Our Last Day

Hi class! Tomorrow is our very last day together! :( We're going to play my favorite game and watch a movie (which Linda's bringing). We'll also say nice things about each other :) so come prepared to compliment all of your classmates! It should be fun!

Surprise!

No new blog today! Hope you're all staying dry!

Tuesday's Assignment

If you were in class today, there's no blog! Congrats!

If you were not in class today, you should write about a recent story in the news.

***IF YOU DO NOT HAND IN YOUR "My Blog Activity" SHEET TOMORROW, YOU WILL GET ZERO FOR YOUR HOMEWORK GRADE (which means you'll probably fail the class). This MUST be submitted no later than 9am!

VERY IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

If you were in class today, your homework is to fix the errors in the blogs I handed back to you. Remember that it is due Wednesday at 9am. (So print it Tuesday!)

If you were not in class today, write a blog highlighting an interesting story in the recent news.

EVERYONE MUST MUST MUST (is that clear?) BRING YOUR "My Blog Activity" worksheet TOMORROW!! DO NOT FORGET!!

Philly will be presenting Unit 29 tomorrow.

Weekend Post

As I mentioned in class today, I'd like your weekend blog to be discussing a city where you would immigrate to if you had the chance. Describe why you would choose that city. Post pictures to show us famous places there, the sights, landscape, etc. This should be longer and more detailed than your weekday blogs, so be creative, and make it interesting! Comment on ALL of your classmates' blogs by Sunday at 2pm.

Divorce Rate

Continue your in-class writing from Question 1 on page 64 or take our class discussion a step further in your blogs tonight.
*Please post by 7pm if you'd like me to respond. Thanks.

Wednesday's Assignment

For today's blog, answer a question on page 80 OR talk about how you want foreigners to view Korea. What are parts of Korean culture that you are proud of that you'd like to be known by?

eCommerce

You can develop one of the writings we did in class or answer a new question. Either way, the topic is eCommerce.

*If you'd like me to respond to your posting, please post by 7pm.

Monday's Assignment

For those of you who were in class today, your assignment is to fix your mistakes and submit your new copies together with the ones I wrote on tomorrow. You do not need to post, and you do not need to comment today.

If you were not in class, you need to read a story from the newspaper or online and tell us about a current event. You should post by 10pm and comment on at least 3 other blogs by 11pm.

Weekend Assignment

For your blog this weekend, I'd like you to share something you're passionate about. It could be a hobby, a talent, a topic, a place, an activity, etc. Post pictures and tell stories about it. Help us get to know you better by sharing something you really love. This blog should be longer than your normal posts.

Because the topics will be so individual, I would like you to comment on ALL blogs. So, remember: post by Saturday at 7pm, and comment on everyone's by Sunday at 2pm.

Racism in Korea

I hope today's discussion helped you question your own beliefs about race and racism in Korea. Write a reflective, honest, insightful blog about your thoughts. Don't stay on the surface of the issue. Dig deeper. What is the root of your thinking? Can/Should we improve the situation regarding racism in Korea? Will it happen naturally or should we/the government do something specifically to help the process?

North and South Korea

One reason I think this issue is so fascinating is because it influences your life! And if reunification happens, it will influence your life even more! What do you think? Use the discussion questions or your own thoughts to discuss the issue. Go deeper than simply, "It will be bad for the economy" or "They are our family". Dig deeper. Make us think about the issue in a new way.

Internet Gaming

Blog about Question 6, 7, 8, and/or 9 on page 128. Feel free to discuss other issues dealing with internet gaming as well, but please keep your discussion specifically about internet gaming because we will be talking about addiction in general later this month.

*If I gave you back your corrected blogs today, you need to fix the errors and hand in both the one I wrote on and your new corrected one. You should hand this in no later than Thursday. Be sure to make a change for every mark I made. If you're not sure what my markings mean, you can ask me in class tomorrow.

Monday's Homework

If you were in class today and I gave you back your printed blogs, you assignment is to improve your writing and to hand it in tomorrow. You do not need to blog and you do not need to comment.

If you were not in class today, or if you were in class but did not hand in your blog assignment Friday, your blog should be about something in the news recently. You can choose any current event - either in Korea or abroad - and explain why it's interesting/important in the world today. You should post by 10pm and comment on at least 3 other blogs by 11pm.

Controversial Topic

Today we talked about a controversial topic: human convenience vs. nature. For this post, discuss any controversial topic. It doesn't have to be specifically about the KTX, but it can be if that is interesting to you. Remember that since this is a weekend posting, it should be longer than your usual postings. Make us think!

*Post by Saturday at 7pm and comment by Sunday at 2pm.

Global Warming

We started writing about this issue in class, so you can continue with what you wrote or you can discuss another facet of this complicated topic.

*Thanks, Hailie, for putting a personal face on a somewhat abstract issue.

