field trip: going somewhere to learn something for school.
"We took a field trip to the Acer factory to learn how computers are made."
out of commission: broken or somehow unable to work/do anything.
"This flu has put me out of commission for the last two weeks."
in perpituity: forever
"If you take out this bank loan, you will owe money in perpituity."
road trip: a vacation in which you travel by car.
"We took a road trip from Los Angeles to Denver."
jive: nonsense
"Don't give me this jive about how you didn't know where my office was."
fossil: old
"Lee Tung-Hui? That guy's a fossil!"
funk: a bass and drums heavy form of rock and roll music; also, "coolness."
"Bootsy Collins proposed 'the Pinocchio theory': If you fake the funk (if you act cool when you aren't), your nose will grow."
This rocks: I enjoy whatever I am doing right now.
"This Taiwanese game show rocks!"
Don't stop rocking: Don't stop doing what you are doing.
"Your guitar playing is great! Don't stop rocking!"
Last ____ on Earth: an insult
"I wouldn't listen to Jay Chou if he was the last musicican on Earth."
"It's a scientific fact": Either a sarcastic or earnest assertion that your opinion is correct.
"Everyone knows Metallica is the best band ever. It's a scientific fact."
Rockin' out: having fun; dancing
"He's over there, rockin' out to his i-Pod."
"with it": Cool; makes friends easily; knowedgable
"He seems weird, but he's really with it when it comes to music."
get funky: An imperative to dance and enjoy yourself.
"Come on, it's a party to celebrate the end of the school year. Let's get funky!"
rock out: party, dance
"Nothing to do tonight; time to rock out."
Freak Show: a display of unusual looking people, or a metaphor for something strange.
"Have you ever been to Yuba City, California? That place is a Freak Show."
hate crime: an act of violence inspired only through the aggressor's irrational anger.
"He killed a man just because he was Mexican, so his murder charge carries hate crime stipulations"
"like shooting fish in a barrel": very easy
"Getting dad to loan me money is like shooting fish in a barrel."
pissed off: angry
"I worked all week on that paper, but Sean didn't mark it at all and gave me a bad grade. That pisses me off."
fatso: A fat man.
"Sean was a fatso when he started teaching. Now he's only kind of fat."
"make a difference": change things that have been bad for some time.
"I joined the environmental group because global warming is getting worse and I want to make a difference."
"stone groove": a desirable, cool thing.
"Getting a day off from school would be a stone groove."
"Don't fear the Reaper": Don't be afraid of death. Also, a famous song by Blue Oyster Cult.
"Why doesn't your car have seatbelts?"
"You know what they say: Don't fear the Reaper!"
"Appetite for Destruction": You enjoy destructive things. Also a famous rock album by Guns 'N Roses.
"He doesn't like the mundane work world, so he joined a gang to feed his appetite for destruction."
yellow-bellied: cowardly
"He a yellow-bellied fool who won't talk to someone who yells at him."
square: not cool
"He's so square. He's always talking about Jay Chou."
lame: stupid. The word shows disapproval of something.
"Did you see the new Stephen Chow movie? It was so lame."
wussed out: got scared and decided not to do something.
"He was going to smash a piece of cake into Sean's face for Sean's birthday, but he wussed out and just handed Sean the cake instead."
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Vocabulary Sample Sentences
After I was caught cheating, I felt great shame.
I screwed-up the laboratory report, so my entire group failed.
I need more information before I can make a decision.
I don't understand my dad's dinosaur music.
The band is very good in concert.
I will never set foot in this McDonald's again!
I like the oldies radio station because contemporary music sucks.
I saw many interesting movies at the Taipei Golden Horse film fesitval.
If you buy a meal, you get a 10% discount on the bill.
He says he got to second base, but she says he's never even talked to her.
I find men with long hair irresistible.
He is cool under pressure; he doesn't get scared.
I wish I was as cool as Jay Chou.
I don't like scary movies; I get too scared.
The lack of news coverage about Burma upsets me.
I'm in a rut lately, so I haven't been able to get a lot of work done.
I'm going to get out of this rut and back into the groove!
He doesn't go to his office for office hours because he is forgetful.
What is all the hullabaloo outside?
I have two tickets to see A-Mei at the Taipei Amphitheater.
It's bad karma to go to a store for a long time and leave without buying anything.
You should always give money to a beggar. It's good karma.
Burning Spear is a famous Rastafarian and Reggae artist.
People don't like him anymore because he narced on his best friend.
This mistake destroys his chance to get a good grade in the class.
She is depressed because she has a bleak worldview.
He doesn't like school because every day is mundane, and he likes excitement.
