The Final Blog!

Don't give up! This is your final weekend in A2. Make it count. You can relax NEXT weekend. Give your energy to the reading homework for the weekend and start getting into the final theme of Video and Online Games. You know the unit will be finishing with a debate and a persuasive writing so the more thought you give to the topic now, the stronger you will finish next Thursday.

To help you start thinking more about the topic and also to inspire each other, continue the ideas you began discussing in class this morning. Write about the benefits and problems which come from playing video games. Why do you play them? Why don't you play them?

With regards to your blog mark, we will be considering your contributions as well as your comments on your colleagues' blogs until Monday at midnight. Make your comments thoughtful and substantial on your classmates' blogs.

Your Research Papers are Finished!!

Congratulations! What an achievement!! Now that you`ve done it, how do you feel?

For your next blogging assignment, share your research experience with the class. What did you learn? What did you find challenging? What will you remember? What advice do you have for someone who has a research paper to write?

After you do your research post, remember to visit the blogs of your fellow writers and leave some comments. As the presentations progress, you can also leave comments about the presentations.

Thinking Critically about Happiness Questionnaires

I want you to think critically about the two surveys you did this week, the 'Happy-Face' questionnaire (page 223 of your student book) and the on-line one (www.authentichappiness.com).

1. Do you think these data collection tools are valid scientific tools? Why or why not?

In research this is what is called validity. In other words, researchers use these tools to gather data with which to make conclusions about a bigger population, in this case whether one population is happier than another. (eg. are Chinese happier than Canadians?)

2. Do you think your results on the on-line survey would be different if you did it at another time or day? Why or why not? (in research this is called reliability)

3. Which of the two tools is better to do with a large group of people (eg. university students, people living in cities versus rural locations, etc.) to discover patterns of happiness in a given population? Why do you think one is better than the other?

Have fun!

Remember to post your reply to these questions on your blog and visit a few of your classmates blogs, read their ideas and respond to a few.

Happiness

Take 20 minutes to write freely about the subject of happiness in your blog. Here are some suggestions:

• How do you define happiness?
• What makes you happy?
• What advice would you give others to be happy?
• Has your happiness level changed from what it used to be? Explain.
• What are the secrets of happiness?

Check the blogs of your classmates to read what they wrote. Write a comment for 3 or 4 different people. Let them know what you think of their ideas.

Welcome to Advanced Two!

I hope you all have a great session. For sure, it will be a LOT of work, but it will all be worth it.

We will be using our blogs regularly to become a supportive community of writers. Scott and I will be giving you blogging assignments from time to time. You will post your assignment and then, very importantly, you will visit the blogs of other writers in the class and leave comments about their ideas. Take all of your blogging opportunities to express yourself thoughtfully, critically, and "generously" (don`t be cheap!).


Today, everyone needs to visit www.blogspot.com to set up their blogs. It's very important that each blog has an easy-to-find list of links to every member of our class

Truth or Fiction?

Here is your first blog assignment. Read the 4 statements below about me. Three of them are true but ONE is false. Leave a comment to say which one you believe is false. You need to EXPLAIN your reasoning. Remember that you want to benefit by taking all of your blogging opportunities to express yourself thoughtfully, critically, and "generously" (don`t be cheap!).

Next, on your own blog, write 4 statements about you. Make sure ONE is false. Try to be a good liar!

Visit AT LEAST 4 other blogs from our A2 class and leave comments to explain how you chose their lies.

What am I lying about? Remember to explain your choice in detail.

1. I first drove a Volkswagon when I was 11 years old.

2. In June, 2009, I received my third dan black belt in taekwondo.

3. A few years ago, I won a 21-speed bike.

4. When I have time, I'd like to take a class in cake decorating.