Final Classes

Final Class on 12/13/17

Final Test is 12/11/17

Students are studying for their final Exam: The practice exam is at this link:

Final Projects:

• Turn in Journal with at least 12 pages of writing.
• Email a Final Draft of one of your best paragraphs (Garth discussed with each of you the best option)
• Study for the Exam

Final Test is 12/11/17

Class on 11/29/17

Review of simple past tense sentences. Review of negative statements in past tense. Review of combining simple sentences with the coordinators and / but  and the use of ", and I" to combine whole sentences.

Workbook Answers for pages 95 and 95

Homework: Type up final draft of your paragraph about Reasons you like living in RWC. Email it to me. If you have missed class simply email me a first draft paragraph about the reason you like or do not like living in RWC. 

Class on 11/27/17

Homework: page  95 Practice 3B and page 96 Practice 4
                    Two pages in your journal. Topic: your winter plans or free choice. 
                    Bring your journal to class.

No Class

No Classes on 11/20 or 11/22. See you all on 11/27!

Class on 11/15/17

Paragraph Goals (and point system)

Topic Sentence        1 point
Correct Tense          1 point
Periods                     1 point
Specifics on topic    4 points
Time Order Signals 1 point
Format (indent etc.) 1 point
Ending "Finally,"     1 point

Homework:
Read pages 90 through 94
Write 6 pages of journal entries
Please use these two topics:

• Thanksgiving
• Music and Memory
• Choose 4 of your own (use page 193 if you need help)

Class on 11/13/17

Writing Tip:
When writing paragraphs (the first draft or during a timed exam) DON'T WRITE A TITLE. Your paragraph's topic should still be very clear from the first sentence.

Homework: write in your journal. Describe someone close to you (family member or friend) who you go to for help. In other words describe the person who you talk to when you have a problem. Give lots of details about that person. 

Class on 11/8/17

Homework:
A) Write a first draft paragraph, page 65 (use page 64 to help you.)
B) Write a second draft of your Spare Time paragraph. Write this on separate paper to turn in. 

Class on 11/6/17

Homework: 2 journal entries. (Bring your journal to class on Wednesday)

1. Write 8 sentences from page 60 Try it Out. 

2. Describe the town/city you grew up in. Try to use adjectives (page 61 for review of adjectives)

Class on 11/1/17

Warm Up:

Students wrote two sentences in past tense to answer the following question:

1. What did you do for Halloween?
Students wrote two sentences in present tense to answer the following question:
2. What is your Halloween Routine?

Students read out load their favorite sentences. Two students created lists of vocabulary: both nouns and verbs on portable white boards

Students turned questions into Topic Sentences. Examples:

I did many things on Halloween.

To celebrate Halloween, I always follow the same routine.

Students had 20 minutes to write a paragraph on questions #1.

The professor returned paragraphs about Spare Time. He lectured on the importance of details and specifics in the middle of the paragraph. 

Workbook page 20. 

Homework:

Write your first journal entry. Topic: write about someone important to you (friend or family) that has passed away. Can't remember enough detail? Talk with someone who does. If you write about your grandmother tell me, about her favorite food, where she was born, describe the clothes you remember her wearing, the sound of her voice, the color of her skin. No detail is wrong. Occasionally use a Spanish word here and there.

Class on 10/30/17

Warm Up:
Students wrote 3 sentences using this beginning:
     "I don't _________________________"
Students shared one sentence with the whole class. Sharing ideas about routines was particularly  successful

Corrected paragraphs discussion
Specific details in the body of the paragraph are always good. Specifics within the last sentence can ruin the sense of ending
After vs Later

Whole class practice and discussions re workbook pages 56 through 60

Homework
I. 
Rewrite one returned paragraph. Be sure to carefully make all the corrections. Email me the final paragraph. 

II. 
Buy (repurpose or re-use) a journal for the class. It should have about 50 pages minimum. We will discuss the writing guidelines on Wednesday. 

