Preparation for midterm exam

1. Midterm review
W R I T I N G I V
(HE285)
Prof. Dr. Ron Martinez
drronmartinez@gmail.com

2. Today’s agenda
• Review work from last week on Introduction +
citation;
• Check in with your blogs, make sure they are
up to date;
• Look ahead to midterm exam (Friday, 29
April).

3. Territory, Niche, and Occupation of
Niche

5. “posse gathering”

6. “problematizing”
• Weekends
• Sunny days
• Pizza
• Kittens
• Losing weight
• Earning more money
• Having a baby
• World peace
• Brushing you teeth
• Carnaval

7. Sunny days
There is a general consensus that people enjoy sunny
days. After all, sunny days have been known to positively
affect people’s moods, and to be conducive to outdoor
activity. However, while it is true that sunny days carry a
positive association, it can be argued that not everyone
benefits equally from sunshine. For example, it has been
well established that the sun can also damage one’s skin,
and contribute to premature ageing and skin cancer. There
is also growing evidence that violent crimes tend to
increase on sunny days. Following a careful analysis of
some of the most harmful and beneficial effects of sunny
days, this essay will suggest that while sunny days should
still be thought of as a positive and welcome occurrence in
our lives, there are important caveats to heed.

8. Where would you cite?
There is a general consensus that people enjoy sunny
days. After all, sunny days have been known to positively
affect people’s moods, and to be conducive to outdoor
activity. However, while it is true that sunny days carry a
positive association, it can be argued that not everyone
benefits equally from sunshine. For example, it has been
well established that the sun can also damage one’s skin,
and contribute to premature ageing and skin cancer. There
is also growing evidence that violent crimes tend to
increase on sunny days. Following a careful analysis of
some of the most harmful and beneficial effects of sunny
days, this essay will suggest that while sunny days should
still be thought of as a positive and welcome occurrence in
our lives, there are important caveats to heed.

9. Prof. Ron’s suggestions:
There is a general consensus that people enjoy sunny days
(Burns, 2001; Rays, 2011). After all, sunny days have been known to
positively affect people’s moods (Prozac, 1999), and to be conducive
to outdoor activity (Jetski, 2009). However, while it is true that
sunny days carry a positive association, it can be argued that not
everyone benefits equally from sunshine. For example, it has been
well established that the sun can also damage one’s skin, and
contribute to premature ageing and skin cancer (Nivea, 1987;
Sundown, 2014). There is also growing evidence that violent crimes
tend to increase on sunny days (Shortfuse, 2002). Following a
careful analysis of some of the most harmful and beneficial effects
of sunny days, this essay will suggest that while sunny days should
still be thought of as a positive and welcome occurrence in our lives,
there are important caveats to heed.

10. Where are there multiple citations?
1. Introduction
With English having established itself as the dominant language for international
scholarly communication, English as an Additional Language (EAL) scholars are
under enormous pressure to have their research articles published in SCI/SSCI-
indexed international journals, the great majority of which are published in
English. In order to meet the degree requirement, doctoral students studying
science and engineering in major research universities in China (and increasingly in
other jurisdictions), for example, are expected to publish at least one research
article in an SCI-indexed journal (1). It has been widely acknowledged that EAL
scholars have to overcome considerable difficulties in order to publish their
research in international journals (2). Among other things, they may experience
linguistic problems such as “less facility of expression,” “less rich vocabulary,” and
“intervention from their first language” (3). Furthermore, it has been argued that
such writers may have to negotiate with journal editors and peer reviewers with
“authorial persistence”, i.e. making continuous efforts to revise and resubmit their
manuscripts, if they want to eventually have their research articles published (4), a
process which is likely to be more difficult for an EAL writer.

11. On the Google doc
1. Read your “problematized” paragraph again,
and this time insert an arrow where you think a
citation should go. (Insert 2 or more arrows if
you think it is relevant.)
2. Show your citation points to a classmate – does
(s)he agree?
3. If time: try to think of names of “authors” for
your citations. (Remember: the focus now is on
when and why to cite, not “who” to cite... yet.)
4. Read each other’s work, insert “(...)” where you
think additional citations could/should go.

12. How will you be evaluated in this
course?
• “Portfolio” assessment
• e-Portfolio
• Checklist of items comprising 50% of total
grade
• Midterm exam (15%)
• Final essay (30%)
• Participation (5%)

13. Your blogs: LET’S CHECK THE
CHECKLIST...
• What you should have written so far:
1. A text about yourself
2. A text responding to the two Zika articles
3. A text responding to a current events article
4. An introduction (on any subject) with territory
established using phrases “borrowed” from
published articles in the Journal of English for
Academic purposes
5. A “problematized” introduction with “fake”
citation

14. Midterm Exam FRIDAY (2 hours)
1. Be prepared to define the theory of “lexical priming”
2. Be prepared to answer the question “What is the first
thing you should have before you start writing an essay?”
3. Be prepared to be able to use SKELL
4. Review “grammar of introduction” worksheet
5. Come ready with a notion of what a “hypothesis” is.
6. Be prepared to be able to identify “C.A.R.S.” moves (see
today’s activity)
7. You will write a short essay introduction. Be prepared to
be able to establish territory, establish a niche (or some
kind of hint of position), and occupy that niche.
8. Be ready to cite to support your assertions.

15. Practice
• Do Exercise 1 online.