Happy Halloween

Hi all. I hope this post finds you well. I just wanted to share a bit about Halloween! On Friday, October 31st, 2014, people all of the U.S. will celebrate Halloween. But what is Halloween? What are its origins? How do people celebrate it? What are the popular costumes this year? 

Below, I've included a few links below to help you answer all your "Halloween 2014"-related questions. Enjoy and have a "Spook-tacular Halloween"! 

1. The Origins of Halloween
2. Classic Halloween Costumes
3. Charlie Brown & The Great Pumpkin
4. A Few "Classic" Halloween Jokes
5. Halloween Music: Rihanna "Disturbia" and "Boris" Pickett "Monster Mash"

BONUS!  Since it's Halloween, here are some obligatory, embarrassing pictures of your teacher in his last Halloween costume. I went as a Zombie teacher! My friends went as other members of a fictional Zombie High School. Enjoy :) 

Day Four: Thesis Statements

We will dedicate today's class to a discussion of thesis statements. Writing a clear, specific, direct thesis statement is something that takes lots of time to perfect, so we will be spending an entire class on identifying what makes a good thesis statement and practicing writing, re-writing, improving and editing thesis statements. An outline for today's class can be found below: 

Day Four: Thesis Statements

Objectives: Students will be able to...

1. Identify and explain the characteristics of an effective thesis statement
2. Understand and explain the importance of thesis statements in organizing and focusing the claim/arguments of an essay or other piece of writing
3. Improve existing thesis statements
4. Analyze examples of effective thesis statements and explain their utility and importance as "road maps" 
5. Create their own effective thesis statements

I. Warm-Up

We will begin today's class with a few warm-up questions...

• How was your weekend? 
• How are classes? 
• Does anyone have any plans for the upcoming holiday? 
• Any questions from last week?

II. Review

We will start the content portion of today's class with a review "quiz" on the material from last time. You may use your notes and/or work with a partner, but you will only have 10 minutes. 

III. Five Paragraph Essay Structure

We will quickly review the basic five paragraph essay structure. The presentation can be found here.

NOTE! This presentation represents certain foundational skills associated with EAP writing. Much of the writing you do in your fields will be a variation on these themes and not exactly represent/replicate this information. However, we cannot begin to discuss more complex forms of rhetorical structure/purposes without this common "field of experience". 

IV. Thesis Statements

The rest of our class will be dedicated to an analysis of thesis statements. This will be based off a lecture and series of activities found here.

Homework

We will not have class next Tuesday (Nov. 4th, 2014) due to a national holiday. These assignments will be due by next Monday (Nov. 3rd, 2014). I will assigned additional homework on 4/11/2014 as well. 

• Reflective essay on EAP essay structure (I will send the prompt via email)
• Reading this chapter on dissertation thesis statements by Eric Hofstee (and preparing for a short review quiz on Nov. 11th)
• Possible revisions on "Drinking & Driving" essay

Day Three: Basic EAP Essay Structure

For stability, you need structure. This is just as true in writing as it is in architecture or atomic structure. To give something structure means to arrange it or organize it based on a plan. In writing, planning leads to a more logical presentation of a central idea and its support. Today, we will be talking about the most basic EAP essay structure: the five paragraph essay. An outline can be found below: 

Day Four: EAP Essay Structure

Objectives: Students will be able to...

1. Describe and implement a basic five paragraph EAP essay structure
2. Describe the features of an effective EAP introduction and conclusion
3. Use the PIE-C technique to promote coherence and cohesion in their EAP writing
4. Use lexical signposts in their EAP writing to guide their readers 

I. Introduction

We will begin today's class by you telling me what you already know about EAP essay structure. With a partner, complete this short overview assignment activity. We will discuss the answers afterwards together as a class. 

II. Five Paragraph Essay

The five paragraph essay is the most basic form of EAP writing. It is taught in Freshman rhetoric/composition classes all over the U.S. This presentation provides a brief overview of the components of this type of essay. 