Class on 10/25/17

Writing a paragraph from one of three possible questions:

What is your car washing routine?
How do you solve a problem with your partner (or girlfriend, husband, family member, friend)?
What is your morning coffee routine?

Workbook pages 54, and 55

Homework:
Pages 56 and 57, Practice #6 and #7
Write a paragraph to answer this question:
      "What do you like to do when you have spare (extra) time?"

Class on 10/23/17

Rules for Paragraphs

1. Indent
2. Use a Complete Topic Sentence and interesting controlling idea: don't go into details, don't use "because" in the first sentence
3. Stay on the Topic throughout the paragraph
4. Use 5 or more whole sentences (with correct punctuation)
5. A good ending (again don't be too specific in the last sentence or use a time order signal like "Finally, or "In conclusion," 

Homework: P. 54 2-6

Class on 10/18/17

Warm Up;
What is your favorite healthy food. Use present tense: this part of your routine.

Routine Paragraph Part 2

Students wrote the micro-steps that they usually follow when they have a headache:

• I close my eyes and breathe deeply.

The teacher rotated to read/ assist with the students examples. Then the students were given the same paragraph question to answer.

• How do you cure your headaches?

As a whole class the students wrote four possible topic sentences based off the structure they were taught (see Class on 10/16).  One examples follows:

          To cure my headaches, I follow the same routine. 

Students turned in there complete paragraphs.

Workbook pages 47, 38 and 49 

Topic Sentence Definition, examples and exercises to identify the TS.

Homework: 50 and 51 
                      Students must read paragraphs, choose the write intro or topic sentence and then 
                      re-write the whole and corrected paragraph on paper. Students will turn in these 
                      four complete paragraphs

Class on 10/16/17

Warm Up;
What is your favorite unhealthy food (your culinary guilty pleasure). Use present tense: this part of your routine.

Routine Paragraph Part 

Whole class lecture on Topic and Controlling idea.
Sports Cars are fast.   
The blue is the Subject
The yellow part is the controlling idea
Controlling ideas can be simple (as above) but must be interesting. Sports Cars are fast but too expensive to maintain. is a more complex and interesting controlling idea. Controlling ideas are bst when they are personal. 

who to turn a teacher's question into a topic sentence.


Students wrote the micro-steps that they usually follow to wake up each morning:

• I stretch my whole body.

The teacher rotated to read/ assist with the stu

Homework: re-write your Wake Up Routine paragraphs

On 10/9 and 10/11 There Is No Class!

Class on 10/4/17

Warm Up Activity: write 3 sentences about what you did last night. Make sure to use simple past tense. Wait for your name to be called and listen to your classmates answer: What did you do last night? Try to use a unique past tense in you answer.

Review of Draft #2 (about myself)

Common issues and Editing abbreviations:

Quiz #2

Work book pages 38 and 39 in class

Homework:
A) Write 25 sentences about your daily routine. Make sure to write about the morning, day and evening
B) Rewrite you paragraph about yourself. This will be Draft #3. Email the paragraph to me.
C) Workbook Page 43. Follow steps 1 and 2 only to write the paragraph
D) Read workbook pages 44, 45, and 46

WELCOME TO CANADA COLLEGE AND ESL 921

GRAMMAR AND WRITING 1

Students send me an email at bunseg@smccd.edu and tell me the name of one person in the photo below. 

Photo from our first day of class!

Homework: Work on pages 32 to 35 of the workbook. I passed out packets in class on 9/27/17

                     Check the blog for one more short assignment

Remember to buy a text book. Pay me cash (cost is 58.00!) or buy on line. Amazon has new, used and a rental option that are much cheaper. 

Class on 5/22/17

Students took the Final Exam

Homework: Final Essay is due. We will meet 7:00 PM at the following location:

Jeffery's Hamburgers
888 El Camino Real
Menlo Park, CA 94025
(East side of El Camino)

Class on 5/17/17

Review of Format and Content for Final Exam

Please make sure you are confident writing complex sentences using subordinate clauses. Practice Final. Here are two examples:

Sign up for Next Semester. Was 923 hard? Please consider taking 913 or 914 to build your vocabulary and confidence. 924 takes your essay writing to the next level and is much harder than 923.

