Newstalk Writing Assignment- Sean (republish)

     This survey was made by all of EAP1-A students in CESL(Center of English as Second Language). The teacher, Mr. Leverett, required us to make questions by ourselves, and he helped us organize those questions and make an interview sheet. Then we brought these interview sheets to ask Americans about their opinions. I invited my friends who live in the same building with me to my apartment on a Sunday afternoon of Feb. 25th, 2012. I provided some drinks for them, and I explained to them I have an survey I need to research. When they realized how important this survey was to me, they were all willing to help me do my interview research. In my interview research, I surveyed five interviewees in total, and I gave them some details about each question; also, I told them what is the purpose of my survey. One of the interviewees, We really had a great afternoon. They were all very kind (Maybe was because I bought them beers) .I appreciated their participating in my research. Before they left, they handed in my interview sheets to me with happy faces. I found something unexpected in their answers that make this survey more interesting. I will analyze these answers in the following paragraph.

 I pick two questions as my topic:

1. Do you watch the Super Bowl for the commercials?

2. If you don't like football or the two team that are playing the Super Bowl, would you still enjoy the commercials?

     For these people who I interviewed, they watched the Super Bowl because it is a part of American culture. American football is the most popular sport in the U.S; therefore for some people, Super Bowl game is the most anticipated event in the entire year. Even if they don't like American football or the teams that they supported do not play in the game, people still watch it. However, some people tend to watch Super Bowl commercials during the game, especially when the teams that they supported do not play in the game, so they will not care too much about the outcome of the game. Hence, they might pay more attention to the commercials. The other reason which attracts people to watch the Super Bowl commercials, is that they are latest and the first time being released on TV. In addition, the Super Bowl commercials also are the individual entertainment; sometimes, Super Bowl commercials are even more fun than the content of the game. Hence, people would like to pay their attention to the Super Bowl commercials, so that they could have the first hand information about what is going to sell on markets. The Super Bowl commercials are not only a part of the game, but that also has already become a sole entertainment.

Weblog# 5 Sean (republish)

Title of article: Ecstatic Taiwanese claim Knicks' Lin as their own

Author: Associated Press             

Publication: Fox News

Date of article: 2/16/2012

Short summary:

     Some Taiwanese are embracing emerging Knicks' Lin as one of Taiwanese, because his parents were Taiwanese before they immigrated to America. Even some Chinese people think Lin is one of them. They treat Lin as the young Michael Jordan with Taiwanese blood, and they think he is a proud of being Taiwanese, even though Lin never says he is a Taiwanese.

Issues:

     Lin became a hot issue in America and Asia, is it because of his skills or his race?

     Should Lin feel proud of his success and race?

     Should Taiwan's government recruit Lin to play for Taiwan's national team?

     How shameful will Taiwanese feel, if Lin doesn't think he is a Taiwanese?

Opinion:

     I feel very embarrassed when I see my friends in Taiwan post some news about Lin, especially they are crazy about him , because they feel Lin is a Taiwanese. I don't think Lin will consider himself a Taiwanese, and his success has had nothing to do with Taiwan. He is totally American. He was born and raised in the U.S, everything about him is American. We should feel happy to see a young Asian basketball player be in the NBA because his skills and effort, not because of where he comes from or his race.

Lara

Name: Lara

EAP1 Newstalk Writing Assignment: survey summary

Instructor: Thomes Leverett

Date: 3/ 6/12

In our News talk class, we had discussed many interesting topics that support my knowledge; for example, we had talked about smart phone, nursing home, and watching the super Bowl. However, I learned new things about these topic. After that we have to do a survey about these topics to ask people and listen to their opinion about some questions related to these topics. So, I met five people; two of them are males but others are females. I met them at the library . All of them were smiling and nice to me; that's why I preferred to talk with them about my survey. I was trying to make a good sample of people, who will  help me to make a beneficial survey.

