東京理科大学 技術英語: Final presentations・期末発表

Hello!

How are you? Here is our final presentation assignment. 

Topics & tasks

Select an area or issue of mechanical engineering or IT, and focus on a specific problem or issue and a solution to it – for example: 

• a technical problem, with a solution, in mechanical engineering or IT – for example, a classic case of a problem with a famous or noteworthy structure, or vehicle, device, component, or piece of equipment within ME or IT, and the solution to the problem with it – or –

• a socially-impactful issue, with a solution or proposal of a solution, that ME or IT made possible, or could make possible – for example, a classic case of a past social issue, difficulty, or dilemma that that was solved by mechanical engineering, perhaps in conjunction with civil or electrical engineering, or IT, perhaps with the help of precision mechanics, mechanical engineering in general, or mathematics – or perhaps a current problem that ME or IT could solve.

With your topic, develop a 5-6 minute presentation about it, including methodologies and results, and your opinions and suggestions, on implications and directions of what your topic subject is about.  

Special note:

With this last task idea, you could propose an original solution within ME or IT to a problem - but you should show a methodology, with proof and a projection of results, that you believe could work.

Guidelines

As we have done before, develop a digitally-based display (Power Point, Key Note, Google Slides, or some other possible digitally-based show) with a summary that shows some background to the area or issue with any research or investigative reports about the area or issue, plus a statement on what you will focus on in your presentation. 

In addition, you will also develop an outline for your topic showing main and supporting ideas, and points of details of the topic.

Deadline (締め切り) 

We will turn in the summaries and outlines, and do the presentations, on December 17th (12/17), so you have three (3) weeks to develop these. 

During our planning and preparation time, starting from next week (12/3), I will allow you to bring in your devices (laptops and/or tablets) and work in class, with my guidance and some supporting paper material and blogposts, to develop your summaries, outlines, and spoken presentation delivery. 

Special note:
Because we will only have one week in January 2020 for a class meeting left, on January 21st (1/21), we should aim to have the presentations completed on 12/17, before our New Year's break. But we can use 1/21 as a makeup day for any final presentations that we could not get to on 12/17. 

Good luck! I look forward to seeing your choices of topics, and helping you to develop them.

Image: By Kevin Jarrett - https://www.flickr.com/photos/kjarrett/8295289152/, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=24031884

東京理科大学 Writing & Composition 1b: Writing assignment 1・作文1

Hello!

How are you? Today I will show you our first (1st) writing assignment (作文1) for this class for the second semester - writing a procedures (手順) composition, with research, on a topic connected to the themes from the textbook in the listening and speaking class. 

Themes (テーマ)

Here are your choice of themes. You can choose one (1) of these: 

• Education 
• Psychology

There are many topics you can choose from that fit with these themes. You can use a topic from one of the textbook chapters we have done so far in this class, plus any ideas you may have gotten from your listening and speaking class on the same textbook chapters. 

But here are also some other ideas for topics that fit with these themes and that you can try for. You could choose one (1) of these if you want: 

• The best way you have found to learn English vocabulary and the steps you use 
• The best way you have found to remember difficult kanji and the steps you use 
• What you believe is an effective way to remember complex chemical or math formulas
• How you would teach a complex chemical or math formula to students
• How a baseball batter can effectively hit a ball - and methods of great baseball hitters
• Examples of how Olympic athletes train - and methods they use to prepare for events 
• How to effectively prepare for a test - including steps to take on best sleep, diet, and study methods 

Deadline (締め切り)
It will be by the end of class on October 14th (10/14), so you have two (2) week(s) to prepare. You should have a rough draft (下書き) for next week (10/7), then have your final draft finished by at least the end of class on 10/14.

*NEW NOTE: I know that some of you have a laptop computer or tablet, but not all of you do. So if you have your own computer or laptop, work on your final drafts, and bring your computer or laptop with you, with a USB, to class next week on 10/14. 

If you don't have your own computer, bring a USB with you. Outside of class before next week, you should work on your writing on a campus computer, and save your Word file on your USB.

Your final draft for 10/14 will be typed on Word, and should be at least 3-4 paragraphs (段落) long - but if you can go longer, try for it! I encourage you to go longer and build your writing and take your ideas out further as much as you can.

Anything shorter than three (3) paragraphs will not be acceptable. I will ask you to re-write if you bring in less writing than what the assignment asks for. 

Please also do not write line-by-line sentences. Remember that you are writing paragraphs (段落), not lists of sentences. I will also ask you to re-write if you hand in a paper that has only lists of sentences on it. 

I will show you guidelines in class on 10/7 about Word formatting for your final drafts.

Guidelines

1. Prepare a rough draft about the topic you want to write on describing a procedure or method for doing or showing something. I will give you some time to do some research, and begin writing, in class.

