Video Response

I think students who do not know English as a first language do need a lot of extra help. English is the hardest language to learn (so I've heard), so I am empathetic towards those who are trying to learn English to open up more opportunities for themselves. However, the university is an institution of higher learning and I don't think it is other professors' jobs to teach students the language in which we speak, write, read, and teach in. If the writing center wants to help students, that's fine, but I don't think an English, or a geology professor should feel required to teach the student English. I don't think we should be using universities as a place where people learn English. Perhaps that should be separated from the university. Teachers have plenty of other stuff to deal with. Students who know English as a second language will never be able to understand and be as fluent as native speakers. And the same goes for me trying to learn some other language. I think that some consideration should be taken into account for their writing, but I think it should be looked at as a "teaching moment" where the student can learn a lot from his or her mistakes.

Writing Across Borders

I believe the film shows an new perspective of writing for international students. I thought that the idea of grading based on what will be good enough has potential for helping students master the language. It is not advocating professors dismiss errors, but rather not include them as part of the grade if the paper follows the guidelines. Instead, those errors can be pointed out to the student and then explained so that he or she may learn about the mistake and how to correct it. Several of the mistakes students make can only be corrected through time and experience using hte language. By making sure the students has included understandable and related content, the student is in a better position to learn from the mistakes he or she made. Instead of feeling dejected that the paper has been torn to shreds, the student can feel good about his or her comprehension/application of the subject matter and be more motivated to improve on the mechanics of the language next time.

Writing Across Borders

I think the film proposed some interesting ideas about international students. I'm not sure if I buy into the "acceptable paper" method of grading (that sounds like settling for mediocrity to me), but I do think that international students should be graded primarily on content. Looking back on my own experiences with a second language, it is difficult to learn the nuances while you are trying to master vocabulary and verb conjugations. At the same time, I think that flaws in writing should be pointed out so we can learn from our mistakes. Learning from past mistakes has helped me enormously; I would argue that I have learned as much from my mistakes as I have from my successes, if not more.

Cinquain

Worrying

Anxiously
Because of my homework
Last night
Didn't get done
Because I had to work.

Edit:

Worrying

Anxiously
Since my homework
So late last night
Didn't get done
Because I had to work.

Running

Running
Steady
Each morning
Before you wake
To clear my busy mind
So I can start the day refreshed

Edit:
Running
Strongly
Each morning
Before you wak
To clear my busy mind
So I can start the day refreshed

Kim's cinquain

Whispering
Softly
In the dark
One summer evening
To share thoughts with my best friend
Since we will separate in the morning.


The dissected version:

Whispering (Title -ing + MV)

Softly (adverb)

In the dark (prepositional phrase)

One summer evening (noun phrase)

To share thoughts with my best friend (verb - infinitive)

Since we will separate in the morning. (adverbial clause)


The lines have, starting at the first, 2, 3, 5, 7, and 10 syllables respectively, I believe.

Drew's Cinquain

Drumming
Noisily
With great fervor
Each and every day
To realize a childhood dream
Before reality strips it away

I think I followed Kolln's pattern correctly: adverb, prepositional phrase, noun phrase, infinitive verb phrase, and dependent clause. I also count 3, 4, 5, 8, and 10 syllables, although I am not sure about line three (I count every as 2 syllables, but I think it could also be counted as 1).