Your presentations - Goodbye message

Here's a poster I created with photos of your presentations (the rest of the photos are in the album below), and a song I would like you to listen to as a goodbye message. I truly hope you keep on "climbing," setting new goals and trying to achieve your dreams. 

María

Click on the square in the top right-hand corner to enlarge the image:

English for Science and Engineering, un álbum en Flickr.

End-of-Course Survey

I would like you to complete a short survey about your experience in the course. The survey is anonymous and it will only take you 5 minutes. 

I really appreciate your help and support and I look forward to your answers, which will help me make my teaching more effective.

To complete the survey, you have to visit this URL:

http://www.quia.com/sv/599920.html

Thanks!
María

Revision for the 2nd Midterm Exam

Your Presentation

Your presentation (oral exam) will be on Tuesday, November 27th, at 18:00.

Your presentation can be about any of your written assignments, or another topic of your choice.

It should take 5-10 minutes.

Prepare a PowerPoint presentation (no more than 7/8 slides)

Slide 1: Title, your name, the date
Slide 2: Structure or Outline of the whole presentation
Slide 3: Part 1 (don't write "part 1." Give each part a clear heading)
Slide 4: Part 2, etc.
Last slide: Conclusion

Preparation:

• Practice, practice, practice!

PowerPoint Tips:

• Make Appropriate use of pictures
• Use contrastive colours (a dark text on a light background or a light text on a dark background)
• Use bullet points, not complete sentences. Each bullet should consist of an intelligible phrase
• Use a large font (avoid text smaller than 24 point)
• Use special effects ONLY when they are necessary to make a point
• Acknowledge your sources

Sample format from MIT: http://web.mit.edu/graphicidentity/templates/powerpoint.html

Presenting Effectively:

• Speak with confidence
• Make eye contact with the audience
• Avoid reading from the screen
• Use a pointer ONLY when necessary
• Relax
• Breathe

Source: http://rgs.usu.edu/studentresearch/htm/skills-and-resources/great-examples/great-presentations

Effective Power Point from Andy Rush

2nd Midterm Exam. Thursday, November 29th

Your second Midterm Exam will be on Thursday, November 29th.

It will include Units 4 and 5 of English for Science and Engineering. The following lessons will be included:

Unit 4: Lessons 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6
Unit 5: Lessons 1, 2 and 4

Online magazine: The Scientist

I think you will enjoy this online magazine:

http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.list/categoryNo/2903/The-Nutshell

MIT Gangnam Style

You might enjoy this MIT video. I think the best part is near the end, when you can see actual MIT laboratories and classrooms, and even hear some well-known professors speaking.

Optional Written Assignment 4. Deadline: November 15th

Write a report about a well-known accident 

(Exercise j, page 45, English for Science and Engineering)

Research and prepare a report about an accident. Describe what caused the accident (mechanical failure, electrical failure, materials failure, human error, etc.), how the accident could have been avoided, and what happened as a consequence of the accident.

Write between 170 - 270 words. 

At the end of your report, include a list of the websites you consulted (use the heading "References") and send your activity.

Here are some websites that contain accident investigation reports:

http://www.nist.gov/el/disasterstudies/

http://www.csb.gov/investigations/investigations.aspx?Type=2&F_All=y

http://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/reports.html

http://www.scientificamerican.com/search/?q=accident+report&x=12&y=13

Quality, Quality, Quality

• Some definitions of Total Quality Control (TQC):

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1387304/Total-Quality-Control-TQC

http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/total-quality-control-TQC.html

• Using the PDCA cycle for your university studies:

Tacoma Narrows Bridge

Here are some interesting images and videos related to the collapse of the original bridge and the building of the new one:

http://www.lib.washington.edu/specialcollections/collections/exhibits/tnb/collapse

Listen to the description of the collapse of the bridge in the following video. What verbs are used to describe the movements of the bridge span and its collapse? Are they the same verbs you read in your textbook?  






Some bridge terms definitions:

http://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/Communications/BridgingtheGap/Pages/BridgeTermDefinitions.aspx

PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)

Last class we talked about PPE in industry.

Check the OSHA (Occupational Safety & Health Adminstration) website for more information about PPE requirements. 

http://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3151.html

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/personalprotectiveequipment/


The FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) offers a definition of PPE:
http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/GeneralHospitalDevicesandSupplies/PersonalProtectiveEquipment/default.htm

NASA's Space Shuttles

Here you can find some more information about the 3 main components of NASA's Space Shuttles: 

• The 2 SRBs (Solid Rocket Boosters) 
• The External Tank (ET)
• The Orbiter (the crew's home)

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/vehicle/index.html

Watch this video about the 25th Anniversary of the Challenger accident:





Click here for more information about NASA's shuttle fleet: Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavour:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html

Written Assignment 3. Deadline: October 16th

Write about your own field. 

Choose one of the following tasks and write a description of your field. Write between 170 - 270 words. Notice that parts c and d of both tasks are the same. 