Suicide

Suicide is a serious topic anywhere, but in Korea the rates are truly shocking. I would guess that we all know someone who has committed suicide, and that's difficult to deal with. The real questions are not only "Why?" but also "What can we do to change it?" I'm looking forward to reading your thoughtful insights about this tragic topic.

Advertising

As we discussed in class today, advertising has taken over the streets of Seoul and other major cities in Korea. Some might think it's exotic, whereas others see it as an eyesore. Ads are also becoming very provocative, and for a conservative society like Korea, many think a line has been crossed. What's your opinion? Use the discussion questions to help you brainstorm, and tell us about what you think.

Fading Work Ethic?

What did you think about today's topic? Do you agree with the author? You can use some of the discussion questions from page 40 as a guide, or you can engage in a general discussion of the topic of the Korean work ethic.

As per our class democracy, we have changed the posting times. You must post by 10pm, and respond to 3 other postings before 11pm.

**Although I will read all blog entries, if you would like me to comment on yours, you must post by 9pm.

In addition, please carefully look at the index of the book and note 3 or 4 topics that you find interesting. We will sign up for topics tomorrow in class.

Weekend Assignment: Invention

Today in class we read about Smart Windows and talked about creating something new. Tell us about yours. SELL it to us! Make your writing energetic and exciting. Make us want to invest in/buy your product. You can add pictures or graphics if you'd like.

*Post by Saturday at 7pm and comment by Sunday at 2pm.

***The book is now available in the bookstore! Please buy it today! We will use it on Monday!***

What's the problem?!

Okay, folks, it's after 8pm, and two (only TWO! *Thank you Hailie and Seong-Bin!*) people have posted their assignment. WHY?! (And, yes, I DO want answers to that question!)

Seong-Bin's posting

Hi class,

Seong-Bin had trouble posting on his blog, so here is his response. Feel free to respond here.

In Korean as well as Chinese society, most people don't learn counterfeiting products is bad and illegal. Also, they are brazen enough to plagiarize other's ideas; therefore, many people do manufacture and sale copycat products without guilty.
However, it is definitely infringement to copy without permission, and it equates to stealing away other people's ideas. Besides, the more copycatter arise, the more new technolgy disappear. If imagine the shoe on the owners who were stolen their ideas, we could know how much they were depressed and stressed. For this reason, the rate of developing industries is getting slower, and finally society will be faced with economic recession.
Therefore, Korea and China goverment urgently need to enact laws so as to protect intellectual properties.

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I said that pirated goods are bad as stated above, but ridiculously I have also downloaded a number of TV programs and movies. Frankly speaking, I never felt guilty when I watched pirated movies before entering university; because most of my friends also did download movies. Moreover, I didn't know it was illegal. However, I have become guilty when I downloaded movies since I learned about protecting intellectual property at university. After knowing, I knew it is terrible. Though once a thief, always thief. I was addicted. I can not quit downloading on the computer easily. However, I am trying to stop watching counterfeiting movies. That is because, I will be an engineer in the future, and I don't want to feel bad when people steal away my ideas or my technology.
In my conclusion, I am a copycatter at the moment, but I will stop doing it some day. If you who still use copycat goods, I recommend to you also stop using it.

Thursday's Assignment

Today we talked about pirated goods. How do you feel about people pirating/counterfeiting products? Is it stealing? Is it good business? Is it a natural part of competition and development? Discuss your overall feelings on piracy on an ethical level.
Next, write about your actual behavior. Do you buy products that are copycats? Why or why not? Do you encourage others to do the same? Do you feel guilty when you watch a pirated movie, for example? Would you own a fake designer purse or coat? Why or why not? Give examples.

*Remember: post your writing by 8pm, and comment on at least 3 other people's writing before 10pm.

Wednesday's Assignment

Because many of you have had troubles with setting up the blogs, we are giving it one more try. Today, be sure that your blog is listed on the side of this blog. Then, read EACH and EVERY introduction on your classmates' blogs, and leave a comment. You also need to respond to the comments that you receive on your blog. Let's make this interactive! It's a great way to have a conversation and to get to know each other!

**Bring the book tomorrow!!

Tuesday's Assignment

Hi there,
Please create your own blog and email me the address ASAP! Your assignment tonight is to respond to EVERYONE'S introduction. It will be nice if we all feel like we know each other a bit better. Please make your comments supportive and engaging.

Welcome and First Assignment

Welcome to our class blog! Check this blog daily. Here you will find your writing assignments. As a general rule, you must post your assignments by 8pm every day and respond to 3 other people's posts by 10pm each day. Don't forget to record your blog activities on the handout I gave you in class.

For your first blog entry, introduce yourself! Tell us your major, where you're from, what you do in your free time, about your family, your hopes and dreams, etc. Help us get to know you!
**Don't forget to email me your blog address so that I can add it to this blog as a link.