Intermediate Writing, Spring, Week 9

ESL writing Class

This is the ninth week in the English 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

• 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)

• Quiz – 10%
• Midterm exam 25%

Schedule (10)

• Week 9: April 26 and 28 – class (warrants, electric car TV commercial analysis)
• Week 10: May 3 and 5 – no classes (two holidays)
• Week 11: May 10 and 12 – class (inferences and warrants)
• Week 12: May 17 and 19 – class (moral dilemma, hypothesis and argument) quiz #2
• Week 13: May 24 and 26 – class (last new writing assignment, how to write an email) book report due
• Week 14: May 31 and June 2 – class (last day to hand in writing for feedback)
• Week 15: June 7 last class (exam review)
• Week 16: June 9 FRI and 14 WED no classes (make up week)
• Week 17: June 16 – final exam

Conclusion: 11 classes left (including today, excluding final exam day)

Grades and Class project

Attendance 10%
Midterm 25%
Final exam 25%
Book report 10%
Two quizzes 20% (10% each)
Participation 10%

Book Report Project

Here’s your chance to show your terrific writing skills. It’s a book report.

Basic Info

• 3-5 pages
• typed, double spaced, 12 point font
• evidence of 6+1 writing traits (organisation, strong first sentence, a story, not just separate sections glued together, cohesion)

A book report will have these basic parts.

1. Introduction: title and author’s name.
2. Summarize the characters and setting.
3. Describe the plot: the action
4. The denouement: the climax of the action, what happened in the end?
5. What is the tone of the book-  funny, creepy, an adventure, a mystery?
6. Evaluate the book – good and bad points
7. What do you think? Did you like the book? Why or why not?

Are you reading a book of fiction?

• Who is telling the story. Is it first person or third person?
• Provide details about the main characters, plot and setting.
• What do the main characters want? Do they have a problem? What do they do?
• Don’t need to talk about every small detail, just include the most important information.

Are you reading a non-fiction book?

• What is the writer’s main argument?
• Don’t summarize each chapter. Just talk about the main points.

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)