Entry12

Oral presentation

My group divided the topics into sub-themes for oral presentation. It allowed us to concentrate on our part assigned to us.  Our oral presentation was based on the listening skill. Each member of the group deliberated the topic differently. My mates and I created a power point presentation. It was very useful to carry on a better performance. In my opinion it was a very good idea as it helped us to remember the examples and the topics in general. During the oral presentation I paid special attention on the content pronunciation and fluency. I made eyed contact with some of my mates in particular; I could see that they were listening to me. I noticed it in their faces and gestures that made me feel confident.

Our presentation was well developed and organized. We managed the time well. One of sub-theme was longer than others. My presentation was short but clear, I added some examples apart from the book. 

During my mates presentation I did not take down notes but I paid special attention on the examples as they were very useful to understand the different topics.

This kind of oral presentations helps us to understand the topics and clarify doubts.

Syria civil war

Syria civil war “civilians are not taking into account”

    A civil war is defined as a war between organized groups within the same nation state or republic, or, less commonly, between two countries created from a formerly united nation state. The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies. Syria could be encompassing in the framework of civil war. Nevertheless, this conflict seems to be a civil war but it has international features in spite of the international intervention in the conflict, and with this the whole world is keeping their breath as this problem seems to be the shadow    of a new world war shining in  everyone´s mind around the world.  

   To begin with, the conflict began on 15 March 2011, with popular demonstrations by April 2011. These demonstrations were part of the wider Middle Eastern protest movement known as the Arab Spring. Protesters demanded the resignation of President Bashar al-Assad, whose family has held the presidency in Syria since 1971, as well as the end of Ba'ath Party rule, which began in 1963. During these days the conflict take place with the rebels, who are against the government, ask for democracy, freedom and  respect of the human rights.

   Secondly, Assad government affirms that his regime gives security and economical stability and that the rebels’ claims are not necessary and responds to the freedom fighters with attacks to common people. When Assad assumed the Syrian government in 2000, the Syros thought that his regime could be different as Assad’s wife is from the United Kingdom though he did not changed the measures and politics that have been maintained for many years. The nonconformist decided to solve the conflict by themselves and try to change the government rules.

    Thirdly, there was a time to negotiate and the attacks were escalated by the national army and thousands of soldiers give up as they did not want to kill their compatriots therefore, they started to fight with the rebels group. The thousands of death, caused people around the world began to speak about the Syrian conflict. In many opportunities The ONU claims that the attacks organized by the national soldiers were against humanity, with the use of chemical weapons France and United states stated against the Syrian regime and were planning a new attack against Assad government. The decision was put aside by the intervention of The ONU and Russia, whom persuaded Assad to disarm the mortal weapons.

Finally, nowadays the negotiations may end with the conflict or it is just a relief to start the real world war, as the rebels claim the occidental power to sentence the Assad regime since they used the chemical weapons against the civilians. However, the fact is that these people are suffering and dying every day and they need protection as they are the real victims of the conflict.

Outline

Introduction

·         Thesis statement: civil war definition

Body

·         The starting point of the conflict

·         No changes in the Assad government

·         ONU intervention

Conclusion

·         Civilians are the real victims

Sources

http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guerra_Civil_Siria

http://www.elmundo.es/especiales/revueltas-mundo-arabe/siria.html

http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/syria/index.html

Entry 11

http://prezi.com/qcqsqswldgnn/edit/#0

Entry 10

For the sake of art, for the sake of inclusion

      Art was a human expression yesterday, it is today and it will be tomorrow. “Museums are being asked to assume new roles and develop new ways of working—in general, to clarify and demonstrate their social purpose and more specifically to reinvent themselves as agents of social inclusion.” Say Richard Sandell. Besides, governments are the entities in charge of promoting art individual and private projects.

      No one can deny that art has helped ancient and modern civilizations to express themselves; as from a very single production up to great buildings or monuments. Art is related to inclusion since ancient times, the great works of humanity were created by experts but also by ordinary citizens too. Nowadays, gratifies can be considered a means of communication since they are drawn in order to transmit a message, to decorate the urban landscape and even to be considered a piece of art.

      If we consider “inclusion is an organizational practice and goal stemming from the sociological notion of inclusiveness”. Government policies can spur projects none exclusion of people with no economical resources. Let us the case of having town holds facilities such as sports, music hall, art center, open theaters, for every social class; being the more benefits the lower ones.

