Category: Fall22

Discourse Analyzer

Aim: To learn how to use a digital (online) discourse appli “Cathaven” to get feedback on your English use of words and sentences.

Method: Follow these steps

Steps

  • click on the link
  • click on the first button (pink) text analyzer
  • left side: copy your text from your document -> the text box
  • right side click on the arrow and then click on the 2nd link (CEFR)
  • click on the button “Analyse” for your discourse feedback
  • Take a photo with your smartphone and send to LINE group

Discourse Feedback Explanation. How to read? 

  • left-side: your vocabulary is color coded to show you the level of difficulty of your content or specialized vocabulary (terminology) – A1 to Native
  • right-side: will report your overall level, and then a) Vocabulary; b) Verb Forms; c) Sentence Structures

Discourse Feedback Explanation. How to use?

  • write a section of text and check the overall score
  • you can improve vocabulary by checking the level of difficulty
  • you can edit and improve your sentence structure
  • you do not need to get a high score “result” every time. Please use as a guide to help you use high level words (topic terminology) and complex sentences
  • any stage of your writing you can use this discourse analyzer

Wednesday 21 – last class

Procedure: 2 ZOOM sessions

Zoom Session 1

  • I will do a small lecture on discourse analysis
  • I will ask you to use a online Text Analyzer
  • I will demonstrate to you
  • Tell you the benefits, and provide some examples
  • Task

Zoom Session 2

  • I will check your task (session 1)
  • As well check your final essay – Proof version

Final Essay

Pre-task: to research a topic and include your opinion (350words)

Overview: read these instructions to complete the pre-task

  1. Select a new problem in Japan ( a problem you did not write about before)
  2. Define the problem (30 words). In your own words
  3. Research 2 websites to consider solutions for the problem. We will focus on two solutions only
  4. Website 1: review the solutions
  5. Website 2: review the solutions *Please note the solutions can be the same or different (but at least 2 solutions)

Introduction: Write your introduction how you want to (75words)

  • write your introduction last
  • use a previous format / or your own format

Solution Paragraph: Review solutions to the problem

  • review the solutions from the websites
  • explain the solutions

*hint: you should define the problem in your 1st sentence, or your introduction

Comparative Paragraph: Compare 2 solutions

  • select any two solutions to compare
  • reference your information (websites)

Opinion Paragraph: Decide and write your opinion for the a) best solution or b) solutions (two or more)

  • give reasons
  • provide your viewpoint (s)

Conclusion: Write your conclusion how you want to (75words)

  • write the conclusion before the introduction
  • check your conclusion after you finish the introduction

Dec 7th/12th – Comparative writing 1&2 introduction and conclusion

Aim: To write an introduction and conclusion for an Opinion based comparative essay or evaluative essay.

A. Introduction Format (Money and Happiness):

  1. Write the purpose of the essay
  2. To review what your final opinion is (paragraph 3 – stage)
  3. Giving the paragraph outline
  4. Give an example of your opinion from the third paragraph – reword the sentence or sentences

B. Introduction Format (City Vs Country):

  1. Ask the reader a question? Do you want to live in the city or the country? Have you ever thought about your preferences for living either in the city or the country?
  2. Answer the question – your answer should connect to your final opinion
  3. Explain what you are comparing in your body paragraphs – 2 or 3 sentences (remember to reword your sentences for review)

A. Conclusion Format: rewrite / reword the content

  1. Give the purpose and the essay outline (introduction 1 and 3)
  2. Summary for body paragraph 1
  3. Summary for body paragraph 2
  4. Final opinion – body paragraph 3

B. Conclusion Format:

  1. To convince others of your viewpoint – to get others to agree with you
  2. Select your strongest point – review
  3. Select your second strongest point and review
  4. Statement – make a statement to complete your essay. A statement is your final opinion about the topic, and you want other people to really think abut it.

W9 – Nov 28: Comparative Opinion

Aim: To answer a question and give your opinion

Method: An American based writing format for completing an opinion in a response to a question that compares two contrasting ideas or concepts;

Question: Which is more important to you, money (choice a) or happiness (choice b)?

Procedure: Think about the two choices (a) and (b). In your life right now your response may be different than your answer in life when you are much older. One way to answer this question is to write a comparative response.

Write the body paragraphs – pros and cons; 100 words. There is no research, you write your own ideas and you have to give reasons for your ideas. This is called your base ideas.

Body Paragraph 1: What does money provide for you in life? Think about all the positive aspects – called “pros” (+ve). Then, what are the “cons” (-ve) and explain. (100words)

Body Paragraph 2: What does happiness provide for you in life? Think about all the positive aspects – called “pros” (+ve). Then, what are the “cons” (-ve) and explain. (100words)

This paragraph is now based on your ideas, paragraph 1 and paragraph 2; and you develop your ideas by making comparisons. To help you make an opinion we often use the 3 scale evaluation. This is called your evaluative or comparative ideas.

Opinion Paragraph 3 (100words): Think about your opinion and write what you think “overall” and answer by selecting 1 or 2 or 3 out of the following;

  1. is money more important;
  2. or is money equally important;
  3. or is money less important;

than / as happiness? Write a short response first 30-35 words. This is an introduction to your comparative evaluation.

The next step: Is to think about your answer in the future: would your answer change in the year 2050? Select 1 – 2 – 3;

  1. my answer is the same
  2. my answer may change: select which is your answer
  3. unsure: you do not know

Write a short response second, 30-35 words.