Homework: 

Study for the Final Exam on Monday Practice Final

Turn in a Draft of your Immigration Essay (work on your final draft is I already corrected a draft). 

Class on 5/15/17

Review of Conclusions in Essays: pages 206-208

Review of Immigration Essay Structure and Requirements: Essays use the following forms:

I. Narrative (A personal story)
II. Logical Division (There are 3 reasons to immigrate to the US...)
III. Process (Follow these steps in order to...)

Homework: Write a draft introduction to your Immigration Essay. Pay close attention to your last sentence: it is the Thesis Sentence and it controls the content and flow of the rest of the essay.

Class on 5/10/17

Final Writing Assignment

Topic: Immigration
Options: Personal or Factual/Information
Format or Paragraph Types: Narrative, Process or Logical Division (or other?)


The format for a Narrative Essay might follow the outlines below. 

Narrative Paragraph:   
Introduction: "I remember the night before I left my home town..."
General details your Thesis Statement is too say if it was basically easy, hard, dangerous etc.  

• Body paragraph #1 First part of your story.  "First, my life changed when...."
• Body paragraph #2 Second part of your story.  "Later on I found...."
• Body paragraph #3 First part of your story.  "Importantly, I didn't give up and..."

Concluding Paragraph: Summary or final opinions or hopes/aspirations

or

Process Paragraph 
Intro: Follow these important steps to improve you immigration experiences
one (or two) steps per paragraph with details
Conclusion: If you follow these steps..

Logical Division
Introduction: There are several reason to move to the US (or several reasons not to)
Each reason is a paragraph


Homework: if you got less than a 5 on your Process Paragraph please re-write.

Class on 5/8/17

Homework: 

• Bring your Journal (goal is 20 pages)
• Read pages 202 to 204
• Complete page 205

Class on 5/1/17

Warm up:

TPR: Students practiced giving simple verbal commands to the whole class. "Stand Up, stomp your feet." etc.

Adding Subordinate clauses to your own independent clause. Whole class practiced writing unique sentences with the following prompts:

• when I get up in the morning
• after a long day at work
• because I love dancing
• if it is not raining

Students practiced placing them at the front of the sentence and using a comma or at the end without a comma

Workbook P114 and 115 (review) workbook p 116

Homework: Type your Process paragraph (draft) to be turned in on paper on Wednesday. Most students had a version reviewed by the instructor last Wednesday. Make sure your paragraph has at least three time order signals and one subordinate clause. The introduction should use "follow these steps" or something similar.

Class on 4/26/17

Warm Up: Students practiced giving simple directions/commands to the whole class: "Stand up, sit down. Turn to the left, etc." Body language is key!

Workbook Pages 110 through 113 

Students learned about independent clauses and their opposites: subordinate clauses

Subordinate clauses cannot stand alone, and must be connected to an independent clause. 

Also, subordinate clauses almost always start with Subordinators. The most common are the following:

• when
• after
• because
• if

Students practiced writing a draft Process paragraph. Students used the same topics on 106 (we already practiced Topic Sentences and Conclusions for the same). Example below (imperative verbs are circled): 

Class on 4/24/17

Warm up:
Students practiced writing steps with imperative verb forms from various topics

Review of workbook pages 104 through 108:

Students identified imperative verbs (not in phrases with "is,"missing subject and no use of -ing endings)

Practice identifying tone

Students practiced writing conclusions for topics on page 106:

Homework: Write on a separate piece of paper. **I will collect.**

A) Change group 2 on page 108 into a paragraph. Add an introduction and conclusion
B) Write three conclusion sentences from 3 topics of your choice on page 106

Class on 4/19/17

Warm Up:

Whole class read the following article:

Good Manners in the 21st Century

Discussion and review of DRAFT Shopping Paragraphs

Workbook Page 105 and 106.

