Video — Mary, Did You Know? (Petatonix)

Mary, Did You Know? is a Christmas song written in 1991. It has become a popular song for artists to cover. Maybe the best version so far is the one recorded this year by Pentatonix, a popular YouTube artist. Enjoy the video again. I have included the lyrics below the video.

Merry Christmas!

Mary, did you know that your baby boy would one day walk on water?

Mary, did you know that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters?

Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?

This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you.

Mary, did you know that your baby boy would give sight to a blind man?

Mary, did you know that your baby boy would calm a storm with his hand?

Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?

And when you kiss your little baby, you have kissed the face of God.

The blind will see, the deaf will hear and the dead will live again.

The lame will leap, the mute will speak, the praises of the Lamb.

Mary, did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?

Mary, did you know that your baby boy will one day rule the nations?

Did you know that your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?

This sleeping child you're holding is the great I AM.

Lesson 12 – Supporting the Main Idea (continued)

EWr
We did Extensive Writing (EWr) once again on the topic of A Good (or Bad) Christmas (or New Year's) memory. Could you beat your best? Enter your score in your EWr Log.


Quizlet
We used Quizlet in class to study vocabulary. You should also use it outside of class. 

We took at quiz on NAWL 3. If you received 80% or more, you will take the NAWL 4 quiz next class. If you did not receive 80%, you will take the same quiz again.


Textbook
We checked our answers with our partners and the class.

Answer Key



Homework

• Do You Be the Editor in your textbook (p. 111). Check your answers with the key in the back of the textbook.
• Do On Your Own. (p. 111). and check the answers.
• Spend 5 minutes or more per day on Quizlet. There will be a quiz on the next  NAWL level list next week. 
• Write a new blog post with the topic A Good (or Bad) Christmas (or New Year's) memory. Include a photograph or illustration.

Video — Angels We Have Heard on High (The Piano Guys)

Angels We Have Heard on High
(The Piano Guys)

Now that Thanksgiving is finished, we can listen to Christmas music! This is a classic Christmas song with a twist by the Piano Guys. They use many GoPro cameras and a drone (indoors!).

Enjoy it again (except for the 3rd period class. We didn't have time during the class, so enjoy it for the first time!).

Lesson 11 – Supporting the Main Idea (continued)

EWr
We did Extensive Writing (EWr) once again on the topic of What do you like to do in December (not Christmas)? Could you beat your best? Enter your score in your EWr Log.


Quizlet
We used Quizlet in class to study vocabulary. You should also use it outside of class. 

We took at quiz on NAWL 2. If you received 80% or more, you will take the NAWL 3 quiz next week. If you did not receive 80%, you will take the NAWL 1 quiz again.


Textbook
We looked at the first part of Chapter 7: Supporting  the Main Idea in the textbook. 

With your partner, you did Prewriting A & B on page 91 and Prewriting A, B & C on pp. 92-93.


Homework

• Do Paragraph Practice 2 in your textbook (p. 97). Write your paragraph in Google Docs.
• Do Practice A and B in your textbook (pp. 98-99) and check the answers.
• Do Paragraph Practice 1 in your textbook (pp. 99-100).
• Do Practice A, B and C in your textbook (pp. 101-103) and check your answers for B.
• Do Paragraph Practice 1 in your textbook (pp. 104-105) and check your answers for Prewriting.
• Do Practice A and B in your textbook (pp. 108-110).
• Spend 5 minutes or more per day on Quizlet. There will be a quiz on the NAWL 2 list next week. 
• Leave a comment on your classmate's post OYO. Choose the person 4 above you on the list.

Video — Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy (Pentatonix)

Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy
(Pentatonix)

This Christmas tune is from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Ballet. The story takes place on Christmas Eve. This performance is amazing. I wonder how many hours they must have practiced for this song.

Enjoy it again.

Lesson 10 – Supporting the Main Idea

EWr
We did Extensive Writing (EWr) once again on the topic of What do you like to do in December (not Christmas)? Could you beat your best? Enter your score in your EWr Log.


Quizlet
We used Quizlet in class to study vocabulary. You should also use it outside of class. 

We took at quiz on NAWL 1. If you received 80% or more, you will take the NAWL 2 quiz next week. If you did not receive 80%, you will take the NAWL 1 quiz again.


Textbook
We looked at the first part of Chapter 7: Supporting  the Main Idea in the textbook. 

With your partner, you did Prewriting A & B on page 91 and Prewriting A, B & C on pp. 92-93.