I  really enjoyed these people who I met, and I spent a wonderful time in my survey.  In this paragraph I went to focus on one question which was so interesting to me. The questions is  what do you like about smartphone.  The results  were the majority of college students rely on their phone  so most of them like to  use it . According to these people they said they use it because it is convenient to use, get the website everywhere. and love it; have an iPhone. Simply, I agree with these people who like to use smartphone because it make my life more easy. 

Paragraph I + II

Name: Kevin

Class: EAP-1A

Date: Mar/6/2012

            The News Talks class is the most interesting class in this term. Students learn lots of unique skills in this class because we do not have correct direction to preview before the class. For our survey, I went to library to do that because I studied over there. When I was studying, I gave the survey to my American friends and the Americans who sit next to my desk. I sit very close with them when they were doing my survey. Unfortunately, they did not talk with me and just help me to do the survey silently. However, there is a person whose attitude was not very good. He told me why he have to help me to do that; therefore, I had a little uncomfortable about that. I perfect people who do not talk anything with me when they are doing the survey for me than having the terrible attitude. In sum, News Talks class is very funny class, but I am very shy to stop people talking and make them to listen to my opinions. Therefore, I practice lots of listening when I am listening to their opinions.

            In the survey, I am very interesting in the Americans who are using the Facebook, and their feeling on that. Fortunately,  most Americans are using the Facebook (YES 47, No 9); nevertheless, there are half and half people feel Facebook is not good for human relationship (Yes 26 No 29). It is very strange because people will not use Facebook if people feel it is good and having the benefit on that. However, there are lots of people use it, yet feel it is not good for humans' relationship. Therefore, I think maybe most of people use Facebook just want to play the games or just want to vent their feeling when they are disappoint. Therefore, I think have to ask my American friends about that to help me find the true answers.

Survey

Chengliang Li

EAP1-A

Survey

03/05/12

The class of NEWSTALK is really interesting and instructive for me. The teaching way the teacher took in class is unique and creative as well as efficient and suitable for students who are in level 5. As for survey, although it is not quite successful, I still enjoy this experience. The interview was conducted in library, where, I think, is a wonderful place for this survey, because the students can concentrate on my survey. The one who is my friend from America, “The survey is stupid and something I organized did not make any sense. All of these questions were not well connected and did not seem to serve any purposes to learning about an American’s way of thinking. Also, asking to fill out the survey does not necessarily mean that the person would have to practice good communication with the person they are asking because people will get the idea of the person handing them the survey without words being said” She said.

     I am interested in some questions, such as smoke in a car when children in it, or gift of flowers for Valentine’s Day, gay marriage, however the others are not. As my understanding, smoking inside cars with children in it should be prohibited without any discussions. Buying flowers in Valentine’s Day is always a good idea. Gay marriage is ok, because people should be treated equally. Some opinions from participants who are gay are really radical due to after some people knew someone is gay, they asked them with a uncomprehending attitude. So, love is love.

School To Randomly Drug Test Students

News Talk

Title of article: School To Randomly Drug Test Students

Publication: ABC News

Date of article: February 14, 2012

 Summary:

         St, Michael is a private Catholic School. They will randomly test students about drug use. The school will give students two days to clean up and will help them to get away from drugs. However, if the students still use drugs during the second times, then the school will kick them out of the school. Also, some parents very strongly agree with this program. They do not want their children to use drugs. Also, they do not want to other children to introduce  the drug to their children.

Issus:

What do you think a school that will randomly drug test students?

Should the school use another way to test students who use drugs?

Do you like this random drug test?

If you do not use drugs, then school tells you should have a drug test, what will you think?

Opinion:

      I do not agree with the school's using this way to test students who use drugs. The school should have some evidence about which students use drug. Then the school can do the drug test for the suspected students. The randomly test is not a good method to do the drug test. Some students may have drug test many time, and other students may never have a drug test.

Sherry Zhang

Research Response

Name : Jungwon Bella Moon

                                                                                     Class : EAP1

                                                      Instructor : Tom Leverett

                                                      Date : 3/5/12

Research Response

     Through the survey we could find out what is happening in the world including America. And we have questions how Americans think about these issues. I went to Student Center to do the survey and I met 7 people. Out of these, two people refused because they did not see the Super bowl. Thus I have total 5 participants and they took part in survey very kindly and seriously. They did not say anything while they were answering the questions, and they wished me good luck for my survey.

