Using Graphs and Data in Your Essay

This week, you need to find a topic that interests you that has some data or statistics that you can present. You should write about the topic and include a graph to help the reader understand the information. There are two basic types of article you can write:

A general information essay with data -
For example, you might choose "cell phones market shares" as your topic, and you might find some data showing which cell phone companies have what market share now. If you have good market share data, you can make a pie chart showing which companies have what percentage of the market. Of course, you also must write in words what all the data means.

An advocacy essay with data -
This type of essay takes a point of view on a topic. For example, I am concerned about shark finning and the decline of sharks around the world. I can write an essay about the problem and show a graph with data on how sharks are declining in the world's oceans.

When you look for data on your topic, please try to use reliable sources. A student blog, for example, would not be considered reliable.

You must also list your sources at the end of the essay in this assignment. If your source is a website, you must write the name of the site, the date if known, and the URL.

When you put the data in your essay, please use the graph function in Word. Part of this assignment is learning how to use the graph function so you have experience with it if you need to make graphs in the future.

Taking Risks

In class, we've been talking about dangerous things in our daily lives. We've also talked about taking risks. Below is a list of several activities (from Let's Talk 3) that are either risky or that might make you feel tense or anxious. Which one would be the most difficult for you to do? Why? Choose one and blog about it. Explain why it would be difficult for you and how you would feel if you had to do it. You should start your blog like this: "Being interviewed on TV would be the hardest for me." Etc. Please try to write at least 4 sentences in your blog. Explain in as much detail as possible. If you wish, you can also describe a past experience that is connected to the topic.

* being interviewed on TV
* complaining to a teacher
* giving a speech in front of many people
* going on a blind date
* jumping from an airplane
* moving to a new country
* quitting a job
* singing solo in front of the class
* traveling abroad alone

If you finish soon, please write a 2nd blog about which activity from the list would be the easiest for you to do.

Essay Writing - April 14, 2010

Welcome students!

This is the first class of Essay Writing at Tsurumi University. We will have a busy year, so let`s get started with some English blogging right away.

Please comment on `Writing in English.` You can tell me anything that`s connected to the topic. Tell me about the ways you have written in English in the past (for example, letters to friends, email, English homework and essays, etc.). Tell me how it will be useful for you to be able to write well in English. Write ANYTHING connected to the topic `Writing in English.`

Your writing on this blog should not be too long. From 50 to 100 words is OK.

You may sign your name with your real first name (ex. Reiko, Hiroaki) or you may use your special blog nickname that you chose in class.

OK, please get started!

Kevin Miller
Tsurumi University English Dept.