I had the opportunity to meet Hou Hsaio-Hsien.
I would like to read the following statement about my role as a narc.
She is depressed because her bleak worldview gives her a gloomy outlook on life.
He can't say anything without sounding sarcastic, so people think he is always being either funny or mean.
(If you say, "How are you?" sarcastically, it means you either don't care how the person is, or it means that you are making fun of people's tendency to greet one another with "How are you?")
I screwed-up the laboratory report, so my entire group failed.
I need more information before I can make a decision.
I don't understand my dad's dinosaur music.
The band is very good in concert.
I will never set foot in this McDonald's again!
I like the oldies radio station because contemporary music sucks.
I saw many interesting movies at the Taipei Golden Horse film fesitval.
If you buy a meal, you get a 10% discount on the bill.
He says he got to second base, but she says he's never even talked to her.
I find men with long hair irresistible.
He is cool under pressure; he doesn't get scared.
I wish I was as cool as Jay Chou.
I don't like scary movies; I get too scared.
The lack of news coverage about Burma upsets me.
I'm in a rut lately, so I haven't been able to get a lot of work done.
I'm going to get out of this rut and back into the groove!
He doesn't go to his office for office hours because he is forgetful.
What is all the hullabaloo outside?
I have two tickets to see A-Mei at the Taipei Amphitheater.
It's bad karma to go to a store for a long time and leave without buying anything.
You should always give money to a beggar. It's good karma.
Burning Spear is a famous Rastafarian and Reggae artist.
People don't like him anymore because he narced on his best friend.
This mistake destroys his chance to get a good grade in the class.
She is depressed because she has a bleak worldview.
He doesn't like school because every day is mundane, and he likes excitement.
I had the opportunity to meet Hou Hsaio-Hsien.
I would like to read the following statement about my role as a narc.
She is depressed because her bleak worldview gives her a gloomy outlook on life.
He can't say anything without sounding sarcastic, so people think he is always being either funny or mean.
(If you say, "How are you?" sarcastically, it means you either don't care how the person is, or it means that you are making fun of people's tendency to greet one another with "How are you?")
Reminder: Written Work Due Week of 3/31
Please turn in a one page response to the Patterns Plus essays assigned for the week of 3/31 (this week) and the week of 3/24 (last week). That is one total page of writing. Do the best you can to respond to each essay.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
The Second Oral Exam
Classes:
I asked you to practice using more desciption in the last post (by not saying things like "delicious food"). I will factor this request into the second oral exam. I would like you to be able to describe in detail two things: the taste of a type of food that you like and the sound of a piece of music that you like. Please note that "This food is delicious" and "This music is nice to listen to" will not result in high grades. Review/learn some appropriate adjectives. Also be able to describe the type of food and the type of music in English.
Sean
I asked you to practice using more desciption in the last post (by not saying things like "delicious food"). I will factor this request into the second oral exam. I would like you to be able to describe in detail two things: the taste of a type of food that you like and the sound of a piece of music that you like. Please note that "This food is delicious" and "This music is nice to listen to" will not result in high grades. Review/learn some appropriate adjectives. Also be able to describe the type of food and the type of music in English.
Sean
Banned Phrases / Course Hour 1
Classes:
Please do not use the following phrases any longer:
"delicious food": Usually in English you use "delicious" as a subject complement--e.g. "The food is delicious." "Delicious food" sounds unusual to a native speaker; it isn't necessarily bad, but I want you to stop saying it because I want you to practice describing how food tastes. Stop saying that food tastes "good" and start being more specific. Practice thinking of ways to describe the taste of foods that a friend has never eaten. Example: "Lamb tastes like beef, but the texture is tougher."
"the society": It's almost always "society." Drop the "the" and I'll show you when to use it if it is missing.
"take a rest": There is nothing wrong with this term, but try some new synonyms like "relax," etc.
"suicide" (verb): Suicide is not a verb in English. It is a noun with the verb "commit" attached. If someone kills himself, you say, "He committed suicide"; you don't say "He suicided." I taught this to an oral exam group last week, but on their papers they still wrote "suicided" and "decided to suicide".
--The first course hour is the only hour all week that your English speaking will be observed. Please complete the assignments during that first hour, then if you finish early continue to speak in English. This can be boring, I know, but practice is essential even if it is not fun. Please respect your T.A. when she tells you to continue to work.
--I am fairly tolerant of students doing other work or talking quietly during the lecture (hour 2) or during the vocabulary/vernacular discussion (second half of hour three). But please work only on spoken English during hour 1 and please pay attention to the Simpsons episode in the first half of hour three.
