Integrating Technology Across the Curriculum: Internet/Computer Writing Resources for a Content-Based Curriculum, Michael Krauss, ISALC, Lewis & Clark College

Sample Email Assignments and Student Work

The following assignments were given with the dual objectives of teaching students basic Email skills as well as providing an opportunity to practice specific writing functions, (e.g. agreeing/disagreeing, paragraph transitions, describing a process, etc.) in an intermediate level Computer Applications course at Lewis & Clark College.

An Email skills checklist also comes in handy.

Student Postings - Assignment 

To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Subject: Posting Email Topics
 
Students,

Follow the directions in your text for posting Email to the class. Read the following assignment to understand the type of topic you should post.

What do I post?

You should post a topic which is of wide interest. It should be specific enough so people can reply to it. It may ask for information, an opinion, reaction, feeling, etc.

Examples:

It's such a WONDERFUL day: sunny and warm. I am thinking how I would spend this day if I were home in Japan/Korea/UAE, etc. How would you be spending this day if you were at home?

How will you spend your 4th of July? I don't have any plans but am looking for suggestions. Many Americans say they will go to watch fireworks. I really don't like them; they seem boring. What do you think?

It's hard for me to meet Americans. I feel shy when I am in a group of Americans. Do you feel the same way? Do you have any suggestions for making friends in the U.S.?

I look forward to reading your posted topics!

Michael

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Student Postings - Resulting Student Work 

From: ALI Student <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]

Subject: The indebendence day for your country

Hi every body!
             I hope that you had a nice weekend.  Every one know that the
independence day for the U.S.A. is 4th of July, and there will be an
interesting fire celebration.  So write a bout the independence day for
your country and how do you celebrate by that day.
 
     Mohamed.
**********************************************************************************
 
From: ALI Student <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: What did you want to become?
 
 Dear  class,
   Hello!! everyone!
 
When I was seven years old, I wanted to become a stewardess. Because I
wanted to go to many foreign countries.
 I really hope to know what you wanted to become when you were an 
elementary school student. Please  write about what you wanted to become and
why you thought so?
 
**********************************************************************************
 
From: ALI Student <[email protected]>
To: [email protected],
 cc: [email protected]
Subject: posting 7/27 I felt scare
 
Hi all friends,
Do you have experiences when you feel scare?  I had an experience about
that when I was in middle school.  At the time, my friend asked me to go
to "Kota".  I liked her idea because we left the class earlier than
usually.  We went to Kota as down town Jakarta, Indonesia.  When we wanted
to go up to second floor, I saw the upstairs went up and down.  You know
that I never went to anything place except to my family houses at that time.
So I really scared, My friends told me that things was escalators.  I
couldn't move my foot to escalator, I couldn't do it!
 
I began crying !!  My friends laughed at me ! They didn't understand me!!
Finally, they felt sympathetic to me, so they went down by escalator and
they carried my hand until we arrived on the second floor.  After that we
decided to go down by upstairs.
 
If I remember that day, I think it was funny experience.  I believe that
you had experiences which made you scared or fun or ashamed.
Do you have those experiences?  Tell me!!
 
Minetha

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Student Introductions - Assignment

From: Michael Krauss <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Subject: Introduce Yourself

Hello again,

This is your second Email assignment.

Please introduce yourself to the class. Tell us who you are, why you are here, what your goals/dreams are, and how you plan to achieve your goals. Use your best grammar and spelling. I'll give you a grade for completing this assignment correctly and also a grade for your English! You should write 150 -200 words. We will publish your introduction along with your photo and Email address on our Class Web Page, so do a good job!

Use the reply command. Don't include the original. Do reply to all recipients. Send a cc: to me (krauss).

Please spellcheck your message before you send it. (Check the menu at the bottom of the screen to see how to spellcheck).

By the way, you should always send a cc: to me (krauss) so that I can give you credit towards your grade for writing Email!

Questions?? Just ask another student (in English!) or me.

