I've just realized that I posted a broken link to the new CATW practice a few weeks ago. Here is the new CATW practice again. You found it here first!
http://www.spirfit.org/CUNY/Downloads/CATW/Unofficial/Jobs_Obesity_CATW_Prompt.pdf
Other CATW Practices are available below:
http://cuny.SpirFit.com/2011/01/official-catw-practice-prompt-with.html
http://spirfit.org/CUNY/Downloads/CATWpractice1.pdf
Feel free to choose the “Subscribe” options on the right side of this page.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Monday, June 27, 2011
How To Search For Specific News Articles
I understand that some of you have to search for an article on a specific topic. One way to search for an article (from a legitimate news source) is to do a search on Google News at:
http://news.google.com/
Another way is to do a search on the New York Times website at:
http://www.nytimes.com/
A third way (a more sophisticated way) to do this is to search the Lexis-Nexis news database at:
http://www.lexisnexis.com/hottopics/lnacademic/?
If you are having trouble accessing Lexis Nexis, you will have to access Lexis Nexis at your university (physically) if you have not set up remote access to your university’s library resources.
The advantage of Google News search is the ease of it. The disadvantage of of Google News search is how it may include results from smaller or less recognized publications.
The New York Times search includes only articles from the New York Times, apparently. However, the New York Times is generally very well-recognized as a quality news source.
http://news.google.com/
Another way is to do a search on the New York Times website at:
http://www.nytimes.com/
A third way (a more sophisticated way) to do this is to search the Lexis-Nexis news database at:
http://www.lexisnexis.com/hottopics/lnacademic/?
If you are having trouble accessing Lexis Nexis, you will have to access Lexis Nexis at your university (physically) if you have not set up remote access to your university’s library resources.
The advantage of Google News search is the ease of it. The disadvantage of of Google News search is how it may include results from smaller or less recognized publications.
The New York Times search includes only articles from the New York Times, apparently. However, the New York Times is generally very well-recognized as a quality news source.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
ESL Exercise: Common Expression 5
How often do you exercise? I exercise _________________ .
a. four times in a week
b. four times a week
c. four weeks a time
d. four times of a week
Scroll down for the correct answer.
Choice (B) is the correct answer.
I exercise four times a week.
Although choice (A) may seem grammatically correct, it is not commonly used and probably not standard American English. It’s a waste of time to try to rationalize why choice (B) is the correct answer. For fluent English speakers, we just immediately know the correct one because we’ve heard it a million times. We don't pause for two minutes trying to rationalize why we choose the words “four times a week”. The best way for you to learn this is to see or hear it a million times. Okay, maybe not that many times. Here are some examples of sentences using “four times a week”.
"We've been practicing a lot — four times a week," Spc. Ryan Shannon said. "Hopefully it pays off." (Daniel WoolFolk, Watertown Daily Times)
In June 2006, Etihad began flights to Qatar from its home base Abu Dhabi, flying four times a week.
(Al Bawaba)
Raina stayed, becoming a fixture in the gym, working out four times a week. (Stephen Montemayor, Shawnee Dispatch)
“Ben Smith has been covering sports in Fort Wayne sicne 1986. His columns appear four times a week.” (Fort Wayne Journal Gazette)
“You certainly wouldn't have time to play tennis four times a week, or go to yoga twice a week once you have spent every spare moment you have after work washing, ironing and cleaning or driving the kids around.” (Helena Frith Powell, The Telegraph)
“I was eating fast food four times a week, you name it—extra-large fries, double McChicken sandwich.” (Scott Jurek)
Its creator, Graeme Alexander, said golfers needed to spend about three to five minutes with the device three to four times a week. (Bill Pennington, New York Times)
Needless to say, you may also use other numbers in the same syntax:
- three times a week
- twice a week
- ten times a week
You may also use other units in the same syntax:
- four times a month
- four times a year
- four times a day
Feel free to choose the “Subscribe” options near the upper right side of this page. It’s free.
Copyright: © 2011. This document is the sole property of Amadeo Constanzo. You may use this article for free on your web site, blog, or other publication if and only if you include this entire copyright notice including the following links and statement. Other free teachings from Amadeo Constanzo can be found at CUNY.SpirFit.com and SpirFit.org
Keywords: TOEFL, ESL exercises, English, grammar, phrase, common expression, CUNY, Kingsborough, Hunter, Baruch, CCNY, Queensborough, Brooklyn College, BMCC
a. four times in a week
b. four times a week
c. four weeks a time
d. four times of a week
Scroll down for the correct answer.