     After the survey, I was interested in people’s response to “Gay Marriage”. Most people have positive thinking about gay marriage. It was shocking to me, because most Koreans think that Homosexual marriage is considered unethical. Look into their reasons, first because they are part of communities and we should avoid discrimination. Second, there are many kinds of love all over the world, so we should not bind up “marriage” as gender. The most impressive response is 52 year-old man’s reaction. I think that probably the man was old-fashioned because he lookd conservative. Nevertheless, he was more open minded than anyone else. It is good time to know what Americans think.

Brain Imaging Could Detect Autism Risk in Infants as Young as 6 Months

Author: Alice Park

Title of article : Brain Imaging Could Detect Autism Risk in Infants as Young as 6 Months

Publication : TIME

Date of article : Feburary 17. 2012

Short Summary :

Scientists announced that could find out Autism risk in infants as young as 6 months. In the study, the researchers looked at the brains of 92 infants, when they were 6 months, 1 year and 2 years old. All of the children had a sibling with autism. The study shows that chidren who were eventually were more likely to show thicker, denser nerve – fiber readings at 6 months, compared with normally developing children. The findings suggest that early on, there is something different going on in children who develop ASD’s.

Issues that you can fine

1.     Do you know autism?

2.     What’s causing the brain differences? According to article, researchers said that the reason why is genetic. Do you aree or disagree?

3.     Can autism treatable?

Your opinion

            Autism is known that why this happen is occurred. But according to study we get a possibility treatable method. It is very big issue! Furthermore, we may know cause of autism in the brain as much as young infants’! If we have a solution it read of many benefits.

             

Overeating May Double the risk of Memory loss.

Author: Alexandra Sifferlin

Title of article : Study : Overeating May Double the risk of Memory loss.

Publication : TIME

Date of article : Feb. 13.2012

Short Summary :

            According to study represented overeating can cause memory loss. People who eat 2143-6000 calories a day have higher chance of getting MCI than people who eat 600-1526 calories. (MCI – Mild Cognitive Impairment) MCI is a kind of illness age-related memory, but its victim doesn’t have a normal daily life.

Issues that you can fine :

-       How can people with MCI have normal daily life when they have a problem with memory and thinking?

-       What kind of thinking problems do people with MCI experience?

-       Is there any specific food affecting MCI?

Your opinion

            It is shocking to me. I have heard that overeating can affect body health, especially weight. I realized that I have to quit eating high calories food my health and memory.    

Survey

News Talk Survey

EAP-1-A

Kaixuan Zhang (Sherry)

Monday, March 05, 2012

           

            News Talk class is a very interesting class. In this class students discuss current news together. Because this class gives us countless chances to practice our English skills, we improve our speaking and reading skills a lot. In addition, in the end of the class we also have a chance to go out of the class and to do a survey, in which we can have a chance to communicate with American students. Also, this survey helped us understand more about American culture. I went to the library to do my survey. I asked some American students to help me finish my survey. They are all very nice even if they did not said any comments to me. They only said thanks to me, when they finished those questions.

             In this survey, I found one question which I was most interesting. That is question #9  "Do you feel it should be illegal to smoke in a car with children in  it?" I was a little bit surprised by some people's answer. I felt that in this question most people would say "Yes". However, 56 people did this question and 9 people said "No". I was little sad about those people's answers. Most people know that smoking is very bad for an adult people's health and can have the most damage for children's health. Nevertheless, those people did care about this issue. If I have chance to do this question again, then I want to ask some people who said " No" on this question. I want to ask them more detail on this question; why do they not care about smoke in a car with children in it?

