Dear Students

So now that it's all over, I want to say congratulations to all of you for making progress this semester.

I want to say a special congratulations to Luha and Aybeck, who were chosen as outstanding students of their classes.

Because so many of you were great students, it made my job not only easy but a lot of fun. I had some tough personal issues this term but I always looked forward to coming to class and seeing all of you.

Having said that, of course I hope you will stay in touch with me. If you're in Houston, please drop by when you can. In general, the best way to contact me is by email (holly_cin@yahoo.com). If there's anything I can do for you (within the scope of my limited powers), please don't hesitate to ask.

For those of you returning in the spring, I hope you have a wonderful vacation and that you return in safety and health. For all of you, I wish you only success as you continue down your life's exciting and adventurous journey.

As I said, I will miss you guys. Thanks for a wonderful semester and I look forward to getting together with you soon in my new and improved home :)

I look forward to seeing you again soon and to hearing lots of good news :)
HC

Schedule next week

Monday: Writing Sample
Tuesday:
Wednesday: Field trip to Galveston
Thursday: Final conferences (in OB 3A) and graduation ceremony at 2 p.m. (in Religion Bldg.)

Final conferences for 5B:
11:20: Nguyen
11:30: Chuong
11:40: Luha
11:50: Juan Carlos
12:00: Dalya
12:10: Santiago
12:20: Ali
12:30: Xiaotong
12:40: Rachel

5A:
11:00    Moaz
11:10    Aybeerk
11:20    Andy
11:30    Mingyao
11:40    Phong
11:50    Ha My
12:00    Ginna
12:10    Sophie
12:20    Daniela   
12:30     Nghi

Your Argument Presentations

Argument Nguyen

https://youtu.be/p7EcHgnHMPY

Argument Oria

https://youtu.be/eEAZ2XH6bwQ

Argument Juan Carlos

https://youtu.be/84rKOoLueFU

Argument Moaz:

https://youtu.be/84rKOoLueFU

Argument Jack:

https://youtu.be/vxujCix2nro

Argument Hamy:

https://youtu.be/slIbK0Gti0w

Argument Ro:

https://youtu.be/DWRdPduCEjY

Argument  Sophie:

https://youtu.be/PIZDi4nWXiw

ArgumentGinna:

https://youtu.be/AjDJrT7swj8

Class tomorrow

If you were absent today and didn't hear the message, CLASS TOMORROW IS IN THE HILTON HOTEL, NOT IN LAW HALL.

Schedule for week 12

Monday: AH 7 (Final exams: grammar, writing, and listening part 1)
Tuesday: Compass Exam (go to Roy Cullen (LCC BLDG) room 100 at 8:30)
Wednesday: No class/study day
Thursday: Hilton Hotel (Final exams: reading and listening part 2)

Preparing for the listening final exam

The listening test will have multiple components, all of which are related to chapter 6 in Leap. If you don't prepare properly for this test, you probably won't pass it. I'm assuming that you are familiar with listenings 1 and 2 from chapter 6.

Part I: You will hear a lecture in class on Monday and take notes. I will collect the notes. You will answer the questions on the test on Thursday based on your notes. Read the information below in order to be prepared for this lecture!

Part II: On Thursday, you will listen to something new, take notes, and answer questions.

Part III: Vocabulary from chapter 6.



For Monday's lecture:

Taken from: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/148945.php

 The word pandemic comes from the Greek pandemos meaning "pertaining to all people". The Greek word pan means "all" and the Greek word demos means "people".

A pandemic is an outbreak of global proportions. It happens when a novel virus emerges among humans - it causes serious illness and is easily human transmissible (spreads easily from person-to-person).

What is the difference between a pandemic and an epidemic?

A pandemic is different from an epidemic or seasonal outbreak.

• Put simply, a pandemic covers a much wider geographical area, often worldwide. A pandemic also infects many more people than an epidemic. An epidemic is specific to one city, region or country, while a pandemic goes much further than national borders.


• An epidemic is when the number of people who become infected rises well beyond what is expected within a country or a part of a country. When the infection takes place in several countries at the same time it then starts turning into a pandemic.


• A pandemic is usually caused by a new virus strain or subtype - a virus humans either have no immunity against, or very little immunity. If immunity is low or non-existent the virus is much more likely to spread around the world if it becomes easily human transmissible.


• In the case of influenza, seasonal outbreaks (epidemics) are generally caused by subtypes of a virus that is already circulating among people. Pandemics, on the other hand, are generally caused by novel subtypes - these subtypes have not circulated among people before. Pandemics can also be caused by viruses, in the case of influenza, that perhaps have not circulated among people for a very long time.


• Pandemics generally cause much higher numbers of deaths than epidemics. The social disruption, economic loss, and general hardship caused by a pandemic are much higher than what an epidemic can cause.

You need to review the vocabulary from Leap chapter 6 in order to be prepared for this lecture. In addition, here are a few more vocabulary words you'll need to understand the lecture:

1. Detection

2. Surveillance

3. Incentive

4. Deity

5. A SPIKE in the number of cases (it means a sharp increase)

6. Cataract

Your Final Presentations

In this presentation, we will discover who among you has the potential to be a lawyer :D

Tomorrow (Tuessday), each student will be assigned a position on a controversial topic (either for it or against it). The topics will be assigned randomly. There is no switching.

Your job is to research the topic so that you are familiar with the topic as well as the arguments for and against it. Write down all of your sources of information as you'll need to provide them at the end of your presentation.

Then you are to give a 7-10 minute thoughtful presentation on your topic, arguing your point of view (not your own point of view; the point of view you are assigned). Present as many arguments as you can in favor of your position. Again, this is not your personal point of view, but rather the opinion you have been assigned.

A strong argument will also consider the opposing points of view and address them if possible.

A good presentation will contain:
1. An attention-grabbing introduction to your topic
2. A clear explanation of your topic. (For example, what exactly is capital punishment?)
3. Your position on the issue and why we should be persuaded by it.
4. A conclusion.

***You have to practice outside of class in front of two classmates. If you skip this step, you will lose 10 points from your grade. I will give you the feedback forms for them to fill out. Here is the link in case you lose your hard copies:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-rIza1967iVTlRWbDl5ajhxOGM/view?usp=sharing

Here is the schedule:
Friday: 1, 2, and 3

Monday: 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 (in 5A we'll do 8 on Tuesday)

Tuesday: 9, 10, 11, and 12

1. Social networking sites are good for society.  (Nguyen/Hamy)

2. Social networking sites are not good for society.  (Oria/Moaz)

3. Marijuana should be legalized for adults.  (Juan Carlos/Dani)

4. Marijuana should not be legalized for anybody.  (Dalya/Jack)

5.  Prostitution should be legal.  (Santiago/Ginna)

6. Prostitution should be illegal.  (Rachel/Ro)

7. The drinking age should not be lowered to 18. It should stay as is at 21.  (Xiaotong/Sophie)

8. The drinking age should be lowered to 18.  (Murtaja/Andy)

9. Adults should have the right to carry a concealed weapon.  (Chuong/Mingyao)

10. Carrying a concealed weapon should be illegal.  (Loha/Aybeck)

11. Capital punishment should be instituted for capital crimes. (Ali)

12. Capital punishment should not be instituted under any circumstance. (Huy/Alvis)