--If you have a situation that might affect your class performance, simply let me know beforehand and I will give you some leeway in the class. If you are tired, come to me and warn me that you are worried that you might fall asleep. If you and some classmates have a major exam, lab, etc., let me know that you might be tempted to talk about another class. If I know what is going on, there will be no problem. On Friday several students were late because of a particularly difficult lab; if I was told about this right away, it would be easier to run class. You tend to do a good job asking me permission to miss class for competitions, doctor's appointments, etc., but don't be afraid to also tell me if there is something I should know during class.
S.
Please do not use the following phrases any longer:
"delicious food": Usually in English you use "delicious" as a subject complement--e.g. "The food is delicious." "Delicious food" sounds unusual to a native speaker; it isn't necessarily bad, but I want you to stop saying it because I want you to practice describing how food tastes. Stop saying that food tastes "good" and start being more specific. Practice thinking of ways to describe the taste of foods that a friend has never eaten. Example: "Lamb tastes like beef, but the texture is tougher."
"the society": It's almost always "society." Drop the "the" and I'll show you when to use it if it is missing.
"take a rest": There is nothing wrong with this term, but try some new synonyms like "relax," etc.
"suicide" (verb): Suicide is not a verb in English. It is a noun with the verb "commit" attached. If someone kills himself, you say, "He committed suicide"; you don't say "He suicided." I taught this to an oral exam group last week, but on their papers they still wrote "suicided" and "decided to suicide".
--The first course hour is the only hour all week that your English speaking will be observed. Please complete the assignments during that first hour, then if you finish early continue to speak in English. This can be boring, I know, but practice is essential even if it is not fun. Please respect your T.A. when she tells you to continue to work.
--I am fairly tolerant of students doing other work or talking quietly during the lecture (hour 2) or during the vocabulary/vernacular discussion (second half of hour three). But please work only on spoken English during hour 1 and please pay attention to the Simpsons episode in the first half of hour three.
--If you have a situation that might affect your class performance, simply let me know beforehand and I will give you some leeway in the class. If you are tired, come to me and warn me that you are worried that you might fall asleep. If you and some classmates have a major exam, lab, etc., let me know that you might be tempted to talk about another class. If I know what is going on, there will be no problem. On Friday several students were late because of a particularly difficult lab; if I was told about this right away, it would be easier to run class. You tend to do a good job asking me permission to miss class for competitions, doctor's appointments, etc., but don't be afraid to also tell me if there is something I should know during class.
S.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Vernacular Expressions
I defines these and give you an example:
"yadda yadda yadda": This shows that you are bored. You either use it to skip part of a story or to show that you don't care about what you are saying.
"I went to the store, bought some meat, yadda yadda yadda, I went to bed early."
"Teachers work hard to teach their students. Yadda yadda yadda."
"over my dead body": It expresses that you will fight very hard to prevent someone from doing what they say they will do. Usually the person's claim is something that you want yourself.
"I will become president of the club!"
"Over my dead body! I want to be president."
"do the honors": This is a request by you to someone else. It means you want someone to do something for you.
"I can't open this bottle. Will you do the honors?"
"sole survivor": only survivor.
"Bob was the sole survivor of the boat accident."
"That's the point": This expresses to someone that they have said something that you have already said.
"She is pulchritudinous."
"I disagree. I think she's beautiful."
"That's my point. 'Pulchritude' means 'beauty'."
Gentlemen's agreement: This is a serious agreement between two people.
"We made a gentlemen's agreement not to have our companies compete for the same clients."
"More clever than he looks": a backhanded compliment when you say that someone is smart but looks dumb. You can change "clever" into something else.
"He did well on the test. I guess he's more clever than he looks."
"dead tired": very tired
"I just ran five miles and I'm dead tired."
high society: the social network of rich and famous people
"She only works at a shoe store, but she dreams of becoming part of high society."
"Watching___like a hawk": this means you are watching someone closely (or someone is watching you) because you are looking for something in the person's actions.
"He cheated on the last test, so during this test I will be watching him like a hawk."
"stare danger in the face": means 'be courageous'.
"A good warrior should be able to stare danger in the face."
"put your manhood to the test": means 'try to prove you are a man by being courageous'
"Teenage boys are annoying because they think that every competition requires them to put their manhood to the test."
spine tingling: exciting in a scary way.
"The scary movie is spine tingling."
have a look see: means "take a look" or "look at"
"I am having trouble with my paper. Will you help me?"
"Sure. Let's have a look see."
"It doesn't matter....What's important...." This is a common structure. The first sentence rejects an idea or value. The second sentence claims that a new value is of greater importance.