           

Survey

Name: Dhayfullah

EAP1 Newstalk Writing Assignment "survey summary"

Instructor: Thomas Leverett

Date: 3/05/12

    

         In our news talk class, we discuss events in the news. We made a survey of fourteen questions about different topics in the news. Every student should be responsible for five copies of the survey. The survey should be answered by American people in order to know about their point of view. I went to the students' center inside the SIU campus to look for some American students to answer the questions. I found that it was easy to talk to English native speakers. In fact, all of them were very nice and helpful. Although some of them were busy, they decided to help me doing my survey. One girl respondent, I can remember, asked me where I'm from and what I'm studying. The rest of the respondents weren't interested to know more, maybe because they were busy. 

       The results of our survey were various and sometimes unexpected. For example, 29 respondents out of 55 don't think that Facebook is good for human relationship. I was surprised from the results of the last two questions which they are actually related to each other about gay marriage; do you feel that the state should recognize and allow gay marriage? Why or Why not? 46 respondents out of 56 said "Yes" mostly because of rights, freedom and equality. The minority who said "No" to the gay marriage because of religious reasons. To tell the truth, I was interested in this question even though it was sensitive question to many people. The last two questions' papers with me were given to two girls who seemed to be friends. I asked them about their opinion of the last two questions about gay marriage. They have completely different opinion about it and they started a loud argument and long conversation about this issue. I had to stop them from fighting each other and of course to get my papers back. I really appreciate all American students' cooperation with me. Finally, I would like to thank our instructor Mr. Thomas Leverett for his great efforts to teach and encourage his students to do the best and who is the reason behind our great English Language development although it is a very short time.    

Hazhar Amin-Survey- Writing Assignment

News Talk

Survey Paragraphs Name : Obied Al-Aqlobi

Date of article: 3-5-2012

Short summary of the Survey:

In (CESL) Center of English as a Second Lanuage at SIU, we have an intersting calss called (Newstalk). In Newstalk class, biweekly each student have to prepare two reports about an intersting news. Each steudent have to uplaod at least one of these tow reports on the Newstalk's weblog. So we have to present a presentaion about one of the most intersting news, and debate on it in the class. For the last week Mr. Tom Laverett asked each one present a question in order to design a questionnair for a survey within American students at SIUC. We all tegether under Mr.Laverett's guide made a questionnair form consist of fourteen different questions. The questions were about different topics and news which we discussed it during this term in Newstalk class. The most important  aims of this survey were to find; how Americans think, and what are thier opinions about the same dozen of topics whic we discussed. Each studen have to collect at least five survey's sheets. I did the smae as my coligues did, each one of us collected five survey's sheets after interviwing American students at SIUC. The American students wer very friendly and politness when we asekd them to answer the questions in the questionnair' sheet. Without any problems and any dificulties I interviewed face to face five American students consequently. At first I started interviewing a femal student in Faner Hall, she answerd all the questions silently, she did not asked me any questions about the survey, she just answered them. The second interview, I did it with a Male student outside Faner Hall. So in the result I collected five interviews with three femal and two male. All of them were American students at SIUC in different majors and different levels.

The Interesting Question:

Some results in the interview were expected, but some of them were unexpected for me.
the most intersting question was the 13th question abot gay marrige. This issu isone of the most contriversial issues in America and the world. I liked to know how American students are thinking about this issue. The answers wereexpected according to my opinion towards Americans way of thinking. The result was (46 yes) and (11 No), for the question (Do you feel thestate should recognize and allow gay marrige?). The most interesting comment on this question from who said yes was "Because theyare part of community and we should avoid discrimenation".  In the other hand the most interstiong comment on the smae question from who said No was "I am kind of old fashioned". This sesitive issue showes that American arevery brave and believe of induvidual freedom and equality between them. Even who was against this kind of marrige was very politness and respectfully expressed his opinion.
This project was a very good chance for me to contact with American students at SIUC, because before this survey I did not conracted with any American students, expert the officials at CESL.