Important note:

The rough and final drafts should have: 

• A short introduction showing what your topic is
• A procedure or method, including any special or famous cases, conditions, problems, and/or situations where the procedure or method can help (or did help), with details of steps in the procedure or method using signal words (first…, next…, then…, after that…, finally…, and so on) 

2. Be ready with your rough draft next week to read aloud to your classmates, and discuss the procedures in your topics. You do not have to agree with each other! Getting differing viewpoints from your classmates is important, and can help you to deepen your ideas. 

* This is very important! You don't have to have your rough draft 100% finished - but you have to have enough content so you can read aloud and discuss your writing! Do not come in with only 1-2 sentences!

3. Based on the discussions and any feedback you get from your classmates, then finalize your rough drafts outside of class into final drafts, and be ready to hand in on the deadline day on 10/14! 

NEW - here are the board notes for our class on 10/7: 

Good luck! See you next time!

Images: top - courtesy of public-domain.com/Board notes - personal photograph. All rights reserved.

東京理科大学 Writing & Composition 1a: Spring final writing assignment・前学期末作文

Hello!

How are you? Here is our spring final writing assignment (中間「前学期」作文). 

Themes
You have a choice between two (2) different themes:

・Writing about works of art
・Writing about a problem or controversy in an area of science or technology 

About the first choice:
For this topic, you can look in the Listening & Speaking textbook about some different works of art - or search out some works of art on your own on the internet. I could 
also select some works of art to post on this blog as well. 

You can write about one (1) work of art, or for an extra challenge, choose two (2) works of art and compare and contrast (比較対照して) them. If you choose this challenge, look for these points in your comparison and contrast:

Dynamics of artistic composition (美学、美術の構成) - (for example, color, space, relationships 
of people and/or objects to each other)

Possible story or scenario that the work of art shows or gives ideas about (for example, 
mood, feelings of people, conditions of objects or the place where the people and/or objects 
are) 

Finally, choose the work of art you prefer (好む) and show what you believe to be a short story 
or scenario that comes to your mind when you see or think about this artwork.

About the second choice: 
For this topic, think about some problem or controversy (問題、議論) in an area of 
science or technology – for example, a problem with a drug or medication in research, 
or a technological application. Here are some examples of such problems: 

・The false data in the research of Haruko Obokata and the trouble in her research institute 

・The use – and misuse – of private data by social media companies such as Facebook

・The ways in which social media has spread fake news and other false information

・The relationship between humans and artificial intelligence (AI) and possible problems

You are not limited to these examples of problems and issues, but these are some good examples.

Special note: 

For both of these different choices, I will gather your writing on this topic into a collection called The Little Book of Big Things -  a book about student writers’ feelings, opinions, issues and perceptions (認識) about different topics. 

How much to write 

I would like you to write 4-5 paragraphs – but if you can go longer that would be great! I would like you to write as much as you can, because your work may be published (出版した) on this blog and in The Little Book of Big Things collection. 

As I have said before, anything shorter than three (3) paragraphs will not be acceptable. Please remember that our time is tight - so you might not have the time to re-write. 

I will review as much of your work as I can on July 15th (7/15). I may ask you to re-write, or re-work your content, if I see that you are behind or if you need more advice or suggestions from me about the assignment. 

Please do not write line-by-line sentences. Remember that you are writing paragraphs (段落), not lists of sentences. On 7/15, I will ask you to re-write if I see that you are only writing lists of sentences about your topic. 

I will review with you guidelines in class on about Word formatting for your final drafts.

Deadline (締め切り) 

There will be two (2) deadlines this time - you can choose which one you would like to try for: An earlier one on July 22nd (7/22), and a final one on July 29th (7/29). 

Now - if you believe you can completely finish by 7/22, you can turn it in early - but I will review it first. If I see that it needs more work, I will ask you to work on it more and turn it in on 7/29. 

If you feel you need more time and have to turn it in on 7/29, that is okay - you will not be late. 

On either day - 7/22 or 7/29 - you will hand in a final version (完成版). You should select your theme and topic in it that you are interested in, and begin writing from now – do not wait! 

Now - here are the board notes for our class on 7/1:

Good luck! I will look forward to reading your great writing – and please relax over the summer for a job well done!

Image: Personal photograph. All rights reserved.

東京理科大学 Writing & Composition 1a: Writing assignment 1・作文1

Hello!

 

How are you? Today I will show you our first (1st) writing assignment (作文1) for this class - writing your opinion, with support for your opinion, on a topic connected to the themes from the textbook in the listening and speaking class. 

Before we start, if you like another refresher on what we did in our 5/6 classes, click on this link. 

Themes (テーマ)

Here are your choice of themes. You can choose one (1) of these: 

• International relations 
• The environment

There are many topics you can choose from that fit with these themes. You can use a topic from one of the textbook chapters we have done so far in this class, plus any ideas you may have gotten from your listening and speaking class on the same textbook chapters. 

