英語表現演習3 (土): Final presentation & writing assignment supplementary notes・期末発表・作文の付記

Hello!

How are you? Here are the board notes from today's (7/7) class. 

Schedule

Here is a closer look at the schedule:

Please note down what we will do on these dates, because we really have to stay with our tasks on these days. 

About displays

Here is a closer look at the notes about displays:

New note: Here is an updated board note for all of you:

Please make a note about these, and what you can do on whichever kind of display you would like to do. 

Please remember that whichever kind of display you make, it should mostly be visual - charts, graphs, tables of data, illustrations, photographs, schema, formulas, or algorithms. 

Summary writing review

Here is a review about summary writing. A good summary has a short background about the topic, with a tighter focus towards the end of the background. Then it goes into the focus of the presentation itself, sometimes with an additional comment about something unique, or else of note about the topic. Let's look at this:

DNA evidence has shown that dogs evolved from wolves, and over time, dogs have become one of the most popular companion animals to humans across many cultures. But there are still arguments about exactly when dogs genetically separated from wolves, and how and why they became domesticated by humans. This presentation will trace the origins of dogs, and show some different ideas about how they became companions to humans.

 

Look at how each part of the summary has a purpose. First, a background to the topic: 

DNA evidence has shown that dogs evolved from wolves, and over time, dogs have become one of the most popular companion animals to humans across many cultures.

Next, a focus to the topic: 

But there are still arguments about exactly when dogs genetically separated from wolves, and how and why they became domesticated by humans.

Finally, a focus on what the presentation will be about:  

This presentation will trace the origins of dogs, and show some different ideas about how they became companions to humans.

Here's another example of a good summary:  

DNA testing in criminal cases is one of the greatest developments in the application of science to law over the last 30 years. Before DNA testing, however, there were cases where innocent people went to prison on wrongful convictions. In this presentation, I will show three famous cases of wrongful conviction in various countries, and how DNA testing later was able to show the innocence of those who had been convicted.

Background to the topic:

DNA testing in criminal cases is one of the greatest developments in the application of science to law over the last 30 years.  

Focus to the topic: 

Before DNA testing, however, there were cases where innocent people went to prison on wrongful convictions.

Focus on what the presentation will be about: 

In this presentation, I will show three famous cases of wrongful conviction in various countries, and how DNA testing later was able to show the innocence of those who had been convicted.

I hope the board notes above, plus these review notes on summaries, can help you. Next week, I'll come in with some notes about the writing part of your assignment to go with the presentation.

Good luck - and I'll look forward to seeing all of you next week!

Images: Personal photographs. All rights reserved. 

英語表現演習3 (金): Final presentation & writing assignment supplementary notes・期末発表・作文の付記

Hello!

How are you? As you can see above, here are the board notes about today's class and the schedule for our final weeks of the semester. 

About displays

Here are the notes on displays:

One important tip: 

Your displays - either posters or Power Point - should be mostly visual, without much written text. The presentation is to be spoken, not read from notes or from the text on the display!

About summary writing

Because my board note about summaries was too light as it came out on my smartphone camera, but was too dark even after I adjusted the photograph, I have made some better notes about summary writing here. (My apologies about the board notes!)

Here is one example of a good summary:

Portable audio technology is now commonplace, but the history of this technology in the form we know is not so long. The Walkman, which Sony introduced in 1979, created the market for portable stereo audio technology. This presentation shall look at the development of the Walkman, and some unique aspects of the engineering that went into it.

A good summary has a short background about the topic, with a tighter focus towards the end of the background. Then it goes into the focus of the presentation itself, sometimes with an additional comment about something unique, or else of note about the topic. Let’s look at this:

Background to the topic:

Portable audio technology is now commonplace, but the history of this technology in the form we know is not so long.

Focus on the topic:

The Walkman, which Sony introduced in 1979, created the market for portable stereo audio technology.

Focus on what the presentation will be about:

This presentation shall look at the development of the Walkman, and some unique aspects of the engineering that went into it.

Each of these moves are then brought together to make the summary.

Here is another example:

Waymo is a company that took over Google’s Self-Driving Car research in 2016. While it has further developed the work in this area from Google, self-driving cars still have a number of technical issues, particularly with route programming, that make their reliability uncertain at present. This presentation focuses on the driving situations where programming problems occur, and what issues Waymo needs to solve to effectively built and sell reliable self-driving cars.

Think of a summary as a statement of purpose (SOP). Look at these points once again. So...

Background to the topic:

Waymo is a company that took over Google’s Self-Driving Car research in 2016. While it has further developed the work in this area from Google, … 

Focus on the topic:

…self-driving cars still have a number of technical issues, particularly with route programming, that make their reliability uncertain at present.

Focus on what the presentation will be about:

This presentation focuses on the driving situations where programming problems occur, and what issues Waymo needs to solve to effectively built and sell reliable self-driving cars.

I hope the board notes above, plus these notes on summaries, can help you. Next week, I'll come in with some notes about the writing part of your assignment to go with the presentation.

Good luck - and I'll look forward to seeing all of you next week!

Images: Personal photographs. All rights reserved.