      Recent newspaper article confirms the benefits of the use of art as a means of inclusion. The author, Augustina Esperon studied ten volunteers all of them bricklayers who made a series of sculptures in order to remodel “the Hotel Casino Carrasco”. The participants agreed to produced created figures in order to give the Hotel a new look. The results of this art- inclusion program was a positive attitude from these men toward the production  “I take art as a tool for inclusion. Working with marginal people, by giving a name, who managed to get ahead, and with addicts who are fighting back. The art dignifies” say Esperon

     Though the case study above reflect inclusion at the level of economical states, let us bear in mind that inclusion has also to do with giving the opportunity to groups of different backgrounds “like origin, age, race and ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation and identity and other culturally and socially accepted and welcomed, equally treated, etc”.  Besides Agustina also claims that “Bricklayers came, and often not even that,  plasterers, , ancient crafts, exquisite. And they do it very well. "

    It is strongly agreed that governmental decisions upon proposing art as a means of inclusion, expression, communication and production of society is urged by all social classes but above all it will also help the integration of both ends.

References

Sendell, R. (2007). Museums as agents of social inclusion.  .(ONLINE) Retrieve from:               http://www2.le.ac.uk/departments/museumstudies/museumsociety/documents/volumes/mands4.pdf

Celiz, J. (2013). Preservar, una forma de incluir.(ONLINE) Retrieve from:

          http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1599007-preservar-una-forma-de-      incluir?utm_source=FB&utm_medium=Parti&utm_campaign=1599007

       http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art

       http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/art

ENTRY 9 Conclusion Paragraph

   CONCLUSION

   To conclude, it is clear that many of the accidents on the roads are caused by the use of cell phones. It means that an adequate and efficient regulation laws are necessary. Besides,  expert testimony, public opinion, and even cartoons suggest that driving while phoning is very dangerous. Moreover, scientific research confirms the dangers of using this kind of gadgets while on the road. Unluckily , millions of people die because of this fact, around the world, every day.

Entry 8

Immigration around the world

     Nowadays, immigration is the picture of modern world -travelling from one country to another-. Immigrants settle down for various reasons, better opportunities employment, a desire for a better standard of living and future, which are the main driving forces. Though, in present times, there are several other reasons like  looking for current free education and seek for political asylum in neutral countries. Nevertheless, the majority of immigrants suffer from discrimination, they work in illegal jobs and their wages are low. Finally, they may adapt themselves to a new life style, costumes and in many cases a new language.

Entry 7

Tourism in Argentina.

      In my country, tourism is becoming more attractive every year. Many people come from different countries. In order to see the wonders of our territory from the North to the South.

     To begin with, European tourists enjoy visiting the Waterfalls located in Misiones, the northeast of our country. There, people can carry out different activities such as, rafting, walking through the jungle, you can bird-watching and enjoy the beautiful view of the waterfalls themselves. Argentina has a wide range weather moving from the south to the north, another magnificent place to visit is “La Quebrada de Humahuaca”, in the North of Argentina, where American tourists can learn about our history and enjoy the picturesque landscapes. Moreover, we have “La Patagonia”, it is located in the south of Argentina. There, oriental people can visit the impressive “Glaciar Perito Moreno”.

    To conclude, it is world-widely known that the Republic of Argentina has natural wonders which will always attract “travelling lovers” so tourism turns over to be an effective way to make people visit us.

(my version)

Tourism in Argentina.

   In my country, there are wonderful places where people from all over the world can have relaxing holidays with picturesque landscape. If you are looking for an ease and delightful scene Argentina is the appropriate.

  To begin with, European tourists enjoy visiting the Waterfalls located in Misiones, the northeast of our country. There, people can carry out different activities such as, rafting, walking through the jungle, you can bird-watching and enjoy the beautiful view of the waterfalls themselves. Argentina has a wide range weather moving from the south to the north, another magnificent place to visit is “La Quebrada de Humahuaca”, in the North of Argentina, where American tourists can learn about our history and enjoy the picturesque landscapes. Moreover, we have “La Patagonia”, it is located in the south of Argentina. There, oriental people can visit the impressive “Glaciar Perito Moreno.

