TW Homework Update: Minor Assignment 3

Dear Class,

The range of topics in our class this year is, I think, the best ever, and that must say some really positive things about how each of you are approaching Theme Writing. Very well done!

I spent quite some time reading and thinking about your research proposal, and then to write my response to you. Overall, proposals were thoughtfully written and very instructive. Your proposal really helps me understand your topic, your ideas, and your position, and then of course to try and help you in the best way I can. For many of you, I have called for you to revise your thesis statement. The thesis statement controls the ideas in your paper and may very well mean minor or major follow-on changes to your Working Outline. I have asked you to post your revised thesis to your e-portfolio & then to let me know when I can check it for you.

For your working outline, the changes many of you make to your thesis will mean that your outline is now somewhat out of date. Therefore, I will check that your outline is complete and was on time. My comments on your research proposal should be read to cover the ideas and their organisation in your outline as well, so please, you should not expect long comments on your outline. However, if I have not asked you  to revise your thesis, there may be some points more I could help you with.

To read my comments on your Response Proposal,  please go to TW: My Record of Work.

A couple of students' Record of Work is not up to date. This is an important responsibility because it lets you and I know what you have done, and tells me when I need to check your portfolio for new work - in other words it helps me help you.  As well, as with everything you do, it is part of my evaluation of you in Theme Writing. Please keep your Record of Work seriously.

Thank you, bye for now, Owen.

Research Collection: Video - Social Bookmarking in Plain English

TW Homework Update: Minor Assignment 2

Dear TWers,

Lots of really good work, well done. 13/16 were satisfactory, but I really want us to aim for 16/16 every time. If Minor Assignment 2 was not satisfactory this time, look ahead to the next assignment and do you best. To see this homework update, please go to the TW: My Record of Work page.

Also from the Homepage, 2007 Students' Class Blogs (one-page view) you are able to now see everyones' e-portfolios on one page. Some advantages of publishing your work online include being able to see the work of other students when you feel unsure of what to do or how to do something, you can also contact anyone in class by leaving a comment to offer advice or ask for their help. It is quite difficult to do these things when assignments are paper based only, so I do encourage you to look at your classmates' work as a way of helping yourself and to help classmates with advice or even just to give them some encouragement, 'Wow, I really enjoyed reading your ideas, I had never thought of it like that!"

Thank you, see you on Monday, Owen.

TW Homework Update: Minor assignments 1 & 2

Dear TWers,

A positive start by nearly everyone, good! Minor assignment 1 has been checked and you can see your evaluation and my comments on TW: My Record of Work.

Minor Assignment 2 is due before class tomorrow, at the latest sometime tomorrow. Continue your good start. If you missed Minor Assignment 1, please do not let it worry you now, keeping moving ahead and focus on the next thing.

Thank you, see you tomorrow, Owen.

TW Homework Update: Minor Assignment 1 - Scratch Outline

Dear TWers,

In Course Information [Homepage->Course Information] the Schedule of Assignments calls for your first assignment to be posted to your e-portfolio today and last lesson this was narrowed down to before class today. At this time ( 4.41 pm), Scratch Outlines have been posted [Homepage->Students' Class Blogs (one-page view)] by Miki, Mari, Yohei, Izumi, Nozomi, Noriaki, Marie, Hanako, & Yasutake . Thank you, I will check the quality of your assignments tomorrow.

'Timeliness of Assignments' states that Minor Assignments 1-4 must be completed by their due dates.

As this is the first assignment and because you have also needed to set up your course technology tools, I can be a bit lenient. So Marina, Yuta, Ikumi, Kanako, & Shunsuke if you cannot post your Scratch Outline sometime today, you really must contact me (james@icu.ac.jp) and let me know what the problem is. Then we can fix it quickly and get you back on track.

If you do not post your assignment though and I do not hear from you, the statement on 'Timeliness of Assignments' explains that a 'late' assignment does not count towards your grade .

I might seem especially strict at present, but one of the main reasons some students have trouble in Theme Writing is because they do not start well and I am very concerned that all students in my class start out well. It is much easier to continue a good start than it is to make major changes later, and sometimes by then it is too late.

So my message is to everyone is, 'Start out right.'

Thank you, Owen.

TW Information: Sunday night homework update

Dear TWers,

Rushing right now, but currently the TW: My Details page currently appears as below - nearly everyone, which is great! But it is missing details from 4 students and it is most important that you all have the tools you need to participate and do your work. I will check Minor Assignment 1: Scratch Outline on your e-portfolio tomorrow, before class (Research Orientation, ILC 106).

What To Do
1. Kanako, Yuta, Minako, and Rina, if you have set up your e-portfolio, but are unable to post it to the DIY Textbook, just send me your URL and I can do it for you. However, you will need to learn to add information here to the DIY Textbook each week, so this is just a temporary fix.

2. Kanako, Yuta, Minako, and Rina, I do not have classes Period 1 or 2 tomorrow, so I want you to come along to my office (ILC 275) and we will get you going with the technology and then it is done. If you can post your details to the TW: My Details page or send the URL in an email to me before then, then that is the most important thing done. However, you should still come if you have a problem using the DIY Textbook.

Thank you. Bye for now, Owen.

1.Mari	http://themewritinge-portfoliomari.blogspot.com/
2.Marina	http://marinasthemewriting.blogspot.com/
3.Noriaki	http://noriakitw07.blogspot.com/
4.Yohei	http://yoheitw07.blogspot.com/
5.Izumi	http://izumiad07.blogspot.com/
6.Yasutake	http://yasutake-tw-0708.blogspot.com/
7.Hanako	http://hanakotw07.blogspot.com/
8.Miki	http://mikiscicu07.blogspot.com/
9.Marie	http://scicu07.blogspot.com/
10.Nozomi	http://nozomitw07.blogspot.com/
11.Shunsuke	http://shunsuketw07.blogspot.com/
12.Ikumi	http://ikumi-tw-07@blogspot.com/
13.Kanako
14.Rina
15.Minako
16.Yuta

TW Information: Homework update

Dear Theme Writers,

Links: TW Homepage http://twicu.blogspot.com/. Go to Course Information.

It is 2 o'clock Friday now, and by the end of the day today, your homework calls for you to have set up your blog as your e-portfolio for Theme Writing. It has been a very positive response so far. Well done and thank you to everyone below. Follow the instructions carefully and view the screencasts (videos) and everything will go well.

Bye now, Owen.

1.Mari	http://themewritinge-portfoliomari.blogspot.com/
2. Marina	http://marinasthemewriting.blogspot.com/
3.Noriaki	http://noriakitw07.blogspot.com/
4.Yohei	http://yoheitw07.blogspot.com/
5. Izumi	http://izumiad07.blogspot.com/
6.Yasutake	http://yasutake-tw-0708.blogspot.com/
7.Hanako	http://hanakotw07.blogspot.com/

How to register for the DIY Textbook

This five minute video will walk you step by step through joining the DIY Textbook as a registered user. Originally created for my ARW and Sophomore English students, the video explains the basic process involved in registering, simply change the details you use to register as a student in TW.

**PS**Please ignore all the posts below, since they relate to last year's TW class**