Assessing students’ writing

This time, I was marking this essay with my other group members and we decided to give the students 10/20. We give the students that marks because the essay have a correct flow and quite good. Furthermore, the students show some understanding of the topic that he or she writes. Although the students used appropriate language but there are still noticeable accuracies in the essay especially the using of grammar and the spelling errors. Moreover, the students did not use capital letter after full stop.

So, here are some of the ways to comment students’ writing and criteria for assessing students’ writing that Miss Yoon has taught us.

Some ways to comment students’ writing:

1.      Try not to mark all error.

2.      Examine errors and determine the causes of error.

3.      Use symbol to indicate the error.

4.      Use positive comments.

5.      Choose any sentences for students to correct.

6.      Provide reason for editing.

7.      Ask the students questions.

In order to access the students’ writing we have to determine types of the text, the essay genre and the amount of time allowed for each writing task of output. Besides that, we also have to take consideration on the assessment criteria such as:-

1.      Relevance and adequacy of content

2.      Organization

3.      Adequacy of vocabulary for purposes

4.      Grammar

5.      Punctuation

6.      Spelling

7.      Appropriateness of language to context, function and intention appropriateness of layout.

Mini test- Question 2

Question 2

You are teaching the theme “Environment” to a form three class with intermediate level of proficiency. Describe one activity on how to integrate the following thinking skills into your lesson.

(A) Analysis

I use the picture to guide the students to do an analysis on how to reduce the impact of Global Warming because i think by using picture, it can help the students get an idea to construct their essay.

(B) Application

By conducting this activity, i think it will open their eyes about their responsibilities towards the earth which at the same time will let them apply it in their everyday life.

Based on the above picture, write an essay about how to reduce the impact of Global Warming, and elaborate your essay by using the notes given in the picture. Your essay should not be less than 120 words.

Mini test-Question 1

Question 1

We were asked to construct two instructions for two different activity based on the given picture and here is my answer:

Activity 1

A group of students from Peninsular Malaysia will be coming to your school under a Students Exchange Programme. As the secretary of the Perfects Board, your teacher asked you to write an article providing tips and instruction on the places in Sabah based on the information in the picture. Your article should be more than 150 words.

Activity 2

Your friends have just arrived at Kota Kinabalu and are planning to stay at the Kota Kinabalu Gaya Hotel but they are not clear with the direction to go to the hotel. Write a short paragraph on the direction to the Kota Kinabalu Gaya Hotel by using the information provided in the picture. Your words should not less than 120 words.

Essay correction-Honey Comb Story

Read the essay distributed. Decide what to do with the errors. Are you going to use written comments, talk to the writer or use checklist? Will you encourage peer editor before the next submission? What is your follow-up activity to deal with the most common errors found in your essays?

This is my first time correcting other students work so after reading the whole essay, I found that the students have a problem with the use of punctuation, preposition, and there are some spelling errors. Besides that, the students also have some grammar problem where some of the words used in the essay are not suitable but overall there is a flow of idea in that essay which i can understand after reading through.

To overcome this error, I will talk to the writer and use written comments because I think by doing so the students will know what their mistakes are and at the same time I will explain to them so that they are more clear with the mistakes and able to use a correct vocabulary and grammar. For the written comment, I will use circle a as symbol for the incorrect grammar, question mark to represent hanging sentences, and underline the sentence or words for the unclear sentences. Instead of giving written comment, I will talk to students and give them opportunity to explain their works.

Moreover, I also will encourage them to do peer editing before the next submission because this is a good way for them to help each other which can boost up their confident and motivate them as well. Moreover, in my opinion the students are more comfortable to talk to their friends on how to correct their mistakes that they always do in their essay.

The next follow-up activity that I will do to deal with the most common errors found in the essay is that I will use gap-filling or correcting the sentences activity and pick any random sentences with more error that is commonly made by the students and ask the students to rework together to correct it in a group so that they can help each other to correct the mistakes.

Example of correcting the wrong sentences activity:

1.        Wrong: One day, I with my friends played football in garden. (Question)

            Right: One day, my friends and I played football in garden. (Students answer)

2.      Wrong: My prends scolded me and sended me to the hospital.

         Right: My parents scolded me and sent me to the hospital.

3.      Wrong: every week we were playing foodball, that day we were fatigued.

          Right: Every week we were playing football, that day we were fatigued.

4.      Wrong: We suffered a shock put down the broom, we ran to home.

         Suggested answer: We experienced a shock, put down the broom and we ran home.