Homework

• Do You Be the Editor (pp. 86). Check your answers in the back of the book.
• Do Practice A & B (pp. 88-89) in your textbook.
• Practice Grammar for Writing in your textbook (pp. 89-90)
• Do the rest of Paragraph Practice 1 in your textbook (pp. 91-92). Write your paragraph in Google Docs.Write your paragraph in Google Docs.
• Do the rest of Paragraph Practice 2 in your textbook (p. 93).
• Spend 5 minutes or more per day on Quizlet. There will be a quiz on the NAWL 2 list next week. 
• Write a new blog post with the topic OYO: (+ your title). Follow the instructions from On Your Own (p. 86).

Google Docs Homework

• Give it the title of your full name + AW06 + L10 (Taro Suzuki's AW06 L10).
• Share it with me on Google. 12/11 23:59.

Video — Let It Go (Disney's "Frozen") Vivaldi's Winter — The Piano Guys

Let It Go (Disney's "Frozen") Vivaldi's Winter
(The Piano Guys)

Because it's getting colder, I wanted to share this with you.

Enjoy the video again.

Lesson 9 – Chapter 6C: Revising

EWr
We did Extensive Writing (EWr) once again on the topic of How Do You Stay Warm? Could you beat your best? Enter your score in your EWr Log.


Quizlet
We used Quizlet in class to study vocabulary. You should also use it outside of class. 


Textbook
We practiced revising as the third step in the Writing Process pp. 77-78.

You can check your answers with the link below:
Chapter 6 Answers


Paragraph Practice 2

• You interviewed your partner as a prewriting activity (pp. 84-85). Write a paragraph about your partner in Google Docs.
• Give it the title of your full name + AW06 + L9 (Taro Suzuki's AW06 L9).
• Share it with them on Google. (Be sure to get their email address). 11/29 23:59.
• Give suggestions to your partner about their paragraph. 12/1 23:59.
• Rewrite your paragraph and share it with me. Use the Revising Checklist (p. 77). 12/4 23:59.

Homework

• Practice revising using Practice B (pp. 79-80).
• Practice Grammar for Writing in your textbook (pp. 80-83)
• Spend 5 minutes or more per day on Quizlet. There will be a quiz on the NAWL 1 list next week. 
• Leave a comment on your classmate's post My Favorite Smartphone App. Choose the person 3 below you on the list.

Video — Indiana Jones Rocks Petra with this Arabian Classical Remix! - The Piano Guys (Wonder of the World 4 of 7)

Indiana Jones Rocks Petra with this Arabian Classical Remix!
(The Piano Guys Wonders of the World Series)

This is the fourth in the series where The Piano Guys go to one of the 7 Wonders of the World.  In this video, they go to Petra a city built into the rock in Jordan. The name Petra means rock.

Because Petra was a location in the 3rd Indian Jones movie, they use music from the soundtrack in this tune.

Enjoy the video again.


 





You can read more about the New 7 Wonders of the World in simple English here:
New 7 Wonders of the World 

Lesson 8 – Chapter 6B: Clustering

EWr
We did Extensive Writing (EWr) once again on the topic of Smartphone Apps. Could you beat your best? Enter your score in your EWr Log.


Quizlet
We used Quizlet in class to study vocabulary. You should also use it outside of class. 


Textbook
We tried clustering as a pre-writing strategy pp. 75-76.


Write your outline from your clustering ideas on your paper.


Homework

• Write your answers in a Google Docs file (see instructions below). 
• Outline for your clustering topic (p. 76)
• Step Two: Writing (for your clustering topic) (pp. 76-77)
• Spend 5 minutes or more per day on Quizlet.
• Write a new blog post with the topic My Favorite Smartphone App.

Google Docs
For the online part of your homework, prepare a Google Doc and share it with me.

• Go to Google Docs here: Google Docs
• Start a new document.
• Give it the title of your full name + AW06 + L8 (Taro Suzuki's AW06 L8)
• Share it with me.

Due 11/27 23:59

Video — The Jungle Book / Sarabande (Mayan Style)

The Jungle Book / Sarabande (Mayan Style)
(The Piano Guys Wonders of the World Series)

This is the third in the series where The Piano Guys go to one of the 7 Wonders of the World.  In this video, they go to Chichén Itzá on the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. The most famous view is of El Castillo, a big Mayan pyramid.

The music is a medley of tunes from the soundtrack to Disney's The Jungle Book. Did you see the bear and the panther in the video? They are two main characters from the movie

Enjoy the video again.