   To sum up, Argentina is the best alternative to spend an amazing time, because  weather moving from the north to the south or the west to the east, you can find mountains, snow, waters fall and the sea in the same country. 

my mate´s version)

Analysis

Analyzing both paragraphs I notice that my mate´s sentence and conclusion reflect the same idea. However, the topic sentence does not explain in detail what the paragraph is going to be about and it is not related to the body of the writing and the conclusion does not mention the elements that were mentioned in the topic sentence. 

Entry N°6

STRUCTURED PARAGRAPH WRITING

      MAIN PARAGRAPH STRUCTURE:

1.    STYLE: Formal

2.    CORRECT PUNTUATION

3.    PARAGRAPHING

      ELEMENTS OF PARAGRAPH:

1.    A distintic piece of writing

2.    Focussed on one main idea

3.    Well organised              COHESION

      QUOLITIES FOR A SUCCESSFUL PARAGRAPH:

1.    UNITY           MAIN IDEA           TOPIC SENTENCE           TOPIC (subject)

                                                                                                                                                                        CONTROLLING IDEA      w-questions

2.    COHERENCE                logical bridges from one sentence to another.

                                                                Repeat key word, use synonyms.

                                                                Use pronouns, transitions words.

3.    DEVELOPMENT               details, evidence

                                                                  Examples

      TEE RULE:  

                      I.        TOPIC SENTE

                    II.        EXPLANATION

                   III.        EXAMPLE, EVALUATION

      INTRODUCTORY :              topic of the assignment (comment on its importance)

                                                                Main argument 

 

      CONCLUSION:

1.    Summarize the main point with different words

2.    State main conclusion

3.    Has the question been answered?

4.    DO NOT: -Introduce new material

                -End with a generalization

                -End with a quotation

REFERENCES

CAGE, K.  Writing structured paragraphs. [ONLINE] Retrieved from: (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=w183qB0KDFg)

       THE WRITER

       Stereotype:  A conventional, formulaic, and     oversimplified conception, opinion, or image.

      The step is how a group of people are regarded by another group of people in that process there is a choice from the moment it is defined the stereotype of a culture and how that stereotype is reinforced by the media, let us take books, newspapers, magazines, films and any other expressive art.

      To begin with, the stereotypes Adichie is exposed to in her childhood about characters in a book were the image of American and British people. Being these “about blue-eyed white children who played in the snow and ate apples”. In addition, as Adichie grew up and become more curious she encountered novels written by African authors. There she could realize that the way she was also projected a stereotype. People like her were also characters of stories. The following quote turned down the possibility of bearing in mind “started believing that I had no place in books”.

      On the top of that, having travelled to The U.S.A to study at university made also her realize that Nigeria stereotype was regarded as “that it was simply a place of natural beauty but with lots of human suffering”. Thought that she had never thought of “Popular images were not enough to describe the whole reality her country lives in”.

In relation to the paragraph about, Adichie wonder if Mexicans were only what the American said what they were. Having being in Guadalajara herself she could prove that Mexican culture was more than popular images “People were going to work, eating, laughing, smoking, just like people in America”. Not just illegal people.

    Coming to a conclusion, over and over again we are shown as set of stereotypes built by a culture of another culture from a single view. However, once within the given stereotype society you realize that there are many more stories to tell. Single persons, individuals, with their worries and happy moments which will not create fiction but real literature.

  Chimmamanda Adichie, spoke on connecting cultures at 2012 commonwealth.  She spoke about her experiences as reader and writer and the importance of what she terms “realistic literature”. She prefers realistic literature to instruct and delight. Then, Literature has the power of transforming facts into truths. She believes that the discovering of reality demystifies that imaginary world creating a truthful connection with the world.  Chimamanda writes the kind of fiction she would like to read.   Besides, Chimamanda writes for whoever enjoys that kind of fiction, due to the fact she is a writer who is not interested in Hobbits or alternative universes, readers who love fiction stories or live in a fairy tale would not be her audience; her books are about real human beings living in real places, what she means real literature. Furthermore, her inspiration comes from her father and her mother’s eyes telling stories. To conclude, realistic literature in books makes her happy and her world goes about her own creation.

 

Sources:

            Adichie, C. (2009). The Danger of the single story. [ONLINE] Retrieved from: http://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story.html.