"It doesn't matter if you are rich. What's important is that you enjoy your life."
fun boys: derogatory term for gay men.
"This part of the city is popular among fun boys."
"get a room": you yell this at people who are doing something in public that you think they should do in private.
<> <--"Hey you two, get a room!"
"In a pig's eye": this shows strong disagreement with someone's claim. You say this to someone who wants something that you want.
"I will be the president of a club."
"In a pig's eye you will!"
--The term can also express a strong disagreement with someone's opinion.
"The purple party will be good leaders of the country."
"In a pig's eye!"
"yadda yadda yadda": This shows that you are bored. You either use it to skip part of a story or to show that you don't care about what you are saying.
"I went to the store, bought some meat, yadda yadda yadda, I went to bed early."
"Teachers work hard to teach their students. Yadda yadda yadda."
"over my dead body": It expresses that you will fight very hard to prevent someone from doing what they say they will do. Usually the person's claim is something that you want yourself.
"I will become president of the club!"
"Over my dead body! I want to be president."
"do the honors": This is a request by you to someone else. It means you want someone to do something for you.
"I can't open this bottle. Will you do the honors?"
"sole survivor": only survivor.
"Bob was the sole survivor of the boat accident."
"That's the point": This expresses to someone that they have said something that you have already said.
"She is pulchritudinous."
"I disagree. I think she's beautiful."
"That's my point. 'Pulchritude' means 'beauty'."
Gentlemen's agreement: This is a serious agreement between two people.
"We made a gentlemen's agreement not to have our companies compete for the same clients."
"More clever than he looks": a backhanded compliment when you say that someone is smart but looks dumb. You can change "clever" into something else.
"He did well on the test. I guess he's more clever than he looks."
"dead tired": very tired
"I just ran five miles and I'm dead tired."
high society: the social network of rich and famous people
"She only works at a shoe store, but she dreams of becoming part of high society."
"Watching___like a hawk": this means you are watching someone closely (or someone is watching you) because you are looking for something in the person's actions.
"He cheated on the last test, so during this test I will be watching him like a hawk."
"stare danger in the face": means 'be courageous'.
"A good warrior should be able to stare danger in the face."
"put your manhood to the test": means 'try to prove you are a man by being courageous'
"Teenage boys are annoying because they think that every competition requires them to put their manhood to the test."
spine tingling: exciting in a scary way.
"The scary movie is spine tingling."
have a look see: means "take a look" or "look at"
"I am having trouble with my paper. Will you help me?"
"Sure. Let's have a look see."
"It doesn't matter....What's important...." This is a common structure. The first sentence rejects an idea or value. The second sentence claims that a new value is of greater importance.
"It doesn't matter if you are rich. What's important is that you enjoy your life."
fun boys: derogatory term for gay men.
"This part of the city is popular among fun boys."
"get a room": you yell this at people who are doing something in public that you think they should do in private.
<
"In a pig's eye": this shows strong disagreement with someone's claim. You say this to someone who wants something that you want.
"I will be the president of a club."
"In a pig's eye you will!"
--The term can also express a strong disagreement with someone's opinion.
"The purple party will be good leaders of the country."
"In a pig's eye!"
Vocabulary Sample Sentences
You should already know the definition. This is to see how the word might look in an English sentence. You can use the sentences to practice your style and reading comprehension.
"We had at fun outing at Daan Park."
"My father shares his wisdom with me."
"He is wealthy enough to own two RVs."
"Do not judge a book by its cover."
"I don't like it when people interrupt a story."
"The Kaiser led the Austrian military."
"His economic plan is dubious."
"People snicker at me on the MRT because I am tall and white."
"I respect my teacher because he respects me."
"In many countries, women are second-class citizens."
"During the summer, my armpits sweat and ruin my shirts."
"Childhood is one humiliation after another, and so is adulthood."
"I don't think it works politically to assassinate someone."
"He has a clever mind, but he doesn't work hard."
"He is a merciful leader."
"They give you hot, moistened towels on some airlines."
"I get agitated when I am on an airplane."
"I bought a lottery ticket in the hopes of winning a bonanza."
"The lines of my grandfather's wrinkled skin testify to his difficult life and his wisdom."
"The classroom seats are hard on my keister."
"My family abandoned the dog because we could no longer afford it."
"The military leader made a gutsy decision to attack the larger army."
"My reunion with my ex-girlfriend was as awkward as you would imagine it would be."
"I plan to make a fortune selling computers."
"I am heir to the family fortune."
"It was cowardly for me not to help my friend when he was being bullied."