These are the imperative forms you need to use for process paragraphs:

Follow
Use
Adhere,
Stick
Obey
Observe
Comply

Use one of the verbs above with one of the following process key words:

directions
instructions
rules
steps
procedure
process
plan
strategy

Students worked in pairs to write four intro sentences for mock process paragraphs

Homework: Type Final of Shopping Paragraph
                    Make sure you have 17-18 journal entries. 

Class on 4/17/17

Warm UP; Students wrote sentences about their weekend and shared highlights during role call.

The whole class read and analyzed an edited version of a recent article in The Atlantic

Workbook Pages 102 through 104

Homework: Read pages 105 and 106
                   Last dead line for draft Shopping paragraphs is by email on Tuesday

Class on 4/12/17

Hello Students, my new book is free on Amazon from 4/13 to 4/17. Please get a copy!

DIRT IN THE CIRCUIT

Homework: 

First Draft paragraph on Shopping

Must be typed and turned in on Monday

Must contain a logical division key word (p. 82)

Full instructions are on Page 99 (and use p. 84 to help)

Class on 4/10/17

Warm Up: Very short free writing with a couple of prompting questions. Students then practiced stating a possible Topic Sentence or the controlling idea that came out of the writing.

Review of corrected Mid Term Exams. Scores ranged from 77% to 100%. Importantly, everyone that took the exam passed the paragraph writing section.

• Specifically, the whole class built the following lists of paragraph rules that must be mastered to pass the class:
• Indent (or use 5 spaces) for the first sentence. Don't indent or leave a whole line space again in the same paragraph.
• Follow Punctuation Rules: use periods and capital letters, create compound sentences with ", and I" or in other words: comma, coordinating conjunction and a new subject. 

Don't forget the period, and or the new subject-- this is called a "run-on." 

T.S. is both focused and clear (see scale below).

• Main points are clearly stated and details are given for each
• Use of at least two transition signals
• Conclusion: at a minimum use "In conclusion," and sentence should recycle key ideas and re-state key words.

We also discussed how to make the best topic sentence.The scale is outlined here with the weakest sentence on top and the strongest on the bottom:

Review and pair practice in workbook pages 88 through 94.



Homework: 
1. Workbook page 95
2. Bring your journal to class. Make sure you have 10 to 12 entries. That equals 10 to 12 pages. 

Class on 3/29/17

NO CLASS ON 4/3 AND 4/5  SPRING BREAK!

Warm Up: students worked with a partner to improve their Topic Sentence ideas. Partners presented their partners best Topic Sentence.

Coherence: Workbook pages 86 and 87

MID-TERM EXAM

Homework: 

• Read Pages 88 to 91
• Write a journal entry every day (8 to 10 pages total) when we meet on 4/10/17

Class on 3/27/17

Homework: 

• Re-read and analyze your free write on Shopping Habits (see the bottom of page 84 for instructions if you missed class). 
• Then review the list on Page 82 of terms used for logical division. 
• Write two possible Topic Sentences that use logical division as part of the controlling idea.
• Study for mid-term on Wednesday: Click HERE for study guide

Class on 3/22/17

Homework: Study for Mid-Term Exam on 3/29/17
                    Click HERE for study guide
                    Page 83 #2
                    Page 84 #3
                    

Class on 3/20/17

Warm Up:

Free write on the weekend for 10 minutes. Read and think about your ideas. Write 2 possible topic sentences for a a paragraph (don't write the paragraph).

Page 50 Journal Writing Discussion; Goal for April.

Review of page 75 -- Bad Drivers Outline

Whole Class started first three pages of Chapter 4.

Students turned in final paragraph on Sport/Hobby

Students took a practice Mid-Term. Copies were passed out in class.

Homework: Plan where you will do 15 minutes a day of journal writing and plan when that will happen to be both consistent and peaceful. Journal writing will start in April.

