Can you imagine your life without a car? At first, you would probably think that life without a car is impossible. Cars are convenient and we rely on them a lot in our daily lives. But if you really think about it, cars are not really necessary. Any of us can adapt to life without a car, and our lives would actually be better. The truth is, cars are not good for us, and we would be better off without them. Cars should be abolished.
First, our lives would be safer without cars. Young people often drive too fast and get in car accidents. If cars were abolished, all young people would grow up safely. Also, the number of people who drink and drive is increasing. If cars were abolished, all drunk people would have to take public transportation. There would no longer be any accidents due to drunk driving.
Next, we would use less energy and have less pollution. Cars in Japan and other developed countries are improving their gas mileage, but cars still cause more pollution than public transportation. Without any cars on the roads, our air would be so much cleaner, and the gases that cause global warming would be reduced. This is an important point for the future of everyone.
Finally, we would get more exercise by walking and riding bicycles. Now, we often rely on cars to go a short distance, but without cars, we would have to get around on our own power. Walking or riding a bicycle is good for our health. We will burn calories, exercise our heart, and improve our condition. The problem of people being overweight will be a thing of the past.
Many people think they cannot live without a car, but they would soon find many benefits to life without cars. Our lives would be safer, we would have less pollution, and we would get more exercise. People all over the world would soon appreciate a cleaner, safer, quieter world. We would all live longer, and one day our kids will say, “What were they thinking in those days? Why would anyone need their own car?”
__________________
What do you think?
Do you agree with the opinion above? Whether you agree or disagree, write your opinion in a short paragraph in the comment box. OR you can choose a topic from the list I gave you for the Opinion Essay (#4) and write a short paragraph. OR you can go to the Japan news sites, find a recent topic that interests you, and write a short paragraph about it.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
The Summer Heat is Upon Us!
We had some cool weather for a while in May, but Japan's famous heat is now upon us. Staying cool will be a challenge. It's especially hard to stay cool in the commuter trains. Fortunately, I get to sit, because I get on at a "shihatsu" station. I bring extra t-shirts to school so I can change into them after a class. Teaching makes me feel warmer than ever. What are your tips for staying cool in the summer? Please give me your suggestions. Tell me "How to stay cool this summer."
If you'd rather comment about a recent news item, you may do that. Here's the link to the page with news sites:
Japan News Online
If you'd rather comment about a recent news item, you may do that. Here's the link to the page with news sites:
Japan News Online
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Sample Essays & More
Students in Essay Writing class are doing a great job this year. Attendance is good, and everyone is writing a lot and creating some very nice essays. Let's take a look at some student writing so we can understand better what other people in class are doing. I am just using the students' initials so they won't be embarrassed!
My Special Thing: My Cell Phone
by S.K.
My special thing is my cell phone. I started to want my own cell phone when I was a schoolchild. I couldn't get a cell phone at that time, so I borrowed my mother's cell phone. I continued to use her cell phone while I was home, so she couldn't use it. She stopped letting me borrow it. Then I started sending mail from a PC. But many friends had their own cell phones when I was a junior high school student, so I wanted my own cell phone, too. My sister also wanted her own cell phone. We asked my mother to buy a cell phone for us. Our mother said, "If you can improve your grades, I will buy you cell phones." We studied very hard and helped our mother. In the end, I couldn't improve my grades, but my sister could. I was upset. However, our mother said, "I will buy you both cell phones because both of you studied very hard." I was lucky, so I will try to take care of my cell phone.
Recently I found that cell phones are useful when an earthquake hits. I was on a train alone when the earthquake hit, so I worried about my family and my friends. But I was safe and I got the earthquake information by my cell phone. so I could be relieved a little. And now everyone can make charitable contributions from their cell phones, and I can leave messages to victims to cheer them up.
My cell phone is the most important communication too for me. I am shy, so I can't talk face to face with people easily. So I use e-mail and blogs and so on for good communication. Recently, I am not so nervous to talk face to face. I also like listening to music and watching TV on my cell phone. I think that having a cell phone is indispensable to me.
Rice is Better than Bread
Comparison essay by K.F.
Rice is better than bread. First, rice is healthier than bread. If you have a staple diet of rice as well as the dishes that go along with rice, you can get all essential nutrients easily. And the dishes that go well with rice contain nutrients that prevent lifestyle diseases. If you want to keep healthy, you should have a staple diet of rice. However, you have to make sure that you have a balanced diet.
