Verb Quiz

On November 30, you will have a verb tense quiz. You will be responsible for studying the material online. A practice quiz can be found here: http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/bl_pastorperfect1.htm. The in-class exam will use the same format as the practice test (but different questions). If you take this practice test (30 questions) and study the answers at the end, you should be able to attain a perfect score in the class quiz.

Additionally, I would recommend reading the following two review pages. Pay attention to the past tense forms used in the dialogue:
http://esl.about.com/library/beginner/blwhatdid.htm
http://esl.about.com/library/grammar/blpresperfect.htm

Film terms

Here are some useful words for discussing movie styles:

action
bio-pic
comedy
documentary
drama
epic
horror
martial arts
science fiction
classic
coming-of-age film
spaghetti western
film noir
chick flick
character study
cinematography
dialogue
cameo
special effects
buzz
editing
scene
closeup
suspense
anti-hero

For an explanation of these terms, consult: http://www.filmsite.org/filmterms1.html.

A reminder on next week's homework (due Nov. 9): Write a 350-word essay responding to the question "Do you believe the friends you had when you were 12 were the best you ever had?"

Marketing Project (due Dec.7)

For this project, find a partner. You and your partner will design a five-minute multimedia presentation in English together to propose a new product. Your presentation should follow the format of a persuasive speech and make use of at least one visual prop.

It should also include the following elements:

1) Details about the product you plan to bring to the market (e.g., function, look, design, etc.).
2) An explanation of your "target market" (planned customer base). The more specific this target market is, the better.
3) An explanation of how your product is different from comparable products already on the market (i.e., why will your product be successful?).
4) A plan for advertising and/or promoting the product.
5) A celebrity pitchman/pitchwoman. You should explain why you have chosen this particular celebrity and why you believe they will be effect for your product.
6) A jingle (song clip to accompaniment advertisements for the product). For this clip, you are welcome to use a song of your own or a famous song. Like in #5 (above), you should explain why this jingle will help promote your product.

This project will be graded on the following criteria: 1) Ability to communicate effectively in English, 2) Originality, and 3) Following the directions well.

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask (the sooner, the better).

The presentations will be due on December 7. Good luck! I look forward to seeing your work.

Bonus Question (for Nov. 2 homework)

The following quote is the beginning to Don McLean's "American Pie" (recently covered by Madonna):

A long, long time ago...
I can still remember
How that music used to make me smile.
And I knew if I had my chance
That I could make those people dance
And, maybe, they’d be happy for a while.

But February made me shiver
With every paper I’d deliver.
Bad news on the doorstep;
I couldn’t take one more step.

I can’t remember if I cried
When I read about his widowed bride,
But something touched me deep inside
The day the music died.

What historical event was he referring to here? I.e., which day is called the "day the music died"?

Homework Questions (due Nov. 2)

Some of these questions have multiple parts. Please use Google to research the questions and hand in your answers on Nov. 2.

1) Who is Stephen King? Where is he from? What movies has he been involved with? What do the critics say about his work?
2) Who is River Phoenix? What happened to him?
3) Who is Kiefer Sutherland? What well-known TV series is he currently starring in?
4) Where did the title Stand By Me come from?
5) Who was Buddy Holly?

Upcoming Schedule

Here is the schedule of our sessions for the next few weeks. All of these sessions are mandatory.

Thursday, Oct. 26-Kickball beginning at 2 p.m. Meet outside the Z4 building. The game will last for about an hour-and-a-half (be sure to read the rules!).

Wednesday, Nov. 1-Movie showing of "Stand By Me" at 2 p.m. Location: JC205.

Thursday, Nov. 2-Regular class at 2:55 p.m. We will discuss the movie. The five homework questions are due at this time.

Marketing Terms

The following words are some of the most useful English words for marketing. They are likely to be on the Final so be sure you 1) understand them in a business context, and 2) are able to define them using your available English vocabulary:

PR
campaign
poll
survey
graph
chart
jingle
presentation
promotion
profit
soundbite
pitch
spokesman/spokeswoman/spokesperson
market/market share
e-commerce
budget
brand
narrowcasting
slogan
target audience
word of mouth
ad copy
proof
demographics
generic

Rules for kickball

The rules for kickball are closely related to those of baseball. The main difference is that kickball involves a large bouncing ball. The ball is about the size of a soccer ball.

Kickball is played on a field with 4 bases arranged on the corners of a diamond-shaped "infield". Player positions are also similar to those of baseball. There is an "infield" (with defensive players near the bases) and an "outfield" (with defensive players beyond the bases to catch the ball if it is kicked far).

Game play goes as follows: the ball is rolled towards home plate, and the player who is up ( i.e., kicking ), tries to kick the ball. If the ball is caught in the air, the kicker is out, and he or she sits down. A player is also out if the ball is thrown at them, and hits them while they are not touching a base. If a thrown ball misses them, they may only run to the next base, which is known on the kickball field as the "one base on an overthrow" rule. Also similar to baseball, if the ball is thrown to the first baseman, and it is caught by the first baseman while he or she is touching first base, the player running to first base is out. This is known as a "forced out" in that the runner was forced to run to that base. A "forced out" can occur on any base that a runner is forced to run to.

Once a team gets 3 outs, the teams switch sides. A team gets one point for having a runner make it all the way around the bases and back to home base. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins.

"Girl of the North Country" by Bob Dylan

Well, if you're travelin' in the north country fair,
Where the winds hit heavy on the borderline,
Remember me to one who lives there.
She once was a true love of mine.

Well, if you go when the snowflakes storm,
When the rivers freeze and summer ends,
Please see if she's wearing a coat so warm,
To keep her from the howlin' winds.

Please see for me if her hair hangs long,
If it rolls and flows all down her breast.
Please see for me if her hair hangs long,
That's the way I remember her best.

I'm a-wonderin' if she remembers me at all.
Many times I've often prayed
In the darkness of my night,
In the brightness of my day.

So if you're travelin' in the north country fair,
Where the winds hit heavy on the borderline,
Remember me to one who lives there.
She once was a true love of mine.

"Walkin' Down the Line" by Bob Dylan

Well, I'm walkin' down the line,
I'm walkin' down the line
An' I'm walkin' down the line.
My feet'll be a-flyin'
To tell about my troubled mind.

I got a heavy-headed gal
I got a heavy-headed gal
I got a heavy-headed gal
She ain't feelin' well
When she's better only time will tell

Well, I'm walkin' down the line,
I'm walkin' down the line
An' I'm walkin' down the line.
My feet'll be a-flyin'
To tell about my troubled mind.

My money comes and goes
My money comes and goes
My money comes and goes
And rolls and flows and rolls and flows
Through the holes in the pockets in my clothes

Well, I'm walkin' down the line,
I'm walkin' down the line
An' I'm walkin' down the line.
My feet'll be a-flyin'
To tell about my troubled mind.

I see the morning light
I see the morning light
Well it's not because
I'm an early riser
I didn't go to sleep last night

Well, I'm walkin' down the line,
I'm walkin' down the line
An' I'm walkin' down the line.
My feet'll be a-flyin'
To tell about my troubled mind.

I got my walkin' shoes
I got my walkin' shoes
I got my walkin' shoes
An' I ain't a-gonna lose
I believe I got the walkin' blues

Well, I'm walkin' down the line,
I'm walkin' down the line
An' I'm walkin' down the line.
My feet'll be a-flyin'
To tell about my troubled mind.