Thanks,
Michael

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Student Introductions - Resulting Student Work

Survey on Americans - Assignments

Survey on Americans

From: Michael Krauss <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Cc: Michael Krauss <[email protected]>
Subject: Survey on Americans

Hello,

Survey on Americans- Write a paragraph to complete each statement below:

1. The thing I like most about Americans is . . .

2. The thing I like least about Americans is . . .

You will be graded on content, grammar, and mechanics (spelling, punctuation). Be sure to spellcheck. (control t)

Send this message To: esl-382; cc: krauss

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Survey on Americans - Disagree With a Classmate's Answer

Choose one survey answer with which you disagree strongly. Write a reply of at least 100 words. Use at least one of these phrases: "You have a point, but I disagree strongly." "I understand what you are saying, but I have a different opinion." "We are coming from different places on this question." "I respect your opinion, but I disagree completely."

Send your reply to two students (not all recipients). Send a cc to krauss. Include the original message in your reply.

Again, your grade will depend on content, grammar, and mechanics (spelling, punctuation). Be sure to spellcheck. (control t)

Be sure to save this message and all other assignments in a folder.

Thanks for your hard work! :-)

Michael

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Survey on Americans- Resulting Student Work

From: Xiaophan
To: [email protected]
Cc: Michael Krauss <[email protected]>
Subject: Survey on Americans

The thing I like the most about the Americans is their honestness. When an American really like something or someone, s/he would express her/his feeling truely .Of course they would also pay attention to their specific way when they communicate to each other. Besides the language, they have a lot of nonverbal means like :diverse facial expressions, body languages and gestures. All these means make the communication more easy than it is among the eastern Asians .

Disagreement from Yasuko

From: Yasuko
To: Xiaophan, Nasser
Cc: Michael Krauss <[email protected]>
Subject: Survey on Americans

Hello Xiaophan. This is Yasuko. I read your Email, assignment#6. I agree with your opinion almost, but my opinion is different from yours a little. I also think most Americans express their feelings very clearly. It is good. But they sometimes act even if they don't think so. When I went to Los Angels, an American had her hair cut, but she didn't like her hairstyle. In spite of her bad feeling, she said to the stylist, "I really like this! Thank you very much." After that, she ordered another stylist to cut her hair again. I was very surprised. I didn't know if it was good behavior or not. What do you think of it?

Yasuko

Further Clarification from Xiaophan

From: Xiaophan
To: Yasuko
Cc: Michael Krauss <[email protected]>
Subject: Survey on Americans

Hi, Yasuko!

Thank you for sharing your own opinion with me. I understand what you are talking about. But i would like to remind you that people are very different even they are from the same country, especially the U.S which is a kind of combination of cultures. I believe there must be some exceptions just like what you mentioned in your message. However, I would still like to keep my original idea in general. Furthermore, are you sure that your friend was not mocking when she said that she really like the haircut? Did you see her facial expression at the minute? Or maybe she liked it truly at that moment and later she changed her mind-- that is also one of the characteristics of the Americans-- change ideas often --because their minds are so opened...They are famous for their openedness, aren't they?

Nice to talk to you!

Xiaofan

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Chain Mail - Assignment

This is a useful assignment which teaches several basic Email skills while giving students the opportunity for creative writing. This assignment also requires that students be able to integrate their writing into a cohesive whole.

From: Michael Krauss <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Cc: Michael Krauss <[email protected]>
Subject: Chain story

Assignment #5 (Due Tue 6/3 at the end of class)

Chain story.
************************************
The story starts like this:
It was a dark and stormy night. . .
************************************

There will be four teams with 3 people on each team. Person #1 continues the first sentence, writing a complete paragraph. Then s/he will use "Compose" (C) to send the story to Person #2. Person #2 will add a paragraph to the story and "Forward by Email" (F) to Person #3. That person will finish writing the story and "Forward by Email" to me (krauss)

Your grade will be based on the creativity of the story as well as your grammar and mechanics (spelling, punctuation, etc.). Everyone on the team will receive the same grade.

