role
section
sector
significant
similar
source
specific
structure
theory
variables
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Vocabulary - Use It Or Lose It (Part 4)
It's time to expand those minds & vocabularies. This next segment is the last section from part 1 of the Academic Word List. Please pick one word and post the definition. You may use an online dictionary (such as this one: http://www.merriam-webster.com.).
role
section
sector
significant
similar
source
specific
structure
theory
variables
role
section
sector
significant
similar
source
specific
structure
theory
variables
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Vocabulary - Use It Or Lose It (Part 3)
It's another installment of the "Academic Word List" to help improve your vocabulary skills! Please pick one word, look it up in a dictionary, and then post the word & its meaning. Choose a word that has not been picked already by another blogger. (HINT: If you do not have a dictionary, you can use an online one! Try this: http://www.merriam-webster.com.)
Here are the next 10 words from that list.
occur
percent
period
policy
principle
procedure
process
required
research
response
Here are the next 10 words from that list.
occur
percent
period
policy
principle
procedure
process
required
research
response
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
You've got to love those adverbs!
Adverbs are words that help describe verbs. They tell how something was done. Like adjectives, adverbs help to paint a more exact picture in the reader's mind. Here are some examples of adverbs: quickly, quietly, gladly, angrily, sheepishly, slowly, and loudly.
Read this sentence and picture it.
Samuel ran down the track.
Have you pictured what that event looked like? Are you sure you were picturing it exactly as I had seen it? Well, without an adverb to describe Samuel's running, you can't be sure that your image is the same as what mine is. To make sure we're thinking of something similar, I'll use an adverb. Now read this sentence. When you're done, ask yourself if you have a better, more exact picture of the event and how it happened.
Samuel ran clumsily down the track.
With the inclusion of that one adverb, your vision of Samuel running is now better!
I want you to help me paint a better, more precise picture of some events. Take a look at the sentences below. In the blank, add an adverb that fits the situation. (It's helpful to remember that adverbs usually end in "-ly.") Pick any one sentence and fill in the missing adverb. It's possible that multiple adverbs could be used in one sentence, so don't feel as though there's only one right answer.
1.) Shenea _____ called her sister.
2.) The jack rabbit _____ ate the carrot in the garden.
3.) Melissa _____ cooked a Thanksgiving turkey.
4.) April's son _____ ran into the office.
5.) Spanky the cat _____ ate his food.
Read this sentence and picture it.
Samuel ran down the track.
Have you pictured what that event looked like? Are you sure you were picturing it exactly as I had seen it? Well, without an adverb to describe Samuel's running, you can't be sure that your image is the same as what mine is. To make sure we're thinking of something similar, I'll use an adverb. Now read this sentence. When you're done, ask yourself if you have a better, more exact picture of the event and how it happened.
Samuel ran clumsily down the track.
With the inclusion of that one adverb, your vision of Samuel running is now better!
I want you to help me paint a better, more precise picture of some events. Take a look at the sentences below. In the blank, add an adverb that fits the situation. (It's helpful to remember that adverbs usually end in "-ly.") Pick any one sentence and fill in the missing adverb. It's possible that multiple adverbs could be used in one sentence, so don't feel as though there's only one right answer.
1.) Shenea _____ called her sister.
2.) The jack rabbit _____ ate the carrot in the garden.
3.) Melissa _____ cooked a Thanksgiving turkey.
4.) April's son _____ ran into the office.
5.) Spanky the cat _____ ate his food.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Vocabulary- Use It Or Lose It! (Part 2)
For the blog post on February 1, we were discussing the "Academic Word List" and the importance of vocabulary for good writing. Today's the second installment of vocabulary practice. Here's the next set of words from the list.
Please pick a word, look it up in a dictionary, and then post the word & its meaning. Choose a word that has not been picked already by another blogger. (HINT: If you do not have a dictionary, you can use an online one! Try this: http://www.merriam-webster.com.)
indicate
individual
interpretation
involved
issues
labor
legal
legislation
major
method
Please pick a word, look it up in a dictionary, and then post the word & its meaning. Choose a word that has not been picked already by another blogger. (HINT: If you do not have a dictionary, you can use an online one! Try this: http://www.merriam-webster.com.)
indicate
individual
interpretation
involved
issues
labor
legal
legislation
major
method
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Stop & check the signal words!
When driving, people use signals all of the time. You turn your blinker on to turn left. Your brake lights illuminate when you brake to slow down or stop. The traffic light tells you when to go and when to stop.
In writing, too, signals are important. The signals come in the form of "signal" or "transition" words and those help the reader to follow the order of things. Here are a few examples of some signal words that you probably already use in your writing: "first," "then," "second," "next," "after that," "third," and "lastly." (That's not a complete list of signal words, but to see more of them, visit this URL: http://www.somers.k12.ny.us/intranet/reading/signalwords.html .)
Below you see some signal words that help with chronological order. Please look over that list, pick one or two of the words, and write a sentence for each that demonstrates how it could be used to help improve your writing.
In writing, too, signals are important. The signals come in the form of "signal" or "transition" words and those help the reader to follow the order of things. Here are a few examples of some signal words that you probably already use in your writing: "first," "then," "second," "next," "after that," "third," and "lastly." (That's not a complete list of signal words, but to see more of them, visit this URL: http://www.somers.k12.ny.us/intranet/reading/signalwords.html .)
Below you see some signal words that help with chronological order. Please look over that list, pick one or two of the words, and write a sentence for each that demonstrates how it could be used to help improve your writing.
after | afterward | when | not long after | ||||
| during | finally | first | following | ||||
| then | initially | later | meanwhile | ||||
| next | before | now | on (date) | ||||
| preceding | second | soon | immediately | ||||
| third | today | until | as soon as |
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Vocabulary- Use It Or Lose It!
It's no surprise that vocabulary is a big part of writing. Without vocabulary skills, a person's writing will be average, at best. Of course, we all want writing that's better than average!
The "Academic Word List" is one of several vocabulary lists that does not connect directly with a single particular piece of literature. Instead, it includes ten units of sets of words most frequently found in school text books of all types. (If you're wondering where this word list came from, it was developed by Averil Coxhead, of Victoria University of Wellington, in New Zealand.)
I'm going to post half of the first set of the word list. I'd like you to look over that list, pick a word, look it up in a dictionary, and then post the word & its meaning. Please choose a word that has not been picked already by another blogger. (HINT: If you do not have a dictionary, you can use an online one! Try this: http://www.merriam-webster.com)
This way, we all get to increase our vocabulary skills by working together! Be sure to check this post often, as new words and definitions will be added by the bloggers.
-----
The "Academic Word List" is one of several vocabulary lists that does not connect directly with a single particular piece of literature. Instead, it includes ten units of sets of words most frequently found in school text books of all types. (If you're wondering where this word list came from, it was developed by Averil Coxhead, of Victoria University of Wellington, in New Zealand.)
I'm going to post half of the first set of the word list. I'd like you to look over that list, pick a word, look it up in a dictionary, and then post the word & its meaning. Please choose a word that has not been picked already by another blogger. (HINT: If you do not have a dictionary, you can use an online one! Try this: http://www.merriam-webster.com)
This way, we all get to increase our vocabulary skills by working together! Be sure to check this post often, as new words and definitions will be added by the bloggers.
-----
analysis
approach
area
assessment
assume
authority
available
benefit
concept
consistent
constitutional
context
contract
create
data
definition
derived
distribution
economic
environment
established
estimate
evidence
export
factors
financial
formula
function
identified
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Writing- Do you have a plan?
How many things in your life exist for which you have a plan? A few key examples come to mind, such as driving somewhere new, cooking a meal, and writing a good essay! Think about it this way: if you lived in Miami and had to drive all the way to Bunnell (FL), would you know all of the roads to take? If you've never been to Bunnell and you don't know where it is, you'd definitely need to have a plan in place before you hopped in your car and took off! Well, writing is no different!
Imagine that your goal is to write an essay about your most memorable trip. You can choose any type of planning, organizing, or pre-writing that you like. For this example, I'm going to stick to my favorite method: the outline! Look at what I have and ask yourself if you can see how my "plan" would then be turned into the essay. Then, show me your "plan" for your essay!
Topic: Memorable Trip (Utah)
Paragraph 1: Intro
Paragraph 2: First time out west
Paragraph 3: Amazing skiing
Paragraph 4: Unique landscape
Paragraph 5: Conclusion
What do you think? That wasn't too hard to do, was it?
Imagine that your goal is to write an essay about your most memorable trip. You can choose any type of planning, organizing, or pre-writing that you like. For this example, I'm going to stick to my favorite method: the outline! Look at what I have and ask yourself if you can see how my "plan" would then be turned into the essay. Then, show me your "plan" for your essay!
Topic: Memorable Trip (Utah)
Paragraph 1: Intro
Paragraph 2: First time out west
Paragraph 3: Amazing skiing
Paragraph 4: Unique landscape
Paragraph 5: Conclusion
What do you think? That wasn't too hard to do, was it?
Monday, February 1, 2010
The Dreaded Dangling Participle!
Have you ever heard of a dangling participle? It doesn't sound like a good thing, does it? Well, it certainly isn't something you want in your writing. Let's look at why that is the case.
First, we need to talk about what exactly a "participle" is. Every complete sentence will have a subject and a verb. Verbs can take many forms (past, present, or future, for example). A present participle verb is one that ends in "-ing." Some examples of present participle verbs are "running," "cooking," "sleeping," and "eating."
Here's a case of the dreaded dangling participle.
While sleeping, the alarm clock fell off of Tim's table.
Why is that not a correctly written sentence? Look at that phrase in the beginning of the sentence ("while sleeping"). Who or what is that phrase really meant to describe? It's meant to describe Tim. He's the one who was sleeping. However, here's where the problem occurs. Due to the way the sentence is written, it implies that it was the alarm clock that was sleeping! Isn't that silly?
To fix that dreaded dangling participle, you can reword your sentence. Here are a few examples of a correct way to express that statement.
1.) While Tim was sleeping, the alarm clock fell off of the table.
2.) The alarm clock fell off of the table while Tim was sleeping.
3.) While sleeping, Tim heard the alarm clock fall off of the table.
Now it's your turn! I'll give you 5 incorrect sentences, all with dreaded dangling participles. I'd like you to point out what the problem is and then rewrite the sentence to make it correct!
1.) When walking, the sidewalk tripped Lourdes.
2.) Shopping at the mall, multiple bags were held by Carol's husband.
3.) While driving to school, the cell phone rang for Ana.
4.) Installing a new sink, tools were dropped by the plumber.
5.) When thinking about the long holiday weekend, an idea occurred to Mrs. Raether.
First, we need to talk about what exactly a "participle" is. Every complete sentence will have a subject and a verb. Verbs can take many forms (past, present, or future, for example). A present participle verb is one that ends in "-ing." Some examples of present participle verbs are "running," "cooking," "sleeping," and "eating."
Here's a case of the dreaded dangling participle.
While sleeping, the alarm clock fell off of Tim's table.
Why is that not a correctly written sentence? Look at that phrase in the beginning of the sentence ("while sleeping"). Who or what is that phrase really meant to describe? It's meant to describe Tim. He's the one who was sleeping. However, here's where the problem occurs. Due to the way the sentence is written, it implies that it was the alarm clock that was sleeping! Isn't that silly?
To fix that dreaded dangling participle, you can reword your sentence. Here are a few examples of a correct way to express that statement.
1.) While Tim was sleeping, the alarm clock fell off of the table.
2.) The alarm clock fell off of the table while Tim was sleeping.
3.) While sleeping, Tim heard the alarm clock fall off of the table.
Now it's your turn! I'll give you 5 incorrect sentences, all with dreaded dangling participles. I'd like you to point out what the problem is and then rewrite the sentence to make it correct!
1.) When walking, the sidewalk tripped Lourdes.
2.) Shopping at the mall, multiple bags were held by Carol's husband.
3.) While driving to school, the cell phone rang for Ana.
4.) Installing a new sink, tools were dropped by the plumber.
5.) When thinking about the long holiday weekend, an idea occurred to Mrs. Raether.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
The weekend is here!
Friday is that wonderful day each week filled with excitement and anticipation of the upcoming weekend! Let's practice some outlining skills. Make a brief outline that shows what you have planned for the weekend! You can use a format similar to the one I have shown below.
I.) Saturday
A.) Sleep late
B.) Watch TV
C.) Check email
D.) Work on homework
II.) Sunday
A.) Sleep late
B.) Do laundry
C.) Watch "Desperate Housewives"
D.) Prepare for upcoming week
E.) Finish homework
I.) Saturday
A.) Sleep late
B.) Watch TV
C.) Check email
D.) Work on homework
II.) Sunday
A.) Sleep late
B.) Do laundry
C.) Watch "Desperate Housewives"
D.) Prepare for upcoming week
E.) Finish homework
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Describe It - Weather!
I'm going to stick to the "trend" I've had lately about descriptive writing. The great thing about this topic is that there's so much out there to use as inspiration! Today, we'll focus on the weather. But this doesn't have to be about the weather that's currently happening. Maybe you want to think about a place you've been or a weather event you've endured: a rainy day, a hurricane, a snow storm, an August day in Florida, etc.
I grew up in New Jersey and went through many snow storms. The most beautiful part was at night as the snow fell. If you turned on a light outside, you could see the dainty, delicate, crystal flakes just slowly falling from the night sky. Once you stepped outside, you'd hear this very faint, but distinct crackling of the flakes reaching the ground and piling on top of the snow that was already there.
What type of weather would you like to tell me about? Write a few complete sentences that describe this. Remember that a complete sentence has a subject and a verb. Use those adjectives, as that's what helps paint that vivid, detailed picture in your reader's mind!
I grew up in New Jersey and went through many snow storms. The most beautiful part was at night as the snow fell. If you turned on a light outside, you could see the dainty, delicate, crystal flakes just slowly falling from the night sky. Once you stepped outside, you'd hear this very faint, but distinct crackling of the flakes reaching the ground and piling on top of the snow that was already there.
What type of weather would you like to tell me about? Write a few complete sentences that describe this. Remember that a complete sentence has a subject and a verb. Use those adjectives, as that's what helps paint that vivid, detailed picture in your reader's mind!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Describe It More!
The last blog entry I did talked about descriptive writing. This is essential in any type of communication you do. This time, I'd like you to pick a color that you like and describe it as best you can!
Turquoise blue - light, bright, vibrant, warm, tropical
Turquoise blue - light, bright, vibrant, warm, tropical
Monday, January 25, 2010
Describe It!
Have you ever had someone describe something to you that you could perfectly picture in your mind? That's what we should all strive to do with our writing. It should be detailed in a way that your reader has a clear vision of what you're discussing.
Pick some item and describe it with a few key phrases!
I'll start with what I'm having for breakfast, potato salad. (Yes, that really is what I'm eating for breakfast today!)
Potato salad: chunky potatoes, creamy mayo, small chive pieces, crunchy celery bits
With those descriptive phrases, can you picture (and almost taste) that in your mind?
Now you give it a try!
Pick some item and describe it with a few key phrases!
I'll start with what I'm having for breakfast, potato salad. (Yes, that really is what I'm eating for breakfast today!)
Potato salad: chunky potatoes, creamy mayo, small chive pieces, crunchy celery bits
With those descriptive phrases, can you picture (and almost taste) that in your mind?
Now you give it a try!
Monday, January 4, 2010
Word of the Day
If you're a regular blog reader & participant, you know that the Merriam Webster website has lots of great resources, including the Word of the Day feature. Let's visit the archive. Once there, pick any word listed in the section for December or January (which you may need to scroll down to see). Click on the word and review the information given. Please come back to the blog, post the date the word was originally used, the word you picked, definition, and the example sentence that was given. Be sure to check back often to see what other words were picked by fellow bloggers!
http://www.merriam-webster.com/cgi-bin/wodcalendar.pl
I'll start!
---
December 11, 2009
namby-pamby
1.) lacking in character or substance : insipid
2.) weak, indecisive
Example sentence: The candidate criticized her opponent during the debate, calling him a namby-pamby flip-flopper who could not stand up for what he believed in.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/cgi-bin/wodcalendar.pl
I'll start!
---
December 11, 2009
namby-pamby
1.) lacking in character or substance : insipid
2.) weak, indecisive
Example sentence: The candidate criticized her opponent during the debate, calling him a namby-pamby flip-flopper who could not stand up for what he believed in.
Friday, January 1, 2010
New Year's Resolutions (Part 3)
Happy new year!!!
You've had a chance to learn what a resolution is and to see some of the top yearly resolutions. No matter what you have resolved to do in 2010, now is a good time to see some tips to help you be successful!
http://www.ehow.com/how_12076_keep-new-years.html
Once you've visited that site, tell me which of the 5 tips listed did you think would help you the most? Which one, if any, would help you the least?
You've had a chance to learn what a resolution is and to see some of the top yearly resolutions. No matter what you have resolved to do in 2010, now is a good time to see some tips to help you be successful!
http://www.ehow.com/how_12076_keep-new-years.html
Once you've visited that site, tell me which of the 5 tips listed did you think would help you the most? Which one, if any, would help you the least?
Thursday, December 31, 2009
New Year's Resolutions (Part 2)
So now that you have a better idea about what a resolution is, let's visit a site that discusses the top ten new year's resolution.
http://pittsburgh.about.com/od/holidays/tp/resolutions.htm
Do you see any one that that you would like to make your own resolution for 2010? If so, tell us! If not, that's ok too. What would your preferred resolution be?
http://pittsburgh.about.com/od/holidays/tp/resolutions.htm
Do you see any one that that you would like to make your own resolution for 2010? If so, tell us! If not, that's ok too. What would your preferred resolution be?
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
New Year's Resolutions (Part 1)
With 2009 coming to an end and 2010 about to begin, let's think about new year's resolutions. But let's start with something basic. What is a resolution? For more information, visit this link to Wikipedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Year%27s_resolution
Once you've read through what's there, come back to this blog & write about one fact that you found to be most interesting. Remember to focus on good writing, including correct capitalization, spelling, punctuation, and sentence structure.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Year%27s_resolution
Once you've read through what's there, come back to this blog & write about one fact that you found to be most interesting. Remember to focus on good writing, including correct capitalization, spelling, punctuation, and sentence structure.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Writing - Using a Thesaurus
Have you ever used a thesaurus to find a similar word? Imagine that you're writing a paragraph (or more) about a specific topic, such as "running." However, you feel that you've used the term "running" too much and want to vary your terms. If you'd like some suggestions, a thesaurus is the perfect place to go!
Here's a link to an online thesaurus.
http://thesaurus.reference.com/
Visit that site, type in a word up top, and click "search." The thesaurus will do the word and give you a list of synonyms (similar words). Then, come back here, tell us what word you picked and what results the thesaurus gave.
I'll start!
My word was "run." The thesaurus gave me the following similar terms: abscond, amble, barrel, beat it, bolt, bound. (There were more words listed, but for the purposes of this blog post, you don't need to list them all.)
Now you try!
Here's a link to an online thesaurus.
http://thesaurus.reference.com/
Visit that site, type in a word up top, and click "search." The thesaurus will do the word and give you a list of synonyms (similar words). Then, come back here, tell us what word you picked and what results the thesaurus gave.
I'll start!
My word was "run." The thesaurus gave me the following similar terms: abscond, amble, barrel, beat it, bolt, bound. (There were more words listed, but for the purposes of this blog post, you don't need to list them all.)
Now you try!
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Word of the Day
I love the Merriam Webster website & its "word of the day" archives. Check out this link (below).
http://www.merriam-webster.com/cgi-bin/wodcalendar.pl
Once there, scroll through what you see listed as words of the day for November and December (up through today). Pick any 1 word that you don't recognize and click on it. You'll see the word and its definition. (If you want to hear the word pronounced, click the red speaker icon (which looks like this:
). Once you've done that, come back to this blog, post the date that your word was the "word of the day," the word you selected, and its meaning. Here's an example.
Date: November 3, 2009
Word: Regimen
Meaning: a systematic course of treatment or training
http://www.merriam-webster.com/cgi-bin/wodcalendar.pl
Once there, scroll through what you see listed as words of the day for November and December (up through today). Pick any 1 word that you don't recognize and click on it. You'll see the word and its definition. (If you want to hear the word pronounced, click the red speaker icon (which looks like this:
). Once you've done that, come back to this blog, post the date that your word was the "word of the day," the word you selected, and its meaning. Here's an example.Date: November 3, 2009
Word: Regimen
Meaning: a systematic course of treatment or training
Monday, December 14, 2009
Tell me a story - December's edition
Let's have some fun with creative writing! Practice good writing skills and pay close attention to your spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and sentence structure. Tell a short story (4-7 sentences) that use the following items: sunshine, a single yellow daisy, laptop computer, baseball, and chocolate cake. Your story can be serious, funny, mysterious, or just plain silly! I look forward to seeing what you write!
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
AskOxford.com (Part 2)
If you're a regular blog reader, you probably already know that one of the best ways to improve your writing is not to try too hard to use big, fancy words! Almost always, simpler is better! In fact, this is another tip for better writing that is on the Oxford website!
Visit the site shown below and review what you see there, especially the 17 items at the bottom about how to keep your writing user friendly. Then, come back here & tell me the one or two tips that you found to be the most important!!!
http://www.askoxford.com/betterwriting/plainenglish/?view=uk
Visit the site shown below and review what you see there, especially the 17 items at the bottom about how to keep your writing user friendly. Then, come back here & tell me the one or two tips that you found to be the most important!!!
http://www.askoxford.com/betterwriting/plainenglish/?view=uk
Monday, November 30, 2009
AskOxford.com (Part 1)
You may have heard of the Oxford dictionary. Their website has an area about better writing and has a great section that we'll focus on today about abbreviations and acronyms, especially those that you may see when doing text messaging.
*** Before going on, it's important to note that these abbreviations and acronyms are not appropriate for most writing that you'll do! This blog post is more of a "for your information" type so that you can be aware of what these items mean! ***
Visit this site (http://www.askoxford.com/betterwriting/emoticons/?view=uk) and look over the first part about abbreviations. Then, come back to this blog & tell me what new abbreviations did you learn (and don't forget to include what they mean too!).
*** Before going on, it's important to note that these abbreviations and acronyms are not appropriate for most writing that you'll do! This blog post is more of a "for your information" type so that you can be aware of what these items mean! ***
Visit this site (http://www.askoxford.com/betterwriting/emoticons/?view=uk) and look over the first part about abbreviations. Then, come back to this blog & tell me what new abbreviations did you learn (and don't forget to include what they mean too!).
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Tell me a story - November's edition
This blog hasn't had any fun, creative writing topics in a while, so let's change that now! We'll return to the "tell me a story" theme where I give you a few items that you must somehow weave into your story. Have fun with it and remember to focus on all of those points of good writing: correct spelling, capitalization, punctuation, sentence structure, etc.
Your story can take any direction that you want. It can be serious, funny, mysterious, or even based on real-life events!
Here are your items to use: turkey, 4 pencils, a digital camera, and a fishing pole.
Your story can take any direction that you want. It can be serious, funny, mysterious, or even based on real-life events!
Here are your items to use: turkey, 4 pencils, a digital camera, and a fishing pole.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Writing: "We Need This Yesterday"
How many times has someone asked you for something and they needed (or wanted) it done immediately? This could happen at work or at home. How do you deal with it? Check out this blog post from the Bad Language site. Then, come back here & let me know if you found it to be interesting & helpful.
http://www.badlanguage.net/we-need-this-yesterday-how-do-you-react
http://www.badlanguage.net/we-need-this-yesterday-how-do-you-react
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Happy Thanksgiving!
With Thanksgiving approaching, I wanted to take a minute & say "thank you" to all of the blog participants! Without you, there would be no blog! I appreciate you participating, trying new things, and working hard (even when you may be so tired that you don't want to do anything else other than close your eyes).
Please feel free to respond to this and tell everyone what you're thankful for. Remember to write your sentences correctly and pay attention to your spelling, capitalization, and punctuation!
Please feel free to respond to this and tell everyone what you're thankful for. Remember to write your sentences correctly and pay attention to your spelling, capitalization, and punctuation!
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Improve Your Writing By Learning Another Language!
Would you believe me if I told you that you can improve your writing by learning another language? It seems counter-intuitive, doesn't it? Well, check out this list of 10 reasons why this is true.
http://www.badlanguage.net/ten-reasons-why-learning-another-language-will-improve-your-writing
Which of the 10 tips did you find most interesting?
http://www.badlanguage.net/ten-reasons-why-learning-another-language-will-improve-your-writing
Which of the 10 tips did you find most interesting?
Monday, November 16, 2009
The Best Time to Write
Have you ever wondered when is the best time to write? Check out these 6 suggestions from the "Bad Language" site by clicking here. After you've had a chance to read that, come back here & tell me what you found most appealing!
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Customer Service
As we approach a busy holiday season we become more aware of customer service skills offered by employees in all organizations (department stores, supermarkets, restaurants and businesses). It seems as most people tend to "stress out" during the season, which tends to bring about bad customer service experiences.
Last month (October 20th) we shared "10 important customer service words" that we should consider using. Today, we would like to share a two and a half minute movie that covers customer service.
Please watch the movie and share your thoughts (post your commment) on it. Did you like the movie? Can you think of ways to possibly provide better customer service in the future? Can you imagine being a better customer when you have to wait in a long line? Even if you do not deal with customers in your workplace, do you provide good (internal) customer service to your fellow co-workers? supervisor?
http://www.stservicemovie.com/index.html
Last month (October 20th) we shared "10 important customer service words" that we should consider using. Today, we would like to share a two and a half minute movie that covers customer service.
Please watch the movie and share your thoughts (post your commment) on it. Did you like the movie? Can you think of ways to possibly provide better customer service in the future? Can you imagine being a better customer when you have to wait in a long line? Even if you do not deal with customers in your workplace, do you provide good (internal) customer service to your fellow co-workers? supervisor?
http://www.stservicemovie.com/index.html
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Writing - Clichés
Have you heard of the term "cliché" before? Wikipedia defines it as "a saying, expression, idea, or element of an artistic work which has been overused to the point of losing its original meaning or effect, rendering it a stereotype, especially when at some earlier time it was considered meaningful or novel."
BBC Magazine had a list of 50 office-speak phrases (clichés) that you love to hate. Check out the list by clicking here. In each of the examples, you will see the cliché shown in bold text. Which ones, if any, do you use? Which ones, if any, were new to you? Try to identify 2 items for each of those questions.
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(Please note that British words may have slightly different spellings than their American counterparts. For example, on that BBC magazine page for item #32, you will see the word "realised" used. In America, we would write that as "realized.")
BBC Magazine had a list of 50 office-speak phrases (clichés) that you love to hate. Check out the list by clicking here. In each of the examples, you will see the cliché shown in bold text. Which ones, if any, do you use? Which ones, if any, were new to you? Try to identify 2 items for each of those questions.
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(Please note that British words may have slightly different spellings than their American counterparts. For example, on that BBC magazine page for item #32, you will see the word "realised" used. In America, we would write that as "realized.")
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Better Business Writing
In my search to bring you some good information about business writing, I came across a website called Bad Language (http://www.badlanguage.net/). In case you're wondering, it doesn't mean "bad language" as in curse words.
What drew my attention to that site was that there is a free e-book that you can either read online or print. It's called "30 Days to Better Business Writing." I'd like for you to visit that site and go to page 2 of the book, which is the table of contents. Look at the topics presented for each of the 30 days. Pick one that jumps out at you and go read that section. Then, report back on what section you picked (including what day number to which it corresponds). Tell us what you learned or found interesting.
I'll start!
Day 7: Analyze Bad Writing
I liked how it gave seven characteristics of bad writing. These are things that I'm going to try to stay away from doing when I write!
What drew my attention to that site was that there is a free e-book that you can either read online or print. It's called "30 Days to Better Business Writing." I'd like for you to visit that site and go to page 2 of the book, which is the table of contents. Look at the topics presented for each of the 30 days. Pick one that jumps out at you and go read that section. Then, report back on what section you picked (including what day number to which it corresponds). Tell us what you learned or found interesting.
I'll start!
Day 7: Analyze Bad Writing
I liked how it gave seven characteristics of bad writing. These are things that I'm going to try to stay away from doing when I write!
Monday, November 9, 2009
Writing & Social Networking (Part 2)
Let's talk more about social networking & social media sites. Check out the image below & review those important points.
Look at the third point listed! It says "You are what you publish on the web (so be cautious of your image!)." Remember that your writing reflects you! Good writing skills, including correct capitalization, spelling, and punctuation, are so important and should never be overlooked!
Do you agree? If you were an employer and saw a potential employee who had massive amounts of misspellings and other grammatical problems on a social networking site, what would you think?
Look at the third point listed! It says "You are what you publish on the web (so be cautious of your image!)." Remember that your writing reflects you! Good writing skills, including correct capitalization, spelling, and punctuation, are so important and should never be overlooked!
Do you agree? If you were an employer and saw a potential employee who had massive amounts of misspellings and other grammatical problems on a social networking site, what would you think?
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Writing & Social Networking (Part 1)
Have you heard of the term "social networking" before? Do you use any social networking sites, such as LinkedIn, Facebook, or MySpace? Believe it or not, employers and schools might be looking at this information that you have online. Even your writing on there is important and is a chance to look professional!
Want to know more about social networking, what it is, and how it works? Check out this short Common Craft video for a great explanation!
http://www.commoncraft.com/video-social-networking
After you've viewed the video, come back here & post your thoughts on it!
Want to know more about social networking, what it is, and how it works? Check out this short Common Craft video for a great explanation!
http://www.commoncraft.com/video-social-networking
After you've viewed the video, come back here & post your thoughts on it!
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Spelling & Resumes (Part 2)
Yesterday's blog post talked about how bad a misspelling on a resume can be. Have you wondered what are the most common misspelled words on resumes? If so, check out these links!
http://www.pongoresume.com/blogPosts/111/top-100-misspelled-words-in-resumes.cfm
http://www.oet.ky.gov/des/vws/resume/commonly_misspelled_words.asp
After visiting the second link shown above, which 5 words jumped out at you? (HINT: A great way to learn the spelling of commonly misspelled words is to use a flashcard & to study it a few times a day. Read the word out loud & then spell it, letter-by-letter. If you do that 3-4 times a day, for 5-7 days, you will start to know that word by memory & be less likely to misspell it in the future!)
Monday, November 2, 2009
Spelling & Resumes (Part 1)
Do you know where the worst place (or one of the worst places) for a spelling mistake is? In my opinion, I'd say on a resume! Think about it: you're trying to put your best foot forward and to show a potential employer why they should hire you (and not someone else). A spelling mistake can jump out at a hiring manager and make him or her wonder if you didn't know how to spell the word or, possibly worse, if you didn't care enough to proofread your resume!
Check out this link with resume tips.
http://www.resumesandcoverletters.com/tips_blog/2008/07/typos-and-misspellings-a-top-p.html
Of the 6 tips listed at the bottom, which one (or ones) did you find to be the most important?
Check out this link with resume tips.
http://www.resumesandcoverletters.com/tips_blog/2008/07/typos-and-misspellings-a-top-p.html
Of the 6 tips listed at the bottom, which one (or ones) did you find to be the most important?
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Reading & Writing
Yesterday's blog post (http://elearningbroward.blogspot.com/2009/10/how-to-be-good-writer.html) gave you a link to a website that listed 15 steps that could help you become a good writer (or an even better writer than you are now)! The second step listed was to read more!
The Internet is home to so many great sites that you can read and some of my favorites are for newspapers. Why do I love the online versions of newspapers? Each day (and sometimes multiple times within one particular day) there are new stories to read and almost every subject is covered: politics, technology, entertainment, restaurants/cooking, real estate, health/wellness, and more! Everyone should read for at least 30 minutes each day and I find that the easiest (and cheapest) way to do that is to visit online websites for newspapers. A few links for you are below.
Miami Herald: http://www.miamiherald.com/
Sun-Sentinel: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Palm Beach Post: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/
Treasure Coast News: http://www.tcpalm.com/
Orlando Sentinel: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/
New York Times: http://nytimes.com/
Pick one (or two) of these sites and make it a "Favorite" or a "Bookmark" in your browser. Commit to visiting that site daily and reading there for 30 minutes!
Which site (or sites) did you pick?
The Internet is home to so many great sites that you can read and some of my favorites are for newspapers. Why do I love the online versions of newspapers? Each day (and sometimes multiple times within one particular day) there are new stories to read and almost every subject is covered: politics, technology, entertainment, restaurants/cooking, real estate, health/wellness, and more! Everyone should read for at least 30 minutes each day and I find that the easiest (and cheapest) way to do that is to visit online websites for newspapers. A few links for you are below.
Miami Herald: http://www.miamiherald.com/
Sun-Sentinel: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Palm Beach Post: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/
Treasure Coast News: http://www.tcpalm.com/
Orlando Sentinel: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/
New York Times: http://nytimes.com/
Pick one (or two) of these sites and make it a "Favorite" or a "Bookmark" in your browser. Commit to visiting that site daily and reading there for 30 minutes!
Which site (or sites) did you pick?
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
How to Be a Good Writer
Would you like to be a good writer? Check out the 15 tips given on this website: http://www.wikihow.com/Be-a-Good-Writer. Out of those 15 tips, which one (or ones) do you currently do now? Which one (or ones) will you try to do in the future? Please post those thoughts in response to this topic so we can see them!
Did you notice that much of what those tips covered (writing a lot, reading a lot, using good spelling and grammar, etc.) are all things that have been covered on this blog?! That's no coincidence!
Did you notice that much of what those tips covered (writing a lot, reading a lot, using good spelling and grammar, etc.) are all things that have been covered on this blog?! That's no coincidence!
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Customer Service, Customer Service, Customer Service
In almost every position, good customer service is invaluable. Whether you are a doctor, teacher, attorney, administrative assistant, clerk, technology representative, hair dresser, sales associate and on and on.....customer service is key! Remember you may not work with outside customers but even your fellow co-workers should/can be considered customers.
Please read these valuable customer service "words" shared by Steve Ventura in the book
Serve Right
TALKING YOUR WAY TO BETTER SERVICE
The 10 important words to say:
I apologize for our (my) mistake. Let me make it right.
The 9 important words to say:
Thank you for your business. Please come back again.
The 8 important words to say:
I’m not sure, but I will find out.
The 7 important words to say:
What else can I do for you?
The 6 important words to say:
What is most convenient for you?
The 5 important words to say:
How may I serve you?
The 4 important words to say:
How did we (I) do?
The 3 important words to say:
Glad you’re here!
The 2 important words to say:
Thank you.
The 1 important word to say:
Yes.
Share your comments on these customer service "words". What words work for you or have worked "on" you?
Please read these valuable customer service "words" shared by Steve Ventura in the book
Serve Right
TALKING YOUR WAY TO BETTER SERVICE
The 10 important words to say:
I apologize for our (my) mistake. Let me make it right.
The 9 important words to say:
Thank you for your business. Please come back again.
The 8 important words to say:
I’m not sure, but I will find out.
The 7 important words to say:
What else can I do for you?
The 6 important words to say:
What is most convenient for you?
The 5 important words to say:
How may I serve you?
The 4 important words to say:
How did we (I) do?
The 3 important words to say:
Glad you’re here!
The 2 important words to say:
Thank you.
The 1 important word to say:
Yes.
Share your comments on these customer service "words". What words work for you or have worked "on" you?
Monday, October 19, 2009
Inspirational Quotes
As we come to the end of our semester, we should reflect on our accomplishments and consider our long or short term goals. At times we may need some inspiration to get us to take that next step or keep the momentum going.
Please take 3 minutes and watch this inspirational movie below (click on link)
Once you have completed watching the movie please share your comments to the following questions: Did you enjoy the movie, Did any of quotes inspire you? Would you share this movie with someone else? Is it nice to know you can inspire yourself with a quick movie link at your fingertips?
Lastly, do you have a favorite quote you would like to share with us? If it is in a different language you can share it and translate it for us!
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
eLearning Blog - A Look Back (Part 13)
During December 2008, there was a big emphasis on prefixes. Many, many common words use prefixes and knowing the meaning of some common prefixes can help you figure out the meaning of a word. Take a look at all of the blog posts from December that discussed prefixes. Which two or three prefixes were you least familiar with? Post the prefix, the date it was discussed in the blog, and the meaning of the prefix.
http://elearningbroward.blogspot.com/2008_12_01_archive.html
Enjoy & happy learning!
http://elearningbroward.blogspot.com/2008_12_01_archive.html
Enjoy & happy learning!
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
eLearning Blog - A Look Back (Part 12)
November 2008 had the second highest number of blog topics presented in 2008. Lots of great topics were covered, including different types of sentences (simple, compound, complex), verbs, spelling, and more! Take a look!
http://elearningbroward.blogspot.com/2008_11_01_archive.html
Pick any two topics, read through the blog post for each, and then participate in the discussions to practice those skills. Come back & tell us what were the dates & topics you selected!
http://elearningbroward.blogspot.com/2008_11_01_archive.html
Pick any two topics, read through the blog post for each, and then participate in the discussions to practice those skills. Come back & tell us what were the dates & topics you selected!
Monday, October 12, 2009
eLearning Blog - A Look Back (Part 11)
This next set of posts for this week will bring us through the end of blog from 2008!
October 2008 was the most active month in the eLearning blog. There were 30 total topics presented that month which means only one day didn't have a new topic added! Wow! Review what was covered and pick two topics in which to participate. Then come back, tell us the topics & dates of the things about which you blogged!
http://elearningbroward.blogspot.com/2008_10_01_archive.html
October 2008 was the most active month in the eLearning blog. There were 30 total topics presented that month which means only one day didn't have a new topic added! Wow! Review what was covered and pick two topics in which to participate. Then come back, tell us the topics & dates of the things about which you blogged!
http://elearningbroward.blogspot.com/2008_10_01_archive.html
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
eLearning Blog - A Look Back (Part 10)
September 2008 was a good month at the eLearning blog. There were 2 big "series" of posts: using hyphens correctly and problem phrases. However, even outside of those topics, other helpful things were covered! Please visit the September 2008 blog posts, pick one of the "using hyphens correctly" topics, one of the "problem phrases" topics, and one other topic (other than something from either of those two series). Participate in all three of those discussions and then come back here to tell us what you learned!
http://elearningbroward.blogspot.com/2008_09_01_archive.html
:-)
http://elearningbroward.blogspot.com/2008_09_01_archive.html
:-)
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
eLearning Blog - A Look Back (Part 9)
During August 2008, the eLearning blog had 18 topics presented. Go check them out!
http://elearningbroward.blogspot.com/2008_08_01_archive.html
Next, pick two of them, participate & tell us what you learned!!!
http://elearningbroward.blogspot.com/2008_08_01_archive.html
Next, pick two of them, participate & tell us what you learned!!!
Monday, October 5, 2009
eLearning Blog - A Look Back (Part 8)
Our next stop on the "look back" tour is going to take us to July 2008. Like June 2008, there were 19 different topics covered that month, so you've got a lot to choose from when reviewing what's there! Take a look through the topics, find two that interest you, participate in them, and then come back to report the topic titles and dates of the original blog topics to which you responded (such as "Usage - Who Versus Whom" from July 30th).
http://elearningbroward.blogspot.com/2008_07_01_archive.html
Happy blogging!
http://elearningbroward.blogspot.com/2008_07_01_archive.html
Happy blogging!
Saturday, October 3, 2009
eLearning Blog - A Look Back (Part 7)
During June of 2008, there were 19 different blog topics discussed. Go take a look, pick 2, participate in them, and come back here to tell us what you learned!!!
http://elearningbroward.blogspot.com/2008_06_01_archive.html
http://elearningbroward.blogspot.com/2008_06_01_archive.html
Friday, October 2, 2009
eLearning Blog - A Look Back (Part 6)
In May 2008, the eLearning blog had 14 different topics presented. I'd like you to review them, pick 2 and participate by responding to those topics. Then, come back here, let us know the topics & dates you selected (such as "Don't Confuse Your Homonyms" from May 31, 2008).
http://elearningbroward.blogspot.com/2008_05_01_archive.html
Have fun!
http://elearningbroward.blogspot.com/2008_05_01_archive.html
Have fun!
Thursday, October 1, 2009
eLearning Blog - A Look Back (Part 5)
Let's take a look back at some of the great topics we've had on this blog!
April 2008 was when it all started! Even though there was only one post that month, it was a nice way to start the blogging experience! I'd like you to visit that topic, read through it, and participate. Then come back here & let us know what you wrote!
http://elearningbroward.blogspot.com/2008_04_01_archive.html
April 2008 was when it all started! Even though there was only one post that month, it was a nice way to start the blogging experience! I'd like you to visit that topic, read through it, and participate. Then come back here & let us know what you wrote!
http://elearningbroward.blogspot.com/2008_04_01_archive.html
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Writing & Typing (Part 3)
Have you ever been asked how many "words per minute" (WPM) you can type? Do you know the answer to that? Here's a website that can tell you!
Visit this link (http://www.typingtest.com/). Once there, you can select what time period you'd like (1, 2, or 3 minutes) and what you'd like to type. (The topic "Astronauts" will be listed first, but you can click that to see a list of other choices, including "Aesop's fables," "Rules of Baseball," or even "Today's Travel Headlines" from the NY Times.)
Once you've completed the timed task, see what your results are in the "Net Speed (WPM)" section. Then come back here, let us know what time period you selected, what topic you picked, and what your overall words per minute rate was. Don't worry - it's not a contest and if you don't have a high WPM, that's ok!
Visit this link (http://www.typingtest.com/). Once there, you can select what time period you'd like (1, 2, or 3 minutes) and what you'd like to type. (The topic "Astronauts" will be listed first, but you can click that to see a list of other choices, including "Aesop's fables," "Rules of Baseball," or even "Today's Travel Headlines" from the NY Times.)
Once you've completed the timed task, see what your results are in the "Net Speed (WPM)" section. Then come back here, let us know what time period you selected, what topic you picked, and what your overall words per minute rate was. Don't worry - it's not a contest and if you don't have a high WPM, that's ok!
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Writing & Typing (Part 2)
When you type, your spacing is important. Without proper spacing, it can be hard for the reader to follow your thoughts and understand your breaks & pauses.
Please visit this site (http://www.geocities.com/clefevre.geo/rules.html) for more information about correct spacing when typing. Of everything listed there, I think the first two items are the most important (and also the ones that you'll need to use the most often).
* All sentences begin with capital letters. Type one space after each word, and after commas and semicolons.
* Type two spaces after each end of sentence punctuation mark (periods, question marks, exclamation points). Type two spaces after colons.
Read over the rest of those typing rules. Then tell me the answers to the following questions. First, did you know about those 2 rules listed above? Secondly, which of those other rules listed on that site did you find interesting?
Please visit this site (http://www.geocities.com/clefevre.geo/rules.html) for more information about correct spacing when typing. Of everything listed there, I think the first two items are the most important (and also the ones that you'll need to use the most often).
* All sentences begin with capital letters. Type one space after each word, and after commas and semicolons.
* Type two spaces after each end of sentence punctuation mark (periods, question marks, exclamation points). Type two spaces after colons.
Read over the rest of those typing rules. Then tell me the answers to the following questions. First, did you know about those 2 rules listed above? Secondly, which of those other rules listed on that site did you find interesting?
Monday, September 14, 2009
Writing & Typing (Part 1)
This week, our blog topics will focus on typing. Are you asking "why" we're going to do that? Well, almost everyone will need to type at some point, whether it's for a job or just for playing around on the Internet. Being a fluent typer will make this much easier (and enjoyable) for you!
Knowing how to "touch type" will help you get done typing your words, sentences, paragraphs, and essays faster than being a "hunt and peck" or a "search and peck" typer. But what's the difference? A "touch typer" can type most words without having to look at the keyboard. Instead, that person can focus on the screen. A person who does "hunt and peck" is looking at the keyboard, searching for each particular letter, and typically doing this for every single letter needed in each word. Sometimes this is referred to as being a "two finger typer."
Believe it or not, it's not super hard to learn how to become a touch typer. The most important part, though, is practice, practice, and even more practice!
I'd like you to visit this website: http://www.sense-lang.org/typing/. Look over the tips for success that they give. Then come back to this site, let me know whether you are a "touch typer" or a person who does the "hunt and peck" method. Lastly, tell what tip you found to be the most important!
Knowing how to "touch type" will help you get done typing your words, sentences, paragraphs, and essays faster than being a "hunt and peck" or a "search and peck" typer. But what's the difference? A "touch typer" can type most words without having to look at the keyboard. Instead, that person can focus on the screen. A person who does "hunt and peck" is looking at the keyboard, searching for each particular letter, and typically doing this for every single letter needed in each word. Sometimes this is referred to as being a "two finger typer."
Believe it or not, it's not super hard to learn how to become a touch typer. The most important part, though, is practice, practice, and even more practice!
I'd like you to visit this website: http://www.sense-lang.org/typing/. Look over the tips for success that they give. Then come back to this site, let me know whether you are a "touch typer" or a person who does the "hunt and peck" method. Lastly, tell what tip you found to be the most important!
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Letter Writing (Part 6)
The last 5 blog topics have all given you links to different things covered at The Letter Writing Guide site. However, we focused only on a few things: apologies, requesting recommendations, letters of interest, interview thank you notes, and resignations.
Now it's your turn to visit the site and pick something that this blog did not focus on yet! Maybe you want to focus on how to write letters of appeal or maybe even love letters. Please visit The Letter Writing Guide and scroll through all of the various topics there. Pick one that this blog didn't cover, read through the material, and then come back here to tell us what you picked and what you learned about it!
Now it's your turn to visit the site and pick something that this blog did not focus on yet! Maybe you want to focus on how to write letters of appeal or maybe even love letters. Please visit The Letter Writing Guide and scroll through all of the various topics there. Pick one that this blog didn't cover, read through the material, and then come back here to tell us what you picked and what you learned about it!
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Letter Writing (Part 5)
Well, you wrote a stellar letter of interest that then got you an interview. You followed-up after the interview by sending a thank you letter. What if you get the job? If you're currently employed, you'll need to let your employer know that you're leaving. But how do you write a letter of resignation that's well done?
Check out The Letter Writing Guide for help with this!
http://www.letterwritingguide.com/resignation.htm
Read over what's there and then view the sample letter at the bottom. What did you find to be the most interesting of what was presented about the letter of resignation? Do you think you could write one if you had to do so?
(Remember that you can share any of these blog topics with your family and friends if they're in need of letter writing information!)
Check out The Letter Writing Guide for help with this!
http://www.letterwritingguide.com/resignation.htm
Read over what's there and then view the sample letter at the bottom. What did you find to be the most interesting of what was presented about the letter of resignation? Do you think you could write one if you had to do so?
(Remember that you can share any of these blog topics with your family and friends if they're in need of letter writing information!)
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Letter Writing (Part 4)
Ok, so let's say that you wrote a great letter of interest and got called for an interview. First of all, give yourself a pat on the back for that! Next, think about how you're going to make another good impression. You may think that your part is over and all you can do is wait. But that would be wrong! Take the time to write a thank you letter after your interview is complete!
Want to know more about what goes in to a good thank you letter? Visit "The Letter Writing Guide" site below.
http://www.letterwritingguide.com/thankyouletters.htm
Once you've read over the things there, be sure to review the sample thank you letter at the bottom. After that, come back to the blog & tell us what you found most important!
Want to know more about what goes in to a good thank you letter? Visit "The Letter Writing Guide" site below.
http://www.letterwritingguide.com/thankyouletters.htm
Once you've read over the things there, be sure to review the sample thank you letter at the bottom. After that, come back to the blog & tell us what you found most important!
Monday, September 7, 2009
Letter Writing (Part 3)
There's so much to love about the letter writing site that we've been exploring (http://www.letterwritingguide.com/). Let's continue this week with a few types of letters that can help you (or someone you know) in the employment arena.
Have you ever heard of a "letter of interest" when it comes to seeking out a particular job? This can serve as your first opportunity to make yourself stand out in a good way!
Check out this site: http://www.letterwritingguide.com/interest.htm. Be sure to carefully read through the information there, including the 5 tips they give you. Then use the link at the bottom to see a sample letter of interest.
After looking over both items, come back to this blog & tell me what you felt was the most important thing that you learned about a letter of interest.
Have you ever heard of a "letter of interest" when it comes to seeking out a particular job? This can serve as your first opportunity to make yourself stand out in a good way!
Check out this site: http://www.letterwritingguide.com/interest.htm. Be sure to carefully read through the information there, including the 5 tips they give you. Then use the link at the bottom to see a sample letter of interest.
After looking over both items, come back to this blog & tell me what you felt was the most important thing that you learned about a letter of interest.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Letter Writing (Part 2)
This letter writing site (http://www.letterwritingguide.com/) has some great resources, so let's continue our exploration of different types of letters.
Many times, you may want (or need) a letter of recommendation. This could be to help you out in the search for new (or better) employment, to start or grow a personal business, to include with a school application, or just to put in your own personal file for future reference.
Check out this link (http://www.letterwritingguide.com/requestingrecommendation.htm). Once you've read through what's there, be sure to click the link at the bottom to look at a sample letter of recommendation.
What did you find to be most important? Have you ever had to ask for a letter of recommendation? If so, from whom did you request it? If not, do you ever see yourself having to ask for one in the future?
Many times, you may want (or need) a letter of recommendation. This could be to help you out in the search for new (or better) employment, to start or grow a personal business, to include with a school application, or just to put in your own personal file for future reference.
Check out this link (http://www.letterwritingguide.com/requestingrecommendation.htm). Once you've read through what's there, be sure to click the link at the bottom to look at a sample letter of recommendation.
What did you find to be most important? Have you ever had to ask for a letter of recommendation? If so, from whom did you request it? If not, do you ever see yourself having to ask for one in the future?
Monday, August 31, 2009
Letter Writing (Part 1)
I've been a bad blogger lately. While I had good intentions of doing 1 blog post per day, that just didn't happen last week. It's a good thing that I don't get paid per blog topic, isn't it? Just kidding!
However, this has actually inspired me to do today's blog post about letter writing. In fact, today we'll focus on writing an apology letter! (Yes, this is my way of apologizing for being a bad blogger.)
Visit this site (http://www.letterwritingguide.com/apology.htm). Did you know that there are two types of apology letters that you could do (business and personal/friendly)? Did you learn anything important about each type? Have you ever had to write an apology letter?
However, this has actually inspired me to do today's blog post about letter writing. In fact, today we'll focus on writing an apology letter! (Yes, this is my way of apologizing for being a bad blogger.)
Visit this site (http://www.letterwritingguide.com/apology.htm). Did you know that there are two types of apology letters that you could do (business and personal/friendly)? Did you learn anything important about each type? Have you ever had to write an apology letter?
Monday, August 17, 2009
Tell me a story - August's edition
Normally, each month begins with a "tell me a story" blog post. This month, it's a little late. But that's ok because it's here now!
Get those creative juices flowing. I'd like you to write a short story (4-7 sentences). Your story must start with the portion of the sentence that I give you below. You can then take your story in any direction from there. Have fun with it, be creative, and focus on all of those good writing things that we've talked about in our blog: planning/pre-writing/brainstorming, subject-verb agreement, correct capitalization, correct punctuation, and more! (It sounds like a lot, but I know you can handle it!)
Ok, are you ready? Here's how you should start your story.
"One hot summer day, a few of the students at the school decided to. . . "
Get those creative juices flowing. I'd like you to write a short story (4-7 sentences). Your story must start with the portion of the sentence that I give you below. You can then take your story in any direction from there. Have fun with it, be creative, and focus on all of those good writing things that we've talked about in our blog: planning/pre-writing/brainstorming, subject-verb agreement, correct capitalization, correct punctuation, and more! (It sounds like a lot, but I know you can handle it!)
Ok, are you ready? Here's how you should start your story.
"One hot summer day, a few of the students at the school decided to. . . "
Saturday, August 15, 2009
SpellingCity.com (Part 4)
One of my favorite "classic" novels is The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. If you haven't read it, ask for it at a local library and make it your "end-of-summer" reading!
SpellingCity.com has a vocabulary list for this novel that has words that everyone should know (even those who haven't read the book). Your task for today is to visit that word list, pick out 2 words that you don't know, look them up in an online dictionary (found here) and then to post each word & its definition.
The Scarlet Letter vocabulary list can be found by clicking here.
Have fun! :-)
SpellingCity.com has a vocabulary list for this novel that has words that everyone should know (even those who haven't read the book). Your task for today is to visit that word list, pick out 2 words that you don't know, look them up in an online dictionary (found here) and then to post each word & its definition.
The Scarlet Letter vocabulary list can be found by clicking here.
Have fun! :-)
Friday, August 14, 2009
SpellingCity.com (Part 3)
Have you heard of the book "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley? I bet you have & you might have even seen the movie too.
SpellingCity.com has a vocabulary list that goes along with that book. However, even if you haven't read that book or seen the movie, it's chock full of good, important words to know!
Visit the list (http://www.spellingcity.com/view-spelling-list.html?listId=1208624) and pick out 2 words that you either don't know or don't know too well. Then visit an online dictionary site (such as Merriam-Webster) and look up those 2 words. Lastly, come back to the blog, post each word & its definition.
Be sure to check back often to see what words other bloggers have added! This way, we can all learn from each other!
SpellingCity.com has a vocabulary list that goes along with that book. However, even if you haven't read that book or seen the movie, it's chock full of good, important words to know!
Visit the list (http://www.spellingcity.com/view-spelling-list.html?listId=1208624) and pick out 2 words that you either don't know or don't know too well. Then visit an online dictionary site (such as Merriam-Webster) and look up those 2 words. Lastly, come back to the blog, post each word & its definition.
Be sure to check back often to see what words other bloggers have added! This way, we can all learn from each other!
Thursday, August 13, 2009
SpellingCity.com (Part 2)
If you didn't yet review yesterday's blog post about the SpellingCity.com site, please do so before going any further. (You'll definitely want to go over the words first!)
Today, we're going back to SpellingCity.com, but this time, it's to play a spelling game. How fun is that?!
Visit this link (http://www.spellingcity.com/which-word-best-completes-the-sentence.html), play the "Which Word" game, and then report back on how you did!
Today, we're going back to SpellingCity.com, but this time, it's to play a spelling game. How fun is that?!
Visit this link (http://www.spellingcity.com/which-word-best-completes-the-sentence.html), play the "Which Word" game, and then report back on how you did!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
SpellingCity.com
I love finding new websites that have helpful things and this one, SpellingCity.com, is very neat! Check out this part (http://www.spellingcity.com/view-spelling-list.html?listId=1044081). There you will find some "sound alike" words (also known as homonyms or homophones). View the list of 37 sound alike words. (If you don't know the meaning of some of them, be sure to visit an online dictionary like M-W.com to look them up!)
Tell me the"sound alike" words that you found most interesting & explain what they mean.
I found #19 (mall) and #20 (maul) to be interesting. The first one (mall) is a place where you'd go to shop. The second one (maul) means to be bitten or attacked by something (like a dog).
Now it's your turn!
Tell me the"sound alike" words that you found most interesting & explain what they mean.
I found #19 (mall) and #20 (maul) to be interesting. The first one (mall) is a place where you'd go to shop. The second one (maul) means to be bitten or attacked by something (like a dog).
Now it's your turn!
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Writing and Spelling
The whole point of writing is to get your purpose across to the reader (or readers). However, spelling errors (even small ones) can jump out at your reader and begin to pull the focus off of your ideas. We all make spelling mistakes, but the less of them you make and the more often you catch them, the better your writing will be.
Check out this fun spelling game called "SpellaRoo" and challenge yourself!
Click on this link (http://www.funbrain.com/spellroo/index.html) and then select the "beginner" or "intermediate" level. Each game will give you 10 turns. Play it and then report how you did! Was it enjoyable? Is that a site you'd share with anyone else (family, friend, co-worker)?
Check out this fun spelling game called "SpellaRoo" and challenge yourself!
Click on this link (http://www.funbrain.com/spellroo/index.html) and then select the "beginner" or "intermediate" level. Each game will give you 10 turns. Play it and then report how you did! Was it enjoyable? Is that a site you'd share with anyone else (family, friend, co-worker)?
Monday, August 10, 2009
Essay Writing Online Workshop
If you're an active participant or even just an active reader of this eLearning blog, you know that writing is a super important skill. Come learn even more about essay writing, including how you can quickly & easily make a great, well-organized essay. Wednesday (8/12/09) will be essay writing day with 2 live online workshops to go over this topic!
Don't miss out! Attend the morning (11:15am) or evening (9:15pm) session by using the link below.
https://sas.elluminate.com/m.jnlp?sid=613&password=M.653D55F283174376BB1D5DEDEEB09A
Be sure your computer has working speakers and they're turned "on" so you can hear the presenter!
Will you be there?
Don't miss out! Attend the morning (11:15am) or evening (9:15pm) session by using the link below.
https://sas.elluminate.com/m.jnlp?sid=613&password=M.653D55F283174376BB1D5DEDEEB09A
Be sure your computer has working speakers and they're turned "on" so you can hear the presenter!
Will you be there?
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Technology & Internet Terms (Part 4)
One of my new favorite sites is Common Craft because they have short animated video clips about different topics "in plain English," meaning that the explanations are simple & understandable. How many times have you tried to learn about something only to have the explanation confuse you even more? Well, that won't be the case with Common Craft!
When you visit that site, click the link to "Browse Videos" (on the left side). You'll then see some different categories listed (where the bottom one on the left is "technology"). Make sure that technology one is selected and check out some of the 15 topics listed! Each video is short, so if you only had 5 minutes, you can probably watch 2 or 3 of them!
Once you've watched 1 or more, come back here & report which one (or ones) you watched and what you thought!
http://www.commoncraft.com/
When you visit that site, click the link to "Browse Videos" (on the left side). You'll then see some different categories listed (where the bottom one on the left is "technology"). Make sure that technology one is selected and check out some of the 15 topics listed! Each video is short, so if you only had 5 minutes, you can probably watch 2 or 3 of them!
Once you've watched 1 or more, come back here & report which one (or ones) you watched and what you thought!
http://www.commoncraft.com/
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Technology & Internet Terms (Part 3)
Our next technology & Internet term is "podcast." According to Wikipedia's definition, "a podcast is a series of digital computer files, usually either digital audio or video, that is released periodically and made available for download by means of web syndication." Although it may seem like podcasts need to be played on an ipod, that's not the case! If you have a computer that can process digital audio/video files, you can play podcasts on that!
Check out this great video called "Podcasting in Plain English."
http://www.commoncraft.com/podcasting
Please note that some podcasts are available for download for free. Others may cost money.
Visit this site for the opportunity to check out more podcasts that are ready for download. Once there, be sure to look at the "Podcast Directory" on the right for some great categories such as art, comedy & humor, cooking, fashion, hobbies, sports, travel, and more!
http://www.digitalpodcast.com/
Prior to this blog post, did you know about podcasting? What did you think about the "Podcasting in Plain English" video?
Check out this great video called "Podcasting in Plain English."
http://www.commoncraft.com/podcasting
Please note that some podcasts are available for download for free. Others may cost money.
Visit this site for the opportunity to check out more podcasts that are ready for download. Once there, be sure to look at the "Podcast Directory" on the right for some great categories such as art, comedy & humor, cooking, fashion, hobbies, sports, travel, and more!
http://www.digitalpodcast.com/
Prior to this blog post, did you know about podcasting? What did you think about the "Podcasting in Plain English" video?
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Technology & Internet Terms (Part 2)
The next technology & Internet term we'll examine is "Twitter." This is a method of communication that's growing in popularity. Did you know that some celebrities like Oprah, Anderson Cooper (from CNN) and comedian Kathy Griffin all use Twitter?
According to Wikipedia's definition, "Twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service that enables its users to send and read messages known as tweets. Tweets are text-based posts of up to 140 characters displayed on the author's profile page and delivered to the author's subscribers who are known as followers. Senders can restrict delivery to those in their circle of friends or, by default, allow open access. Users can send and receive tweets via the Twitter website, Short Message Service (SMS) or external applications. While the service costs nothing to use, accessing it through SMS may incur phone service provider fees."
Just like other social networking sites, it's important to use common sense & follow some rules so that you're "tweeting" safely. Check out this site for 4 tips on how to use Twitter safely: http://ezinearticles.com/?Twitter-Safety---4-Ways-to-Use-This-Top-Social-Media-Site-Without-Compromising-Your-Personal-Safety&id=1589849.
Which rule did you find to be most important to follow?
According to Wikipedia's definition, "Twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service that enables its users to send and read messages known as tweets. Tweets are text-based posts of up to 140 characters displayed on the author's profile page and delivered to the author's subscribers who are known as followers. Senders can restrict delivery to those in their circle of friends or, by default, allow open access. Users can send and receive tweets via the Twitter website, Short Message Service (SMS) or external applications. While the service costs nothing to use, accessing it through SMS may incur phone service provider fees."
Just like other social networking sites, it's important to use common sense & follow some rules so that you're "tweeting" safely. Check out this site for 4 tips on how to use Twitter safely: http://ezinearticles.com/?Twitter-Safety---4-Ways-to-Use-This-Top-Social-Media-Site-Without-Compromising-Your-Personal-Safety&id=1589849.
Which rule did you find to be most important to follow?
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Technology & Internet Terms (Part 1)
This week I'd like to focus on some technology & Internet terms that you might hear (or see) used often. First, we'll start with the term "social networking."
According to Wikipedia's definition, "a social network service focuses on building online communities of people who share interests and/or activities, or who are interested in exploring the interests and activities of others. Most social network services are web based and provide a variety of ways for users to interact, such as e-mail and instant messaging services."
Some popular social networking sites are Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
While these can all be great ways to stay in touch with friends & family, as well as to make new contacts for school or work, it's important that people follow some safety tips when using these sites. Check out Microsoft's webpage about social networking safety.
Which of those 10 tips listed do you feel is most important?
According to Wikipedia's definition, "a social network service focuses on building online communities of people who share interests and/or activities, or who are interested in exploring the interests and activities of others. Most social network services are web based and provide a variety of ways for users to interact, such as e-mail and instant messaging services."
Some popular social networking sites are Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
While these can all be great ways to stay in touch with friends & family, as well as to make new contacts for school or work, it's important that people follow some safety tips when using these sites. Check out Microsoft's webpage about social networking safety.
Which of those 10 tips listed do you feel is most important?
Monday, July 27, 2009
Writing - "Specially" or "Especially"
Here's a great site that talks about using the words "specially" and "especially" in writing.
http://englishplus.com/grammar/00000287.htm
My favorite parts of that site were these lines.
Knowing that in most writing, the author is trying to denote something exceptional, I'd say the best rule is to stick with the word "especially."
So here's your "assignment" for this blog entry. I'd especially like if you would write one sentence that correctly illustrates how you could use that particular word! I'll start!
"I especially enjoy when students use the blog!"
http://englishplus.com/grammar/00000287.htm
My favorite parts of that site were these lines.
- "Most of the time there is little or no difference between the words especially and specially ."
- "In the sense of "particular" or "particularly," the words mean pretty much the same thing. Often they can be used synonymously. However, if you want to stress the exceptional or noteworthy quality, then especial or especially is a better choice. If you want to stress the distinctive purpose of something, then special or specially is the word you are looking for. "
Knowing that in most writing, the author is trying to denote something exceptional, I'd say the best rule is to stick with the word "especially."
So here's your "assignment" for this blog entry. I'd especially like if you would write one sentence that correctly illustrates how you could use that particular word! I'll start!
"I especially enjoy when students use the blog!"
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Writing - What do you find to be the hardest part?
When it comes to writing, what part do you find to be the most difficult? Try to be as specific as possible and I'll do my best to make sure that future blog topics deal with those things!
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Elluminate Bloggers!
Thank you for attending the Elluminate session today on "Blogging". I hope you now have a better understanding of what a "blog" is and how it can help you!
Please consider visiting the e-learning blog site again. It is a great way to practice your reading, writing, vocabulary and soft skills.
To become an official blogger today on our site please answer the following questions by submitting your comment. Remember, you can submit your blog without creating an account by clicking on anonymous. If you do select that option, please add your name at the end of the blog to receive credit for the assignment below.
Tell me about your "blogging" experience or share your answers to the questions below:
Do you plan to visit the e-learning blog site in the future? Have you used blogs in the past to make decisions on a purchase or to learn about a particular subject?
Thank you for your submitting your comment! Have an awesome day.
Please consider visiting the e-learning blog site again. It is a great way to practice your reading, writing, vocabulary and soft skills.
To become an official blogger today on our site please answer the following questions by submitting your comment. Remember, you can submit your blog without creating an account by clicking on anonymous. If you do select that option, please add your name at the end of the blog to receive credit for the assignment below.
Tell me about your "blogging" experience or share your answers to the questions below:
Do you plan to visit the e-learning blog site in the future? Have you used blogs in the past to make decisions on a purchase or to learn about a particular subject?
Thank you for your submitting your comment! Have an awesome day.
Monday, July 20, 2009
eLearning Blog - A Look Back (Part 4)
Now it's time to examine November's topics. There were some great ones covered that month!
Use the link below & browse through the blog topics presented that month. Pick one that you think you'll gain the most from reviewing, read through the topic carefully, and participate on that by adding your reply. After you've done that, come back here & tell us what topic you selected, the date it was originally presented, and what you learned from it! Have fun!
http://elearningbroward.blogspot.com/2008_11_01_archive.html
Use the link below & browse through the blog topics presented that month. Pick one that you think you'll gain the most from reviewing, read through the topic carefully, and participate on that by adding your reply. After you've done that, come back here & tell us what topic you selected, the date it was originally presented, and what you learned from it! Have fun!
http://elearningbroward.blogspot.com/2008_11_01_archive.html
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Can a word be overused? Absolutely!
Is it possible that a word can be overused in writing & speaking? Absolutely!
Check out this article from CNN.com about how the word "absolutely" is used too much. It's interesting!
http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/wayoflife/07/14/absolutely/index.html?iref=mpstoryview
What are your thoughts? Do you use the word "absolutely" in your writing & speaking? Do you feel that you use it too much? Do you know of anyone else who uses that word too much?
Check out this article from CNN.com about how the word "absolutely" is used too much. It's interesting!
http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/wayoflife/07/14/absolutely/index.html?iref=mpstoryview
What are your thoughts? Do you use the word "absolutely" in your writing & speaking? Do you feel that you use it too much? Do you know of anyone else who uses that word too much?
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
eLearning Blog - A Look Back (Part 3)
October 2008 was one of the most active blog months. Let's check out some of those great topics!
Look for a topic that seems interesting. First read it; then participate in it by adding your response. After you do that, come back here & tell me the date of the topic you selected, the blog topic title, and what you learned!
http://elearningbroward.blogspot.com/2008_10_01_archive.html
Look for a topic that seems interesting. First read it; then participate in it by adding your response. After you do that, come back here & tell me the date of the topic you selected, the blog topic title, and what you learned!
http://elearningbroward.blogspot.com/2008_10_01_archive.html
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
eLearning Blog - A Look Back (Part 2)
Let's continue with our "blast from the past" look at previous blog topics! This time, we'll focus on topics from August 2008.
Scroll through & find one topic that catches your interest. Read it & participate in it by adding your response. After you do that, come back here & tell me the date of the topic you selected, the blog topic title, and what you learned!
http://elearningbroward.blogspot.com/2008_08_01_archive.html
Scroll through & find one topic that catches your interest. Read it & participate in it by adding your response. After you do that, come back here & tell me the date of the topic you selected, the blog topic title, and what you learned!
http://elearningbroward.blogspot.com/2008_08_01_archive.html
Monday, July 13, 2009
eLearning Blog - A Look Back (Part 1)
This week, I want to look back to some previous blog topics that have been covered because we've had a lot of really good topics! Use the link below & go back to the July 2008 topics. (They will be presented in reverse chronological order, meaning the last blog topic of that month is at the top of the page & the first one for that month will be at the bottom.)
Scroll through & find one topic that catches your interest. Read it & participate in it by adding your response. Then, come back here & tell me the date of the topic you selected, the blog topic title, and what you thought about it!
http://elearningbroward.blogspot.com/2008_07_01_archive.html
Scroll through & find one topic that catches your interest. Read it & participate in it by adding your response. Then, come back here & tell me the date of the topic you selected, the blog topic title, and what you thought about it!
http://elearningbroward.blogspot.com/2008_07_01_archive.html
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Writing - New Words!
I read an article online recently about Merriam-Webster (yes, the dictionary people) and how they've added new words to their dictionaries. In fact, about 100 new words were added that largely reflect changing trends in American society.
Have you heard of the terms "frenemy" or "locavore" before? Those are 2 of the new words that were just added! (In case you're wondering, a "frenemy" is someone who acts like a friend but is really an enemy, and a " locavore" is one who eats foods grown locally.)
Check out the article for more information about this!
http://www4.comcast.net/articles/news-national/20090709/US.New.Dictionary.Words/
Use this link below to see some of the new words. Once there, pick a word you have not heard of before and click on it. You'll see the word and definition. (If you aren't sure how to pronounce the word, click on the little red megaphone icon to hear it stated. Be sure that your speakers are hooked up & turned on!) Then, come back here & post the word you picked and the definition of it.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/info/newwords09.htm
Have you heard of the terms "frenemy" or "locavore" before? Those are 2 of the new words that were just added! (In case you're wondering, a "frenemy" is someone who acts like a friend but is really an enemy, and a " locavore" is one who eats foods grown locally.)
Check out the article for more information about this!
http://www4.comcast.net/articles/news-national/20090709/US.New.Dictionary.Words/
Use this link below to see some of the new words. Once there, pick a word you have not heard of before and click on it. You'll see the word and definition. (If you aren't sure how to pronounce the word, click on the little red megaphone icon to hear it stated. Be sure that your speakers are hooked up & turned on!) Then, come back here & post the word you picked and the definition of it.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/info/newwords09.htm
Friday, July 10, 2009
Expressions (Part 3)
Have you ever heard the expression "the rule of thumb" before? I have, but never really knew where it came from. Here's where you can find out about it! http://www.dailywritingtips.com/rule-of-thumb/
Once you read about that, come back here & tell me one rule of thumb that you have, whether it's about your study habits, your online course, or even just life in general.
Once you read about that, come back here & tell me one rule of thumb that you have, whether it's about your study habits, your online course, or even just life in general.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Expressions (Part 2)
Check out this next expression! You might feel this way after a hard day at class or after a really tough job interview that had question after question given to you!
http://www.dailywritingtips.com/wracking-or-racking-your-brain/
Have you ever heard (or used) that expression before?
http://www.dailywritingtips.com/wracking-or-racking-your-brain/
Have you ever heard (or used) that expression before?
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Expressions (Part 1)
Let's begin to explore some common expressions. The first one we'll focus on is "first come, first served." Have you heard of that before? Use this link (http://www.dailywritingtips.com/first-come-first-served/) to find out more! Then tell me what you thought of that information presented on the site!
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Writing - 12 Important Greek Words to Know
I bet you've read (or heard) some of these words before! Check out 12 important Greek words that you should know. Which one (or ones) did you already know? Which one (or ones) were you least familiar with?
http://www.dailywritingtips.com/greek-words/
I had always heard of the term "kudos," but never knew it had Greek roots!
Tell me what you learned!
http://www.dailywritingtips.com/greek-words/
I had always heard of the term "kudos," but never knew it had Greek roots!
Tell me what you learned!
Monday, July 6, 2009
When is it ok to not have a subject in a sentence?
In writing, is it ever ok to not have a subject as a part of your sentence? Well, believe it or not, the answer is "yes" and "no." It will depend on your sentence & what you're trying to say. Let's look at some examples.
If you're telling someone to do something, you may use statements like you see below.
"Go to the store."
"Take the trash outside."
"Please call me back."
Even though you don't see a subject written in those sentences, it's understood to be the word "you."
If, however, you're not telling someone to do something (or making a command), and you're just making a statement telling about something, then you do need to have a subject included (even if it's the word "you"). Let's see some examples of what you wouldn't want to write and then the correct way to write it.
Incorrect way: "Went to the mall."
Why is it incorrect? Who went to the mall? Was it me? Was it you? Was it Linda?
Correct way: She went to the mall.
Incorrect way: "Is ready for exercise."
Why is it incorrect? Who is ready for exercise? Is it me? Is it you? Is it President Obama?
Correct way: The hospital patient is ready for exercise.
Incorrect way: "Cooked a delicious meal."
Why is it incorrect? Who cooked that meal? Was it me? Was it you? Was it a chef?
Correct way: The culinary instructor cooked a delicious meal.
Are you ready to give this a try? Write two sentences. One should be a direction (or a command) where you're using the "understood you" as the subject. The next sentence should be a simple sentence that clearly has a subject & a verb.
I'll start!
1.) Attend the online workshops this week.
2.) Everyone should attend the online workshops this week.
If you're telling someone to do something, you may use statements like you see below.
"Go to the store."
"Take the trash outside."
"Please call me back."
Even though you don't see a subject written in those sentences, it's understood to be the word "you."
If, however, you're not telling someone to do something (or making a command), and you're just making a statement telling about something, then you do need to have a subject included (even if it's the word "you"). Let's see some examples of what you wouldn't want to write and then the correct way to write it.
Incorrect way: "Went to the mall."
Why is it incorrect? Who went to the mall? Was it me? Was it you? Was it Linda?
Correct way: She went to the mall.
Incorrect way: "Is ready for exercise."
Why is it incorrect? Who is ready for exercise? Is it me? Is it you? Is it President Obama?
Correct way: The hospital patient is ready for exercise.
Incorrect way: "Cooked a delicious meal."
Why is it incorrect? Who cooked that meal? Was it me? Was it you? Was it a chef?
Correct way: The culinary instructor cooked a delicious meal.
Are you ready to give this a try? Write two sentences. One should be a direction (or a command) where you're using the "understood you" as the subject. The next sentence should be a simple sentence that clearly has a subject & a verb.
I'll start!
1.) Attend the online workshops this week.
2.) Everyone should attend the online workshops this week.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
eLearning Blog - Happy 4th of July!
Hello bloggers! I just wanted to take this time to wish you a very happy and safe 4th of July!
-----
Did you know that there's a Twitter site that you can follow for quick updates on workshops & other goodies? Check it out by going to http://twitter.com/GED_Online.
Have you heard of Twitter? Do you use it? If you want to know more about it, check out this Wikipedia description of Twitter: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twitter.
-----Did you know that there's a Twitter site that you can follow for quick updates on workshops & other goodies? Check it out by going to http://twitter.com/GED_Online.
Have you heard of Twitter? Do you use it? If you want to know more about it, check out this Wikipedia description of Twitter: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twitter.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Writing - Brain Food
Obviously when you write (or do almost anything), you need your brain to be ready to handle the work set forth. Did you know that certain foods are considered "memory boosting" foods? Some fruits, vegetables, grains, and fish can improve brain health!
Check out this article. http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/18264218/ns/today_health/
After you've had a chance to read it, tell me if you eat (or will eat) any of the foods listed as potentially being "memory boosters."
Check out this article. http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/18264218/ns/today_health/
After you've had a chance to read it, tell me if you eat (or will eat) any of the foods listed as potentially being "memory boosters."
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Tell me a story - July's edition
I love starting off the month with a "tell me a story" topic! This time, however, I won't give you a particular start to the story, nor will I give you any items that you have to incorporate. The only direction that your story needs to have is that it needs to be funny or outlandish!
I can't wait to see what you come up with for your story! Have fun and be creative!
I can't wait to see what you come up with for your story! Have fun and be creative!
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Vocabulary - Free Flashcard Maker!
Did you know that there's a site where you can make free flashcards for any vocabulary words you might need to learn? Visit http://teacher.scholastic.com/tools/flashcards.htm and click on the oval that says "Words." You can then make as many flashcards as you want where the word is on the front & the definition is on the back.
How neat is that?!
How neat is that?!
Saturday, June 27, 2009
June Blogging - What did you like best?
Can you believe that the month of June is almost over? I can't!
We've had 20 blog posts (including this one). Which one (or ones) did you enjoy most? Was there a particular post or theme that you found to be helpful? What would you like to see more of in the future?
Let me know!
:-)
We've had 20 blog posts (including this one). Which one (or ones) did you enjoy most? Was there a particular post or theme that you found to be helpful? What would you like to see more of in the future?
Let me know!
:-)
Friday, June 26, 2009
Vocabulary Extravaganza (Part 5)
Today concludes the week of vocabulary from Dictionary.com, and I hope you've enjoyed this series. This last topic will focus on April 2002. Do you want to know why I selected that particular month & year? That's when GED Online was launched in Broward County! Hooray!
Check out some words from April 2002. This time, I won't tell you how many you have to post. You can pick what you'd like to do & share with us! Maybe you want to review all of the words, but only post 1 of them. That's fine! Maybe you'd rather share with us the words from your favorite numbers. It's up to you! Feel free to post as many words & definitions as you'd like!!
April 2002 - Words of the Day
Check out some words from April 2002. This time, I won't tell you how many you have to post. You can pick what you'd like to do & share with us! Maybe you want to review all of the words, but only post 1 of them. That's fine! Maybe you'd rather share with us the words from your favorite numbers. It's up to you! Feel free to post as many words & definitions as you'd like!!
April 2002 - Words of the Day
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Vocabulary Extravaganza (Part 4)
The vocabulary extravaganza is almost over! Let's take our fourth dive into some past words of the day from the Dictionary.com website.
Check out these words from May 2000. Please pick 4 of them that you did not know (or didn't know that well). Post the words & their definitions.
May 2000 - Words of the Day
Check out these words from May 2000. Please pick 4 of them that you did not know (or didn't know that well). Post the words & their definitions.
May 2000 - Words of the Day
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Vocabulary Extravaganza (Part 3)
We're halfway through our expedition on vocabulary! How many new words have you learned so far? I bet it's a bunch!
Let's explore the words highlighted during January of 2000. In fact, I'm going to pick one to do with all of you since this is a word you often hear, but when you see it, you wouldn't think it's the same word!
segue \SEG-way\ , intransitive verb:
1. To proceed without interruption; to make a smooth transition.
Sample sentence: The newscaster made a great segue from the story about restaurants to a story about nutrition.
Please use the link below, take a look at the words from January 2000, and pick 4 (not 3 like the previous blog topics). Come back here & post your words with definitions. Want an extra challenge? Try correctly using 1 or more of them in an original sentence! :-)
January 2000 - Words of the Day
Let's explore the words highlighted during January of 2000. In fact, I'm going to pick one to do with all of you since this is a word you often hear, but when you see it, you wouldn't think it's the same word!
segue \SEG-way\ , intransitive verb:
1. To proceed without interruption; to make a smooth transition.
Sample sentence: The newscaster made a great segue from the story about restaurants to a story about nutrition.
Please use the link below, take a look at the words from January 2000, and pick 4 (not 3 like the previous blog topics). Come back here & post your words with definitions. Want an extra challenge? Try correctly using 1 or more of them in an original sentence! :-)
January 2000 - Words of the Day
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Vocabulary Extravaganza (Part 2)
Here's part 2 of our week-long look at vocabulary from the Dictionary.com site. This time, you'll be visiting the archive of the September 1999 words of the day. Just like yesterday's blog topic, please select 3 words that you were not familiar with before visiting the site, come back here, and post those words with definitions. Be sure to visit this blog topic often so you can see what words get added after you post!
September 1999 - Words of the Day
September 1999 - Words of the Day
Monday, June 22, 2009
Vocabulary Extravaganza (Part 1)
Vocabulary is such an important part of writing. Without words, where would we be with writing? I guess you could say that we'd be nowhere because you can't write without words! So in the spirit of that, this week will be a vocabulary extravaganza!!
One of my favorite sites is Dictionary.com because there are just so many neat resources there, such as a dictionary, thesaurus, word games, and more! But the best part is the "word of the day" archives! Every word of the day that they've had since May 3, 1999 is available!
Please take a look at the words highlighted during May 1999. Pick 3 words that you did not know prior to visiting that site. Then come back here, post each word, and its definition!
May 1999 - Words of the Day
One of my favorite sites is Dictionary.com because there are just so many neat resources there, such as a dictionary, thesaurus, word games, and more! But the best part is the "word of the day" archives! Every word of the day that they've had since May 3, 1999 is available!
Please take a look at the words highlighted during May 1999. Pick 3 words that you did not know prior to visiting that site. Then come back here, post each word, and its definition!
May 1999 - Words of the Day
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Writing as a Memory Tool (Part 6)
Here's the fifth & final note-taking tip!
Review and edit your notes.
"Ideas won't keep; something must be done about them." - Alfred North Whitehead (1861 - 1947), English mathematician and philosopher
Academic skills centers and other authorities on effective study skills consider reviewing and editing class notes to be the most important part of note-taking and essential to increasing learning capacity.
- It is extremely important to review your notes within 24 hours.
- Edit for words and phrases that are illegible or don't make sense. Write out abbreviated words that might be unclear later.
- Edit with a different colored pen to distinguish between what you wrote in class and what you filled in later.
- Fill in key words and questions in the left-hand column.
- Note anything you don't understand by underlining or highlighting to remind you to ask the instructor.
- Compare your notes with the textbook reading and fill in important details in the blank spaces you left.
- Consider rewriting or typing up your notes. (Ellis).
Note: For additional techniques for study and exam preparation, go to Tips for Effective Study at http://www.cod.edu/people/faculty/fancher/STUDY.HTM
-----
This final blog post on this topic may be the most important of them all! As I've stressed to students during Elluminate sessions, notes are no good if you take them and don't look at them after the session is done! If you put them in a folder, lay them on a table, or file them away, you're giving up the chance to look over your notes & to help that information stick in your brain!
Now that you've had a chance to see all 5 note-taking tip blogs, what have you learned that you'll start doing or do more often?
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Writing as a Memory Tool (Part 5)
Here's our fourth note-taking tip!
For that fourth bullet point above, online students should add something about material written in their online courses, and especially Elluminate sessions!
Which one of the above items is most important to you? Why?
Play close attention to content.
"There is a great difference between knowing a thing and understanding it." - Charles Kettering (1876 - 1958), American electrical engineer and inventor
Knowing what and how much to write down is sometimes difficult. Rely on some of the following tips for what to include in your notes.
- Details, facts, or explanations that expand or explain the main points that are mentioned. Don't forget examples.
- Definitions, word-for-word.
- Enumerations or lists of things that are discussed.
- Material written on the chalkboard or on a transparency, including drawings or charts.
- Information that is repeated or spelled out. (University of Texas at Austin)
For that fourth bullet point above, online students should add something about material written in their online courses, and especially Elluminate sessions!
Which one of the above items is most important to you? Why?
Friday, June 19, 2009
Writing as a Memory Tool (Part 4)
Here's the third tip to help make you a good note-taker!
Develop a note-taking method that works for you. (There are many methods out there; it's not a "one-size-fits-all" strategy. Find one that you can do & one that will help you remember the things you're hearing & seeing.)
Which one (or ones) of these do you think is the most useful? Why did you pick that one (or those ones)?
Develop a note-taking method that works for you. (There are many methods out there; it's not a "one-size-fits-all" strategy. Find one that you can do & one that will help you remember the things you're hearing & seeing.)
"Learn, compare, collect the facts." - Ivan Petrovic Pavlov (1849 - 1936), Russian physiologist.
Fine-tune the structure and organization of your notes to increase your notetaking speed and comprehension later.
- Start each new lecture on a new page, and date and number each page. The sequence of material is important.
- Write on one side of the paper only. You can set them out side-by-side for easier reviewing when studying for an exam.
- Leave blank spaces. This allows you to add comments or note questions later.
- Make your notes as brief as possible. "Never use a sentence when you can use a phrase, or a phrase when you can use a word" (Berkeley).
- Develop a system of abbreviations and symbols you can use wherever possible.
- Note all unfamiliar vocabulary or concepts you don't understand. This reminds you to look them up later.
- For examples of popular note-taking formats, see Note-taking Systems at http://www.sas.calpoly.edu/asc/ssl/notetaking.systems.html
Which one (or ones) of these do you think is the most useful? Why did you pick that one (or those ones)?
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Writing as a Memory Tool (Part 3)
Here's the second tip to help you improve your note-taking skills.
Improve your listening skills. (This is especially important for those who take an online course, as many times, you are not seeing your teacher in-person, but rather hearing him or her on the phone or in an Elluminate session!)
Please note that even though most of us aren't sitting in on a true "lecture" style class, any presentation or discussion can have these tips applied! :)
What do you think?
Improve your listening skills. (This is especially important for those who take an online course, as many times, you are not seeing your teacher in-person, but rather hearing him or her on the phone or in an Elluminate session!)
"Learn how to listen and you will prosper even from those who talk badly." -- Plutarch (A.D. 46 - 120). Greek biographer and philosopher
- Start by entering the classroom with a positive attitude. Going to class thinking, "This is the last place I want to be today" only sets the stage for inattentive listening. Approaching lectures with a positive attitude allows one to be open-minded and enables you to get the most out of the information presented.
- Make a conscious effort to pay attention. Concentrate on concentrating. "Without concentration there is no focus, and without focus there is no learning" (Pauk 190).
- Adapt to whatever direction a lecture takes. When a lecture takes an unexpected detour, say a student asks a question you aren't particularly interested in, students have a tendency to "zone out." Before you know it, the lecture got back on track five minutes ago, and you missed crucial information that should have been noted.
Please note that even though most of us aren't sitting in on a true "lecture" style class, any presentation or discussion can have these tips applied! :)
What do you think?
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Writing as a Memory Tool (Part 2)
We're going to examine 5 tips so you can be an effective note-taker. These all come from http://jerz.setonhill.edu/writing/academic/notes-tips.htm, and even though they focus on traditional classroom-based, we'll talk about how they can be modified for online classes!
Go to class prepared. (This is true no matter if it's an online class or an "in-person" one!)
What do you think about these first few suggestions? They make sense, don't they? Do you do those things? If not, do you think you might start doing them?
Go to class prepared. (This is true no matter if it's an online class or an "in-person" one!)
"Always have a plan and believe in it. Nothing good happens by accident." -- Chuck Knox, NFL football coach
- Use a three-ring binder instead of a spiral or bound book. Pages can be easily removed for reviewing. Handouts can be inserted into your notes for cross-referencing. You can insert your own out-of-class notes in the correct order (Ellis).
- Bring highlighters to class. Instructors will frequently make comments like, "This is an important concept." Or, "Make sure you understand this." These are direct clues that this will more than likely be on an exam. Highlighting these notes will help remind you later that this is definitely something you need to know.
- Read assigned material and previous class notes before class. Make notations about material or concepts you don't understand. Look up vocabulary words that are unfamiliar to you. You will have a better understanding about what the instructor is lecturing about and that will allow you to better decipher the more important points of the lecture.
What do you think about these first few suggestions? They make sense, don't they? Do you do those things? If not, do you think you might start doing them?
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Writing as a Memory Tool
Have you ever considered that writing can be a tool that helps you remember things better? That's not really a surprise to many of us, especially since so much emphasis is placed on taking notes or writing other important things down! Here's an interesting fact that I came across today!
Few people realize how fast memory fades. Studies on memory have shown that, without review, 47% of what a person has just learned is forgotten in the first twenty minutes and 62% is forgotten after the first day. (University of Texas at Austin).
(From http://jerz.setonhill.edu/writing/academic/notes-tips.htm)
Isn't that amazing, but also kind of scary?!
Our next set of blog topics will focus on how to be a better note-taker! So, let's do a little opening activity right now! How, why, or when do you take notes? Once you take them, what do you do with them? Share your opinions with us!
Few people realize how fast memory fades. Studies on memory have shown that, without review, 47% of what a person has just learned is forgotten in the first twenty minutes and 62% is forgotten after the first day. (University of Texas at Austin).
(From http://jerz.setonhill.edu/writing/academic/notes-tips.htm)
Isn't that amazing, but also kind of scary?!
Our next set of blog topics will focus on how to be a better note-taker! So, let's do a little opening activity right now! How, why, or when do you take notes? Once you take them, what do you do with them? Share your opinions with us!
Monday, June 15, 2009
Writing - More Blogs!
As we've talked about in the past, an important part of being a good writer is being a good reader. No matter what you choose, you should be reading something every single day! There are some enjoyable blogs out there that you might want to visit! (For the entire list that was on the Sun Sentinel website, click here.)
Worst Pizza : http://www.worstpizza.com/
Jazz & Blues : http://jazz-bluesflorida.blogspot.com/
Human Resources & Employment : http://www.hrbartender.com/
Pets : http://www.southfloridapets.blogspot.com/
Try visiting one or two, read a bit, and then come back to tell us what you went to & what you thought of it!
Worst Pizza : http://www.worstpizza.com/
Jazz & Blues : http://jazz-bluesflorida.blogspot.com/
Human Resources & Employment : http://www.hrbartender.com/
Pets : http://www.southfloridapets.blogspot.com/
Try visiting one or two, read a bit, and then come back to tell us what you went to & what you thought of it!
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Vocabulary - Resume Terms
Have you ever wondered if there's specific vocabulary that you'd use on a resume? Well, the answer is "yes." Take a look at this neat site that I found that does just that! http://esl.about.com/od/businessspeakingskills/a/j_vocabulary.htm
The first part of that site lists verbs that will help you express just exactly what you did with impressive vocabulary. These verbs are used to express responsibilities and tasks performed. Please look at the list below & identify 2-3 words that you'd like to look up so you can understand the meaning a bit better. Then, visit an online dictionary (like http://www.merriam-webster.com/), look up the word, and come back here to post each word with its definition!
accomplished
acted
adapted
administered
advanced
advised
allocated
analyzed
applied
approved
arbitrated
arranged
assisted
attained
blended
brought
built
carried out
catalogued
changed
classified
collaborated
compared
completed
computed
conceived
conducted
constructed
consulted
contracted
controlled
The first part of that site lists verbs that will help you express just exactly what you did with impressive vocabulary. These verbs are used to express responsibilities and tasks performed. Please look at the list below & identify 2-3 words that you'd like to look up so you can understand the meaning a bit better. Then, visit an online dictionary (like http://www.merriam-webster.com/), look up the word, and come back here to post each word with its definition!
accomplished
acted
adapted
administered
advanced
advised
allocated
analyzed
applied
approved
arbitrated
arranged
assisted
attained
blended
brought
built
carried out
catalogued
changed
classified
collaborated
compared
completed
computed
conceived
conducted
constructed
consulted
contracted
controlled
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