Tuesday, October 23, 2007

On-Line Science Journals: Terra Nova: The European Journal of Geo Sciences


TERRA Nova is a fast publication research, review and news journal, covering the full range of the Earth Sciences. It is the official bimonthly journal of the European Union of Geosciences, the goal of which is to develop cooperation among scientists in different fields of the Earth and Planetary Sciences, such as geology, geophysics, geochemistry, planetology, oceanography, etc. Its membership is strictly individual and no one may represent any national organization, institution or laboratory.

Terra Nova: The European Journal of Geo Sciences

Monday, October 22, 2007

Song of the Week: Judy Collins: Brother Can You Spare A Dime


This week’s song of the week is "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?", one of the best-known American songs of the Great Depression.

Written in 1931 by lyricist E.Y. "Yip" Harburg and composer Jay Gorney, Wikipedia notes that the song was part of the 1932 musical New Americana.

Sung famously by Bing Crosby and Rudy Vallee during the 1930’s, some more recent versions have been by Tom Waits, Peter Yarrow and Judy Collins.

Lyrics: Lyrics: Brother Can You Sape A Dime
Video 1: Video: Judy Collins
Video 2: Video: Tom Waits

Powerpoint Presentation: Chapter 5: Lesson 2

Find below the link the the Powerpoint Presentation for Lesson 2: Chapter 5: Empty Pockets

Powerpoint Presentation

Homework: Chapter 5: Lesson B

Read the student essay, starting on page 91, “H.H. A Homeless Man” .

After you have read the essay, discuss the following questions with your language partner or imaginary friend:

(i) is there anything in this essay you believe should have been explained more fully? Is there any point you didn’t quite “get”.
(ii) Do you believe Oanh is describing someone she actually saw, at least in part of her essay? What makes you think so?
(iii) Did you learn something by reading this essay?
(iv) What suggestions can you give to Oanh for improving her essay?
(v) What tips can you get from reading this essay to help you in writing your essay?

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Assignment 2: "........": A Comparative Essay


Write an essay [maximum 1,000 words] in which you compare / contrast two things.

These two things might be, for example:

* two countries in which you have lived in
* the parenting styles of your parents or guardians
* the teaching styles of two teachers
* the arguments put forward in two academic articles
* the writing styles of two novelists you have read
* the film making skills of the directors of two films you have seen


Look at the essay topics on page 73 of the textbook with respect to writing a comparison essay about comparing parents to get an idea of the types of questions you can answer in an essay of this type.

Due: Thursday, Week 9 [8 November 2007]

Homework: Chapter 5: Class 1


Read the article “Squeegeeing in Toronto” starting on page 85 of the textbook.

After you have read the article, take your language partner or imaginary friend out for a coffee and discuss the following questions:

1. What kind of background does Jen come from;
2. How does Jen feel about her situation;
3. How do you imagine her homelessness has affected her emotionally? How has it affected her future?

Powerpoint Presentation: Chapter 5: Lesson A


Find below the link the the Powerpoint Presentation for Lesson 2: Chapter 5: Empty Pockets

Powerpoint Presentation 5:2

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

On-Line Science Journals: "........": A Comparative Essay


PLoS Biology is a scientific journal covering the full spectrum of the biological sciences that began operation on October 13, 2003. It was the first journal of the Public Library of Science (PLoS) a non-profit organization which releases scientific content under open access terms. All content in PLoS Biology is published under the Creative Commons "by-attribution" license [1]. To fund the journal, the publication's business model requires that, in most cases, authors will pay publication costs. In addition to research articles, PLoS Biology publishes online e-letters in which the readers provide their comments to the articles.

Check it out here: PLOS Biology

Thursday, October 11, 2007

Song of the Week (ii): Cat Stevens: Father and Son


The second song for this week is a song by the British singer-songwriter Yusuf Islam>,“Father and Son”.

Known earlier by the name Cat Stevens, Yusuf was a huge star in the early 1970’s’

Becoming a Muslim in the late 1970’s, he gave up music, returning to it only last year with a new CD - An Other Cup.
More recently, the song has been covered by Irish singer Ronan Keating, who wasa member of Boyzone. Keating's version was released as a single in the fourth quarter of 2004 and featured re-recorded vocals by Stevens/Islam.


To download the song go here: Father and Son
To read the lyrics go here: lyrics
To see a video of Cat Stebens sining the dong in 1971 go here: Cat Stevens video
To see a video of Ronan Keating's version of the song go here: Ronan Keating video

Homework: Chapter 4: Class 2


Read the sample essay “My Father and I” by Trung Xa on pages 75 and 76 of the textbook and discuss the following questions with your language partner or imaginary friend:

1. what are some of the main points you understand from this essay?

2. what was one of the images that appeared in your mind while you were reading the essay.

3. was any memory from your own experience triggered by reading this essay?

4. Did any of the words or phrases used by the author impress you?

Powerpoint Presentation: Chapter 4: Class2


Find below the link the the Powerpoint Presentation for Lesson 2: Chapter 4: Making Room For Daddy.

