UGC NET Paper 1 Mathematical Reasoning & Aptitude.pdf
Writing Academically for Student Success - Presentation in Rome, TESOL Italy, 2012
1. Language Landscapes
TESOL Italy, November 16-17, 2012
Writing Academically for
Student Success
Pamela Duran & Elena Smith
Intensive American Language Center
Washington State University
3. Academic Writing Challenges
Activity #1
Rank these writing elements in the order of importance
(1- the most and 10 - the least important):
___________audience
___________grammar, mechanics
___________critical thinking
___________purpose
___________documentation of sources
___________support of your point (evidence)
___________logical transitions
___________ organization
___________ analysis/synthesis
___________ smooth handling of content
4. Academic Writing Challenges
Activity #2
List the top two academic writing challenges
from your ranking list
1. _______________________________
2. _______________________________
5. Focus
Top Two Academic Writing Challenges
1. Support of your point
1. Clear details and examples
6. Support of ideas in academic writing
1. The continuous movement of logic is
“assert then support; assert then support.”
2. No statement - without specific support
3. Each assertion has to have at least
three supports.
14. Interests/Knowledge
Topics
Topics
1. Death penalty
1. Love or Money?
2. Ethics in media
2. The happiest day in my life
3. African-American history
3. A person I admire
4. Social discrimination
4. Places of interest in my
home town
16. Listen to a music piece by Telemann (17th
century) and write a paragraph answering the
following questions:
1. Do you like this musical piece?
2. How does this music make you feel?
3. Explain why it makes you feel this
way?
4. Explain in details your attitude to
this kind of music.
5. Write a conclusion.
18. Listen to “Country Roads” by John Denver and
write a paragraph answering the following
questions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Do you like this musical piece?
How does this music make you feel?
Explain why it makes you feel this way.
Explain in details your attitude to
this kind of music.
Write a conclusion.
20. Listen to “Butterfly Lover” by Liang Zhu and
write a paragraph answering the following
questions:
1. Do you like this musical piece?
2. How does this music make you
feel?
1. Explain why it makes you feel this way.
2. Explain in details your attitude to this kind of
music.
3. Write a conclusion.
21. Discussion: The role of emotions in writing
details and examples
•Interests
•Knowledge
•Emotions
23. Excerpts from Students’ Evaluations
• My favorite activity this session was
writing about the music.
• When I had to write what I felt
when I was listening to the music, I
understood how to support my
opinion.
• Music activity was very useful. Now
I know how to explain what I think
or know.
25. References
Irvin, L. What is Academic Writing? 2010
http://wac.colostate.edu/books/writingspaces1/irvin--what-is-academic-writing.pdf
Intellectual Challenges in American Academic Writing:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/589/01/
Palmquist, M. A Social Model of Writing. Writing@CSU.
2010
Thaiss, Chris and Terry Zawacki. Engaged Writers &
Dynamic Disciplines: Research on the Academic Writing
Life. Portsmouth: Boynton/Cook, 2006
•
•
•
•
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=Vivaldi&hl=en&sa=X&biw=1080&bih=878&tbm
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=John+Denver+Country+Road+pictures&hl=en&
http://lang-8.com/49320/journals/788529/Liang-Zhu-Butterfly-lover
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=chinese+students&hl=en&sa=X&biw=1080&bih=878&tb
26. Music Pieces Used in the Workshop
1. G. P. Telemann, Largo (Viola Concerto in G),
Capella Istropolitana
2. John Denver et.al. “Take Me, Home Country
Roads”
3. Liang Zhu “Butterfly Lover”
27. Were you engaged?
• Which music piece was the most
interesting?
• Which of the three music pieces was the
easiest to write about?
• Did you have enough knowledge to write
about it?
• Did you support your opinion with three
details and examples?
• In which of the paragraphs did you provide
enough support and why?
