Prof. Bryan Alkema
EC Sample Paragraph D
Word Count: 407
Intensive Classes Are Different From Regular Classes
Have you thought about taking an intensive class (계절학기 수업) during the winter vacation? Students should know that intensive classes are different from regular classes because of the rapid pace, the necessity of completing daily tasks, and the ability to focus on one subject. One difference is that, while a regular semester starts off a little slowly, an intensive class doesn’t! Intensive classes cover all the content of regular classes, but they do so in sixteen days rather than sixteen weeks, which has a large impact on students and teachers. For English classes, assignments are often given the first day, midterm exams are taken in the middle of the second week, and the final exam will be on the last day of the course. There is no time to slow down in an intensive class. Another difference between intensive and regular classes is that students taking an intensive class are required to complete two to three hours of assignments each day. During the regular semester, students have days between each class, but during an intensive class (three hours each day), by the time you finish Monday’s class, Tuesday’s class is only twenty-one hours away! Taking our EC class as an example, students would be expected to handle a listening section, a reading section and a vocabulary section each day, and both the first paragraph and the first vocabulary quiz would be completed in the first week of the intensive class. However, success in an intensive class is possible because of a final difference from regular classes, which is the ability to focus. Obviously, during a regular semester students are participating in many different classes; but during an intensive session, most students only take one class. As a result, both the students and the teachers can concentrate on that one course, which isn’t possible during the regular semester. Some students actually do better in the intensive period than they would in the regular semester, just as some teachers prefer intensive teaching over the regular semester, because there are no distractions and no competition with other subjects or assignments. In conclusion, there is no doubt that intensive classes are a lot of work because of how quickly they move, how much daily work is expected, and how much concentration is needed. On the other hand, students who are willing to face this challenge can quickly advance their academic career. Maybe you should consider taking an intensive class this winter!
Sample Paragraph D: Structure Questions [Comparison / Contrast]
EC Sample Paragraph D
Word Count: 407
Intensive Classes Are Different From Regular Classes
Have you thought about taking an intensive class (계절학기 수업) during the winter vacation? Students should know that intensive classes are different from regular classes because of the rapid pace, the necessity of completing daily tasks, and the ability to focus on one subject. One difference is that, while a regular semester starts off a little slowly, an intensive class doesn’t! Intensive classes cover all the content of regular classes, but they do so in sixteen days rather than sixteen weeks, which has a large impact on students and teachers. For English classes, assignments are often given the first day, midterm exams are taken in the middle of the second week, and the final exam will be on the last day of the course. There is no time to slow down in an intensive class. Another difference between intensive and regular classes is that students taking an intensive class are required to complete two to three hours of assignments each day. During the regular semester, students have days between each class, but during an intensive class (three hours each day), by the time you finish Monday’s class, Tuesday’s class is only twenty-one hours away! Taking our EC class as an example, students would be expected to handle a listening section, a reading section and a vocabulary section each day, and both the first paragraph and the first vocabulary quiz would be completed in the first week of the intensive class. However, success in an intensive class is possible because of a final difference from regular classes, which is the ability to focus. Obviously, during a regular semester students are participating in many different classes; but during an intensive session, most students only take one class. As a result, both the students and the teachers can concentrate on that one course, which isn’t possible during the regular semester. Some students actually do better in the intensive period than they would in the regular semester, just as some teachers prefer intensive teaching over the regular semester, because there are no distractions and no competition with other subjects or assignments. In conclusion, there is no doubt that intensive classes are a lot of work because of how quickly they move, how much daily work is expected, and how much concentration is needed. On the other hand, students who are willing to face this challenge can quickly advance their academic career. Maybe you should consider taking an intensive class this winter!
Sample Paragraph D: Structure Questions [Comparison / Contrast]
- Where is the topic sentence? What two things are being described in this paragraph?
- How many supporting points are there, and what are they?
- Complete the following table using the ideas and details from the paragraph.
Does the author compare (describe what is the same) or contrast (describe what is different) these two types of classes?
Look at the sentences that start each supporting point of the paragraph.
What transition words tell the reader that there is a new idea?
How long is the conclusion section of this paragraph?
What suggestion does the author give as part of the conclusion?
Compare and contrast the supporting points of the topic sentence and the supporting points in the conclusion. [How are they the same? How are they different?]
Sample Paragraph D: Skill Questions
Sample Paragraph D: Content Questions
Look at the sentences that start each supporting point of the paragraph.
What transition words tell the reader that there is a new idea?
How long is the conclusion section of this paragraph?
What suggestion does the author give as part of the conclusion?
Compare and contrast the supporting points of the topic sentence and the supporting points in the conclusion. [How are they the same? How are they different?]
Sample Paragraph D: Skill Questions
- Read the two bolded sentences in the paragraph. For each one, decide if the sentence is simple, compound, or complex.
- Circle any words you don’t know. You may add these words to your vocabulary workbook.
Sample Paragraph D: Content Questions
- Do you think the author likes one type of class better than the other?
- Do you think an intensive class sounds like a good idea? Provide reasons for your answer.
- In your opinion, can a language (like English) be learned in a short intensive class as well as it can be learned in a full-semester class?
- Intensive classes take place in the vacation -- right after the semester! Would you be willing to have a shorter vacation to complete a class?
- Some students take an intensive class to get a better grade in a class they’ve already taken before. Do you think this is a good idea?
- Are you interested in taking an intensive class sometime in the future? After this semester? Explain your answer.