"Public displays of affection make me squirm."
"The pathetic man does nothing while his wife sews him a green hat."
"Only a kook would believe that the U.S. moon landing was fake."
"He was a good man when he was young, but now he's an annoying old coot."
"We had at fun outing at Daan Park."
"My father shares his wisdom with me."
"He is wealthy enough to own two RVs."
"Do not judge a book by its cover."
"I don't like it when people interrupt a story."
"The Kaiser led the Austrian military."
"His economic plan is dubious."
"People snicker at me on the MRT because I am tall and white."
"I respect my teacher because he respects me."
"In many countries, women are second-class citizens."
"During the summer, my armpits sweat and ruin my shirts."
"Childhood is one humiliation after another, and so is adulthood."
"I don't think it works politically to assassinate someone."
"He has a clever mind, but he doesn't work hard."
"He is a merciful leader."
"They give you hot, moistened towels on some airlines."
"I get agitated when I am on an airplane."
"I bought a lottery ticket in the hopes of winning a bonanza."
"The lines of my grandfather's wrinkled skin testify to his difficult life and his wisdom."
"The classroom seats are hard on my keister."
"My family abandoned the dog because we could no longer afford it."
"The military leader made a gutsy decision to attack the larger army."
"My reunion with my ex-girlfriend was as awkward as you would imagine it would be."
"I plan to make a fortune selling computers."
"I am heir to the family fortune."
"It was cowardly for me not to help my friend when he was being bullied."
"Public displays of affection make me squirm."
"The pathetic man does nothing while his wife sews him a green hat."
"Only a kook would believe that the U.S. moon landing was fake."
"He was a good man when he was young, but now he's an annoying old coot."
Itinerary, Weeks 6-12
All page numbers are for the Eighth Edition of Patterns Plus. The Ninth Edition has most of these essays; if your book does not have the essay, get a copy from a friend or pick up a copy from me or a TA.
The lectures will largely involve sentence patterns and "review." By "review," I mean review of grammar that we already know or review of vocabulary, syntax, and grammar that we've been learning in class.
In addition to episodes of The Simpsons, we also may watch some movies. I have not decided when to screen the movies; when I do, I will adjust the syllabus accordingly.
Sean
Week 6: “Upholding the Right to Life” (275)
“The Power of Place” (214)
Paper 4 Conclusion Due
--Two sentence patterns; review
--Media episode without Chinese Subtitles; vernacular expressions
Week 7: “The Thirsty Animal” (229)
“Racial Stereotypes Go Underground” (233)
--Two sentence patterns; review
--Media episode with Chinese Subtitles; vocabulary
Week 8: “Walking” (241)
“Total Eclipse of the Son (247)
--Two sentence patterns; review
Paper 4 re-write Due
--Media episode without Chinese Subtitles; vernacular expressions
Week 9: “The Handicap of Definition” (259)
“Flunking” (277)
Paper 5 Introduction Due
--Two sentence patterns; discussion of bibliography
--Media episode with Chinese Subtitles; vocabulary
Week 10: “Banning Smoking” (279)
“A Burning Issue” (281)
Paper 5 Body Due
--Two sentence patterns; discussion of logical fallacies
--Media episode without Chinese Subtitles; vernacular expressions
Week 11: “The Death Penalty Is a Step Back” (290)
“Death to the Killers” (293)
Paper 5 Conclusion Due
--Two sentence patterns; discussion of logical fallacies
--Media episode with Chinese Subtitles; vocabulary
Week 12: “The Jury Room Is No Place for TV” (284)
“Cameras Give An Inside Look” (287)
Midterm Exam
--Media episode without Chinese Subtitles; vernacular expressions
Week 13: “Orientalist Kitsch” (Online)
Paper 5 Re-Write Due
Bibliography Exercise due
--Discussion of logical fallacies
--Media episode with Chinese Subtitles; vocabulary
The lectures will largely involve sentence patterns and "review." By "review," I mean review of grammar that we already know or review of vocabulary, syntax, and grammar that we've been learning in class.
In addition to episodes of The Simpsons, we also may watch some movies. I have not decided when to screen the movies; when I do, I will adjust the syllabus accordingly.