Choice (B) is the correct answer.
I exercise four times a week.
Although choice (A) may seem grammatically correct, it is not commonly used and probably not standard American English. It’s a waste of time to try to rationalize why choice (B) is the correct answer. For fluent English speakers, we just immediately know the correct one because we’ve heard it a million times. We don't pause for two minutes trying to rationalize why we choose the words “four times a week”. The best way for you to learn this is to see or hear it a million times. Okay, maybe not that many times. Here are some examples of sentences using “four times a week”.
"We've been practicing a lot — four times a week," Spc. Ryan Shannon said. "Hopefully it pays off." (Daniel WoolFolk, Watertown Daily Times)
In June 2006, Etihad began flights to Qatar from its home base Abu Dhabi, flying four times a week.
(Al Bawaba)
Raina stayed, becoming a fixture in the gym, working out four times a week. (Stephen Montemayor, Shawnee Dispatch)
“Ben Smith has been covering sports in Fort Wayne sicne 1986. His columns appear four times a week.” (Fort Wayne Journal Gazette)
“You certainly wouldn't have time to play tennis four times a week, or go to yoga twice a week once you have spent every spare moment you have after work washing, ironing and cleaning or driving the kids around.” (Helena Frith Powell, The Telegraph)
“I was eating fast food four times a week, you name it—extra-large fries, double McChicken sandwich.” (Scott Jurek)
Its creator, Graeme Alexander, said golfers needed to spend about three to five minutes with the device three to four times a week. (Bill Pennington, New York Times)
Needless to say, you may also use other numbers in the same syntax:
- three times a week
- twice a week
- ten times a week
You may also use other units in the same syntax:
- four times a month
- four times a year
- four times a day
Feel free to choose the “Subscribe” options near the upper right side of this page. It’s free.
Copyright: © 2011. This document is the sole property of Amadeo Constanzo. You may use this article for free on your web site, blog, or other publication if and only if you include this entire copyright notice including the following links and statement. Other free teachings from Amadeo Constanzo can be found at CUNY.SpirFit.com and SpirFit.org
Keywords: TOEFL, ESL exercises, English, grammar, phrase, common expression, CUNY, Kingsborough, Hunter, Baruch, CCNY, Queensborough, Brooklyn College, BMCC
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
How You Can Improve Your Writing
If you ask most English teachers and professors, they will tell you, "The more you read habitually, the better a writer you will become." Your reading experiences and habits are more linked to how good a writer you are than your knowledge of grammar. I know this to be true from personal experience.
Don't get me wrong. You do need to know your grammar, but that's not all that you need to become a good writer. As a matter of fact, that's only a small percentage of what you need to become a good writer as you will see from my experience.
When I was in elementary school, I had many lessons in grammar. They were very focused on grammar at my school. However, I was not a good writer back then, despite normally getting A’s in my English (grammar) tests. Evidently, knowing your grammar is not all that it takes to become a good writer (as I've learned early on.)
Lets fast forward to my high school years. During those years, I didn’t really care that much for the books they assigned in school, although I did read them and performed well on the tests. However, I was still not a good writer - until I began reading a lot on my own. I did not read on my own for the sake of improving my writing or reading. I didn't even read the books English teachers recommended. However, I did begin the habit of reading on my own because I wanted to learn more about the things of which I was interested, such as nutrition, fitness, health, martial arts, and spirituality. After establishing a habit of reading books and magazines on these topics, I (as well as my teachers) noticed that my writing was drastically improving. I was no Shakespeare, but I became a writer with a lot of interesting things to say and a lot of knowledge to convey to my readers, because I was reading and learning so much. I also inadvertently picked up on the different ways and different styles of professional writers in informing the readers while captivating their interests. At some point, I started writing my papers as if I was writing for readers of a magazine, instead of thinking of it as writing to obtain a desired grade from the teacher. This paradigm shift, or shift in thinking, played a huge role in improving my writing. (As with many areas of life, a paradigm shift or change of approach can make a huge difference.)
