Lab session 8- Run-on sentences

First, stop that run-on!

Dear ones,

Today´s session is going to include just online practice, the contents are going to be included in your next Narrative test (theory)- so ,success is up to you!

Let´s Revise

   A run-on sentence is a sentence in which two or more independent  clauses (i.e., complete sentences) are joined without appropriate punctuation or conjunction.

  An example of a run-on is a comma splice, in which two independent clauses are joined with a comma without an accompanying coordinating conjunction

Take a look at these cases:

Ø    A run-on sentence, without any punctuation or conjunction between "gas" and "we":

                       My car is out of gas we cannot reach town before dark.

Ø  A comma splice, which is considered a run-on sentence in English by some usage experts:

It is nearly half past five, we cannot reach town before dark.

          

 These are possible remedies:

• 1.Use separate sentences. However, this may disconnect related independent clauses and cause some of the meaning to be lost:
• It is nearly half past five. We cannot reach town before  dark.  
• 2.Use a semicolon. This maintains the connection between the clauses while ensuring a pause between the two ideas:
• It is nearly half past five; we cannot reach town before dark.
• 3.Use a coordinating conjunction.
• It is nearly half past five, so we cannot reach town before dark.

                     Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Run-on_sentence  

Activity 1

          
Now try this quiz to see if you can  repair  the  run-on

          sentences:

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/quizzes/runons_quiz.htm

               

            Activity 2

Guess you must be hungry now, after doing exercise. How about some sushi?

http://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/study-break/games/sushi-spell

Topic sentences and supporting sentences practice

To test your understanding and knowledge on these topics,do the following practices:

Activity 5

1.http://www.studyzone.org/testprep/ela4/j/supportsentp.cfm

2.http://www.mytestbook.com/worksheet.aspx?test_id=617

3.http://www.laflemm.com/dynamic/online_practice3.php?practice_id=29

Lab session 9- Halloween time

Trick or Treat?

Hello angels! Pair work today!!

In today's lab session you will be free to express your most devilish thoughts to write a Halloween story.

But, before getting started- do you really know what  Halloween is?

Activity 1:

Do research into the word 'Halloween' and answer the following questions: a) What is Halloween? b) What does 'Halloween' mean? c) What is the origin of the word 'Halloween'? d) What are the most common activities on Halloween? e) What is the 'treat-or-trick' activity? f) Why is the 'treat-or-trick' activity well known worldwide?

Activity 2

Now interview a classmate: Write your partner´s name,the questions and his/her answers .

1.Have you ever gone trick-or-treating? When and what did you actually do?

2.Have you ever worn a Halloween costume? 

If yes, Which one?

If not, Why not?

3.What do you think about children playing trick-or-treating in Chile?

Activity 3

1.Read the ending below:

...

The boy agreed to do what the skeleton asked. He opened the door and saw a room filled with gold coins and jewels. 

The skeleton laughed, said "Happy Halloween," and then began to disappear, piece by piece, until he was gone. 

The boy did as he promised, and his family and many others in his village lived in comfort all of their days.

THE END

2.Based on the given ending and the pictures, brainstorm ideas ( write them down) for :

• a-Setting
• b-Characters
• c-Plot --> Go over the chart below to help you. 
• Copy it as it appears, and then fill in the missing information as required .

Do not change the given ending! Write it in the "what is the resolution box".

Activity 4

Now, let´s review ideas on the Journalistic Style.

The way you must write in this style considers the...

Have a look at the differences between the Journalistic style and the academic style:

When writing in Journalistic Style you need to consider the  following characteristics:

Compact, usually short sentences, every word selected and placed for maximum effect.

Short, terse paragraphs, each complete in itself and capable of being removed without destroying the sense of the story.

Conciseness, directness and simplicity through elimination of unnecessary words and phrases.

Factualness without editorial opinions and dogmatic expressions.

'Strong' verbs and nouns preferred over hackneyed words and expressions
Observance of grammatical and word usage rules.

Taken from: http://www.peoi.org/Courses/Coursesen/mass/mass5.html

You are going to have two sessions for this, but you must work during the Lab, and remember I am here to help you. So, I´ll be glad to read your draft, if you want . Remember you can make use of the tools you have in Word to write a wonderful piece of writing- without any orthography or grammar mistake.

Read  the horror story below and write it again BUT using the journalistic style following the next structure:

• Beginning : 1 paragraph
• Raising action and conflict: 1 paragraph
• Climax: 1 paragraph                                                        
• Falling action: 1 paragraph
• End:  1 paragraph

Lab session 7 - Summaries, opinions and projects

Lab session 7

Writing Summaries and Opinion paragraphs.