 



You can read more about the New 7 Wonders of the World in simple English here:
New 7 Wonders of the World 

Lesson 7 – Chapter 6: Understanding the Writing Process

EWr
We did Extensive Writing (EWr) once again on the topic of Movies. Could you beat your best? Enter your score in your EWr Log.


Quizlet
We used Quizlet in class to study vocabulary. You should also use it outside of class. 


Textbook
You shared your answers to pages 47 - 61 with your partner.


Homework

• Write your answers in a Google Docs file (see instructions below). 
• Putting It All Together, step 4 (p. 61)
• On Your Own (p. 61)
• Write your outline from your brainstorming ideas on your paper.
• Do Step Two: Writing with your ideas in your textbook (pp. 76-77)
• Spend 5 minutes or more per day on Quizlet.
• Leave a comment on your classmate's post Music. Choose the person 2 above you on the list.

Google Docs
For the online part of your homework, prepare a Google Doc and share it with me.

• Go to Google Docs here: Google Docs
• Start a new document.
• Give it the title of your full name + AW06 + L7 (Taro Suzuki's AW06 L7)
• Share it with me.

Due 11/20 23:59


You can check your answers for chapter one with this link.

Chapter 4 Answer Key

Video — The Mission / How Great Thou Art - The Piano Guys (Wonder of The World 2 of 7)

The Mission / How Great Thou Art 
(The Piano Guys Wonders of the World Series)

This is the second in the series where The Piano Guys go to one of the 7 Wonders of the World.  In this video, they go to the Christ the Redeemer Statue in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). They also visit Iguazu Falls near the border of Argentina. 

The music is a mashup (mix) of two tunes. One is called Gabriel's Oboe. It is the most famous music from the soundtrack of the movie The Mission. The setting of the movie is at Iguazu Falls. It is a wonderful movie and I strongly recommend it. It has a beautiful theme about love (not romantic). I cry every time I see it. The other music is a Christian hymn called How Great Thou Art.

Enjoy the video again.


 

You can read more about the New 7 Wonders of the World in simple English here:
New 7 Wonders of the World 

Lesson 6 – Chapter 4: Organizing Information by Order of Importance

EWr
We did Extensive Writing (EWr) once again on the topic of Music. Could you beat your best? Enter your score in your EWr Log.


Quizlet
We used Quizlet in class to study vocabulary. You should also use it outside of class. 


Textbook
You shared your answers to pages 32 - 46 with your partner.


Homework

• Write your answers in a Google Docs file (see instructions below). 
• Putting It All Together, step 3 (p. 45)
• On Your Own (p. 46)
• In your textbook write your answers for pages 43-61 (except On Your Own). 
• Spend 5 minutes or more per day on Quizlet.
• Write a new blog post (50 words or more and photos) on the topic of Music.

Google Docs
For the online part of your homework, prepare a Google Doc and share it with me.

• Go to Google Docs here: Google Docs
• Start a new document.
• Give it the title of your full name + AW06 + L6 (Taro Suzuki's AW06 L6)
• Share it with me.

Due 11/13 23:59


You can check your answers for chapter one with this link.
Chapter 3 Answer Key

Video — Kung Fu Piano: Cello Ascends (The Piano Guys – Wonders of the World Series)

Kung Fu Piano: Cello Ascends 
(The Piano Guys Wonders of the World Series)

This is the first in the series where The Piano Guys go to one of the 7 Wonders of the World.  In this video, they go to the Great Wall of China. Enjoy the video again.






You can read more about the New 7 Wonders of the World in simple English here:
New 7 Wonders of the World 

Lesson 5 – Chapter 3: Organizing Information by Time Order

EWr
We did Extensive Writing (EWr) once again. Could you beat your best? Enter your score in your EWr Log.


Quizlet
We used Quizlet in class. You should also use it outside of class. 


Textbook
You shared your answers to pages 21 - 31 with your partner.


Homework

• Write your answers in a Google Docs file (see instructions below). 
• Task D (p. 30)
• On Your Own (p. 31)
• In your textbook write your answers for pages 32-46 (except On Your Own). From pp. 38-42, you can choose just 2 of the Practice Paragraph activities. 
• Spend 5 minutes or more per day on Quizlet.

Google Docs
For the online part of your homework, prepare a Google Doc and share it with me.

• Go to Google Docs here: Google Docs
• Start a new document.
• Give it the title of your full name + AW06 + L5 (Taro Suzuki's AW06 L5)
• Share it with me.

