Your Reaction

Hi everyone!  We are getting near the end of this session, and actually today will be your last post.  We have just finished watching the documentary "Guns in America".  I imagine you have some thoughts about what you saw.  For your post today, you can discuss those thoughts and about your opinion on gun ownership.  Some questions you might want to write about:

How does gun violence in your country compare to that in the U.S.?
Are you ever afraid living in Chicago?
Do you think gun violence in Chicago is bad compared to other cities nationally or internationally?
Do you think it is every person's right to own a gun?
What do you think could be done to stop gun violence?
What can you say about the mass shootings in places like Columbine and Newtown?

Clearly, this is a serious topic and one that provokes many emotions.  I look forward to reading your posts.

Thank you for doing a great job this session with your blogs and keep writing in English in whatever form you choose!

See you next week for the end of session class party and final test!  Bring something to share (food or drink).  I will provide plates, cups, and utensils. 

Why do we do what we do?

Hi everyone.  Another snowy wintry Saturday in Chicago.  It's hard to imagine springtime coming, right?  But it's March 1 and it can't be too much longer.

Anyway, I'm glad you are all here today.  Our topic for the class this week is about reasons (CAUSES) and results (EFFECTS).  I'd like you to think about an important decision you made.  What were the reasons for the decision OR what were the consequences of that decision.  One idea to write about is your decision to come to Chicago. 

Good luck and as always, please take some time after your post to read and comment on your classmates' blogs.

Looking Back....

Hello everyone!  Nice to see you all today.  This week's unit focuses on comparison essays, which look at similarities or differences between two things, places, or people.  For today's post, I'd like you to compare your life now with your life 5 years ago.  How has your life changed since then?  How have you changed?  I imagine for most of you, your life is very different now.  I know mine is in many ways.  I look forward to reading your posts.

Good luck!

A Funny Thing Happened....

Hello class!  Nice to see all of you today.  This week we're focusing on narrative essays, which is really just telling a story.  So, for your blog post today, you should think about the past week or so and tell us something funny/sad/interesting/good that happened to you recently.  Remember that blog writing is more about getting your ideas down rather than formal grammar and punctuation!

Also, don't forget to "Publish" your post when you're done.  Take some time afterwards to read your classmates' posts and respond in the "Comment" section.

Good luck!

Hello and Welcome to Blogger

Hi everyone!  It was nice to meet all of you this morning.  We have a small class today, but hopefully next week we will have a full class up and running.

As part of our writing class, we will create blogs and write in them weekly.  Blogging is informal writing, similar to a journal.  The focus is not about grammar or organization but about expressing your ideas in writing.  In this way, you can work on improving your writing skills without worrying about perfect form.

Your first post will answer this question:

Where would you most like to live and why? 

After you have finished your post, remember to publish it so that we can all read it.  You can read your classmates' post and write comments as well.  Your blog writing and responses will be part of your final grade.

Good luck!