1) Exercise h, page 33 of English for Science and Engineering: 

a) Include information about each of the topics below:

• general definitions and terms
• a brief history of the field
• things that are manufactured in this field
• areas of knowledge that people are required to master
• activities that people typically carry out

b) You may use the Reading and Matching Exercise below as an example for some parts of your text. 

c) Write your text using information you find on the internet (see useful websites in the previous blog entry). 

d) At the end of your written report, include a list of the websites you consulted (use the heading "References") and send your activity.

2) 

a) Read the following text about the field of Aerospace Engineering. 

b) Match each heading with the correct paragraph. 

c) Then write a similar text about your own field of study using information you find on the internet (see useful websites in the previous blog entry). 

d) At the end of your written report, include a list of the websites you consulted (use the heading "References") and send your activity.

READING: AEROSPACE ENGINEERING

Read the text carefully and match each heading with the correct paragraph

Some Useful Engineering and Science Websites

Here's a list of useful and reliable websites where you can find information for your written assignments:


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
- Please read only the English pages, not the Spanish ones.

http://www.efunda.com/home.cfm
- eFunda stands for engineering Fundamentals. Here you can quickly find concise, reliable and useful information, e.g. Formulas.

http://ocw.mit.edu/index.htm
- This is MIT's OpenCourseWare website. It is a free online publication of nearly all of the course materials used at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

http://www.greatachievements.org/
- This website has simplified writing. It may be useful as a reference. 


Some Scientific Journals, News Articles and Reports:

http://www.nature.com/nature/index.html
- "Nature" is a prestigious British scientific journal. Short versions of articles are free here. 


http://www.sciencemag.org/
- "Science" is one of the world's top scientific journals. It's the American version of the British "Nature."

http://www.sciencedaily.com/

- This is one of the most popular science news websites today. In the "Reference" column you will find useful information.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/
- Magazine intended for the educated general public. It has some free articles.

http://spectrum.ieee.org/
- Engineering magazine with general topics


http://www.nap.edu/
- National Academies of Science and Engineering. Here you may find Safety Incident Reports, e.g. the Challenger accident report. You can find free downloadable PDF Files. The listed prices are for printed copies.

http://www.nist.gov/index.html
- The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). You can find reports here.

STUDY HARD!

Listen to the Study Hard Anthem:

More revision for the 1st Midterm Exam

Listening Comprehension: R&D Intensity

Listen to this extract from the European Commission's 2011 Report on Investment and Performance in R&D. Then read the statements below. Are they True or False?

1. R&D intensity is the ratio of investment in R&D to sales.
2. The European Union’s target is to invest 10% of GDP in R&D.
3. Total R&D investment in the EU has risen by 60% between 1995 and 2008.
4. This is a much higher growth rate than that in other parts of the world.
5. The EU share of world R&D expenditures went down from 29% in 1995 to approximately 24% in 2008.

Audio recording and upload >>

Mid-term Test. Thursday, October 4th

Your first Mid-term Test will be on Thursday, October 4th.

It will include Units 1, 2 and 3 of English for Science and Engineering. The following lessons will be included:

Unit 1: Lessons 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Unit 2. Lessons 1 and 3
Unit 3: Lessons 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 (Lesson 3 is not included)

Written Assignment 2: Deadline: October 1st

Your second written assignment is to write a report about one of the following topics:

1) Choose a product from the box or any other product you know and write a report about how it is produced and which chemical principles or processes are involved in its manufacture. Use the passive voice in the present. (Exercise i, page 37, English for Science and Engineering)




2) Write a description of a technical, industrial or manufacturing process using the passive voice in the present. You may use the verb participles in the box or any other verbs you know. (Exercise f, page 39, English for Science and Engineering)



Write 150-250 words. Use linking words (first, second, third, next, after that, while, as soon as,  finally, etc.). 

Survey: Your needs and expectations

I would like you to complete a short survey about your needs and expectations of the English for Science and Engineering course. The survey is anonymous and it will only take you a few minutes to complete. 

I look forward to your answers, since they will help me improve my teaching effectiveness in the classroom. 

To complete the survey, you have to visit this URL:

Haga clic aquí para completar la encuesta.


Thank you!
María

Happy Student's Day!

Enjoy your day!

María


Engineers like to solve problems. If there are no problems handily available, they will create their own problems.
Scott Adams

A scientist discovers that which exists. An engineer creates that which never was.
Theodore von Karman

Written Assignment 1. Deadline: September 18th

As you know, one of the requirements of this course is the completion of 5 Written Assignments. The first one is a report. You can choose one of the following topics:

a) Research and write a report about a well-known industrial designer from your own country or from abroad. (Exercise f, page 17, English for Science and Engineering)
b) Research and write a report about a well-known scientist or designer in your field. 

c) Research and write a report about a well-known design. You can write about the history of the lift or any other design. (you will find videos and a link about the history of the lift below).
d) Research and write a report about a major discovery in your field.

Write 150-250 words.

Writing Guidelines:

A good piece of writing is organized, clear, and coherent, with accurate

language and effective word choice.

