copy of your writing, or just your ideas, to the session. If you have a class assignment, then please bring a copy of the assignment sheet as well.

The Writers Workshop maintains a list of Editors for Hire, most of whom are current University of Illinois English Department instructors who have expressed an interest in doing this type of work for an hourly/per project rate. This should be negotiated with the individual.

We look forward to seeing you at the Workshop!

Possible topics for journals

2010-01-27T16:39:00.000-06:00

Hi all,

If you're struggling with finding topics for journals, here are some examples:

What do you think someone your age can do to help reduce the amount of pollution in our environment?
What do you think the world needs now?
What do you think your friends say to each other when you're not around?
What do you think about the amount of violence on T.V.?
What do you think about people polluting the environment?
What do you think about having set rules for people to follow?
What do you think about people who are inconsiderate of others?
What do you think the world will be like when you are a grown up?
What do you think about ghosts?
What do you think of someone who has bad manners?
What do you think about people who take advantage of others?
What do you think about when you can't fall asleep?
What do you think courage means?
What do you think makes a good friend?
What do you think makes a happy family?
What pollutants do you think do the most damage and why?
What things do you think are beautiful?
What do you think about students having to wear school uniforms?

You can also choose any topic whatever you want to write about except for the topics above. For your information, each entry should be a minimum of 400 words. You don't have to submit the journal by e-mail. Instead, just post your journal to your own blog. Plus, writing a journal is ongoing assignment, and you need to submit it every other week. Here are due dates for journals: Jan/31, Feb/14, Feb28, Mar/14, Mar/28, Apr/11 and Apr25. Good luck!

Joy

Your blogs!!

2010-01-27T15:32:00.001-06:00

Here are your classmates' blogs! Feel free to visit the sites and leave greetings! :D

Jeong Ki: http://lee361.blogspot.com/

Liang: http://dengliang526.blogspot.com/

Miguel: http://salazardetroya.blogspot.com/

Xin: http://626song.blogspot.com/

Eunji: http://eunjistory.blogspot.com/

Nhan: http://deghet22.blogspot.com

Shuang: http://shuangw12.blogspot.com/

Xianchen: http://xianchenwu.blogspot.com/

Siqing (Wendy): http://zhousiqing.blogspot.com/

Wanlan: http://zeng16.blogspot.com/

Qian (Brooke): http://qianxue1.blogspot.com/

Bek: http://tunya89.blogspot.com/

Ke: http://keli2013.blogspot.com

Han: http://hanwang2.blogspot.com/

Anqi: http://cunh3.blogspot.com

Hainan (Jack): whnzero.blogspot.com

Kecheng (Lucas): http://kechengliu.blogspot.com/

A simple survey!

2010-01-27T11:06:00.001-06:00

Click here to take survey

Click on the link above! :D

Exploring new technologies!

2010-01-25T16:21:00.000-06:00

Hello class,

We're going to explore some new technologies this Wednesday. If you want to taste some of them, see the Youtube videos below. The first one is talking about what Dropbox is; the second one is explaining how to make your own blogs with Blogger. You don't have to be a techy person! Don't take the technologies seriously. You'll be going through every single step with me in class.

Cultural differences

2010-01-25T14:29:00.000-06:00

Hi guys!

Today we will be talking about cultural differences we can face in the U.S. In fact, we can recognize the differences not only in a real life but in American academic writing, and this will be an issue that you need to think about for this semester as well.

You will look at a script about a movie, Writing Across Borders; then, you may be able to find out students from different cultures may go through what they've never experienced before in terms of writing.

Plus, we're going to meet in G17 FLB next Wednesday to explore a few new technologies. For homework, please refer to the announcement for the homework menu on the right. I've been checking every single homework and attendance since the semester began, so please make sure to visit the website as often as possible to check out assignments.

Good luck!
Joy

Greetings!

2010-01-20T12:47:00.000-06:00

Hello, class!
Welcome to the ESL 114 site!

This course is about an introduction to academic writing for undergraduate students from non-English speaking countries. All of you are internationals, so you might feel unfamiliar with a different language, different environment, different currency, and finally different academic writing styles in the United States! However, don't panic at all! You'll be getting used to the American academic writing step by step, so you're able to get a general understanding of it at the end of this semester.

On the first day, we're going to meet in room 311, Davenport Hall, which says 'Agricultural Building' on the facade, and this room will be our classroom on Mondays and Wednesdays. Also, we're going to meet in G17, Foreign Language Building on Fridays.

Plus, I expect some confusion for a while at the beginning of the semester as always, but again, do NOT panic at all. I'm not going anywhere and will be here next to you. Please feel free to contact me or to ask me at ee2@illinois.edu when you have problems. If you see this posting at home drinking coke, chatting with your roommate, then you're on the right track! Keep on following me! :D

Joy

P.S) Feel free to leave any comments! Your comments are always welcome. :D

ESL 114E

Our picture!

Friday's task!

Making an effective presentation

APA Guidelines

The answer keys are here!

Today's task!!

Fall 2010 Schedule

Individual Conference

Presentation Schedule

Friday's task!

It's time to choose a topic!

Argumentative essays (2)

Argumentative essays (1)

Free Grammar Tutoring

Friday's task!

Peer review session

Compare-and-contrast essays (2)

Compare-and-contrast essays

Just for fun!

Friday's task

Cause-and-effect essays

Recommended reading lists

How to avoid plagiarism?

International Mother Language Day

How to use a comma?

Run-on & Comma splices mistakes

Tips for formatting in MS word program

Writing concluding paragrpahs

Writing body paragraphs

An introductory paragraph

Journal topics

Helpful tips for introductions

Alternative topic for the first essay

Pre-writing Strategies

Writers Workshop

Locations

Writers Workshop

Possible topics for journals

Your blogs!!

A simple survey!

Exploring new technologies!

Cultural differences

Greetings!