III. Practice Activities

In order to review the principles discussed in the overview PPT, I've created a few practice activities. I don't think we will have enough time to get through all of these activities in class today, but I wanted to put them up on the course website for any ambitious students interested in continuing there EAP writing practice outside of class! The links include: 

1. Thesis Statement Writing Practice (found here)
2. PIE-C Technique Practice (found here)
3. Characteristics of Effective EAP Essay Intros & Conclusions (found here)
4. Rewriting the Thesis Statement (found here)

-> New! This link takes you to an excellent resource filled with essential academic phrases and terms (organized by function and/or part of essay). 

Homework

To demonstrate your understanding of five paragraph essay structure, please write a brief (~250-500 words), five paragraph essay on the following topic: 

"Is drinking and driving a problem for teenagers?"

Your essay should: 

• Choose a side ("yes" or "no") and provide reasons to support your stance
• Include an appropriate introduction and conclusion
• Follow the five paragraph format
• Use formal academic tone
• Be proofread for errors before turning in

When you finish, title your essay, "TeenDrinking_YourName" and email it to me before class next Tuesday.

Day Two: The Communication Model, Audience & Purpose

Today we will begin an ongoing discussion about the way that communication actually works, some of the difficulties that can make effective communication more difficult and ways to overcome these difficulties. An outline and objectives for today's class can be found below:

The Communication Model, Audience & Purpose

Objectives: Class participants will be able to...

• demonstrate understanding of one of the various communication models
• demonstrate understanding of the role that audience and purpose play in EAP writing

I. Collecting Homework & Brief Discussion about the Article

Please make sure that you've included your name and date. Answers for the assignment can be found here.

II. Brief Review of the Needs Analyses

Here is a summary of the results of the needs analysis you all filled out as well as short summation of my review of your initial writing samples. As indicated by the results, our primary areas of focus this semester will be: 

1. Academic Essay Structure
2. Writing Academic Articles
3. Presentation Skills

III. Culture & Communication

Let's begin our discussion with a short presentation on the role that culture plays in determining how we communicate. This introduction will be followed by a short discussion. 

IV. The Communication Model

With a new partner, discuss the following questions: 

• How does communication work? Give a step-by-step description of the process. 
• What are some problems in communication that can lead to misunderstanding(s)? Explain
• What role does culture play in the communication process? 

Now let's take a look at a short video that explains the way communication actually works. The video can be found here. Be sure to take notes. After we watch, you will be asked to fill out some comprehension questions with a partner. These questions can be found here.

V. Audience & Purpose

Define the terms "audience" & "purpose". Why are they important to the writing process? Let's look at this concept in greater depth. For each of the two video clips, name a possible intended audience and a possible purpose. 

1. David Gallo & Underwater Astonishments
2. Feist on "Sesame Street"

With both of these examples, it was pretty easy to tell who the intended audience is. You'll notice, however, that it is never directly stated. The same should be true for your writing. You should have a clear idea of who you are writing for (your audience) and why you are writing (your purpose). 

This presentation provides a basic introduction to the concepts of audience and purpose as pertains to academic writing. After discussing this information, we'll do two activities (which can be found below). 

Activity One: Audience & Purpose Comparison

Activity Two: Informal to Formal (Academic Tone Tips)

Homework

There are two assignments this week. The details for each can be found below:

1. Read "Why Academics Stink at Writing (Part 2)". After reading the second part of this article, write a 200-250 summary of the whole article that answers the question: What are some of the major reasons that academics have difficulties writing clearly and in an engaging way? What are some possible solutions to the issues you've chosen? Write your response as a MS Word document and email it to me by Sunday, October 19th, 2014, by 11:55pm. Title your work "Problems with Academic Writing_YourName".
2. Using this image, explain how communication works in 200-250 words. Make sure your response is written using formal academic tone. Write your response as a MS Word document and email it to me by Sunday, October 19th, 2014, by 11:55pm. Title your work "Communication Model_YourName".