The next step: Is to now provide an overall / final opinion based on your opinion paragraph (3). Also, it is a;

  • summary of your content
  • make some statements (to give your final impression) about your ideas “I intend to marry and as the husband I will have to support my family” – “I care more about happiness for my future family”
  • it is difficult to compare all of the pros and cons concerning money and happines

The final 30-35words are very meaningful in your overall opinion and body paragraph 3. It is also very difficult to write.

Nov 21

Procedure: Today is a shortened class due to extra curricular activities held on Tuesday and Wednesday (holiday – repeat essay homework) on campus (22nd-23rd November). When you have completed these two activities you can leave the classroom. The teacher (me) will be the last person to leave the classroom. Next class is G32 Monday Nov 28th.

Complete the following:

  1. Select a repeat essay. Select an essay between week 2 and week 5. Rewrite this essay. Change the topic (subject) and write the same essay, and you must follow the lesson objectives. LINE me the Title of your essay and Week.
  2. I will check your previous essay.

*Thank you.

Repeat essay ideas;

  • Read your old essays.
  • Select an essay you want to improve again, identify your weaker area’s in your writing, or
  • an essay you want to practice and use the same topic (subject) or a new topic.
  • It is important to follow the lesson objectives.
  • In Mondays class show me your old essay and the new repeat essay.

Solution Writing

Introduction Format:

  1. Introduce problems in Japan
  2. Write the problem / solution – 1
  3. Write the problem / solution – 2
  4. Write the problem / solution – 3
  5. Write your opinion

Body Paragraph Writing Format: 3 problems

  1. Problem 1: aged society in Japan
  2. Problem 2: vacant houses and buildings in Japan
  3. Problem 3: Japans exchange rate for US dollars
  • Body Paragraph 2 – FOI 1 – 50 words (problem 1); at the end of your paragraph write a primary solution to the problem; and also give your opinion (50words)
  • Body Paragraph 3 – FOI 2 – 50 words (problem 2); at the end of your paragraph write a primary solution to the problem; and also give your opinion (50words)
  • Body Paragraph 4 – FOI 3 – 50 words (problem 3); at the end of your paragraph write a primary solution to the problem; and also give your opinion (50words)

Conclusion Format:

  • Rank which problems you think are the most serious to least serious – 3 sentences, explain your reason why
  • final sentence: Make a final opinion about problems in Japan

References:

  • [1]
  • [2]
  • [3]

Nov 14 Monday

Aim 1: To write a short essay and include the following and research 2 sources of information;

  1. Website Source 1
  2. Video Source 2 (YouTube): 90seconds and 2minutes

Procedure; write 2 body paragraphs; 1) Website; 2) YouTube – 80words for each paragraph

Writing Objective: Explain a topic you select from the subject list “Physical Science”. For example, Physics – you can explain Newtons 2nd law of motion – for every reaction there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Body Paragraph 1: FOI paragraph, there is no opinion in this paragraph

Body Paragraph 2: Following the reference guide (Nov 9) and writing an opinion based on the content

*Please note: We will learn to write a new paragraph style for the introduction and conclusion in class.

Aim 2: Introduction and Conclusion – provide details of the content including the details about where the content was produced / sourced

Teacher Demonstration: a template will be given to guide you what to say – a short explanation will follow at the end of the demonstration

Introduction: the purpose of the introduction is to validate (confirm) the reason why you used the website and video as your source of information (SOI).

  • Topic sentence – introduce the theme of your short essay and explain the subject topic
  • Introduce the qualities of the source of information 1

For example: I used this website called “National Geographic” because it has a lot of scientific information about the topic. OR This website “name / title” contained accurate details of information to explain the topic of the essay. This website article is written by a well known scientist / subject expert (S.E.) and provides the content for paragraph one.

  • Introduce the qualities of the source of information 2

For example: This YouTube video provides….

  • This essay outlines / provides / writes / gives… information about … (introduce the content in your body paragraphs

Conclusion: the purpose is to justify (re-validate) the SOI.

  • This essay provided details from (website information) – reword sentence 2 from the introduction.
  • This essay provided details from (YouTube video information) and (video information) – reword sentence 3 from the introduction.
  • Give your overall opinion based on the content a) body paragraph 1, or b) body paragraph 2, or a) & b)
  • Give a statement “Statements are sentences that express a fact, idea or opinion.” about the topic, for example; what did you learn about the topic, what do you think is important about the topic, what is your final opinion about the topic 

Nov 9 Activity

Aim: Using content of information correctly in an academic writing format

Procedures: the teacher will give a demonstration and provide a list to follow;

List: a guide to writing

  • always look for sub-headings to identify main points of information. For example “Personal identity”; “Change in Behavior”; Gender and Diversity
  • identify the role of the speaker (the writer)
  • identify the main point
  • provide the information
  • quotation – helps us to directly provide information
  • provide opinion

Demonstration:

1.The announcer mentions on the point about “Change in Behavior” that in culture we often change who we are to become like that culture. She says, “often even change themselves to fit in. [1]” I agree with this because I think that people feel a special bond when they are together with people like themselves. Everyone wants to fit in I think.

2.The TED presenter / The researcher / Business professional / mentions that a study “shows that boards composed of both genders will perform 15% better than boards that are mainly composed of one gender. [2]” He continues to say that cultural diversity on boards will perform 35% better. In a global world this may be true for some business, but not for every country I think.

Reference

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqMzKmZ4j-4 (announcer, 1:51)

[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqMzKmZ4j-4 (TED presenter, 3:25)

Activity: Write a short opinion paragraph on video content. Please select any content and follow the list (guide)