Tips for writing:

• Be clear. Make sure those who read it understand exactly what you mean. The key to achieve clarity is to make sentences short and to the point. 
• Try not to express more than one idea in each sentence.
• Avoid repetition and wordiness (= using too many words)
• Use powerful and specific adverbs and adjectives
• Cover only one topic in each paragraph
• Link your ideas with good linking words.
• Avoid informal language (e.g. verb contractions and phrasal verbs)
• Check spelling and grammar by consulting a dictionary

You can read more about effective writing and find good linking words here:

http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/paragraphs.shtml

The Lift:

You may find useful information here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elevator

The History of the Lift

Vocabulary Development: SYNONYMS

Increasing your vocabulary will help you understand more of what you read and listen, as well as express yourself better both orally and in writing.

In order to remember new words, it is necessary to read them repeatedly in different texts and contexts. You should also use them often in writing and orally.

A good way to increase your vocabulary is to read as much as you can.

You can use the CONICET  introductory text below (click on the link) to improve your vocabulary:

http://www.conicet.gov.ar/web/conicet.vinculacion-en.tecno-transfer

Find words in the text which have similar meanings to the words in the list below. 

Write one or two of the synonyms on the yellow board below. There is one example. Read the synonyms your classmates have written before you look for your synonym, so as not to repeat synonyms.

• Main 
• Self-sufficient 
• Novelty 
• Organization 
• Dedicated 
• Advancement 
• Foster (verb)
• Connected
• Carry out  (verb)
• Collaboration
• Created
• Comprise (verb)
• Regular exchange of information
• Necessity
• Requirements

What is Engineering?

MIT Prof. Lauffenburger explains its key aspects (minutes 1:30 to 7:20):

What are the key aspects of Engineering? 
What's the focus of the different Engineering disciplines?




Bioengineering - Prof. Douglas Lauffenburger

If you are interested in watching more videos from MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), visit their OpenCourseWare website. It is a free online publication of nearly all of MIT’s undergraduate and graduate course materials. It is open and available to the world:

http://ocw.mit.edu/index.htm

You can also find free videos from MIT on You Tube:
http://www.youtube.com/user/MIT

Word Clouds - Vocabulary Review - Unit 1 - Lesson 1

You can use these Word Clouds to review the vocabulary of Unit 1 - Lesson 1.

Choose one of the Word Clouds and put the words in the correct order to make sentences about Scientific Research in the United States and Argentina.

Please read your classmates' comments before you choose a Word Cloud, so as not to repeat the sentences.

You can enlarge the images by clicking on them.















After rewriting the jumbled sentences in the correct order, read about Research Centers in Argentina to check your answers:

http://www.en.argentina.ar/_en/science-and-education/research-centers/index.php

Finally, reflect on your work. Was it difficult for you to rearrange the words to make meaningful sentences? What did you find more difficult? Finding the correct position of an adverb? (e.g. "also"), or perhaps detecting the verb? or maybe rearranging a series of nouns? Tell me about your difficulties in the Comments Section. 

Task 1: Create your own Blog

Your first task will be the creation of your own blog.

Why do you need a blog?

Your blog will be your “digital portfolio” or “e-portfolio,” a collection of your best work. 

What is a portfolio?

It is a collection of a student's written work or assignments selected over a period of time, usually a semester or a year.

Your individual blog will have two functions:

1)   It will give you an opportunity to reflect on what you learn.

2)   It will provide a record of the language skills you develop throughout the course. 

Your blog will contain evidence of your achievements, efforts and progress. 

A further advantage of publishing your work on a blog is that you will be able to read your classmates’ blogs and make comments on their writing. Therefore, you will be able to learn from each other’s writing efforts.

What will you publish?

Writing is a process that sometimes requires several drafts and revising based on the teacher’s feedback before producing the final version. 

In this course you will have some compulsory written assignments. You may write them using pen and paper and hand them in in class, or use Word and send them to me by email.

I will ask you to publish your final versions on your Blog.

How to create a blog:

Please watch the following video and follow the instructions to create your own blog.

You should choose a name for your blog that is related to its purpose, e.g. referring to what you are learning in this course.

After you create your blog, please write your blog address or URL in the Comments Section below (for example, our Class Blog address is http://engse-uns.blogspot.com.ar/).

María

UNS English on Facebook

Universidad del Sur's English Language Program is on Facebook now. You will find useful information and news there. Here's the link:

http://www.facebook.com/InglesUns

María

Our first lesson - Course Presentation

Here's the PowerPoint Presentation I showed you in our first lesson. It contains the course objectives, bibliography and requirements.




María

Your Major, Your Reasons

I have two questions for you:


1) What's you major? (= what do you study?)
Here's a link to an example of how to answer the question:
http://www.collegenet.com/elect/app/app?service=external/Forum&sp=2609
Read about some Engineering majors:
http://www.tryengineering.org/become.php?page=majors_eng

2) What do you like about engineering?
Here's a link to ten reasons for loving engineering. You can click on each one to read more about them. Which of them do you agree with? Do you have other reasons for liking engineering?
http://www.engineeryourlife.org/cms/whyengineering.aspx

Please post your answers in the Comments section below.


María

Welcome!

Welcome to our English for Science and Engineering Blog!


Watch this Dilbert cartoon related to engineers. What do you think about it? When did you first realize you had the "knack"? (= a natural skill or ability)