Lessons of Juvenile Crime

Lessons of Juvenile Crime

8/19

Hello, it was a pleasure to return to TOEFL and work with you all today. 

In the TOEFL skills portion of class we worked on the structure and expectations for speaking task 1, Personal Preference. We focused on the production of interesting opening sentences that included more advanced vocabulary and idioms. Please find a link to the handout on vocabulary and idioms for here. In the advanced integrative portion of class, we started off with a series of drills aimed at quickly identifying the topic, position and supportive reasons for a short (300 word) TOEFL integrative reading passage. We also worked on open-ended TOEFL questions in response to authentic media reading passages on the topic of juvenile crime and punishment. Please find a link to part 1 of the lesson  READING on Juvenile Detention here. You will find definitions to the vocabulary words in the link as well as related words. The homework today includes:

1. 10 vocabulary sentences using any ten words from the lesson
2. Complete reading and answering questions for Passages 2 

Please remember to clearly identify your name and the date on your homework assignments. Send homework as an attachment rather than directly in the email.  Homework assignments should be clearly labeled and typed. You can submit questions and work by email to gretchenesl@gmail.com.

Finally, please become a follower to the blog and add a comment to the comment section of this post so that I know you can access the materials here easily.

See you tomorrow at 9:30!

8/20

 In the TOEFL skills portion of the class we worked on the language and transitions to introduce reasoning points. We also practiced coming up with reasons to support our selections. Here is a link to the handout from class. Here is a link to part 2 of the lesson LISTENING, which includes definitions for the words we worked through in class. You can find a link to the podcast from class here. This link also includes a transcript. Feel free to go back and listen to the selection while reading through the transcript. Here is a link to the homework listening passage. This one does not include a transcript. Homework for today includes:

1. Ten vocabulary sentences using any ten words from this lesson (podcast or TOEFL words)
2. Listening to the homework selection and creating a written summary of it
3. Studying section 22 of the high frequency words from your textbook for a quiz on Thursday and the completion of the practice exercises.

Podcast for Artificial Life

Here

The Politics of Marriage

Here is the video I would like to discuss in class tomorrow:

Cold Fusion Lesson

Here is a link to part 1 of the lesson on Cold Fusion, which emphasizes READING. We started the class today with a review of transitional language, covering section 26 in the text. In addition, you can find a link to a list of additional transitions here We completed another practice independent essay in class and went over corrections from last week's final sample. In the integrative portion of class, we reviewed reading strategies and completed passage 1. We also worked from context clues to determine the meanings of the vocabulary words for passage 2. You can find a link to the context clues exercises here. Finally, I introduced the first assignments for the final project on Globalization. You can find an overview of the project as well as the first two assignments here. Homework for class, 2/25/13 includes:

1. Read passage 2 and answer the questions
2. Compose ten vocabulary sentences using the words from this lesson
3. Revise returned essay (independent task and 9/11 conspiracy essay)
4. Compose a research question for the final project and create ten survey questions

Here is a link to part 2 of the lesson, which emphasizes LISTENING. We started out today with additional practice for building strong and effective body paragraphs. You can find a link to this activity here. We also composed an independent essay and discussed revisions for yesterday's essays. After returning to class, we learned the vocabulary, idioms, and slang expressions for the first listening podcast. You can find an audiofile only of this podcast here for your extra practice and review. If you would like to read along with the transcript, follow this link to the NPR website. At the end of class we went over last week's homework from the Adjectives overview. Homework for class, 2/26/13 includes.
1. Please watch the You Tube video below and answer the questions in your lesson packet about this clip. You can find a list of the vocabulary words and definitions from the podcast and videoclip here

2. Revise the returned essay from class on a favorite city.
3. Begin to study CGT academic vocabulary list 6 for quiz on Thursday
4. Revise survey questions or complete survey questions if you have not already done so.

