Blog Post #3 - due by Monday, November 30

Dear students,

Our topic this time will be U.S. politics: the presidential candidates for the 2016 election. Write a short paragraph in which you answer some or all of the following questions:
1. What do you know about the Democratic and Republican parties ( L8 students: think about your reading last term)?
2. If you had to choose one of these parties, to which would you belong? Why?
3. What do you know about the current candidates?
4. Choose one of them and tell what you think their strengths and weaknesses are.

As usual, please react to at least one other student's comments for full credit.

Best,
Diana

Dear students,

Thank you for your very interesting comments about plagiarism, and for pointing out the differences between your native countries - mostly China- and the U.S. You talked about laziness and insecurity on the part of the students, combined with  maybe not knowing how to write the papers. Some of you referred to wanting good grades. I think the latter is the most important factor here in the U.S. That is, there is such pressure and competition to get into good colleges and graduate schools that students feel that their work has to be super-perfect.

That's all for now. Keep enjoying the weekend!
Diana

Blog post #2 - due Wednesday, November 11.  

Dear students,

As I mentioned in class, today's topic will be plagiarism. Please think about the following questions:
1. In your culture, how do you include the words and ideas of others in papers you write for school?
2. Why do you think some students plagiarize?
3. Is plagiarism a problem in your native country?
4. Plagiarism has become a big problem in the U.S. Why do you think this is so?
Write a short cross-cultural comparison in paragraph form, using the above questions as a guide. Remember to react to your classmates' statements also.

See you tomorrow,
Diana

Dear students,

Thank you all for your comments and for engaging in dialogue with each other. I see quite a few pop music lovers and aspiring guitar players among you! Now I will answer my own questions.

My favorite kinds of music are quite different from yours. I love classical music and opera. I listen to WQXR, a classical music radio station, every morning before school. I don't have a favorite performer, but my favorite composers are probably Mozart and Bach. Oh, I also like American folk music very much.

I am fairly musical. I used to play the piano and, briefly, the violin, but I don't anymore. I have been singing all my life, and still love to sing even in the classroom ( as you know).

If any of you like classical and/or folk music, let me know!

Happy weekend,
Diana

Adilbek's preferences about music

      Generally speaking, I usually listen to different genre of music, like R'n'B, RAP, electronic music, and of course I listen different music depending on language of the song. In my case, it depends on my mood and motivation for listening particular type or singer of music. For example, when I do physical exercises adn run, I prefer motivational music, in other words that gives me impulse to do my best in workout. In other situation, when I'm tired after productive mental work, usually I listen to restful songs, like famous retro french or italian singers.

      Based on that, I don't have one favourite singer, because I have created my musical playlist with different kind of music and genre. I can say that I have my favourite singer in every genre of music that I listen. For example in R'n'B genre my favourite singer is Justin Timberlake, because when I was younger his songs were very popular among young generation, and even that I tried to remeber all his songs. In RAP genre my favourite singer is Basta, he is russian rapper, who writes about his real life, and I also remeber all words in his songs.

     While listening the favourite music songs, you always desire to play or sign like in your song. Some people make their dreams come true, and contribute in learning some musical instrument. In my case, I don't know any musical instrument, but my dream is to learn playing a guitar. And I strongly believe that I will overcome my shyness and I will start playing a guitar.      

Music

1. What is your favorite kind of music?

 My favorite music is pop music.

 2. Who is your favorite performer or group? 

 My favorite performer is Jay Zhou. I also like Taylor Swift. 

3. Are you musical? 

 No,I'm not.

4. Have you ever sung or played a musical instrument? If so, do you still?
 Yes, I have. When I was in elementary school, I played trombone. I can use trombone play Chinese national anthem. But now, I'm not play it anymore.

Dear Students,

Welcome to our class blog! I am excited about reading your postings. Remember to answer the questions, and then react to at least one other student's answers for full credit.

Now that I have looked at your questionnaires, I see that there is a lot of interest in the topic "music, movies and entertainment." Last spring all the posts  in that category were about movies, books and TV programs. So, let's talk about music this time. Here are some questions to guide you:
1. What is your favorite kind of music? 2. Who is your favorite performer or group? 3. Are you musical? 4. Have you ever sung or played a musical instrument? If so, do you still?

Where should you post? Just click on the little pencil in the gray box below.

Happy blogging!
Diana