Whether you want to improve your writing to perform well on the CAT Writing test or get good grades on papers for various classes, you should get into the habit of reading things you want to learn. You should especially do this on summer breaks or Christmas breaks. Eventually, your interest will expand to other subjects and you will find yourself sitting at bookstores and libraries for hours at a time. Gradually, you will evolve into a good writer of your own style.
As for me, I have evolved into a health and science writer. I've been paid by editors to write health articles and I have three blogs of my own that pays me a freelancer's version of a small side bonus (from the ads). Also, I teach students how to improve their writing in private practice and at a college.
Copyright: © 2009, 2011. This document is the sole property of Amadeo Constanzo. You may use this article for free in your classroom, on your web site, blog, or other publication if and only if you include this entire copyright notice including the following links and statement. Other free teachings from Amadeo Constanzo can be found at SpirFit.org
Don't get me wrong. You do need to know your grammar, but that's not all that you need to become a good writer. As a matter of fact, that's only a small percentage of what you need to become a good writer as you will see from my experience.
When I was in elementary school, I had many lessons in grammar. They were very focused on grammar at my school. However, I was not a good writer back then, despite normally getting A’s in my English (grammar) tests. Evidently, knowing your grammar is not all that it takes to become a good writer (as I've learned early on.)
Lets fast forward to my high school years. During those years, I didn’t really care that much for the books they assigned in school, although I did read them and performed well on the tests. However, I was still not a good writer - until I began reading a lot on my own. I did not read on my own for the sake of improving my writing or reading. I didn't even read the books English teachers recommended. However, I did begin the habit of reading on my own because I wanted to learn more about the things of which I was interested, such as nutrition, fitness, health, martial arts, and spirituality. After establishing a habit of reading books and magazines on these topics, I (as well as my teachers) noticed that my writing was drastically improving. I was no Shakespeare, but I became a writer with a lot of interesting things to say and a lot of knowledge to convey to my readers, because I was reading and learning so much. I also inadvertently picked up on the different ways and different styles of professional writers in informing the readers while captivating their interests. At some point, I started writing my papers as if I was writing for readers of a magazine, instead of thinking of it as writing to obtain a desired grade from the teacher. This paradigm shift, or shift in thinking, played a huge role in improving my writing. (As with many areas of life, a paradigm shift or change of approach can make a huge difference.)
Whether you want to improve your writing to perform well on the CAT Writing test or get good grades on papers for various classes, you should get into the habit of reading things you want to learn. You should especially do this on summer breaks or Christmas breaks. Eventually, your interest will expand to other subjects and you will find yourself sitting at bookstores and libraries for hours at a time. Gradually, you will evolve into a good writer of your own style.
As for me, I have evolved into a health and science writer. I've been paid by editors to write health articles and I have three blogs of my own that pays me a freelancer's version of a small side bonus (from the ads). Also, I teach students how to improve their writing in private practice and at a college.
Copyright: © 2009, 2011. This document is the sole property of Amadeo Constanzo. You may use this article for free in your classroom, on your web site, blog, or other publication if and only if you include this entire copyright notice including the following links and statement. Other free teachings from Amadeo Constanzo can be found at SpirFit.org
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Eng 91 and 92 Information
It is the beginning of the summer semester and I am excited to experiment with new tools, such as vlogs (or video blogs). Here’s a video of basic but very important information for those of you in English 91 and 92, to get glimpse of what’s ahead.
I actually shot this video last semester but did not have a chance to finish editing it until now. Video editing is really time consuming. Anyway, it's still good for you to look ahead. As any good golfer or good driver knows, it’s important to look far ahead.
This video was inspired by past experiences where I was baffled by some questions from a few students about some basic things they should already know in the last weeks of the semester. However, I must also emphasize that these unsophisticated students are few. Fortunately, I am seeing more and more savvy students.