Sean
Week 6: “Upholding the Right to Life” (275)
“The Power of Place” (214)
Paper 4 Conclusion Due
--Two sentence patterns; review
--Media episode without Chinese Subtitles; vernacular expressions
Week 7: “The Thirsty Animal” (229)
“Racial Stereotypes Go Underground” (233)
--Two sentence patterns; review
--Media episode with Chinese Subtitles; vocabulary
Week 8: “Walking” (241)
“Total Eclipse of the Son (247)
--Two sentence patterns; review
Paper 4 re-write Due
--Media episode without Chinese Subtitles; vernacular expressions
Week 9: “The Handicap of Definition” (259)
“Flunking” (277)
Paper 5 Introduction Due
--Two sentence patterns; discussion of bibliography
--Media episode with Chinese Subtitles; vocabulary
Week 10: “Banning Smoking” (279)
“A Burning Issue” (281)
Paper 5 Body Due
--Two sentence patterns; discussion of logical fallacies
--Media episode without Chinese Subtitles; vernacular expressions
Week 11: “The Death Penalty Is a Step Back” (290)
“Death to the Killers” (293)
Paper 5 Conclusion Due
--Two sentence patterns; discussion of logical fallacies
--Media episode with Chinese Subtitles; vocabulary
Week 12: “The Jury Room Is No Place for TV” (284)
“Cameras Give An Inside Look” (287)
Midterm Exam
--Media episode without Chinese Subtitles; vernacular expressions
Week 13: “Orientalist Kitsch” (Online)
Paper 5 Re-Write Due
Bibliography Exercise due
--Discussion of logical fallacies
--Media episode with Chinese Subtitles; vocabulary
Friday, March 14, 2008
Next Week
All you need to do for next week is write the body of Paper 4.
I will have a vocabulary list and an expressions list for the last episode of The Simpsons up for you this weekend, and the weekly itineraries will be up soon, too.
Sean
I will have a vocabulary list and an expressions list for the last episode of The Simpsons up for you this weekend, and the weekly itineraries will be up soon, too.
Sean
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Paper 4: Argument
Length: 2-3 pages. Pages should be double-spaced, with 12 point font.
Paper 4 argues a position about an important social issue. You should choose an issue that you feel strongly about. However, your argument should support a position that you do not believe yourself. For example, if you feel strongly about the death penalty, and you support the death penalty, then you should write a paper against the death penalty.
This paper will help you practice thinking about arguments in support of ideas that you don't agree with. Too often we refuse to think about people who don't agree with our ideas.
It's not necessary to mention in the paper that you don't really believe the argument that you make; you don't have to write, "I actually support the death penalty, but in this paper I will argue against the death penalty." You can just write a paper supporting the abolition of the death penalty.
The introduction should name the topic and provide a thesis statement. "The death penalty is the state's right to execute a criminal who commits a heinous crime" introduces the topic. "The death penalty is wrong because no state should have the authority to execute its citizens" is a thesis statement.
The body should be an attempt to prove your argument. "If the state kills a person because that person killed someone else, the situation essentially argues that 'two wrongs can make a right.' If killing is wrong, then the state shouldn't execute a criminal." "It would be wrong for a family member of a victim to kill the person who murdered the victim; there is no argument that could support that it is okay for the state to execute a criminal if there isn't a situation in which a private citizen could execute a criminal." "It is true that a criminal killing someone and the state executing the criminal are two different things. The criminal murders; the state punishes. However, even if the state is doing something less bad than what the criminal did, it is still wrong because the execution is still a form of killing, and homicide cannot be supported except when someone is in immediate and imminent danger."
The conclusion should be an attempt to show why the subject that you chose is important. Why should people care about the death penalty? "The death penalty determines a society's general attitude toward death. If it is okay to kill sometimes, then society's attitude toward killing will change. We value life less any time we accept a homicide or death."
Avoid boilerplate. Don't write, "People have been arguing about the death penalty for a long time." Most people already know this, and if they don't, you have no reason to tell them.
Paper 4 argues a position about an important social issue. You should choose an issue that you feel strongly about. However, your argument should support a position that you do not believe yourself. For example, if you feel strongly about the death penalty, and you support the death penalty, then you should write a paper against the death penalty.
This paper will help you practice thinking about arguments in support of ideas that you don't agree with. Too often we refuse to think about people who don't agree with our ideas.
It's not necessary to mention in the paper that you don't really believe the argument that you make; you don't have to write, "I actually support the death penalty, but in this paper I will argue against the death penalty." You can just write a paper supporting the abolition of the death penalty.
The introduction should name the topic and provide a thesis statement. "The death penalty is the state's right to execute a criminal who commits a heinous crime" introduces the topic. "The death penalty is wrong because no state should have the authority to execute its citizens" is a thesis statement.