Powerpoint Presentation

Science Article of the Week: Scientists 10 Years Away From Towel Alarm Clock

Brookstone Scientists 10 Years Away From Towel Alarm Clock

The Onion

Brookstone Scientists 10 Years Away From Towel Alarm Clock

MERRIMACK, NH—"No longer will people have to lug their alarm clock from the bedroom to the shower every morning," executive director of research Bryan Davies said.

Song of the Week (i): Cat's In The Cradle


The first 'Song of the Week' for this week is“Cats in the Cradle”by the late American singer-songwriter Harry Chapin,

A huge hit in the early 1970’s, there have been numerous versions through the years, some of which have re-entered the charts.

As will become clear, the theme of the song is fatherhood, and the impact a certain kind of fatherhood can have on the development of children.

To soo the lyrics go here: Lyrics
To see a video of the song as sung by Harry Chapin go here: Video: Chapin
To see a video of the son as sung in 2006 by Ugly Kid Joe go here: Ugly Kid Joe

Homework: Chapter 4: Class 1


Read the essay “Fatherhood: The Second Round” on pages 67 & 68 of the textbook and with your language partner or imaginary friend consider the following questions:

1. What kind of father was this man when his son was a child.

2. What are some of the differences in his fathering style the second time around?

3. How does Father’s Day with his daughters compare to Father’s Day with his sons two decades ago?

4. Where did the author put the information about his first experiences with fathering. Where did he put his experiences about the second time around?

5. Could he have mixed the experiences together?

Powerpoint Presentation: Chapter 4: Class1


Find below the link the the Powerpoint Presentation for Lesson 1: Chapter 4: Making Room For Daddy.

Powerpoint Presentation

Monday, October 8, 2007

On-Line Science Journals: Ecology & Society


This week's on-line sience journal is Ecology & Science. According to the article on the journal on Wikipedia, Sciene and Ecology(formerly Conservation Ecology) is:

"... is an Open Access, interdisciplinary journal published by the Resilience Alliance. The journal seeks papers that are novel, integrative and written in a way that is accessible to a wide audience that includes an array of disciplines from the natural sciences, social sciences, and the humanities concerned with the relationship between society and the life-supporting ecosystems on which human wellbeing ultimately depends.

Content of the journal ranges from the applied to the theoretical. In general, papers should cover topics relating to the ecological, political, and social foundations for sustainable social-ecological systems."


Check it out here: Science & Ecology

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Homework: Week 5: Class 2


Read the sample essay on page 58 and with your language partner or imaginary friend :

1. Find the thesis statement. Do all the paragraphs in the essay develop it?

2. Find the example in the essay. Do they help you understand the essay better?

3: Do you think the author has explained the topic adequately? Can you suggest any additions to the essay.

Powerpoint Presentation: Week 5: Class2



Find below a link to the Powerpoint Presentation for Week 5, Lesson 2 based on Chapter 3 of the textbook, "Do Parents Matter?"

Powerpoint Presentation 5:2

Science Article of the Week

Revolutionary New Insoles Combine Five Forms Of Pseudoscience

The Onion

Revolutionary New Insoles Combine Five Forms Of Pseudoscience

MASSILLON, OH-New MagnaSoles shoe inserts harness the power of magnetism to restore the foot's natural bio-flow.

Powerpoint Presentation: Week 5: Class1


Find below the link the the Powerpoint Presentation for Lesson 1: Week 5 Chapter 3: Do Parents Matter?].

Powerpoint Presentation 5:1

Monday, October 1, 2007

Country Music Stars Challenge Al-Qaeda With Patriotic New Song ‘Bomb New York’


Country Music Stars Challenge Al-Qaeda With Patriotic New Song â??Bomb New Yorkâ??

On-Line Science Journals: Nature


This week's online journal is Nature - one of the most promionant and prestigious science journals around.

First published on 4 November 1869, like last week's journal Science, Nature publishes original research articles across a wide range of scientific fields. In many fields of scientific research, important new advances and original research are published as articles or letters in Nature.

As the article on Nature in Wikipedia notes: Research scientists are the primary audience for the journal, but summaries and accompanying articles make many of the most important papers understandable for the general public and to scientists in other fields. Toward the front of each issue are editorials, news and feature articles on issues of general interest to scientists, including current affairs, science funding, business, scientific ethics and research breakthroughs. There are also sections on books and arts. The remainder of the journal consists mostly of research articles, which are often dense and highly technical. Due to strict limits on the length of articles, in many cases the printed text is actually a summary of the work in question with many details relegated to accompanying supplemental material on the journal's website.

Check it out here:

Nature

Homework: Week 5: Class 1


Read the essay “Blueprint for Behavior Book Says Parents Just Play Genetic Part In Personality” by Kim Pointer & Nanci Hellmich on pages 47 to 49.

Before doing so:

1. Prepare a list of the ways in which that your peers [friends, classmates, fellow circle members] have influenced your personality and actions.

2. Write down who you think =has influenced you more: you parents or your peers?


After the reading,

3. Look at the first paragraph and think about whether you thought it caught your attention. Did it make you want to continue reading?

4. Look at the last paragraph – the conclusion – and decide whose opinion you thought it summarized and, whether you though it was a good ending .