Copyright: © 2011. This document is the sole property of Amadeo Constanzo. You may use this piece for free in your class, for public distribution, on your web site, blog, or other publication if and only if you include this entire copyright notice including the following links and statement. Other free teachings from Amadeo Constanzo can be found at cuny.SpirFit.com and SpirFit.org/Blogs
Sunday, June 5, 2011
I'm Dying and Important Lesson
I'm dying. An important lesson at - http://life.SpirFit.com/2011/06/im-dying.html
Friday, June 3, 2011
Exercise on Rephrasing and Error Correction - New Orleans Jazz (Part 2)
Let’s do an exercise on error correction, rephrasing, and revising. Revise the following paragraph from a student’s essay. Please read it, correct any errors, and improve the paragraph in any way. You are encouraged to also rephrase sentences to clarify them for the reader, but try your best to keep the original writer’s meaning. For my students who’ve done this in lab, you could find the link to a corrected piece at the bottom, but please try to do it on your own first.
Nobody really knew when jazz was started, but by the early 1900’s it was being played during night time through the city’s Stormville district. It was an area of bars, gambling, and illegal activities. Different parts of the New Orleans’s musical history are mixed into jazz including African chants and drum rhythms, slave songs, marches, ragtime, the blues, and classical music. The African American in Stormville mixed the parts together to create a new style of American music.
Click here to see how this paragraph can be corrected and revised, or go to - http://spirfit.org/CUNY/Downloads/ErrorCorrection/NewOrleansJazz_Paragraph2_Rephrased.pdf
Copyright: © 2011. This document is the sole property of Amadeo Constanzo. You may use this piece for free in your class, for public distribution, on your web site, blog, or other publication if and only if you include this entire copyright notice including the following links and statement. Other free teachings from Amadeo Constanzo can be found at cuny.SpirFit.com and SpirFit.org/Blogs
writing exercise, CATW, Departmental Exam Writing, SAT Writing, ACT Writing. grammatical error correction, rephrasing, revise, revising. rephrase
Click here to see how this paragraph can be corrected and revised, or go to - http://spirfit.org/CUNY/Downloads/ErrorCorrection/NewOrleansJazz_Paragraph2_Rephrased.pdf
Copyright: © 2011. This document is the sole property of Amadeo Constanzo. You may use this piece for free in your class, for public distribution, on your web site, blog, or other publication if and only if you include this entire copyright notice including the following links and statement. Other free teachings from Amadeo Constanzo can be found at cuny.SpirFit.com and SpirFit.org/Blogs
writing exercise, CATW, Departmental Exam Writing, SAT Writing, ACT Writing. grammatical error correction, rephrasing, revise, revising. rephrase
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Day Before Standardized Test - Inspirational Readings
On the day before a standardized test (such as the CATW, CATR/ACT Reading, Compass Math Exam, SAT, ACT, and GRE), you should not be studying or practicing - as I've mentioned at: http://cuny.SpirFit.com/2010/12/preparation-for-catw-and-standardized.html
On the day before a standardized exam, it's good to relax and do some inspirational reading (not related to the exam). The following are some recommended inspirational readings:
Is There Room in Your Cup
http://www.myspace.com/constanzo/blog/278083247
Follow Your Heart, Don’t Live Someone Else’s Life
http://life.SpirFit.com/2010/10/follow-your-heart-dont-live-someone.html
How Do I Forgive
http://Life.SpirFit.com/2010/03/how-do-i-forgive.html
Dealing with People at Work
http://Life.SpirFit.com/2009/12/dealing-with-people-at-work.html
Facing Uncertainty - Opportunity in Disguise (Part I)
http://Life.SpirFit.com/2009/06/power-of-uncertain-part-1-opportunities.html
Facing Uncertainty - Do Not Fear the Unknown (Part II)
http://Life.SpirFit.com/2009/07/facing-uncertainties-part-2-do-not-fear.html
Facing Uncertainty - UNDERSTANDING THE POWER OF YOUR MIND (Part III)
http://Life.SpirFit.com/2009/08/facing-uncertainties-part-3.html
Facing Uncertainty (Part IV)
http://Life.SpirFit.com/2009/08/facing-uncertainties-part-4-harnessing.html
Habitual Thoughts Determine What
http://spirfit.com/2009/05/habitual-thoughts-determine-results.html