Conspiracy Lessons

Here is a link to part 1 of the lesson, which emphasizes READING. This lesson includes definitions to the vocabulary words. In class today, we started off by discussing using examples to develop an independent essay. We worked on a brainstorming and example generating exercise before working on an in-class essay. You can find a link to this handout here. Homework for 2/19/13 includes:

1. Complete passage 1, especially vocabulary in context questions.
2. Read your assigned passage on a popular conspiracy theory (moon landing, AIDS, Rosewell) and answer the questions in the packet. Come to class prepared to share and report your findings with others.
3. Research the JFK assasination on the internet. Compose a one-paragraph summary of your research findings. In your paragraph, try to address how the JFK conspiracy includes the elements you read about in class passage 1.

Here is a link to part 2 of the lesson, which emphasizes LISTENING. This lesson includes definitions to the vocabulary words from class. In class we edited yesterday's independent essay and composed another essay in class. We also listened to and discussed a podcast on a recent conspiracy theory about JFK. You can find a link to the audiofile only here. If you are interested, you can find a link to the complete website with a transcript here. In class, we also completed our comprehensive overview of Adjectives. Here is a link to this handout. Homework for 2/20/13 includes:

1. Listen to Podcast 2 on the popularity of conspiracies related to JFK. You can find a link to the podcast here. You can find the questions on the handout from today. Please answer the questions and be prepared to discuss them in class tomorrow.
2. Compose ten vocabulary sentences using any ten words from today or yesterday's lesson.
3. Revise the returned essay on money
4. Study for vocabulary quiz on section 5 from the textbook

Afred Hitchcock Lessons

Here is a link to the first part of the lesson, which emphasizes READING. In class today, we completed our focus on the integrative writing task with a final practice simulation. We discussed using appositive phrases and subject complements in order to determine the meanings of unfamiliar words and pronouns. We practiced this skill with context clues vocabulary exercises using the words from today's reading passages. You can find a link to the context clues exercises here.   Homework for today includes:

1. Complete reading passage 2 from the lesson and answer all questions
2. Compose ten vocabulary sentences using any ten words from the lesson
3. Complete revisions on returned essays if you did not complete them in class.

Here is a link to the second part of the lesson, which emphasizes LISTENING. In class today, we reviewed the structure and expectations for the independent task as well as the scoring rubric. We read sample independent essays and analyzed their scores. In addition to reviewing passage 2 from the reading, we listened to an NPR podcast about Hitchcock and censorship. You can find a link to the audio file only here. You can find a link to the website with a transcript here. Homework for today includes:

1. Score the sample essays on page 654 of your textbook
2. View the video clip from Psycho below and compose a one paragraph summary in which you:

• Describe the clip
• Provide your reactions to the clip
• Agree or disagree with the ideas put forth by the esteemed film historian from the podcast

1. Complete exercises 6 and 8 in the pronoun packet
2. Study for the CGT vocabulary quiz section 4, which will be on THURSDAY

Goldilocks Planet Lessons

Here is a link to part 1 of the lesson on 2/4/13, which emphasizes READING. We started off this class by working on an integrative writing test and working on self-evaluation for common grammatical errors. Next we worked from this handout to determine the meanings of vocabulary words from the reading passages. Finally we worked from these passages to answer TOEFL-style questions based on the passages. Homework for this class includes:

1. Complete passage 2 and answer the questions
2. Compose five vocabulary sentences using any five words from the lesson
3. Revise any returned essays (arts funding)

Here is the link to part 2 of the lesson, which emphasizes LISTENING from 2/5/13. Today in class we composed two integrative essay tasks and discussed the materials from yesterday. We also worked on listening exercise 1. You can find a link to the transcript and podcast from class on the discovery of Gliese581g here. We also started our comprehensive review of the parts of speech by focusing on types, functions, and applications of Nouns. You can find a link to this packet here. Homework for class today includes:

