ESL writing Class
Attendance and review (5)
Last week
- midterm exam
- two weeks ago, a quiz
- started a new section of writing about arguments and ideas
This Week
- hand back quiz
- quick review of midterm exam
- talk about schedule
- talk about final project
- introduce new writing concept – warrants
- some feedback on past writing
Quiz and Exam Quick Comments (10)
- link
- Quiz – 10%
- Midterm exam 25%
Schedule (10)
- Week 9: April 24 – class (today, warrants)
- Week 10: May 2 – class (inferences, warrants and arguments)
- Week 11: May 9 – no class (election day)
- Week 12: May 16 – class (last new writing assignment, hypothesis and argument)
- Week 13: May 23 – class (last day to hand in writing for feedback, finish before and after writing assignment)
- Week 14: May 30 – class (quiz #2, 8 presentations)
- Week 15: June 6 – no class (holiday)
- Week 16: June 13 – last regular class of the semester (7 presentations, exam review, return final student writing)
- Week 17: June 20 – final exam
Conclusion: 6 classes left (including today, excluding final exam day)
Writing Project (15)
Now it’s time to introduce the main project for this class. It is called the Moral Dilemma Project.
- Week 14: May 30 – 8 presentations
- Week 16: June 13 – 7 presentations
Presentation Schedule (5)
The scheduling is based on one key assumption: each presentation will be 8 to 10 minutes. There will be 5 minutes for discussion. That means each presentation will require 15 minutes.
Respecting these time factors is essential:
- it ensures everyone can complete the assignment
- it forces you to focus on the main points
- it is a sign of your professionalism
There will be sign up list for you to choose a date and time.
- Hand out random moral dilemma problems.
Hour 2
Resources (5)
George Hillocks Jr.
Writing teachers are stuck on form and why that’s less effective.
A short article about using Stephen Toulmin’s ideas about warrants in argument to improve critical thinking.
Terrific book about teaching young people how to write with a focus on logical arguments.
- Teaching Argument Writing, Grades 6-12: Supporting Claims with Relevant Evidence and Clear Reasoning
- A chapter from the Hillocks’ book.
Introduction to warrants (25)
- What is a warrant?
- Why do you need them?
- How to create them?
Click here to review the slide show.
Practice Exercise #1 (15)
What’s the warrant?
- Read the arguments on this page.
- Add a warrant.
- Review answers in class.
Practice Exercise #2 (15)
Read the short story called Alligator River.
- Work with a partner to answer the questions.
- Rank the character from the best person to the worst person.
- Make an argument for your rankings.
Hour 3
Electric Car Analysis (15)
Complete this old exercise. Analyze the TV commercial about an electric car.
- Describe the argument and warrant.
- Evaluate the argument (is it believable, true)
Number 2 Exercise (20)
- Describe the argument and warrant.
- Evaluate the argument (is it believable, true)