Unit 2: The Mind*Fine-Tuning Your Writing: Testimonial for Incoming Utalca

Students

*The Senses and Synesthesia: Where “Derek” tastes like earwax!

Last Class: The TestimonialThe Instructions prompt.

Imagine you have been selected by the Programa de Idiomas to write a testimonial to help incoming University of Talca students.

In the testimonial you must include the following information:

1) 2 reasons for why studying English is helpful to their career.

2) 2 useful strategies for learning English.

3) 2 events on campus students should attend to improve their English speaking abilities.

Your testimonial needs to be a minimum of 100 words in length.

You have 7 minutes to write.

Learning the English languaje is important for all university students, I study

mechanical engineering and one reason for to study it is because I have more job

opportunities and another reason is you could go every part of world and if you

speak some English words, you won’t have problems to talk with someone that

understands English, you can learn English for many, for instance you could read

books and with a traductor you learn so few new words, and don’t forget games

and the cultural events at the univerisity, like the movie day on Thursdays in the

auditorium.

How could we improve this paragraph?

1st: Check the content

2nd: Check the organization

3rd: Check the punctuation, language use, and grammar.

Example Student Testimonial

Learning the English language is important for all university

students, especially for those studying engineering in general. One reason for

studying it is because you could have more job opportunities. Another reason

is you could work in almost every part of world if you can speak some English

since it is the universal work language.

Also, there are many strategies you can use for learning

English. For instance you could read books and with the help of a translator

you learn many new words. And, don’t forget to play games in English since it

makes it easier to learn. You can do this by atttending the cultural event

“Have a cuppa” with Lucy in the casino on campus. Or, you might want to

stop by the auditiorium on Thursdays in the afternoon to see movies in English

with the other conversation assistant Keira.

143 words total

Improved Student Testimonial

Fine-Tuning Your Writing: Step 1Check to make sure you followed the Instructions.

Did you include all elements? Review your paragraph now, which elements did you include:

1) 2 reasons for why studying English is helpful to their career.

2) 2 useful strategies for learning English.

3) 2 events on campus students should attend to improve their English speaking abilities.

For the elements, did you include all three and the minimum of details (2 each)?

Did you organize your testimonal in the same order as the listing of elements?

Did you have the minimum of 100 words? Take 4 minutes to analyze your writing.

Did you organize your testimonal in the same order as the listing of elements?

Did you use transitional words to organize and give cohesion to your writing? Examples: first, second, third, however, in fact, for example, also, finally, lastly, in

conclusion

Did you separate your writing into more than one paragraph? Organize it into 2-3 paragraphs?

Did you vary your sentences and not include primer sentences? Primer Style: Studying English is helpful. It opens up doors.

Varied Style: Studying English is helpful to your career because it opens up doors.

Take 4 minutes to analyze your writing.

Fine-Tuning Your Writing: Step 2Pay attention to the organization of your testimonial.

Punctuation: comma (,) versus a period (.)

Did you use them correctly or do you have a run-on sentence?

Example: You should study English every day, it is good for to

do so, because it can help get you a job, and this is also good,

and you can get a better salary.

Improved: You should study English every day. It is good for

you to do so because it can help you get a job. This is also

good since you can get a better salary.

Remember a comma (,) is NOT the same as a period (.)

Take 4 minutes to anaylze your writing

Fine-Tuning Your Writing: Step 3Looking at punctuation, language use, and grammar.

Take out a new piece of paper.

Using your previous draft and with your notes and

edits, use them to write a new paragraph.

You have 7 minutes to write it.

When you are finished, give both drafts to me.

Fine-Tuning Your Writing: Step 4Writing a new draft.

Welcome to synethesia

Where “Derek” tastes like earwax!

Take the synethesia test!Do you have synethesia? Let’s find out! If the following tasks are easy for you, you might have it!

Which numbers are 2s?

If the 2s are easy to find, you might have synethesia.

Can you see the big number?

If so, you might have synethesia.

What’s easier to see, the “S” or the “E”?

If the “E” is equally easy to find, you might have synethesia

We are going to watch the video about:

As you watch the video about synethesia and take notes on:

1) What word does synethesia share its root with?

2) If you have one type of synethesia, what are the chances of having other types?

3) What causes synethesia?

4) What’s a metaphor?

5) What famouse people have/had synethesia?

6) What statement does the narrator say at the end?

Now answer the questions with a partner.

#1: What word does synethesia share its root with?

#2: If you have one type of synethesia, what are the chances of having other types?

#3: What causes synethesia?

#4: What’s a metaphor?

#5: What famouse people have/had synethesia?

#6: What statement does the narrator say at the end?

Do you agree?