Due 11/6 23:59


Blog Comments
From the list of student blogs on the right side of this blog, find the student who is one above you on the list and go to their blog. Read their blog post titled Festivals and leave a comment. Then, find two more classmates' blogs to comment on.

Due 11/6 23:59



You can check your answers for chapter one with this link.
Chapter 2 Answer Key

Video — Mission Impossible (The Piano Guys featuring Lindsey Stirling)

We watched the Piano Guys play Mission Impossible, a popular TV show turned into a movie series. This time they were joined by another YouTube star, Lindsey Stirling. She is known for playing violin while dancing. Enjoy it again below:

Lesson 4 – Understanding Paragraphs

EWr
We did Extensive Writing (EWr) once again. Could you beat your best? Enter your score in your EWr Log.

Quizlet

We used Quizlet in class. You should also use it outside of class. It is a great tool for improving your vocabulary. Try to use it every day even for only 5 minutes. You can use it while you're on the school bus, standing in line, or on a train.

Textbook

We shared our answers to pages 11 - 20 with our partners.

We also began on pages 21-31.

Homework

1. Write your answers in a Google Docs file (see instructions below). 
1. Task B (p. 14)
2. Writing Topic Sentences (pp. 16-17)
3. Writing Supporting Sentences (p. 18)
4. Writing Concluding Sentences (p. 20)
2. In your textbook write your answers for pages 21-31. 
3. Write a new blog post (50 words or more and photos) on the topic of Festivals.
4. Spend 5 minutes or more per day on Quizlet.

Google Docs

For the online part of your homework, prepare a Google Doc and share it with me.

1. Go to Google Docs here: Google Docs
2. Sign in using your Google ID and password.
3. Start a new document.
4. Give it the title of your full name + AW06 + L4 (Taro Suzuki's AW06 L4)
5. Click on the Share button.
6. Type in my samuraitheologian email address.
7. Click Share. 
8. Due 10/30 23:59

Blog Comments

From the list of student blogs on the right side of this blog, find the student who is one below you on the list and go to their blog. Read their blog post and leave a comment. Then, find two more classmates' blogs to comment on.
Due 10/29 23:59

You can check your answers for chapter one with this link.
Chapter 1 Answer Key

Video — Gangnam Style (Cover by Jayesslee on YouTube)

We watched Jayesslee's (Janice & Sonia Lee) cover of Psy's Gangnam Style. They are a talented pair of Korean-Australian women from Sydney. Enjoy it again below:

Lesson 3 – Student Blogs

EWr
We tried Extensive Writing (EWr) again. Could you beat your score from last week? Enter your score in your EWr Log.


Quizlet
After you enter your EWr Scores in your log, study vocabulary on Quizlet.

Textbook

We checked our answers for Chapter 1. For homework  do Chapter 2: Understanding Paragraphs in the textbook. Read, study, and do the tasks from pages 11-20. Be ready to share your answers in the next lesson.


Blog Set Up
If you have not yet set up your blog for our class, follow these steps:

1. Log in to Google.co.jp .
2. Change language to English to make it easier to follow these instructions.
3. Click on the icon at the top right of the page that looks like a box of 9 squares.
4. Pull down to the More menu item.
5. Click on the Blogger menu item.
6. Click on the New Blog button at the top left of the page.
7. In the Title cell, write, "(your full name's) AW Blog" (ex. Keiko Sato's AW Blog).
8. In the Address cell, write, "(your full name without spaces) + AW05" (ex. KeikoSatoAW05).
9. Choose a Template that you like (I don't recommend Awesome  Inc. because it's difficult to read). Don't worry, you can change the template at any time.
10. Click on Create Blog. This should take you to your Blogger Dashboard.
11. Follow the steps below (from step 2) to send me the link to your blog.

Submit Blog Link
Everyone should send me the link to your blog. Follow these steps:

1. Go to Blogger and log in. This should take you to your Blogger Dashboard.
2. Click on the View Blog button.
3. Copy the URL to your blog.
4. Send it to me by email (samuraitheologian) with "AW05 Blog Link" as your email subject.

First Blog Assignment
Write a blog post introducing yourself. You should include information about:

• Your name.
• Your family (if you feel comfortable)
• Your hometown
• Your school major (Literature, Economics, Politics, etc…)
• Your interests or hobbies
• Your pets

Include photographs or images if you like. Give your blog post the title Self-Introduction. Due 10/23 23:59.