Dear students,

Today we will keep working on summaries and opinion paragraphs to sharpen  your writing skills and this time it is going to be IN PAIRS.

 You are going to work with a classmate to write a summary and an  opinion essay. The idea is to reinforce these contents.

 

Let´s review some ideas:

A summary :

1.  is a  condensed version of a larger reading or listening.

2. must be concise

3.   uses your own words  expressed briefly  

4.    answers to:Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?

                           

Taken from: http://homepage.smc.edu/reading_lab/writing_a_summary.htm

With all these fresh ideas on your mind, have a look at the 
following video about Roald Dahl a well-known british author ,and write down a 
summary of his life.

Taken from:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A48OHQ5SlIo

Activity 1

Roahl Dahl's life: Write down a page summary, include a picture of him .  8 points. 

Activity 2:

Discussion

Now have a look at the following picture and read the thought it contains.

Activity 2

 Now, please answer the following questions in your notebooks: 

      4 points.

·         1.What do you think about what Wilde declares?

·         2.Do you agree or disagree with him?

·         3.What are your main reasons of why you agree or disagree with him? Support your ideas.

·         4.What would be your final thought ( personal thought)regarding this topic?

Activity 3 :Project. 15 points

There are many topics that are controversial in our world ; among them the 
use of robots in different fields.

First of all do a Webquest  about this interesting topic; then  check the link provided below.

But ...What is a web quest?

A Web Quest is "an inquiry-oriented activity in which some or all of the information that learners interact with comes from resources on the internet.

WebQuests are based on constructivist learning theory  and have been a part of project-based learning and teaching in mainstream education for some time, but they also have a multitude of applications in ESL/EFL, both in ESL/EFL classes that are focused on content/or theme-based learning and in teacher training. 

Now...go for the information:

http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/technology/July-August-08/Robot-Intelligence-Advances-One-Step-at-a-Time.html

Now, follow the next steps to write your opinion essay about ROBOTS.

1.         Read the article, suggest a catchy title and  think about what your opinion is.

2.        Brainstorm: think about what you want to say and write down all your ideas.

3.        Choose the most interesting or relevant ideas to support your opinion.

4.        Organize the ideas into paragraphs and put the paragraphs in order: 

          Opening paragraph: state the topic and give your opinion. Introduce 3        ideas that support your opinion.

         Body paragraphs (3 paragraphs): each paragraph develops one idea that supports your opinion.

        Conclusion paragraph: summarize your opinion and give a final recommendation.

5.    Write a draft.

6.   Edit your draft: check spelling, grammar and punctuation. ( might use the     computer tool for that)

7.   Have your draft edited by the two of you.

8.   Share your final printed composition with your teacher. 

You may use these useful expressions to write your text:

How to...

Introduce your opinion:

In my opinion…                                                   

I(personally) think/I believe/                               

I feel/I don’t feel that…                                         

In my view/ In my point of view ….                     

As I see it…                                                            

As far as I’m concerned …                                    

It’s clear to me that…                                           

I agree/I don’t agree that…

Sequence ideas:

To begin with…                                                      

The first point is…                                                

First of all …/First/Firstly,...                               

Secondly/ Thirdly…                                               

Finally…/Lastly…   

                                              

Add information

Furthermore,  …                                                    

Moreover,  ….                                                         

In addition, …                                                        

Besides, …                                                              

What is more, …                                                    

Also…/...too                                                            

As well as…                                                            

Apart from (that)… 

           

Give a reason

Due to(+noun)/Due to the fact that(+sentence)     

Owing to(+noun)/Owing to the fact that(+sentence)   

Because……(+sentence)                                       

Because of………(+noun e.g.: the rain)               

Since…/As……(+sentence e.g.: he is the boss)  

That’s why ...                                                          

For this/that reason                                                          

                                  

Express a consequence

Consequently…                                                        

Therefore…                                                            

So…                                                                         

As a result of…                                                      

This means that…                                                             

Introduce the conclusion

In short…                                                                

In brief…                                                                 

In summary…                                                        

To sum up                                                                           

In conclusion…                                                      

To conclude…   

       

So, to sum up we can say that this lab consists of three elements to be considered:

-Summary: 8 points

-Opinions: 4 points

-Project:   15 points. 

Due date:

Section 1:  Monday, October 19th. 11:00 am. 

Section 2: Friday, October 23rd. 11:00 am. 

                                           

Now, just enjoy the following the following song. The story of my life with One Direction.

Taken from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vG2piMjhIVY