Second, rice is more enjoyable than bread. There are a lot of dishes that go well with rice. For example, pickles, natto, Chinese food and so on go well with rice. And there are various ways to eat rice, such as a rice ball, a bowl of rice topped with chicken and eggs cooked together, mochi and the like. So you can enjoy having rice in many different ways.
Finally, rice makes you smarter than bread. There are three reasons. First, rice contains a lot of lecithin, which improves memory and concentration. Second, rice is more firm than bread, so you have to chew it well. To chew well makes your brain active. Third, rice keeps you going longer than bread, so you can concentrate longer.
Article Link:
Here's an interesting article and video on CNN about the seniors in Japan who are willing to sacrifice themselves to work on the nuclear power plant. These people deserve our admiration and appreciation, so let's learn more about them.
Today we will begin a new essay called a "How to ..." essay. You can see sample essays by students from last year if you click on the link below.
How Not to Be Late, by F.S.
How to Be a Great Guitarist, by Yuta
If we have time today, we will blog and prepare for the "How to ..." Essay by writing a one-point advice on How to Make Someone Attracted to You. Please write your comment in the box below. You don't have to write your name, but you can if you want to.
My Special Thing: My Cell Phone
by S.K.
My special thing is my cell phone. I started to want my own cell phone when I was a schoolchild. I couldn't get a cell phone at that time, so I borrowed my mother's cell phone. I continued to use her cell phone while I was home, so she couldn't use it. She stopped letting me borrow it. Then I started sending mail from a PC. But many friends had their own cell phones when I was a junior high school student, so I wanted my own cell phone, too. My sister also wanted her own cell phone. We asked my mother to buy a cell phone for us. Our mother said, "If you can improve your grades, I will buy you cell phones." We studied very hard and helped our mother. In the end, I couldn't improve my grades, but my sister could. I was upset. However, our mother said, "I will buy you both cell phones because both of you studied very hard." I was lucky, so I will try to take care of my cell phone.
Recently I found that cell phones are useful when an earthquake hits. I was on a train alone when the earthquake hit, so I worried about my family and my friends. But I was safe and I got the earthquake information by my cell phone. so I could be relieved a little. And now everyone can make charitable contributions from their cell phones, and I can leave messages to victims to cheer them up.
My cell phone is the most important communication too for me. I am shy, so I can't talk face to face with people easily. So I use e-mail and blogs and so on for good communication. Recently, I am not so nervous to talk face to face. I also like listening to music and watching TV on my cell phone. I think that having a cell phone is indispensable to me.
Rice is Better than Bread
Comparison essay by K.F.
Rice is better than bread. First, rice is healthier than bread. If you have a staple diet of rice as well as the dishes that go along with rice, you can get all essential nutrients easily. And the dishes that go well with rice contain nutrients that prevent lifestyle diseases. If you want to keep healthy, you should have a staple diet of rice. However, you have to make sure that you have a balanced diet.
Second, rice is more enjoyable than bread. There are a lot of dishes that go well with rice. For example, pickles, natto, Chinese food and so on go well with rice. And there are various ways to eat rice, such as a rice ball, a bowl of rice topped with chicken and eggs cooked together, mochi and the like. So you can enjoy having rice in many different ways.
Finally, rice makes you smarter than bread. There are three reasons. First, rice contains a lot of lecithin, which improves memory and concentration. Second, rice is more firm than bread, so you have to chew it well. To chew well makes your brain active. Third, rice keeps you going longer than bread, so you can concentrate longer.
Article Link:
Here's an interesting article and video on CNN about the seniors in Japan who are willing to sacrifice themselves to work on the nuclear power plant. These people deserve our admiration and appreciation, so let's learn more about them.
Today we will begin a new essay called a "How to ..." essay. You can see sample essays by students from last year if you click on the link below.
How Not to Be Late, by F.S.
How to Be a Great Guitarist, by Yuta
If we have time today, we will blog and prepare for the "How to ..." Essay by writing a one-point advice on How to Make Someone Attracted to You. Please write your comment in the box below. You don't have to write your name, but you can if you want to.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Two Months After the Quake
It's been about two months since the big earthquake and tsunami that devastated the Tohoku region of Japan. While things have improved, there are still many problems related to the disaster. The victims from that area have the biggest problems, of course, and our inconveniences here in the Yokohama & Tokyo areas are minor in comparison. But it's interesting to think about how our lives have changed since the disaster. For example, our university has stopped using many elevators. Also, at Tsurumi Station, the escalator going from the bus stop to the 2nd floor is no longer operating. What other changes in your daily life have you noticed since the disaster? Blog about how the earthquake has affected you and your community in the last two months.