Hazhar Amin-Egypt lifts travel ban on Americans,#5- Judge Says -Newastalk#5

 Name :Hazhar Amin

AUTHOR:Muhamed Fahmi
TITLE OF ARTICLE: Egypt lifts travel ban on Americans, Judge Says
PUBLICATION: CNN
DATE OF ARTICLE:FEB: February 29, 2012




SHORT SUMMARY:
At the end,  Egyptian government ended the travel ban on ten of the Americans. During the last two months, the Egyptian government accused some of the American and Europeans with supporting instability in Egypt. There were ten of Americans accused from Egyptian government with supporting instability in Egypt, thus  the government was bane and forbidden them from traveling. This week, the Egyptian government ended this ban on these ten Americans. The American officials welcomed  this decision, but they added that this decision is not enough and considered the decision as "unconfirmed" and "the deal is not done" because there are still a big amount of fines on the ten Americans.        
  

ISSUES THAT YOU CAN FINED:
1- Is the ban on the Americans and Europeans a good and reasonable decision?
2- Is the ban on Americans solve the Egyptians problems?
3- Is lifting the ban on Americans indicate that the Egyptian Government's decision against the ten Americans  was wrong at the beginning? 

MY OPINION:
I think, these kind of decisions against Americans and Europeans are not wise decision or logic behavior from the Egyptian government. It is not helpful for Egypt to solve it's real political problems with it's people. I think it is better for the Egyptian's government respond honestly to the people's demands in Egypt rather than accusing others and banning their freedom of traveling to and from Egypt.  

Survey Pragraphs

News Talk

Survey Paragraphs                Name :  Obied Al-Aqlobi

Date of article: 3-5-12

Short summary of the Survey:

      In the CESL, we have a class called “EAP1-A Newstalk”. It’s fond of the universal news. Every student should write  two article reports about recent news weekly Also, students talk about two articles every day. One of the interesting activities in this class is collecting surveys. Every student should interview at least five Americans to ask them about the survey. For me, I collected the survey in the Student Center on Tuesday 2-28-2012. In fact, the interviewees were friendly; they were three students in SIU and two instructors in CESL. I collected the surveys face to face and I was writing their responses. Actually, some of them were interested in some questions in the surveys like gay marriage, whereas some of them were surprised by some questions especially the one about the opportunities for Americans to learn about other countries and cultures. Consequently, I would talk about the opportunities for Americans to learn about other countries and cultures.

The Interesting Question:

 Do you feel that Americans have enough opportunities to learn about other countries and cultures?

         In fact, I’m interested in this question because talking about culture is the best topic for me. It boils down to this: twenty-one of the interviewees felt negative toward this question; whereas thirty-one of them felt positive toward the question. Actually, those people who said Americans don’t have opportunities to interact with other cultures and countries surprised me. Some of them said we are isolated. I think Americans have more opportunities than others because America could be the mother of immigrants. Allegedly, there are more than seven hundred universal channels, which may provide enough opportunities to learn about other cultures via their programs. To sum, I think Americans can interact with others because of the previous explanation.

Newstalk Writing Assignment- Sean

      This survey was made by all of EAP1-A students in CESL(Center of English as Second Language). The teacher, Mr. Leverett required us made questions by ourselves, and he helped us organized those questions and made a interview sheet. Then we brought these interview sheets to ask American about their opinions. I invited my friends who live in the same building with me to my apartment on a Sunday afternoon of Feb. 25th, 2012. I provided some drinks for them, and I explained to them I have an survey need to research. When they realized how important this survey to me, they were all willing to help me do my interview research. In my interview research, I surveyed five interviewees in total, and I gave them some details about each question; also, I told them what is the purpose of my survey. One of the interviewees, We really had a great afternoon. They were all very kind.(Maybe was because I bought them beers) I appreciated them to participate in my research. Before they left, they handed in my interview sheets to me with happy faces. I found something unexpected in their answers that make this survey more interesting. I will analyze these answers in the following paragraph.