Team #1 = saif, yoneyama, and song

Team #2 = alkhalaf, yamasaki, and kjkim

Team #3 = msuh, ahmed, and kaoruko

Team #4 = khalifaa, kakiya, and mohamedk

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Chain Mail - Resulting Student Work

Problem Solving - Assignments

The following problem solving assignments were taken from Problem Solving Across the Curriculum, John Beaver, 1994 and is available from ISTE.

****************************************************

From: Michael Krauss <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Subject: The Narrow Bridge

Hello everyone,

NOTE: Do NOT send this answer to esl-382. Send it ONLY to krauss.

Here's an extra credit question. Send your answer via Email by the end of class on Tue. 1/27. Your answer must be in correct English with, at the most, a couple of spelling/grammar errors! NOTE: You *can* work with one or two partners, but *each* person must be from a different language group! Please do not talk about this question outside of your group. *Good Luck!*

The Narrow Bridge: What's a Farmer to Do?

A Farmer owned a Duck, a Wolf, and a container filled with Corn. He was taking the three possessions to sell them at market. However, on the way to market, he came to a wide river spanned by a very narrow bridge. The bridge was so narrow that he could only take one possession at a time across the bridge. Here is the problem: if he leaves the Wolf and Duck alone, the Wolf will eat the Duck. Similarly, if he leaves the Duck and Corn together, the Duck will eat the corn. What should the Farmer do to solve his problem. Explain.

P.S. This is not a trick question. There are a couple of different ways to solve the problem.

Good Luck!

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**********************************

From: Michael Krauss <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Subject: Socks Confusion 1 and 2 Extra credit #2

Hello everyone,
NOTE: Do NOT send this answer to esl-382. Send it ONLY to krauss.

Here's an extra credit question. Send your answer via Email by the end of class on Wed. 1/28.. Your answer must be in correct English with, at the most, a couple of spelling/grammar errors! NOTE: You *can* work with one or two partners, but *each* person must be from a different language group! Please do not talk about this question outside of your group. *Good Luck!*

Sock Confusion # 1 and #2

#1 The drawer where you keep your socks contains 10 white socks and 10 black socks. Unfortunately, the socks are not sorted into pairs. If someone blindfolded you (covered your eyes), what is the minimum (fewest) number of socks which you could take from the drawer and still be absolutely certain that you got a matched pair (you don't care about the color--two white socks or two black socks is OK)?

#2 Same situation, but this time you want to be sure that you select a pair of white socks. What is the minimum number of socks you can take from the drawer and still be absolutely certain that you get a pair of *white* socks?

You must explain your answers. You must *not* send a cc to esl 382! ;-)

Good luck,
M.

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**************************

Business Disorder

From: Michael Krauss <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Subject: Extra Credit #3 (the hard one)

Hi guys,

You seem to be "into" the extra credit problem solving. This one is a little hard and is worth 2 extra points on the final grade.

Due by Thurs., 1/29.

Rules: You *must* give reasons for your answers. Your grammar and spelling *must* be good/excellent. You *may* work in a group *if* you don't speak the same native language *and* if each group member writes part of the answer. If you work in a group, be sure and tell me who the group members are.

The business office of the Coy Toy Company consists of the following individuals:

Mr. Brown
Mr. Case
Miss Grant
Mrs. Jen
Miss Lint
Mr. O'Shea

Those individuals fill the following positions (but not in this order)

Teller
Clerk
Cashier
Secretary
Assistant Manager
Manager

Use the following clues to help you determine which individual fill each position:

1. The Assistant Manager is the Manager's grandson.
2. The Cashier is the Secretary's son-in-law.
3. The Teller is Miss Grant's step-sister.
4. Mr. Brown is a bachelor.
5. Mr. Case is 22 years old.
6. Mr. O'Shea is the Manager's neighbor.

Good luck! (You'll need it) ;-)
M.