   

Inside the Haiti earthquake

Reflection:

“Inside the Haiti Earthquake “game is one of a serious game that I ever played and I think this game was very informative. In this game, I am able to choose to take any role that I wish to be. There are three roles in this game that is an earthquake survivor, an aid worker and a journalist. When playing this game, I start to think how lucky is I am now because I do not have to face all these problems here in Malaysia. This game able me to put myself in the shoes of those who are at that situation and to be honest when I played this game I can felt like I am there because this game is very graphic and all the picture and video in this game is real. This games show the devastation of the earthquake and how difficult is for aid distribution to be done successfully among so many starving people who are desperate for food. Furthermore, becoming an aid worker is not an easy job as they have a big responsibilities which you cannot imagine as they are among the important person who can save lives of thousands people in the earthquake. Whereas, for the journalist he have to face pressure to get a story from the editor and the donor groups. Being a journalist also have to create the perfect scene for that story and will kept being pressured to choose  a good story about the situation of the earthquake which is quite biased and only reveal partial truths. In my opinion, this game is very suitable to be use in the learning process as it can open the students’ eyes about what actually happen during the earthquake where they can imagine themselves as the earthquake survivor which have to face difficulties in order to get the aid and food. Moreover, the students also able to become the aid worker which is not an easy job and carry a big responsibility in giving aid to the survivor. Apart from that, the students will be exposed to the job as journalist and from that they can see what actually happen and did the media’s job really tell the truth? The will find it by themselves as they play this game.

How to use this game for learning?

I will ask the students to play the games first. Then, the students have to select only one of the characters in the games. Next, I will ask the students to construct an essay that describes the role of the character that they choose in that games in not less than 120 words.

Thinking Skills- analysis & evaluation

Hey guys, here is the task for the higher order thinking skills which the students need to analyse and evaluate about the topic given to them. I choose this method where the students will compare and contrast about this thesis statements " Although dogs are often called man’s best friend, cats make more convenient pets".

Level: analysis & evaluation

Activity:

The teacher will asks the students to compare and contrast Dogs vs Cats based on the following questions.
Then, teacher will asks the students between dogs and cats, which one they prefer to become their pets.

1. What is the similarities between Dogs and Cats?
2. What is the differences between Dogs and Cats?
3.  Do you think Dogs or Cats are intelligent?
4. What is the common problems that may occur if you keep these pets?
5. Why do you want to keep these pets? Give reason.

 

list of songs and movies for teaching

List of songs

List of movies

High School Musical ·         We’re all in this together ·         Start of something new ·         Get’cha Head in the game ·         Breaking free Enrique Iglesias            Hero Miley Cyrus ( Hannah Montana)            Nobody’s perfect             Life’s what you make it            True friend            The climb Demi Lovato            The gift of a friend            La la land Randy Newman            You’ve got a friend in me The Beatles            With a little help from my friend Joe Cocker            With a little help from my friends’ Queen            You’re my best friend Sarah McLachlan            I will remember you Randy Newman ( from Toy story)            You’ve got a friend in me The Rembrandts ( Friends’ theme song)            I’ll be there for you Andrew Gold            Thank you for being a friend James Taylor            You’ve got a friend Dionne Warwick            That’s what friends are for Elton John            Friends Mariah Carey            Anytime you need a friend Ben E. King            Stand by me The Pretenders            I’ll stand by you Train            When I look to the sky The turtles            Happy together Boys II Men           A song for mama Tom Perry            A higher place            Learning to fly Rascall Flatts            Life is a highway Jaci Velasquez            We can make a difference The Wailinn’ Jennys            We can make difference Steve Winwood            While you see a chance Sister sledge            We are family Najee            That’s the way of the world Peaches and Herb            Reunited Jonathan Butler            Precious things Michael Mcdonald            Peace Bette Midler            My Mother’s Eyes Eric Clapton            My Father’s Eyes Westlife            Season in the sun            Dreams come true            I have a dream            I’ll be there for you            You raise me up            Flying without wings Justin Bieber            Never say never Maher Zain            Number one for me Bunkface            Through my window Vitamin C            Graduation            Friends forever Avril Lavigne            Keep holding on

Snow white            Aladdin            Beauty and the beast            Enchanted            The little mermaid            High school musical            Cinderella            Finding Nemo            Cars            Pinocchio            Tarzan            The smurf            School of Rock            Stand and deliver            Up            I- robot            Harry Potter