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)