Pre-Writing Activity Using Technolgy

A Traditional Cultural Event/Custom from Home

Part I
Pre-Writing Activity

You are to use Webspiration, a web mapping tool, to outline, organize, and structure your thoughts before you get into the actual writing assignment about A Traditional Cultural Event/Custom from Home. You are to think of one cultural event/custom from home that will help your classmates understand your culture better. However, before you start writing about it, you should take some time to put your thoughts in structure which will definitely facilitate your writing process.

You should have received the email of invitation to join Webspiration. Click on the link shown in the email, http://mywebspiration.com/in/20509e09ef71d4c16776a0f3e0d02f7c, you will be brought to a sign up page to create an account. Follow the instruction and finish signing up, you'll be able to view the sampel mind map of this pre-writing activity.

As you can see, the sample map is created based on the following elements, WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, AND WHY to guide you through organizing your thoughts. Feel free to use this sample and make modifications to suit your needs. Your assignment is to create your own mind map using your own account. Share your mind map with me (shujutai@gmail.com) using "sharing" function on the tool bar before deadline and that completes the submission.

Submission Deadline:
6:00 pm, February 17, 2009.

Grading Criteria (3 points)
Use Webspiration to diagram thoughts/organization/structure into a mind map.

Storytelling Assignment

Part I Tell the story

Please click on the link. www.jumpcut.com/view?id=7361002CEFC111DDA621000423CF0184
It will bring you to a photo essay that contained 10 digital images. Click the play the button to read the 10-page photo essay. (You can read as many times as you need by clicking the play button.) The assignment is to write a story (minimum 120 words) based on the photo essay and post your story on this class blog.

You are strongly encouraged to think in the broad cultural context and feel free to demonstrate your creativity in your writing!

Submission:
Please submit your story on this blog by responding to this post, click on the "comments" button below.

Deadline:
06:00 pm, February 7, 2009

Grading Criteria (10 points)
Story (content & coherence) 3 points
Demonstrate language proficiency 4 points
Creativity and Organization 3 points


Part II Share the story

Visit the blog and read all posts by your classmates. Pick two stories that you love most and provide reasons. Bring your thoughts and opinions to class for a discussion in the next class. Then, you will be collaborating with a small group (3-4 people ) to create a story based on the same photo essay and submit it on the blog before the end of the class time. Each student is also required to write a reflection by responding to their story post illustrating how the group discussion and collaboration affects or facilitates the group decision process and what he/she has learned from the group discussion, etc.

Grading Criteria (15 points)
Story (content & coherence) 3 points
Demonstrate language proficiency 4 points
Creativity and Organization 3 points
Reflection 5 points

Enjoy writing!

Week 3

This is the third week and we'll be exploring blogging for educational purpose for the class that I'm taking, CI 505. I believe it's going to be a lot of fun.