Not Imprisoned by Our Past
http://www.myspace.com/constanzo/blog/164298676?MyToken=11305cd4-12b1-4da2-9b51-08aefe73f3fb
Don’t Leave the Great Project
http://Life.SpirFit.com /2010/08/dont-leave-great-project.html
From Other Teachers
http://www.innerself.com/Spirituality/becoming_spiritual.htm
http://www.franklincovey.com/tc/resources/view/art
http://peacepilgrim.com/book/chapt6.htm
http://www.drwaynedyer.com/articles/seven-secrets-of-a-joyful-life
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/richard_st_john_s_8_secrets_of_success.html
http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/frankl.html
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/questionofgod/voices/frankl.html
Funny or Fun
http://www.myspace.com/constanzo/blog/502076264
http://life.SpirFit.com/2010/12/smashing-video.html
On the day before a standardized exam, it's good to relax and do some inspirational reading (not related to the exam). The following are some recommended inspirational readings:
Is There Room in Your Cup
http://www.myspace.com/constanzo/blog/278083247
Follow Your Heart, Don’t Live Someone Else’s Life
http://life.SpirFit.com/2010/10/follow-your-heart-dont-live-someone.html
How Do I Forgive
http://Life.SpirFit.com/2010/03/how-do-i-forgive.html
Dealing with People at Work
http://Life.SpirFit.com/2009/12/dealing-with-people-at-work.html
Facing Uncertainty - Opportunity in Disguise (Part I)
http://Life.SpirFit.com/2009/06/power-of-uncertain-part-1-opportunities.html
Facing Uncertainty - Do Not Fear the Unknown (Part II)
http://Life.SpirFit.com/2009/07/facing-uncertainties-part-2-do-not-fear.html
Facing Uncertainty - UNDERSTANDING THE POWER OF YOUR MIND (Part III)
http://Life.SpirFit.com/2009/08/facing-uncertainties-part-3.html
Facing Uncertainty (Part IV)
http://Life.SpirFit.com/2009/08/facing-uncertainties-part-4-harnessing.html
Habitual Thoughts Determine What
http://spirfit.com/2009/05/habitual-thoughts-determine-results.html
Not Imprisoned by Our Past
http://www.myspace.com/constanzo/blog/164298676?MyToken=11305cd4-12b1-4da2-9b51-08aefe73f3fb
Don’t Leave the Great Project
http://Life.SpirFit.com /2010/08/dont-leave-great-project.html
From Other Teachers
http://www.innerself.com/Spirituality/becoming_spiritual.htm
http://www.franklincovey.com/tc/resources/view/art
http://peacepilgrim.com/book/chapt6.htm
http://www.drwaynedyer.com/articles/seven-secrets-of-a-joyful-life
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/richard_st_john_s_8_secrets_of_success.html
http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/frankl.html
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/questionofgod/voices/frankl.html
Funny or Fun
http://www.myspace.com/constanzo/blog/502076264
http://life.SpirFit.com/2010/12/smashing-video.html
Important Notice for CUNY Faculty, Tutors, and Staff
Have you claimed your CUNY First Account? You need to do it immediately if you haven't done so already. You can do it on your own by clicking the links at the bottom of this entry.
Claiming your CUNY First account is necessary to do a lot of things on your own online in the CUNY system including but not limited to:
1. Accessing and changing your address, phone number, and other information
2. Accessing information about your health benefits and other benefits
3. Accessing teaching tools and managing work with students
4. Logging into some campus computers (probably including computers at KCC RWC)
To claim your CUNY First account, go to the following:
http://www.kingsborough.edu/CUNYfirst/Documents/CUNYFirst-Claim-Account.swf
http://www.kingsborough.edu/CUNYfirst/Documents/Self%20Service%20Guide.pdf
http://www.kingsborough.edu/CUNYfirst/Pages/CUNYFirstEmployeeSelfService.aspx
Claiming your CUNY First account is necessary to do a lot of things on your own online in the CUNY system including but not limited to:
1. Accessing and changing your address, phone number, and other information
2. Accessing information about your health benefits and other benefits
3. Accessing teaching tools and managing work with students
4. Logging into some campus computers (probably including computers at KCC RWC)
To claim your CUNY First account, go to the following:
http://www.kingsborough.edu/CUNYfirst/Documents/CUNYFirst-Claim-Account.swf
http://www.kingsborough.edu/CUNYfirst/Documents/Self%20Service%20Guide.pdf
http://www.kingsborough.edu/CUNYfirst/Pages/CUNYFirstEmployeeSelfService.aspx
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