The body should be an attempt to prove your argument. "If the state kills a person because that person killed someone else, the situation essentially argues that 'two wrongs can make a right.' If killing is wrong, then the state shouldn't execute a criminal." "It would be wrong for a family member of a victim to kill the person who murdered the victim; there is no argument that could support that it is okay for the state to execute a criminal if there isn't a situation in which a private citizen could execute a criminal." "It is true that a criminal killing someone and the state executing the criminal are two different things. The criminal murders; the state punishes. However, even if the state is doing something less bad than what the criminal did, it is still wrong because the execution is still a form of killing, and homicide cannot be supported except when someone is in immediate and imminent danger."
The conclusion should be an attempt to show why the subject that you chose is important. Why should people care about the death penalty? "The death penalty determines a society's general attitude toward death. If it is okay to kill sometimes, then society's attitude toward killing will change. We value life less any time we accept a homicide or death."
Avoid boilerplate. Don't write, "People have been arguing about the death penalty for a long time." Most people already know this, and if they don't, you have no reason to tell them.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Spring Semester Syllabus
Sean Allan
English for Non-Majors
Spring Semester 2008 (97)
Office: 121 DFLL
Office Hours: Monday 2-3, Tuesday 11-12, Wednesday 2-3, Thursday 2-3, Friday 12-1
This course is an extension of the Fall Semester Course. You do not, however, have to have taken my class last semester to succeed in this class. If you are new, you should familiarize yourself with the Fall Semester syllabus available at the course website. If you are a continuing student, the general rules for the course are the same as they were in the Fall.
Grade Breakdown:
Oral/Aural Exams: 25%
Attendance/Participation: 25%
Three Major Papers: 25%
Midterm and Final Exams: 25%
Course Materials
Patterns Plus
Way Ahead (with CDs)
--both are available at Bookman Books near the campus main entrance. Tell them you are in my class.
Smaller Writing Assignments: The smaller writing assignments are part of your attendance and participation grade. Many smaller writing assignments will simply be summaries or reactions to Patterns Plus essays or other essays assigned for class. On occasion you will be asked to write a short paper on another topic.
Larger Writing Assignments: The paper topics are as follows. Paper 4 is an argument paper. You will argue to support the opposite of what you actually believe about a topic. Paper 5 is an argument and definition paper. You will take a concept that is hard to define (like “love” or “evil” or “freedom”) and attempt both to define the concept and assess the concept’s importance through argument. Paper 6 is an analysis paper. You will talk about a conceptual metaphor and describe how that metaphor affects the way that people think.
Oral/Aural practice: The first hour of each class is dedicated to Way Ahead. You will work through a chapter in groups. When you are done, there is a discussion topic assigned for you. You may converse freely about the topic in English, but you will write some brief notes about what each group member says. Each week I will call ten students up to the front of the class. Those students will have more intensive oral and aural practice, usually in the form of storytelling and listening to stories. Each student should expect to come to the front of the class three times during the semester. It is important not to miss class when it is your day to participate in the intensive oral/aural practice.
When we have exhausted Way Ahead, your groups will be given other speaking/listening assignments. Remember to study Way Ahead outside of class and use the CDs to cover the material that you cannot cover in class.
Sentence Patterns, Argument, and Rhetoric; Exams: The second hour is a lecture and discussion. I will show you two sentence patterns each week. You should learn these patterns and start including them in your English prose. We will also discuss how to make an argument and how language affects the people who read it. “Rhetoric” is the technical term for the study and use of language to affect an audience. Your exams will cover the sentence patterns that we study and any discussion that we have about argument and rhetoric. The exams will also cover vocabulary and idiomatic expressions learned in the third hour.
Aural Training and Media: The third hour is dedicated to media consumption. Usually we will watch an episode of The Simpsons, but there are other possibilities. The media will sometimes be accompanied by Chinese subtitles and sometimes not. Always make an effort to listen to and understand the English. I develop a vocabulary list based on each episode; you will be expected to learn the vocabulary. I also develop a list of idiomatic expressions (sentences in English that have special, non-denotative meanings); you are expected to learn these expressions to help you with your practical conversation and comprehension skills.
T.A.s
The course teaching assistants will grade the smaller writing assignments and help me keep a grade book for each course. The teaching assistant in your class will help me during the oral/aural training hour. She will help the students work through Way Ahead chapters, or she will help me with the more intensive oral and aural practice with a select group of students each class. The T.A. for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday is Kathy; the T.A. for Thursday and Friday is Sunny.
Itinerary
If your class misses a day, you should still try to do the work assigned during that week. Check the course website for vocabulary. When there is a vacation during the week, the class will make up the vacation day and the next week’s materials at the next class.
Week One
Introductions
Simpsons episode with subtitles; vocabulary discussion
Week Two
Sentence Patterns: Semicolons and Independent clauses
Rhetorical terms defined.