1. Go to my blog and listen to the following recorded lecture here Then compose a simple paragraph summary of the lecture
2. Complete all exercises from the packet on Nouns. We will go over this in depth tomorrow
3. Study for CGT vocabulary quiz on section 3 for quiz THURSDAY
4. Revise returned essays (gun control, tv viewing)

Gun Control Lessons

Here is the first part of the lesson on Gun Control on 1/28, which emphasizes READING. We started the day by editing and discussing the previous class integrative essay and then completing another integrative writing task and essay. Before working on the reading passages, we completed and discussed these context clues exercises for the embedded vocabulary. Homework for 1/28/13 includes:

1. Five vocabulary sentences using any five words from the lesson
2. Passages 1 and 2 from the lesson
3. Study for Amy Tan vocabulary quiz

Here is the next part of the lesson from 1/29/13, which emphasizes LISTENING. In addition to editing and discussing our previous integrative writing sample and completing another task, we worked on an extended grammar lesson on Adverb Placement. We discussed flexible and inflexible adverbs of frequency as well as adverbs of place. In class we worked from the first listneing selection entitled School Shooting Rekindles Gun Control Debate. Here is a link to the podcast. For  homework, I would like you to complete the third listening passage entitled: LA Police Chief: Gun Limits Help Keep Crime Down. Here is a link to the audiofile. Homework for this class includes:

1. Practice exercises for adverbs of frequency and adverbs of place
2. Listening Passage 3
3. Begin to study for CGT section 2 vocabulary quiz on Thursday

Here is the next part of the lesson from 1/30/13, which emphasizes writing. In class we worked on an integrative essay on this topic. While the reading passage is in the lesson, you can find a copy of the lecture text here In addition, we reviewed the elements of a five-paragraph persuasive essay. Homework for today includes:

1. Complete the integrative writing task on gun control at home
2. Complete exercises for Adverb Placement
3. Study for CGT ssection 2 vocabulary quiz

Here is the final part of the lesson from 1/31/13. In this class we started off with more practice of the integrative writing task. We later worked from a series of relevant speaking activities. You can find a link to the video we watched on the Sandyhook school shooting here and a link to the speaking prompts here. Homework for this class includes:

Completion of five-paragraph essay on gun control.

Amy Tan Life and Literature

This week we are using the life and literature of Chinese American author Amy Tan as a means to cultivte academic English skills and TOEFL practice.

Here is part 1 of  the lesson from 1/22/13, which emphasizes READING. In addition, please find a link to the handout on Most vs. Most of the and a copy of the practice exercises. In class we introduced the Integrative Writing Task, studied the difference between Most and Most of the, and read the story Two Kinds and answered comprehension and discussion questions. Homework for 1/22/13 includes:

1. Complete practice exercise for Most vs. Most of the
2. Complete five vocabulary sentences using the words from this lesson
3. Research the author Amy Tan and compose a one-paragraph biography on her life

Here is part 2 of the lesson from 1/23/13, which emphasizes LISTENING. In class we discussed the scoring rubric for the Integrative Writing Task, read sample essays, scored essays, and completed a preview essay test. We also took a quiz on Most vs. Most of the. Here is an additional link to lecture 1 from class about Amy Tan's life. Here is a link to lecture 2, which was a transcript of her contribution to the What I Beleive series on NPR. You can find a link to other similiar podcasts. Homework for 1/23/13 includes:

1. Study section 1 of academic vocabulary in your textbook for a quiz on these words on Thursday, 1/24/13.
2. Read the short story Mother Tongue  here and create ten questions based on the story. 

Here is part 3 of lesson from 1/25/13, which emphasizes SPEAKING. In class we revised the previous day's essays and worked on a new integrative task. We also worked on extemporaneous prompts based on the issues raised in these classes. You can find a link to the speaking prompts here and a link to the survey on immigration here. Homework for 1/24/13 includes:
Answering the questions created by a classmate about Mother Tongue
Composition of a narrative story following the plot lines we studied in class
Study for a simple vocabulary quiz based on the vocabulary from these lessons (here is a link to the words and their definitions)