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Problem Solving - Resulting Student Work

The answers to the "brain teasers" obviously engaged this student. He problem solved well and communicated his ideas clearly. The minor grammatical and semantic errors can be corrected within this meaningful context which is relevant to and written by the student.

P.S. The answer to # 1 is quite innovative (putting a cover on the corn, but he didn't get credit for this answer. :-)

Date: Sun, 25 Jan 1998 19:06:29 -0800 (PST)
From: Tomoya
To: Michael Krauss <[email protected]>

Subject: Extra credit #1,#2, & #3

Hi! Michael! Are you having a nice weekend? Did you come to watch the game on Saturday ? Unfortunately, we lost against Linfield College with over time by 3 points. We're very disappointed. However, We might have to win 9 games in a row which seems very tough, but we believe it is possible!

Here is the extra credit assignment #1, #2 and #3,

The Narrow Bridge: What's a Farmer To Do?

#1, First, the farmer should take the Duck across the narrow bridge. Then, he should take the container of corn. At this time, he has got to make sure the container is covered so that the duck can't eat the corn. Finally, he should take the wolf acros the bridge!

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Socks Confusion

#2, 1) If I took three socks from the drawer, I would get at least one matching pair of socks; either white or black.

2) If I took twelve socks from the drawer, I would be guaranteed a pair of white socks because if I picked 10 black socks in a row, than I would pick 2 white socks next!

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Business Disorder

#3, 1, The assistant manager = the manager's grandson, We know that the assistant manager must be a man. He must also be younger than the manager, the manager can be a man or a woman.

2, The cashier = the Secretary's son-in-law. The cashier must be a man who is married with the secretary's daughter.

3, The teller = Miss Grant's step-sister. The teller must be a woman who is not Miss Grant. Thus, the teller is either Miss Lint or Mrs. Jen.

4, Mr. Brown = a bachelor(single). According to this information, Mr. Brown must not be the cashier because he is single. He probably a young because he is a single. because he is a single: he might not be the manager. .

5, Mr. Case = 22 years old, according to this information, Mr. Case must not be the manager because the manager has a grandson. He is too young to have a grandson!

6, Mr. O'Shea = the Manager's neighbor, so Mr.O'Shea must not be the manager.

According to the data, the manager can be only Mr. Brown or Mrs. Jen. However, Mr. Brown is still a bachelor. Thus, he probably doesn't have a grandson. So, I assume the manager is Mrs. Jen. The cashier must be a man, so it is either Mr.O'Shea or Mr. Case. The cashier is married with the secretaty's daughter, so he must be a young man. It can't be Mr. Brown because he is a single. Thus, I would assume the cashier is Mr. Case. The secretary is living near the manager's house. Mr.O'Shea is probably the secretary. The assistant manager must be a man because the assistant manager is the manager's grandson. This is probably Mr. Brown. The 2 women left are Miss Lint and Miss grant. Because the teller is Miss Grant's step sister, the teller must be Miss Lint; therefore, Miss. Grant is the clerk!!

Manager = Mrs. Jen
Cashier = Mr. Case
Assistant manager = Mr. Brown
Secretary = Mr.O'Shea
Teller = Miss Lint
Clerk = Miss Grant

P.S. I spent 5 hours on this! Oh, my gosh!

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Email Checklist:

_____ Read messages

Reply to messages
 _____ (include original)
 _____ (don't include original)
 _____ (reply only to sender)
 _____ (reply to all)

_____ Delete messages

_____ Undelete messages

_____ Understand (+, A, D) in Index

Send messages
 _____ to one person
 _____ to two people
 _____ to all the class
 _____ cc to one or more

_____ Cancel a message

_____ Postpone a message

_____ Spellcheck a message

_____ Justify a message

_____ Read notices

_____ Read soapbox

_____ Send a message to notices

_____ Send a message to soapbox

Forward messages
 _____ To one
 _____ To the class
 _____ From Sent Mail

_____ Save a message to a folder

_____ Make a distribution list

_____ Create a .signature file

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Created by: [email protected]
Updated: 2/15/98