Argument defined.
Simpsons episode, English only; idiom discussion
Week Three
Sentence Patterns: Independent Clauses and Colons; Sequences Without Conjunctions
Argument example
One paragraph sample argument due
Paper 4 topic due
Read “The Beekeeper” in Patterns Plus
Simpsons episode with subtitles; vocabulary list
Week Four and beyond are forthcoming.
English for Non-Majors
Spring Semester 2008 (97)
Office: 121 DFLL
Office Hours: Monday 2-3, Tuesday 11-12, Wednesday 2-3, Thursday 2-3, Friday 12-1
This course is an extension of the Fall Semester Course. You do not, however, have to have taken my class last semester to succeed in this class. If you are new, you should familiarize yourself with the Fall Semester syllabus available at the course website. If you are a continuing student, the general rules for the course are the same as they were in the Fall.
Grade Breakdown:
Oral/Aural Exams: 25%
Attendance/Participation: 25%
Three Major Papers: 25%
Midterm and Final Exams: 25%
Course Materials
Patterns Plus
Way Ahead (with CDs)
--both are available at Bookman Books near the campus main entrance. Tell them you are in my class.
Smaller Writing Assignments: The smaller writing assignments are part of your attendance and participation grade. Many smaller writing assignments will simply be summaries or reactions to Patterns Plus essays or other essays assigned for class. On occasion you will be asked to write a short paper on another topic.
Larger Writing Assignments: The paper topics are as follows. Paper 4 is an argument paper. You will argue to support the opposite of what you actually believe about a topic. Paper 5 is an argument and definition paper. You will take a concept that is hard to define (like “love” or “evil” or “freedom”) and attempt both to define the concept and assess the concept’s importance through argument. Paper 6 is an analysis paper. You will talk about a conceptual metaphor and describe how that metaphor affects the way that people think.
Oral/Aural practice: The first hour of each class is dedicated to Way Ahead. You will work through a chapter in groups. When you are done, there is a discussion topic assigned for you. You may converse freely about the topic in English, but you will write some brief notes about what each group member says. Each week I will call ten students up to the front of the class. Those students will have more intensive oral and aural practice, usually in the form of storytelling and listening to stories. Each student should expect to come to the front of the class three times during the semester. It is important not to miss class when it is your day to participate in the intensive oral/aural practice.
When we have exhausted Way Ahead, your groups will be given other speaking/listening assignments. Remember to study Way Ahead outside of class and use the CDs to cover the material that you cannot cover in class.
Sentence Patterns, Argument, and Rhetoric; Exams: The second hour is a lecture and discussion. I will show you two sentence patterns each week. You should learn these patterns and start including them in your English prose. We will also discuss how to make an argument and how language affects the people who read it. “Rhetoric” is the technical term for the study and use of language to affect an audience. Your exams will cover the sentence patterns that we study and any discussion that we have about argument and rhetoric. The exams will also cover vocabulary and idiomatic expressions learned in the third hour.
Aural Training and Media: The third hour is dedicated to media consumption. Usually we will watch an episode of The Simpsons, but there are other possibilities. The media will sometimes be accompanied by Chinese subtitles and sometimes not. Always make an effort to listen to and understand the English. I develop a vocabulary list based on each episode; you will be expected to learn the vocabulary. I also develop a list of idiomatic expressions (sentences in English that have special, non-denotative meanings); you are expected to learn these expressions to help you with your practical conversation and comprehension skills.
T.A.s
The course teaching assistants will grade the smaller writing assignments and help me keep a grade book for each course. The teaching assistant in your class will help me during the oral/aural training hour. She will help the students work through Way Ahead chapters, or she will help me with the more intensive oral and aural practice with a select group of students each class. The T.A. for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday is Kathy; the T.A. for Thursday and Friday is Sunny.
Itinerary
If your class misses a day, you should still try to do the work assigned during that week. Check the course website for vocabulary. When there is a vacation during the week, the class will make up the vacation day and the next week’s materials at the next class.
Week One
Introductions
Simpsons episode with subtitles; vocabulary discussion
Week Two
Sentence Patterns: Semicolons and Independent clauses
Rhetorical terms defined.
Argument defined.
Simpsons episode, English only; idiom discussion
Week Three
Sentence Patterns: Independent Clauses and Colons; Sequences Without Conjunctions
Argument example
One paragraph sample argument due
Paper 4 topic due
Read “The Beekeeper” in Patterns Plus
Simpsons episode with subtitles; vocabulary list
Week Four and beyond are forthcoming.
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