Culture Point: Columbus Day

For the people in the United States, today is a holiday known as "Columbus Day". It was created to celebrate Christopher Columbus' "discovery" of what was then known as The New World. Lately, the celebration has become a source of some contention in the US. There are groups, among them many indigenous rights and Native American advocacy organizations that believe honoring Columbus is wrong given the terrible treatment their ancestors received at the hands of Columbus and his men. 

Which side do you think is right? Should "Columbus Day" be celebrated or should the day be dedicated to a celebration of the memory of the indigenous peoples who were already living in the New World when Columbus and his men arrived? 

Below you will find two documents, one celebrating Columbus' achievement and the other explaining the perspective that the focus of the celebration should be changed. By comparing and contrasting their main points, you can inform yourself and make the best decision according to your perspective. 

Article One: Presidential Proclamation - Columbus Day 2014

Article Two: Indigenous Peoples Day

This is a culturally-themed exercise in critical thinking. Take the time to inform yourself and make your own decisions based on evidence. 

Day One: Introductions, Class Policy and An Intro to EAP Communication Skills

It takes a lot of different skills working together with one another to communicate. To communicate successfully requires a good to great command of these skills. The infographic above highlights many of the different skill sets required to become a "perfect language learner". Is there anything missing? What do you feel is the most important skill when learning a language? Why? Today's class will offer you a chance to engage many of these different skill sets. 

The lesson plan for today's class can be found below:

Day One: An Intro to EAP Communication Skills

I. Attendance & Warm-Up Discussion

Please be sure to sign in. No signature, no proof of attendance.

Then we will have a short introductory discussion about the characteristics of good language learners.

II. Instruction IntroductionI will take the first few minutes of class to introduce myself. The presentation can be found here: Instructor Introduction. When I finish presenting, everyone should ask me a question.

III. Getting to Know One Another
Now it is your turn to introduce yourselves. You will have 10 minutes to prepare a short (1-2)
introductory speech. Feel free to use the questions found on this organizer. We will follow this procedure: 

1. Someone will present
2. Classmates will ask questions
3. Repeat until we have covered everyone in class

IV. First Day Discussion: Rules, Grades & Expectations
After introductions, we'll spend a few minutes going over class rules and expectations. You can use this sheet as a reference. 

V. Needs Analysis
Next, you will take a few minutes to fill out a short needs analysis. This will give me a better idea of your previous level of experience with English as well as the kinds of topics you would like to discuss in class over the course of the semester.

VI. Diagnostic Essay
The last thing we will do in class is the diagnostic essay. I would like you to read a short article on "Do It Yourself" biologists. Then you will have 30 minutes to write a short essay. The article and essay prompt can be found here.

Homework
Read the article, "Why Academics Stink at Writing" by Steven Pinker. As you read the article, please fill out this worksheet and bring it with you to class next week.

Welcome to EAP Communication Skills

Welcome to English for Academic Purposes (EAP) Communication Skills. My name is John Kotnarowski and I will be your instructor and guide this semester as we take a deeper look into the characteristics of effective expression in English for Academic Purposes. Specifically, we'll focus on the skills necessary for success when using English for Academic Purposes (EAP) writing and speaking skills.. I look forward to meeting everyone and getting off to a great start this semester.

A bit about the course website. This is where I'll be posting outlines and links for every class meeting. It is intended to be used as a virtual supplement to our in-class discussions and assignments. To the right, you will find important class information under the "Class Links" list. Just below, you'll find another link list titled, "Helpful Websites". I encourage to take a look at these helpful resources as we make our way through the semester. Hopefully, you'll find them useful in your own writing.

Please feel free to send me an email whenever you need to get in touch. My email address is: jk.esl.uiuc@gmail.com. I'm excited for what should be an engaging and informative semester for everyone involved.