Adiechi, C. (2012). Commonwealth Lecture 2012: Connecting Cultures. [ONLINE] Retrieved from:

 http://www.commonwealthfoundation.com/event/commonwealth-lecture-2012. 

Entry N° 4

APA STYLE

In my opinion APA style is the one which is best explained. APA explains how to cite different sources such as books, magazines or web sites etc.

APA style recommends organizing your paper into the following sections: title page, abstract, main body and references.

If we have to cite a book the first thing that has to be mentioned is the author’s surname, followed by the initial letter of his name. After that, the year of publication is going to be included between brackets. Then, the title of the book has to be written using capital letters and italics. Finally, the location and the publisher have to be included, separated with a colon. If we have to cite articles the format provided by APA is the following: Author, A.A, author, B.B, author, C.C. (Year) title of the article. Title of periodical, volume number (issue number) pages.

To cite a magazine, the model is the following: first, the surname and name of the author. After that, and between brackets, the year and date. In italic text type we include the title of the magazine followed by a comma, and the volume and the pages from where the article was taken.

To cite newspapers APA provides the following format: author, A.A. (date). Title of the article. Title of newspaper, page number(s). P for single page and PP for double pages.

To cite an article from an Encyclopedia the first thing to include is the Author, A.A. (date). Title of the article. In the Encyclopedia, (volume, page numbers). City of publication, state of publication: Publisher.

Finally, to cite a web- based source, the format is the following: author, A. (year). Title of journal. Volume, page. Retrieved from http://www.article. Com/full/url.

Sources:

The publication manual of the American Psychological association. Retrieved from http://www.apastyle.org/accessed  on May 15, 2013.

Metacognitive reflection

When we have to experience the writing situation, many things need to be taken into account. The pre-writing process is necessary to determine the genre of our text, plan how the ideas will be presented and organize the information accordingly. In the first version of "I am a writer", I had not paid much attention to the revising and editing steps of writing.  I did not take any notes before writing this text. I did not even write an outline. I planned some basic things in my head and started writing, I am aware this is not the correct way to proceed.

So when I improve the writing I made an outline and a good conclusion, I rearranged words and punctuation. The writing strategies help us to have a clear idea of what we are going to talk about.

Welcome!!!

Hi people!! My name is Mariel; I am attending the last year in The Teaching Training College at ISFD N ° 18. Hopefully I will get my degree this year!!  I do not consider myself as a great writer, but I will do my best!!!!

I am a Writer (Improved)

I am a writer… to be

If I had to choose to be a writer or a reader being these two faces of the same reality; I should go for

 the second one alternative. As a reader one of the most inspiring authors has been Gabriel Garcia 

Marquez, and here I paraphrase his own becoming the writer he is.

“As a child growing up in Aracataca, Colombia, education didn't seem to be one of my strong points.

My parents did little to give me guidance in my school time. I was not forced by my parents to read or write

much when I was younger. Despite my father always advising me to read comics. He said that it was a good

way to improve my writing at school. Nowadays I think, it was the best advice I had ever had.

When my family and I moved up here to Barranquilla, I attended San José Institute. My parents thought

that at san José, my level would improve and I would pass my previous academic level. A part of this was

true. My academic level did improve greatly but the school didn't challenge any of its students. That would

 later change when I came to “Liceo Nacional” where I finished my college.  Liceo Nacional gave me a

demanding curriculum which made me challenge myself and that forced me into becoming a better student

altogether. My writing did suffer because of the lack of experience I had in the previous schools. I remember

one of my papers that I wrote for Mrs. Rojas´s class. It was about my time in Cartagena. It seemed as if my

writing was the equivalent of sixth graders . This paper had made me feel stupid as the level of my

classmates were really good.

The next two years for me were a tremendous step up from what I had written the previous year.  After I

had learned the writing process, my compositions had a more elegant style.

I believe my writing had shown a great deal of improvement since my time at Liceo Nacional

Over the years I've seen my writing improve exceeding my expectations.  One thing that I've learned

through my writing is that many people may find it lacking in numerous ways, but I am positive that my

writing came from all my experiences along my life that make me feel  glad  with my work”.

If I had to choose to become a writer as he is, I would have to recall my single memory of my schooldays

and bring the best of myself. Maybe one day, you will see a famous story signed by me M.A.C.