Levels 4 &5 Contemporary Issues
Course:
Levels 4 & 5
Content: Contemporary Issues
Time/Place:
Monday & Friday, 8:00-10:00
Beracha Hall 111
Instructor:
Jerry Edris
jerry.edris@slu.edu
Levels 4 &5 Contemporary Issues
Course Readings will be provided in
Blackboard, in “Course Readings” folder
Levels 4 &5 Contemporary Issues
•What is the purpose of this class?
•Skills development
• Language
• Academic
•Content Knowledge
• Contemporary Socio-Cultural Issues
Level 4 &5
• Content Class – Jerry Edris
• Reading and Vocabulary – Ann Meechai
• Writing and Grammar – Gosia Moll
• Speaking and Listening – Jerome Bollato
• English through Service – Megan O’Connell
Contemporary Issues
•What is the purpose of this class?
•Skills development
• Language
Speaking Listening Reading Writing
Contemporary Issues
•What is the purpose of this class?
•Skills development
• Academic
Research Discussion Presentation Collaboration
General Introduction to this Class
• What kinds of assignments will I do each week?
• What are the expectations of me for this class?
Questions about this class
What kinds of assignments will I do each week?
Reading:
• Weekly articles
• Research for projects
Writing:
• Weekly assessment/reflection writing
• Formal research papers
• Blackboard discussion board
Speaking and Listening:
• Live discussions
• Oral presentations (live and recorded)
Questions about this class
What are the expectations of me for this class?
• #1: Keep up with your work
Questions about this class
What are the expectations of me for this class?
• #2: Active participation on discussion board and Zoom Sessions
Success!
Discussion
With your partners, discuss the questions below. As you discuss, write your
answers on a piece of paper and be ready to share your answers.
• What are the most important things and events happening in the
world right now?
• What are the most important things and events happening in the
USA right now?
• Where do you normally get your news from?
Topics we will study:
• Poverty (relative and absolute)
• Racism and Discrimination
• Migration and Immigration
• LGBTQ Issues
• Gender Inequality
• Environmentalism
Diagnostic Writing
• You will write a multi-paragraph essay about a topic
of your choosing.
• You will write for 20 minutes
• Your writing should be at least one full page and up to two full pages
• You should write at least 2-3 well-developed paragraphs
Diagnostic Writing Question:
What is the most important issue facing the world today? Describe
what you know about this issue. Why is this issue important? What
should be done about this issue?
Write at least 2-3 well-developed paragraphs
This is a diagnostic writing (so I have sample of your writing), but it
is also graded. You will receive a grade based mostly on how much
effort you put into this.

Contemporary issues first day

  • 1.
    Levels 4 &5Contemporary Issues Course: Levels 4 & 5 Content: Contemporary Issues Time/Place: Monday & Friday, 8:00-10:00 Beracha Hall 111 Instructor: Jerry Edris jerry.edris@slu.edu
  • 2.
    Levels 4 &5Contemporary Issues Course Readings will be provided in Blackboard, in “Course Readings” folder
  • 3.
    Levels 4 &5Contemporary Issues •What is the purpose of this class? •Skills development • Language • Academic •Content Knowledge • Contemporary Socio-Cultural Issues
  • 4.
    Level 4 &5 •Content Class – Jerry Edris • Reading and Vocabulary – Ann Meechai • Writing and Grammar – Gosia Moll • Speaking and Listening – Jerome Bollato • English through Service – Megan O’Connell
  • 5.
    Contemporary Issues •What isthe purpose of this class? •Skills development • Language Speaking Listening Reading Writing
  • 6.
    Contemporary Issues •What isthe purpose of this class? •Skills development • Academic Research Discussion Presentation Collaboration
  • 7.
    General Introduction tothis Class • What kinds of assignments will I do each week? • What are the expectations of me for this class?
  • 8.
    Questions about thisclass What kinds of assignments will I do each week? Reading: • Weekly articles • Research for projects Writing: • Weekly assessment/reflection writing • Formal research papers • Blackboard discussion board Speaking and Listening: • Live discussions • Oral presentations (live and recorded)
  • 9.
    Questions about thisclass What are the expectations of me for this class? • #1: Keep up with your work
  • 10.
    Questions about thisclass What are the expectations of me for this class? • #2: Active participation on discussion board and Zoom Sessions
  • 11.
  • 12.
    Discussion With your partners,discuss the questions below. As you discuss, write your answers on a piece of paper and be ready to share your answers. • What are the most important things and events happening in the world right now? • What are the most important things and events happening in the USA right now? • Where do you normally get your news from?
  • 13.
    Topics we willstudy: • Poverty (relative and absolute) • Racism and Discrimination • Migration and Immigration • LGBTQ Issues • Gender Inequality • Environmentalism
  • 14.
    Diagnostic Writing • Youwill write a multi-paragraph essay about a topic of your choosing. • You will write for 20 minutes • Your writing should be at least one full page and up to two full pages • You should write at least 2-3 well-developed paragraphs
  • 15.
    Diagnostic Writing Question: Whatis the most important issue facing the world today? Describe what you know about this issue. Why is this issue important? What should be done about this issue? Write at least 2-3 well-developed paragraphs This is a diagnostic writing (so I have sample of your writing), but it is also graded. You will receive a grade based mostly on how much effort you put into this.

Editor's Notes

  • #5 In the content class, we study things that are used to read about, write about, and talk about in your skills classes. We also do plenty of reading, writing, listening, and speaking in this class as well. Our goal in level 4 this summer is to improve your English language and academic skills so you are prepared to eventually start your academic program here at Saint Louis University.
  • #8 In this video, I want to provide you with a general introduction to this class by answering a few questions: What kinds of assignments will I do each week? What are the expectations of me for this class? In this video, I would also like to introduce the topic that we will be studying this week which is the effects of poverty on children.
  • #9 Let’s get started by answering a few questions that you might have about this class. The first question might be, “What kinds of assignments will I do each week?” Here is what a typical week will look like for this class over the summer. You can find this schedule in the class syllabus at the top of the Blackboard homepage for this class.
  • #10 The next question is, “What are the expectations of me for this class?” First of all, you will be expected to make every effort to compete assignments fully and on time. Generally, I don’t accept late work, but if you are in a situation that prevents you from completing your work on time, email me and let me know. We can try and work out a solution. Generally, however, it is always better to try to keep up with the assignments throughout the semester since it can become very difficult to catch up if you fall behind.
  • #11 Secondly, you should participate actively in the discussion board and live weekly Zoom sessions. On the weekly online discussion boards, you should try to engage as much as possible with your classmates. This is how you get participation points. You should do things like ask questions, answer questions, give encouragement and support to your classmates, and respond to the things that they say. The more that you participate on the discussion boards, the better your participation grade will be During weekly live Zoom sessions, you should also try to participate as much as possible. You should have your microphone on unless someone else is speaking. Also, if possible, you should have your camera on. A lot of people like to turn off their cameras during Zoom sessions, but this makes it very difficult and awkward for others to engage with you since they can’t see your face and read your expressions. So, if possible, please keep your camera turned on during live Zoom sessions.
  • #12 If you keep up with your reading and weekly assignments as well as participate actively in the online discussion board and our weekly live Zoom sessions, you will be very successful in this class and further develop some of the language and academic skills that you’ll need to be successful in your academic programs in the future. We will talk in more detail about the kinds of assignments you’ll do in our first live Zoom session this Thursday at 8:30am, so look out for my reminder email for this in the next few days.