Class on 3/15/17

Homework:
Page 75 #B
Final Paragraph on Sports or Hobbies
Timed Writing Quiz on Monday.
Topics will be: "American Food" or "Pine Trees"

Class on 3/13/17

Warm Up

Students in teams of 3 or four formulated their best topic sentences for the following general topics:
Speed Bumps, Seagulls, Daylight Savings

Teams battled against each other in the game called: "Topic Sentence Showdown"
Teams had to have topic sentences that did the following: were clear, had a focus, and were interesting

Review of current requirements. Students have one more day (Wednesday to turn in Final Drafts of their Memorable Event paragraphs.

Whole class activity: Workbook pages 64, and 66 through 71.

Homework: 

• Workbook page 67 #A
• Workbook page 72 #A & #B

Class on 3/6/17

NO CLASS on 3/8/17. It is a FLEX DAY.

Warm Up: Students formed sentences about their weekend. They were asked to use each of the following coordinating conjunctions:

• , and 
• , but
• , so

Emphasis was placed on the need for a subject verb combination on each side of the conjunction

Students shared their free writing and ideas about their favorite sport of hobby. They then helped each other form a focused Topic Sentence. Each partner shared out the other student's TS. Examples include:

• Music makes me feel relaxed. 
• Hiking is a fun activity and has several benefits. 
• Cooking healthy has many benefits.

Students turned in Final Draft of a Memorable Event paragraphs
Work book review of 61 and 62. Introduction to For Example, and For Instance and concluding phrases pages 63 and 64.

Homework: 
Workbook P 63 # 7 and P 65 and 66
Write a rough draft paragraph about your favorite hobby or sport. Use the focused topic sentences we developed with partners (and shared with the whole class). 

Class on 3/1/17

Homework: 
A) Free write about your favorite hobby or sport. Make sure you write for a full 15 minutes
B) Complete workbook pages 61 and 62
C) Type your final draft of Memorable Event Paragraph and turn in paper copy on Monday.

Class on 2/27/17

Warm Up- Topic Sentence Practice: How to turn a simple question into a general topic sentence.

What did you do this weekend? ---- changes to ---- I did many things this weekend.

First Timed Writing assignment returned. Common mistakes

• Too much detail in the intro or Topic Sentence missing
• Incomplete sentences or incorrect use of coordinating conjunctions
• No detail in the body of the paragraph
• Formatting problems: no indent or extra spacing/returns
• No ending

5/5 is a perfect score

Chapter 3 Workbook pages: Adjectives, the sandwich analogy for paragraphs

• Bread- Topic Sentence
• Meat- Detail
• Cheese- Detail
• Tomato- Detail 
• Bread- Conclusion (often a repeat of the Topic Sentence)

Turn Simple Topics into interesting Topic Sentences with Controlling Ideas

Topic: Pencils. "I thing pencils are awesome." It is on topic but has not controlling or limiting/focusing idea. "A pencil is a child's first high tech tool." TS with controlling idea: pencils are technology and important first step. If you have an interesting and focused controlling idea the rest of the paragraph is easy to write.

Homework: Workbook

• Pages 56& 57 B
• Pages 58 & 59 # 4

Class on 2/22/17

Warm Up:
Students wrote introductory sentences for academic paragraphs (Students did not write the whole paragraph). Students practiced re-using or recycling as many key words from the initial question as possible. Students tried not to be too specific

Students exchanged their Fairy-tale paragraphs (page 44) with a focus on the correct use of coordinating conjunctions, and time order signals.

Students completed page 46 and whole class discussion of page 47.

Students had their own Free-writing exercise by following instruction on bottom of page 47. If you missed class take 15 minutes to free-write before attempting to write you draft paragraph.

We reviewed the first 4 pages of Chapter 3. There was emphasis on the sandwich graphic. You cannot have a paragraph with out Intro and Conclusion (that are similar) [the bread!]and you cannot have a paragraph with out details [the meat of the sandwich!].

Homework: 

• Use your free-writing from this class. Follow Steps 1, 2 and 3 on page 48.
• Bring your handwritten or typed paragraph on Monday. 

Class on 2/15/17

Homework:
Fill in answers in you workbook: P 42 part B, P42-3 Practice 9
Write one paragraph to turn in (computer or handwritten). Follow the prompts on Try It Out p 44

Remember my novel is free this weekend only!