If this blog topic doesn't appeal to you, go to the list of Japan News sites from April 20 on this blog and find a news story you would like to comment on. Meanwhile, most students will be revising their 2nd Essay (Comparison).
If this blog topic doesn't appeal to you, go to the list of Japan News sites from April 20 on this blog and find a news story you would like to comment on. Meanwhile, most students will be revising their 2nd Essay (Comparison).
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Paragraph Formats
Welcome back everyone! How was your Golden Week? I hope you had a great time and relaxed a bit; we have a long stretch before summer vacation!
I have some things I'd like to remind you about...
First, your 2nd essay, the Comparison Essay, first draft, is due on Thursday, May 12.
Second, please don't retype your essay when I give you your first draft back to revise. You should make changes on your first draft, which you should have saved in your computer somewhere. Every time you retype, you make new typing mistakes, so it's difficult to make progress towards a perfect final draft. Always save your essays and make corrections on your saved document.
Next, remember that there is always ONE space after a period or comma (or any punctuation mark). If you have no spaces or two spaces, I will ask you to change it. Also remember that there is NEVER a space before a punctuation mark.
Finally, let's talk about paragraph formats. If you'll remember, I told you to choose either of two formats, indent style or block style. Following are examples of both.
Indent Style
This is the most common paragraph style in books and magazines. You will notice that the first line of the paragraph is indented about 4 letter spaces. In Japanese magazines, it's OK to indent just one character space, but in English writing, this doesn't look like an indent. Four letter spaces looks great for English essays!
You'll also notice that there is no space between paragraphs. When you want to begin a new paragraph, you hit Enter on your keyboard, and you'll go to the next line. If you use Tab for your indents, the word processor will indent for you automatically. You can also adjust the indent size if you like.
When we write paragraphs, there is sometimes some space after the last word of the paragraph. This is not a problem.
Block Style
Block style paragraphs are most commonly used in business letters, but in Essay Writing Class, you may use block style if you like. With block style, you'll notice that you don't indent the first line of the paragraph; you just begin typing.
But if you don't indent, how will you know when a new paragraph begins? The space between paragraphs tells you! Notice that in the Indent Style paragraphs above, there are no spaces between paragraphs.
Please remember that I'd like you to choose one format or the other. Please don't combine them! That means, if you indent, please don't make a space between paragraphs. If you use block style, then please don't indent (not even one space!)
I have some things I'd like to remind you about...
First, your 2nd essay, the Comparison Essay, first draft, is due on Thursday, May 12.
Second, please don't retype your essay when I give you your first draft back to revise. You should make changes on your first draft, which you should have saved in your computer somewhere. Every time you retype, you make new typing mistakes, so it's difficult to make progress towards a perfect final draft. Always save your essays and make corrections on your saved document.
Next, remember that there is always ONE space after a period or comma (or any punctuation mark). If you have no spaces or two spaces, I will ask you to change it. Also remember that there is NEVER a space before a punctuation mark.
Finally, let's talk about paragraph formats. If you'll remember, I told you to choose either of two formats, indent style or block style. Following are examples of both.
Indent Style
This is the most common paragraph style in books and magazines. You will notice that the first line of the paragraph is indented about 4 letter spaces. In Japanese magazines, it's OK to indent just one character space, but in English writing, this doesn't look like an indent. Four letter spaces looks great for English essays!You'll also notice that there is no space between paragraphs. When you want to begin a new paragraph, you hit Enter on your keyboard, and you'll go to the next line. If you use Tab for your indents, the word processor will indent for you automatically. You can also adjust the indent size if you like.When we write paragraphs, there is sometimes some space after the last word of the paragraph. This is not a problem.Block Style
Block style paragraphs are most commonly used in business letters, but in Essay Writing Class, you may use block style if you like. With block style, you'll notice that you don't indent the first line of the paragraph; you just begin typing.
But if you don't indent, how will you know when a new paragraph begins? The space between paragraphs tells you! Notice that in the Indent Style paragraphs above, there are no spaces between paragraphs.
Please remember that I'd like you to choose one format or the other. Please don't combine them! That means, if you indent, please don't make a space between paragraphs. If you use block style, then please don't indent (not even one space!)
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Comparison Essays
Today I will introduce Comparison Essays. In a normal comparison essay, you compare the good and bad points about two related topics. In my version, however, we will make is easier by emphasizing the good points of one thing compared to another. To put it simply, we will explain why one thing is better than another thing. For example, we might explain why we think motorcycles are better than cars, or why baseball is better than soccer. Of course, these examples are opinions, but that's OK. We are often called upon in real life and in business to persuade people that one thing is better than another. Today's essay topic is practice in doing that.