Video — Cello Wars (Star Wars parody by The Piano Guys on YouTube)

The Piano Guys are my favorite YouTube artists. They have great music AND great videos. This one is a parody of my favorite movie from my childhood, Star Wars. Now people call it Episode IV (4) or A New Hope, but it was Star Wars to us when it came out. It wasn't until the stupid prequels (Episodes I, II & III) years later that those names were used.

The ideas of lightsabers, fighting ships flying across the screen, laser guns and The Force were all new and very cool. Star Wars was the first real blockbuster movie. If you wanted to see it when it came out, you might have had to wait hours and there were no reserved seats back then. It stayed in the cinemas for over a year.

I have included a modern trailer of the movie below the Piano Guys video. The original trailer was not very good. Enjoy!

Lesson 2 – Extensive Writing & Journals

Extensive Writing (EWr)
We tried Extensive Writing (EWr) for the first time. How many words could you write?

EWr Log

We will use Google Sheets (spreadsheet) to keep track of our progress in extensive writing (EWr). This makes it easy me to follow your progress. It also makes it easy for you to see your own progress. You can generate a line graph from the spreadsheet.

Follow the steps:

1. Sign in / log in to Google Drive.
2. Click on NEW.
3. Choose GOOGLE SHEETS. 
4. In the top left box, give your spreadsheet the title: full name + AW06 + EWr Log (e.g., Taro Suzuki AWO6 EWr Log)
5. In the top right corner, click on SHARE.
6. Share it with me. Use my email address (samuraitheologian).
7. In the A column, write the date of your first EWr.
8. In the B column, write the number of words.
9. In the C column, write the percentage (%) your partner understood.
10. Repeat for each time.

Enter in your EWr score every week.

Quizlet Sign Up

We will use Quizlet, a free flashcard app to study vocabulary. Take the following steps to join our Quizlet group and begin studying.

1. Go to http://quizlet.com and sign up. Be sure to use your real name.
2. After signing up, click on this link to join our class's group: https://quizlet.com/join/RUHK9RYbq.
3. Try the set on our class page.
4. Download the Quizlet app for your phone from your app store (recommended).
5. Practice the different tools on Quizlet this week.

Homework

Do pages 1~9 in your textbook. 

Video – Tom Sawyer by Rush

As I told you in my self-introduction, the Canadian rock trio, Rush, is my favorite band. Geddy Lee, the bass player, is also the singer and keyboardist; Alex Lifeson is the guitar player; Neil Peart is the drummer and lyricist (writer of the words).

Rush's best-known song is Tom Sawyer. Tom Sawyer is the name of a famous character is American literature. Mark Twain wrote a few novels with Tom as a character who observes human nature. Tom was a boy and had a friend named Huckleberry (Huck) Finn. Huck had his own novel in which he made a raft (small flat boat) and traveled down the Mississippi River with an escaped slave.

In the introduction part of the video there is an animation with characters from South Park (a popular TV show). The characters have their own rock group called Lil' Rush. They start to play Tom Sawyer, but stop to have an argument. It's because the singer confuses Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn.

In this song, Peart (the writer) thinks of himself as a "modern-day Tom Sawyer". So, this song is really about himself. I have included the lyrics (words) below the video if you would like to read them. Enjoy!






Tom Sawyer
Words: Peart    Music: Lee & Lifeson

A modern day warrior
Mean, mean stride
Today's Tom Sawyer
Mean, mean pride

Though his mind is not for rent
Don't put him down as arrogant
He reserves the quiet defense
Riding out the day's events
The river

What you say about his company
Is what you say about society
Catch the mist, catch the myth
Catch the mystery, catch the drift

The world is, the world is
Love and life are deep
Maybe as his skies are wide

Today's Tom Sawyer
He gets high on you
And the space he invades
He gets by on you

No, his mind is not for rent
To any God or government
Always hopeful yet discontent
He knows changes aren't permanent
But change is

What you say about his company
Is what you say about society
Catch the witness, catch the wit
Catch the spirit, catch the spit

The world is, the world is
Love and life are deep
Maybe as his eyes are wide

Exit the warrior
Today's Tom Sawyer
He gets by on you
And the energy you trade
He gets right on to the friction of the day

Lesson 1 – Welcome!

Welcome to Academic Writing (Intermediate)!

In this first lesson, we introduced ourselves to each other. I also explained the outline for the course.

Vocabulary Level Test

We took a test to check our vocabulary level. This will help me know how best to teach you. It will also help you know better how to study.

Next Week

1. Buy a B5 Notebook
2. Write your full name in English on the front
3. Write "Academic Writing 06" under your name
4. Write "Daniel Beck" below that.
5. Bring your Macbook.