But here are also some other ideas for topics that fit with these themes and that you can try for. You could choose one (1) of these if you want: 

• Refugee resettlement in Japan (or another country)
• Brexit
• Work and effectiveness of a particular United Nations agency or of some famous NGOs such as the Red Cross or Doctors Without Borders
• Relief work and resettlement of people from Fukushima and Miyagi after the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami
• The impact of climate change on Japan

Deadline (締め切り)
It will be by the end of class on May 27th (5/27), so you have two (2) week(s) to prepare. You should have a rough draft (下書き) for next week (5/20), then have your final draft ready on 5/27.

*NEW NOTE: I know that some of you have a laptop computer or tablet, but not all of you do. So if you have your own computer or laptop, work on your final drafts, and bring your computer or laptop with you, with a USB, to class next week on 5/27.

If you don't have your own computer, bring a USB with you. Outside of class before next week, you should work on your writing on a campus computer, and save your Word file on your USB.

Your final draft for 5/27 will be typed on Word, and should be at least 3-4 paragraphs (段落) long - but if you can go longer, try for it! I encourage you to go longer and build your writing and take your ideas out further as much as you can.

Anything shorter than three (3) paragraphs will not be acceptable. I will ask you to re-write if you bring in less writing than what the assignment asks for. 

Please also do not write line-by-line sentences. Remember that you are writing paragraphs (段落), not lists of sentences. I will also ask you to re-write if you hand in a paper that has only lists of sentences on it. 

I will show you guidelines in class on 5/27 about Word formatting for your final drafts.

Guidelines

1. Prepare a rough draft about the topic you want to write on about a problem or situation, and your opinion of it, and especially try to propose a solution. I will give you some time to do some research, and begin writing, in class.

Important note:

The rough and final drafts should have: 

• A short introduction showing what your topic is
• One (1) major problem or situation about it, with some details or important points about it
• Your opinion about it, with your idea or ideas on solutions or extra actions to the problem or situation

Things to think about:
How big is the problem? What is the situation? What is your opinion about what might happen if nothing is done about it?  

For negative opinions - if you feel that not enough is being done about the problem or situation, or if you feel that the wrong things are being done - that you should try to show some possible solutions to the problem or situation, and support your opinion with facts and/or data.  

2. Be ready with your rough draft next week to read aloud to your classmates, and discuss your opinions and ideas. You do not have to agree with each other! Getting differing viewpoints from your classmates is important, and can help you to deepen your ideas. 

* This is very important! You don't have to have your rough draft 100% finished - but you have to have enough content so you can read aloud and discuss your writing! Do not come in with only 1-2 sentences!

3. Based on the discussions and any feedback you get from your classmates, then finalize your rough drafts outside of class into final drafts, and be ready to hand in on the deadline day on 5/27! 

Now here are the lesson board notes from our class today (5/13):

Good luck! See you next time!

Images: top - courtesy of public-domain.com/Board notes - personal photograph. All rights reserved.

ECA (Culture) B: コミュニケーションの問題

Hello!

How are you? Today I will share a song with you in class - "The Things We Do for Love," by 10cc. Here are the words to the song:

1. Too many broken hearts have fallen in the river

Too many lonely souls have drifted out to sea,

You lay your bets and then you pay the price

The things we do for love, the things we do for love.

2. Communication is the problem to the answer

You've got her number and your hand is on the phone

The weather's turned and all the lines are down

The things we do for love, the things we do for love.

Chorus:

Like walking in the rain and the snow

When there's nowhere to go

And you're feelin' like a part of you is dying

And you're looking for the answer in her eyes.

You think you're gonna break up

Then she says she wants to make up.

Bridge:

Ooh you made me love you

Ooh you've got a way

Ooh you had me crawling up the wall.

Repeat chorus

Repeat bridge

3. A compromise would surely help the situation

Agree to disagree but disagree to part

When after all it's just a compromise of
The things we do for love, the things we do for love…

Here is a video of 10cc performing this song live:

Activity

Now let's talk about the theme of this song with these questions!

1. What do you think this song means?

2. What do these lines mean?

You've got her number and your hand is on the phone

You're looking for the answer in her eyes

You had me crawling up the wall

Agree to disagree but disagree to part

3. (If you are a woman) Have you had these difficulties in any of your relationships with men – even with male friends?

(If you are a man) Have you had these difficulties in any of your relationships with women – even with female friends?

Have fun! See you next time!

Image: "Couple Sitting Of The Couch Having Problems In Their Relationship" (courtesy of David Castillo Dominici)/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Song: Written by Eric Stewart and Graham Gouldman/copyright Schubert Music Publishing O.B.O. Man-Ken Music Ltd., 1977
Video uploaded from YouTube. I do not own the rights to the musical composition, lyrics, or the video. All rights reserved to the copyright holders. Lyrics, music and video all uploaded strictly for educational purposes.