Sep. 26th

 In the last class, I shared my essay on Google docs with some section mates who are working on similar topics. My essay topic is relationship between music and learning language. Anyway, peer review might be make my and friend’s essay better. I usually have grammar mistakes, so I hope my friends would correct them. However, I need to work on my essay as soon as possible, or no one could check my essay. I will work hard.

 We also learned about Zotero. In the P&D class, we had a lesson about similar things of Zotero such as how to store the information and synchronize them to my zotero account. However, Zotero is useful tool for writing academic paper (Every time I heard about Zotero, I am always impressed.)

 In the rest of the class, we talked about Fisher’s article little bit. Rab showed some staffs and see how each person’s perception is different from others. We watched stereograms. I could not see anything, but some of my friends can see the actual picture. I really feel my perception is different from others and other’s are different form mine. It makes us to understand the article easier, and we kind of get an idea of it.

Sep 24

In the class in September 24th, Rab taught us what we should aware of when we are writing academic essay by showing examples from our summer reading book review. I knew some rules Rab talked about, but some I didn't know or care about. Steve (our spring term ARW teacher) told us about personal pronouns, contraction, and indent many times. However, I'd never heard that we shouldn't use phrasal verbs and we should avoid using words which is not accurate such as "thing." I may used the word  "thing" in my essay or book review a lot. I'll never do this again (try!). Also I will use more quotations in my essay. Using Zotero makes it easier, so I feel now I can do it. It is very hard to write good length sentence, not too short or too long. We learned so many rules of writing academic essay from Rab's lectures, and I found many problems I had. However, that means I can be a better writer, so I try to be very careful of them when I write new essay as much as possible I can. Those lessons are very useful for me. The only thing I need to do is write an essay, check those rules, and get good grade!!

Sep. 21

In the last class, we learned how to write an academic essay. I kind of remember that he had similar lesson at the start up program a year ago, so this is good review time for me.

 Firstly, Rab taught us 5A for choosing topic. That is very useful information, because I always cannot chose my essay topic and decide what I will write about. I was surprised that we can choose anything we would like to write about. After choosing a topic, we connect it to academic issue. Moreover, I tend to think that is this topic academic or not, but I noticed that I also have to consider about other 4As (Attractive, Argumetative, Access, Achivable.)  Secondly, we leaned about Rule of 3. Rab told us how long and how may sentences should be in each paragraph, so now I see the structure of a 5 paragraph essay more clearly. Finally, he talked about how to make title. I knew that title is very important part of the essay, bad I also knew that I am bad at it.

 Through whole class, Rab's examples are very helpful to understand each theory. Now I have an idea of how my essay should looks like. However, wrting essay might be hard work for me, but this idea maybe help me a lot while writing.

Sep. 19

In the last class, we learned how to use Google reader. I was surprised that I can search any words from particular web sites by using Google reader, even though the web site does not have a search box. It is very useful, and I can save much time for research. Now, I can see my friends’ blogs too. I can check what we learned in the class any time. Moreover we can share own thoughts, idea and feedback.

Rab’s class is interesting and useful for me, because we learn not only the things every other student learn in ARW class, but also computer skills that we can use in of course ARW class and other classes. For example, Zotero, Google docs, drop box and so on. I like it and I make much use of them.

Sep. 14

In the last class, we talked about Barna's article.
Rab put us into the group of several people, and we discussed the differences of different nations or areas. We shared things which we noticed from our own experiences. It was very interesting class, because it was not the class which teacher just talk and teach about the articles. It is easy to understand the issues (in this case, non-verbal communications in the different countries) by connecting them to our real lives. Therefore, those classes are very useful and fun. Just one point, how should we prepare for quizes or CWT. That is only one thing I'm worrying about.

Sep.12

In the last class, I learned some computer stuff. Google tasks are very useful, because I don't need to write assignment down any more! It appears in my calender too, so I can see when is the due date creally. I can use google taskas on my iPod, so I can change or check it at everywhere! That is pretty amazing!