Looking Back and Looking Ahead

We're almost at the end and that means I would like to take some time to look back... kind of ironic, I know. You have all proven yourself to be effective communicators in both written and spoken English. Today's class is designed to help you to further increase your accuracy in written communication in English. To do this, we will focus on a common issues that I have noticed popping up repeatedly over the course of the last two months. Hopefully, you'll find this review useful! An outline for today's class can be found below.

Reflection & Focus on Accuracy

Objectives: Students will be able to...

1. explain the importance of accuracy in written communication
2. engage in some focused practice designed to improve their writing skills in three target areas
3. explain the importance of reflection to the writing/learning process
4. engage in personal reflection about their writing and any growth they've noticed in their writing over the course of this semester

I. Warm-Up 

How are you? How is everything going? Did you have a nice weekend? How are your other classes going? Are you excited for the end of the semester?!

II. Final Vocabulary Quiz

I hope you're ready (insert evil laugh). But wait, there's a surprise...

III. Homework Review

Let's take a look at the homework you did on "Critical Thinking"

IV. Focus on Accuracy Workshop 

Much of our work these last two months has been focused on developing proficiency. I've wanted you to write as much as possible so I could give you some feedback and you could get used to producing a lot of different writing in preparation for the CAE exam (hopefully, you will also be able to apply some of what we've talked about to your other writing, too). 

Today, we are going to do some more work focused on developing accuracy. Based on the writing you've done, I want to focus on the following areas: 

1. Consistently Formal Tone
2. Promoting Cohesion in Your Writing 
3. Identifying Countable/Uncountable Nouns 
4. Proper Article Use

We'll be using this series of activities. If there is extra time, we will focus on these activities for promoting cohesion in your writing.

Homework for Next Monday (Our Last Class :(   )

Course Reflection Assignment: Your final writing assignment is a comprehensive reflection essay designed to help you engage in some critical introspection about the topics we've covered this semester and the ways you've grown as a writer. 

Get Your "White Elephant" Gift: We're going to do a small gift exchange called "White Elephant". The directions can be found here. Participation is optional, but if you want to participate, you need to bring a small gift. The gift can be 1). something you make, 2). something you already own and want to "re-gift" or something you buy (no more than 200 RUB). Here is a short video overview of how to play! 

Sign-up to Bring Something for the Potluck: You can do that here.