     I pick two questions as my topic:

1. Do you watch the Super Bowl for the commercials?

2. If you don't like football or the two team that are playing the Super Bowl, would you still enjoy the commercials?

     For these people who I interviewed, they watched the Super Bowl because it is a part of American culture. American football is the most popular sport in the U.S; therefore for some people, Super Bowl game is the most expectancy in entire year. Even if they don't like American Football or the teams that they supported do not play in the game, people still watch it. However, some people tend to watch Super Bowl commercials during the game, especially when the teams that they supported do not play in the game, so they will not care too much about the victory of the game. Hence, they might pay more attention to the commercials. The other reason, which attracts people watch the Super Bowl commercials, is because they are latest and the first time being released on TV. In addition, the Super Bowl commercials also are the individual entertainment; sometimes, Super Bowl commercials are even more fun than content of the game. Hence, People would like to pay their attention to the Super Bowl commercials, so that they could have the first hand information about what is going to sell on markets. The Super Bowl commercials are not only a part of the game, but that also already become a sole entertainment.

Survey # Fahad Alolayan EAP1

       In this class, we have talked about many topics such as Facebook, Super Bowl, Smartphones, etc. In the end of this term, we had to do a survey. We had to interview some people about some of those topics. For me, I went to the Student Center at Southern Illinois University to ask some people there. I met five students there, and all of them were studying at that time, so they just said nothing. They filled out those sheets and gave it to me very quickly. Although they handed it back in silence, most of them didn't forget to give me a nice smile.

       In this paragraph, I'll talk about the question which is about parents who live in a nursing home. Actually, I was surprised when I read the final result of the whole survey. There were 32 people who said it's ok for their parents to live in a nursing home. What made it surprising is that because in my culture it is not ok. Even if some parents chose to live in a nursing home, their families will not agree with them. That's not because our parents can't choose what they want, but it is because we always think that our parents are much important than anything else, so they always come first. I have seen a lot of people who have changed their jobs in order to be with their parents. Because we can't count how many nice things they have done for us, I think that it's kind of selfishness from us if we just let them go. So, we have to return some of those nice things for them.

Summary for the survey - Fahad Al khathran

Fahad Al khathran
Thomas Leverett
3/2/2012
Summary
EAP1A

          On February 28, 2012 I went to the student center at Southern Illinois University to do a project for my Newstalk class. It was 5:00 p.m., so the student center was almost empty. However, there were still some people. I went to the information desk and there were two students standing there, so I asked them if they could complete my survey. Most of them respond with “sure, no problem" or "ok”. The last I interviewed asked me plenty of question such as “where will it be posted? For which class is this survey? What it is about?” I replied, “Sir, if I’m bothering you then just give it to me.” Then he said, “no problem at all, but I’m just curious.”  

            I have chosen one answer to talk about in the following paragraph. The answer was about gay marriage, and the answer was “God made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve.” I’m strongly agreed with the person who said that. To be honest, I don’t know how these people can walk in any public place with confidence of themselves. It’s something against the human nature. Just think about it, could you imagine having sex with the same gender as you? I cannot imagine this at all! If I have a son and he did this, probably I will kill him right away! I can’t take it at all. I have talked about this topic before just to make everyone talk, but when it comes to me then everything will be different. 

Writing Assignment - Abdullah

       
         Here in EAP-1, we had to meet people and ask them to answer our survey. The survey was about the news, and about some points about the US government, and what people think about it. I went to the student center in the university, and then I tried to explain for the people whom I collected the survey from about our survey and about our class, and they all were very nice and very friendly. However, they were commenting a lot about one specific question, which was the question about the gay marriage. All of them were saying "Why do people ask about this topic all the time!" And some of them were laughing about the super bowl question, which was awkward and strange for me. I had fun looking at people's faces while they were answering our survey; their faces were changing with each question.


        To be honest, the most interesting question was the question about gay marriage, and I was very surprised about the answers. I actually thought that nobody would disagree about gay marriage, but there were quite few disagreeing, and I really loved their answers, such as this answer, "God made Adam & Eve, not Adam & Steve." That was the best answer for this question, and I totally agree with him. The other question I was kind of interested in was the one that talked about the gas issues here in America, and if the US government is doing something about it or not. I was shocked about the answers, they were almost all, "No." A lot of people said this when they were answering this particular question, "Definitely, not!" I can't say I agree with them or not, because I don't actually own a car yet. However, I think they were right.