ATMOSPHERE

Class on 2/13/17

Roll Call (What did you do on the weekend?). Students tried to use a unique verb each time as I call each student from the official attendance sheet.

The professor collected Final Drafts of Person who made a difference paragraphs

Students took Quiz Number 2 (Irregular verbs 26-50 from our list)

Whole Class Workbook: Identifying the authors intent: Writers usually write in three modes:

• To Inform (like a teachers text book or a newspaper story)
• To Entertain (could be happy, funny, sad etc)
• To Persuade: Language is forceful and direct and tries to influence or change the reader's ideas

Introduction of Time Order Signals

Whole class completed Group 1 (placed in correct order, time order signals inserted and coordinating conjunctions used appropriately. 

Introduction of Coordinating Conjunctions and FANBOYS

Homework:

1. Complete Group 2 and Group 3 (Number them in the correct order). Then write each one out in paragraph form. Add some time order signals and combine very short sentences when appropriate. See completed example from Group 1 above
2. Study Page 29 as on Wednesday we will have a timed writing exercise.

Class on 2/8/17

Warm Up: Roll Call/What did you do on Tuesday  (simple past tense verbs recorded on the board)

Quiz # 1 Irregular Verbs 1-25

Return of Made a Difference paragraphs, and the common issues were

• 1. Problem with the Form/Format. Did you forget to indent? or did you indent or create multiple returns so that your paragraph looks like multiple paragraphs. 
• 2. No introduction:  A. Did you mention "Difference in your first sentence?" Did you create a title that stated you main point and then forget to state it in the paragraph?
• 3. Fragments. Did you use lists, bullets or forge to state the subject or clearly use a verb?
• 4. Dropping pronouns. Always review your work looking for subject pronouns especially the use of It with is. 

Workbook:
Review of the components of a timed writing exercise. We reviewed the steps for the first writing quiz on Monday.
Whole class reviewed pages 31, 32 and 33

Homework: 

1. Final Draft of Person Who Made a Difference paragraph. This must be typed on paper and turned in on Monday
2. Complete pages 34 and 35 in the workbook

Class on 2/6/17

Warm up: Irregular past tense verbs 1-25, students practiced in pairs

Learning Center Tour
Important upcoming deadlines:

• Today's rough draft "Person who made a difference" Paragraphs will be returned on Wednesday. Final drafts will be due on Monday 2/13/17
• Quiz on Wednesday: Irregular past tense verbs 1-25 and Learning Center

Homework: Study for quiz



Answers for Practice #10 and 11.

Class on 2/1/17

Simple Past Tense Warm Up

Workbook pages 16 through 22

Homework:
A. Complete workbook page 19 # 10 and # 11 in the book.
B. Write a first draft about the person who made a difference (make mistakes as this is a first draft)
    Use pages 23 and 24 for help.

1/30/17 Class cancelled

Class is cancelled for Monday 1/30/17. Your professor is sick. Paragraphs on your first home are due Wednesday. 

Class on 1/25/17

Warm Up: Two Truths and a Lie

Review you first paragraphs: Goals and work with a Partner

First four Weeks Paragraph Goals

Format: indentation, clear spacing

Use of Periods

Use of Subject pronouns

Basic Spelling

Clear Details

Work book pages 10, 11 and 12 and 14

Homework: Pages 13 and 15 

Type paragraph about your childhood or childhood house. 

Class on 1/23/17

Warm Up (Interview questions for your classmates)

Review of Workbook Pages 3 through 5

Homework: Study pages 8 and 9. Because all paragraph final drafts will be computer typed, be ready to tell me where you will have access to a computer. 

Spring 2017

Welcome to ESL 923

Grammar and Writing III

Homework: What color was Garth's sweater? Email me the answer. Remember to introduce yourself! (For example, if your email address is, puppyluv85@gmail.com, I will not know who you are unless you state your name). 

Use a formal email format like this:

     Dear Garth,

     Blah, Blah, double blah, blah...

     Sincerely,

     [your name]

You text book looks like this: