Category: Class 03

What is something risky you have done?

• What happened?
• Why was it risky to you?
• How did you overcome your fear?
• What was the result?

Write a paragraph (75 words or more) answering the question above.

• Review “Writing a narrative essay” in the Writing Skill section (pp. 148-9) for help. I’ll be looking for:
• an INTRODUCTION to give background information and explain why the story is memorable/important for you,
• a BODY that includes events in the story, along with interesting details, and
• a CONCLUSION restating why the story is important to you.

Your paragraph is DUE THURS 9 OCTOBER, 11:59 pm
Your reply to your classmate is DUE FRI 10 OCTOBER, 11:59 pm
When replying to classmate, don’t just say “Wow! Cool!” or something similar. Add to the conversation with a two or three sentences of a detailed thought.

I will ask the class several discussion questions. Students should answer with specific examples. To receive participation points, students must raise their hands and share their thoughts. Prepare to discuss the following in class.

General discussion questions

• What is something risky you have done?
  • What happened?
  • Why was it risky to you?
  • How did you overcome your fear?
  • What was the result?

Reading 1

• Does fear motivate you?
• When do you get in “the flow” or “the zone”? In what situations do you become completely focused on something?
• When you do get an adrenaline rush?

Reading 2

• Kelly Perkins (the mountain climber) says “I’d rather the mountain be my physical challenge than physical challenges be my mountain.” What do you think she means?
• Perkins was a mountain climber before and after her heart transplant. How do you think her motivation for climbing changed after her heart transplant?
• Do you think people who do extreme sports would be happy if they stopped taking risks?

See you in class!

DO NOT give your answers below. Reply here only if you have a question. Answers will be shared in class.

The following are questions we may discuss next class. Answering them will make class more interesting and get you participation points.

Unit 7 – Why do people take risks?

1. What does it mean to take a risk?

2. Do you think you’re a risk-taker?
Look at page 132. But there are others risks we can take. Examples can be singing in front of other people or asking a girl/guy you like out on a date.

3. What is a risk you would like to take someday?

4. Why do you think people take those risks like the kind on page 134?

See you in class!

Does advertising help us or harm us?

Write a paragraph (75 words) answering the question above.

• Begin with a topic sentence clearly stating your opinion. It can be more specific than merely saying advertising helps or harms us (ex. Product placement takes away our freedom as viewers and should be banned.).
• Support your opinion with reasons and examples. Use information shared in class and mentioned in our book.
• End with a conclusion that restates your opinion and even offers a prediction.

Your paragraph is DUE SAT 20 SEPTEMBER, 11:59 pm
Your reply to your classmate is DUE SUN 21 SEPTEMBER 11:59 pm
When replying to classmate, don’t just say “I agree.” or something similar. Add to the conversation with a two or three sentences of more detail or another example.

DO NOT give your answers below. Reply here only if you have a question. Answers will be shared in class.

We will have a class discussion/debate on Thursday, September 18.

I will ask the class several discussion questions. Students are encouraged to reply with specific examples. To receive participation points, students must raise their hands and share their thoughts. Prepare to discuss the following in class.

Key Discussion Questions

• Give an example of an ad, TV program or product of the media that supports some key points of Reading 1:
  • Ads use our emotions to help sell products.
  • Our lives are dull and ordinary.
  • We can trust things more than actual people.
  • Products give us love we don’t get in our lives.
• Give an example of a company, ad, TV program or product of the media that supports some key points of Reading 2:
  • They provide information for buying something.
  • They pay for things we enjoy like TV programs and smartphone apps.
  • Public service announcements inform the public.
  • They help make the world more colorful.
• Further questions
  • Is there too much advertising?

Do you think people are altruistic? (75 words)

Give an example from your own experience.

Your paragraph is DUE SAT 24 MAY, 11:59 pm

Philosophers such as Aristotle and Spinoza have declared that “man is a social animal.” The poet John Donne expressed the same when saying “No man is an island.” These thoughts, combined with our own experiences, make it clear that people need other people. Our best experiences in life have typically been those shared with others.

Just as technology has made fewer people required in a factory, it has also made it easier to have less social contact in our day-to-day lives. Even when we get together, we’re not always sharing the same moment as the comic below satirizes.

Has technology made it easier or more difficult to have good social experiences with others? Do websites like Facebook or messaging services like Kakao Talk bring us closer together or separate us?

Reply with a paragraph (75 words).

• Have a clear topic sentence.
• Support your topic sentence with details.

Your paragraph is DUE SUN 4 MAY, 11:59 pm
Your reply to your classmate is DUE MON 5 MAY 11:59 pm

Write a short paragraph answering ONE of the following questions (75 words):

Write a short paragraph (75 words) about your general eating habits.

You can explain the following:

• What kinds of foods you like and dislike. Be general (ex. sweet foods) and specific (ex. cake).
• Do you think you have a balanced diet?
• Do you like big or small portions?
• Do you like foods from other cultures? Do you like to try new foods?
• Are there foods you disliked as a child, but enjoy today?

Your paragraph is DUE THURS 3 APRIL, 11:59 pm
EXTRA CREDIT! Reply to a classmate by FRI 4 APRIL, 11:59 p.m.

Write a short paragraph answering ONE of the following questions (75 words):

1. Do you remember a good first impression you made on someone? How about a good first impression someone made on you?
2. Have you ever made a bad first impression? Do you remember a bad first impression someone made on you?
3. How does one make a good impression at a job interview in Korea? Do you have any advice different from Reading 2? Have you had a job interview? Talk about it.

If appropriate, make your paragraph has:

• a clear topic sentence stating your main idea
• supporting sentences explaining the main idea

Your paragraph is DUE THURS 19 MARCH, 11:59 p.m.
Your reply to your classmate is DUE FRI 20 MARCH, 11:59 p.m.