Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Zinn Chapter 11 Essays - Industrial Workers Of The World

Zinn Chapter 11 Chapter 11 talks about how the railroad corporations took over for profit and made low income jobs. New machines were starting to be invented, no longer needing humans to do the work. This made a lot of people jobless and did not leave many jobs for people to do. Since the railroad corporations led to low wage jobs, it made the workers very upset. They had families to feed and necessities they needed to buy in order to support their families and what they were getting paid was not enough. So three thousand workers got together for strikes and the Knights of Labor was formed , wanting more pay. Even women joined to protest the wages and hours they were being given because they did not think it was fair . Pinkerton guards boarded their barges. When a Pinkerton man shoved a striker aside, he fired and wounded the detective, leading to gunfire from both sides. Strike leaders were charged with murder and the rest with other crimes. Texas and Pacific Railroad fired a leader of the Knights of Labor, leading to a strike which spread throughout the Southwest. Even though these strikes caused a lot of damage, they did end up working and making a change because the government and corporations granted them more favorable conditions. Life for immigrants was very difficult. Those who came to the Unites States to work ended up in worse conditions working for Railroad corporations then they were already in. Plus, many people disliked the immigrants and would riot against them . Farmers were again attacked through the Homestead Act, losing so much. In 1870, John D. Rockefeller set up the Standard Oil Company. He made secret agreements with railroads to ship his oil if they gave him discounts on their prices. Which was a good strategy for him because it led other oil competitors out of business. America was used as a company with millionaires running it with their riches. Whatever it was that the poor would do to try to improve didn't work at all. It was as if the rich would get richer and the poor got poorer. Famers that thought they were going to get rich would end up losing their lands and homes because they were left in debt, they couldn't afford to pay back the loans they took out to monopolize their products .

Friday, March 6, 2020

Helping ESL Students Understand and Participate in Small Talk

Helping ESL Students Understand and Participate in Small Talk The ability to make small talk comfortably is one of the most desired objectives  of almost any English student. This is especially true for business English learners but applies to all. The function of small talk is the same the world over. However, which topics are appropriate for small talk can vary from culture to culture. This lesson plan focuses on helping students develop their small talk skills and addresses the issue of appropriate subjects. Difficulties in small talk skills can arise from a number of factors including grammar uncertainties, comprehension problems, lack of topic-specific vocabulary, and a general lack of confidence. The lesson introduces a discussion of appropriate small talk topics. Make sure to give students ample time to delve into the subjects if they seem particularly interested. Aim: Improving small talk skills Activity: Discussion of appropriate small talk subjects followed by a game to be played in small groups Level: Intermediate to Advanced Small Talk Lesson Outline Write Small Talk on the board. Brainstorm as a class to define small talk. Write examples on the board.Discuss the importance of small talk skills with the class.Divide students into groups of 3 - 5.Give students the small talk worksheet.Students begin by reviewing key functions and grammar by matching purpose,  expression, and form. Review as a class. Discuss any questions in usage.Ask students to discuss  whether the topics provided in the second section  are appropriate for making small talk. Students can also decide that some topics are appropriate in certain situations  but not in others.  Once students have discussed the various situations, solicit responses on the various subjects from the class as a whole. Make sure to ask for examples of comments on appropriate subjects, as well as  explanations for those topics which students feel are not appropriate. Feel free to let students debate their opinions to help develop  conversational skills.Have students get back into their groups and play the small talk game in the third section. Circulate around the room helping  students when they run into difficulties. Take notes on subjects that students find difficult. As a class,  brainstorm on appropriate comments. Understanding Forms Used in Small Talk Match the conversational purpose to the expression in the second column. Identify the appropriate grammar structure in the third column. Purpose Expression Structure Ask about experienceGive adviceMake a suggestionExpress an opinionImagine a situationProvide instructionsOffer somethingConfirm informationAsk for more detailsAgree or disagree Open the package. Fill out the Forms.Where can I find out more?Im afraid I dont see it that way.Have you ever visited Rome?Lets go for a walk.To me, that seems like a waste of time.You live in San Francisco, dont you?Would you like something to drink?If you were the boss, what would you do?You should visit Mt. Hood. Conditional formQuestion tagUse of some in questions rather than anyTo me, In my opinion, I thinkInformation questionModal verbs such as should, ought to, and had betterImperative formLets, Why dont you, How about Present perfect for experienceIm afraid I dont see / think / feel that way. Hit Your Small Talk Target Which Topics are  Appropriate? Which topics are appropriate for small talk discussions? For  topics which are appropriate, think of one interesting comment to make when the teacher calls on you. For topics which are not appropriate, explain why you believe they are not appropriate for small talk. The latest filmsThe One True Path to Eternal LifeThe local basketball teamCarsA product you would like to sell to everyoneThe Death PenaltyYour hometownHow much you makeYour last holidayYour favorite movie-starThe correct political partyThe weatherGardeningYour health problemsYour family Small Talk Game Throw one die to move forward from one subject to the next. When you get to the end, return to the beginning to start again. You have 30 seconds to make a comment about the suggested subject. If you dont, you lose your turn! Your best friendThe last film you sawPetsRock and rollA magazineLearning a languagePlaying tennisYour current jobAn interesting excursion nearbyThe InternetMarilyn MonroeKeeping healthyHuman cloningYour favorite foodFinding a job in your countryThe last book you readYour worst holidaySomething youve never done, but would like to doTeachers - what you likeTeachers - what you dont like