To prepare ourselves for the comparison essay, let's blog about something and write why we think it's better than something else. For example, look at the following list:
* Backstreet Boys & SMAP
* Yokohama & Tokyo
* Japanese food & Western food
* traveling alone & traveling with a group
* taking the train & driving
* baseball & soccer
Choose one from a pair above (or a different pair) and explain why it's better than the other. For example, if you like SMAP better than the Backstreet Boys, give 3 reasons why you think SMAP is better.
When you write your complete comparison essay (Essay #2), you can choose the same topic or a different one. The complete essay, of course, will be longer. It will have a thesis sentence, and 3 reasons, but each reason will have a paragraph with specific details and supporting examples. Following is a sample of a complete comparison essay, with a thesis sentence followed by 3 paragraphs that support the thesis. I have also posted a complete essay that has an introduction & conclusion (5 paragraphs). The thesis sentence is in the introduction. The easy (3-paragraph) essay is the homework for this week, but if you wish to challenge yourself, you may write the longer (5-paragraph) version.
Motorcycles Are Better Than Cars (Easy Version)
Motorcycles Are Better Than Cars (Version with Introduction & Conclusion)
To prepare ourselves for the comparison essay, let's blog about something and write why we think it's better than something else. For example, look at the following list:
* Backstreet Boys & SMAP
* Yokohama & Tokyo
* Japanese food & Western food
* traveling alone & traveling with a group
* taking the train & driving
* baseball & soccer
Choose one from a pair above (or a different pair) and explain why it's better than the other. For example, if you like SMAP better than the Backstreet Boys, give 3 reasons why you think SMAP is better.
When you write your complete comparison essay (Essay #2), you can choose the same topic or a different one. The complete essay, of course, will be longer. It will have a thesis sentence, and 3 reasons, but each reason will have a paragraph with specific details and supporting examples. Following is a sample of a complete comparison essay, with a thesis sentence followed by 3 paragraphs that support the thesis. I have also posted a complete essay that has an introduction & conclusion (5 paragraphs). The thesis sentence is in the introduction. The easy (3-paragraph) essay is the homework for this week, but if you wish to challenge yourself, you may write the longer (5-paragraph) version.
Motorcycles Are Better Than Cars (Easy Version)
Motorcycles Are Better Than Cars (Version with Introduction & Conclusion)
Motorcycles Are Better Than Cars (Easy Version)
Motorcycles are better than cars. First, motorcycles are more exciting than cars. When you ride them, you feel the wind rushing into your face and against your body. It makes you feel like you’re going a thousand kilometers an hour. The road is only centimeters below, and you can see the ground racing past as you cruise at top speed. You know you’re challenging death as you lean into every turn.
Next, motorcycles are cheaper than cars. To buy a decent used car, you have to spend at least 400,000 yen. A nice used motorcycle is about half that much! Moreover, the gasoline and parts are cheaper as well. And we usually don’t have to pay for parking. If you’re a student, you can usually save money by owning a motorcycle instead of a car.
Finally, motorcycles have a sexier image than cars. If you buy a used car, maybe you have to get an old, dirty economy car. The image is not cool, and you look like an old man or an old lady driving it. But if you have a motorcycle, everyone will think you are cool and exciting! You can attract girls easily and some people will be afraid of you. Having a motorcycle will make you look like a TV or movie star!
[Original essay by K. Miller, 2010. Copyright. This is an example of a comparison essay with no introduction or conclusion. However, it has a thesis sentence and supporting examples.]
Next, motorcycles are cheaper than cars. To buy a decent used car, you have to spend at least 400,000 yen. A nice used motorcycle is about half that much! Moreover, the gasoline and parts are cheaper as well. And we usually don’t have to pay for parking. If you’re a student, you can usually save money by owning a motorcycle instead of a car.
Finally, motorcycles have a sexier image than cars. If you buy a used car, maybe you have to get an old, dirty economy car. The image is not cool, and you look like an old man or an old lady driving it. But if you have a motorcycle, everyone will think you are cool and exciting! You can attract girls easily and some people will be afraid of you. Having a motorcycle will make you look like a TV or movie star!
[Original essay by K. Miller, 2010. Copyright. This is an example of a comparison essay with no introduction or conclusion. However, it has a thesis sentence and supporting examples.]
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