Metacognitive Reflection- Students´ failure

ISFD 41 - Language and Written Expression IV - Saubidet Stella

Areco Yesica - Perez Stefania  

June 2014

       Our assignment was not up to standard the first time because we omit important characteristics of a paragraph. First of all, we did not realize the fact that a paragraph cannot have a full stop. Also, the topic sentence was divided in two, something that contributed to miss the real point of the sentece and also made our work even more difficult because, while writing, there was no real topic to develop in the supporting sentences. In addition, cohesion was not attained at all, since some of the connectors were found in the wrong places. Another aspect has to do with the fact that many time we repeated sentences but did not clarify any idea, and so we turned around the same concept. Last but not least, we had to change some words and phrases not only to add coherence but also to add cohesion to the text. We recognized that the material we have is necessary in order to get cohesion and coherence and to develop a good paragraph. Writing a paragraph it is not as simple as it looks like.

New version of Student´s failure

ISFD 41 – Language and Written Expression IV – Saubidet Stella                                                 

Areco Yesica – Perez Stefania                                                          

June 2014              

Students´ failure at Primary School

Students´ lack of success when they are young may be attributed to external factors concerning their life at home and at school. One of the causes is the misuse of computers because, most of the time, children use the device as game consoles but not to study or look for information. Generally, these children are not controlled by any adult. Thus a second factor recalls to parent´s absence from home, since they need to go to work and, consequently, cannot help their children to accomplish their assignments. Hence, what constitutes a third prompt of unsuccessful learning is related to students´ teachers, taking into account that if they were excessively demanding, they would give students low marks for not doing their tasks. All in all, students’ failure at school involves outer factors rather than students’ capacity of learning.

Causes that make students fail vs. causes that help students learn

All throughout Primary education, children are affected by several factors that influence their learning; some of them are concerned with their life at home and others to the role of teachers. Difficulties come to light in children who regularly spend long hours doing useless activities in the computers as they have the possibility to play online or to chat with their friends. Closely related are the figures of parents who insufficiently control their children. If a student's family is experiencing violence, unemployment, alcohol or drug use by a family member, problems with the law, or any other upsetting experience, it can be difficult to concentrate on schoolwork. Many students who are having family problems might have trouble controlling their anger and frustration at school, and they may end up in trouble because of their behaviour. Also the performance of teachers plays a considerably role. Teaching students good learning strategies would ensure that they know how to acquire new knowledge, which leads to improved learning outcomes. Learning must connect to something that the student already knows or feels. If not, it won't be absorbed. Yet, it is imperative the presence of the family during the learning process. Parents who spend vital time with their children encourage them to follow a profitable routine and make them feel safe and confident. Knowing that they have a framework when studying, they will be able to consider the computer as a tool to study and use it accordingly, not only to play or chat but also to carry out tasks or look for information. Students at risk of school failure need to be identified as early as possible in their school to receive the help they need. This task usually falls to the teacher or parents, because many students are hostile to or disconnected from the educational system and will not or do not know how to ask for help. Parents and teachers must work together to bring failing students back to school and help them to achieve goals, the reasons for school failure need to be recognized and treated. 

Students´ failure at Primary School

Students’ failure at Primary School

Causes of students’ failure

It is widely known that students fail during their experience at Primary School. The reasons may be plenty, though most of them are related to external features. ---------

One of the characteristics is related to the time children devote to the overuse of computers. Typically, students abuse the device, since most of the time they play computer games and communicate each other via social networks, a fact that may turn time consuming. Generally, the children who spent time using the computers are not controlled by any adult. Therefore, a second feature of students failure, recalls to parents absence from their homes due to the fact that they need to go to work, practically the whole day. Consequently, children are uncontrolled and do not accomplish their school assignments. Thirdly, teachers’ attitudes impact on students learning. For instance, teachers that are excessively demanding affect children´s learning in a negative way and thus students may create the belief they are not able to reach the required level of performance that the teachers ask. ---------------------------------------------------------------------

In conclusion, students’ failure is determined by a large amount of facts. However, the majority of them are concerned with outer characteristics rather than students’ capacity of learning.

Causes that make students fail vs. causes that help students learn

All throughout Primary education, children are affected by varied factors that influence their learning either negatively or positively. Highlighted aspects are concerned with their life at home and the role of teachers. ---------------------------------------

Difficulties arise in children who regularly spent long hours doing useless activities in the computers as they have the possibility to play online or to chat with their friends. Closely related are the figures of parents who insufficiently control their children. This is associated with their absence from home or because they pay more attention to younger members of the family. In any case, the role of teachers plays a considerably role. Children spend a significant amount of time at school having as a reference their teacher. As such, if the teacher is excessively demanding students may feel overwhelmed, or if the teacher works idly students may feel that it is not necessary to accomplish any kind of activity. Conversely, if teachers are able to know how their students learn or to use varied strategies in the classroom, she consequently will have the capacity of imparting meaningful education. Yet, it is imperative the presence of the family during the learning process. Parents who spend vital time with their children encourage them to follow a profitable routine and make them feel safe and confident. Knowing that they have a framework when studying, they will be able to consider the computer as a tool to study and use it accordingly, not only to play or chat but also to carry out tasks or look for information.----------------------------------------------------------------

In sum, children are surrounded by two-sided factors since they can be either negative or positive. However, the three factors already mentioned are potentially beneficial for students if used properly.

Structured Paragraph Writing

ACADEMIC WRITING

-Structure of a well written Paragraph

                                                                                                

Parts of a paragraph

• The topic sentence

It states what you are writing about, what your subject is, which formula is followed to write an effective topic sentence. 

• The body

Supporting details and supporting arguments for your topic sentence.

• The closing sentence

 Remind the audience what you are writing about; keep them thinking. 

 Restate the topic sentence but in a different way.

WRITING SKILLS

To write a very clear paragraph you have to follow some rules:

• Indent that is to set in or back from the margin, as the first line of a paragraph or skip a line. Don not use both of them. This rule has to do with the way the paragraph looks.

• One central idea in one paragraph.

• All other ideas come after the thesis statement. They must directly relate to the main topic.

• The length of the paragraph could be different.

• It is important to have lots of details. These details should explain why the topic is important to the overall idea of the essay. The reasons and the examples support what you are saying about the topic sentence.

• Use bridges. One idea in a sentence must be connected to the next one and this to the next. It creates flow.

• Key terms are used when you have to write about something specific. They can be used as many times as you need to but avoid repetition of words.

• End the paragraph with a very clear statement that the idea finish.

INTRODUCTION TO ACADEMIC WRITING

Types of assignments

• essays
• reports
• presentations
• reflective pieces
• summaries
• annotated bibliographies

Steps to a successful writing

• what's expected of you
• read you Module Handbook
• check the learning outcomes. Pay attention to titles.

Effective assignment

• try to include everything you have learned of the topic.
• make a plan.
• have the title in front of your work.
• look for writing fluency.
• link sentences.
• leave it and re-read it later
• make several drafts and edit
• read it aloud
• be objective about arguments

Process

• do not feel overwhelmed by academic writing
• take it as a process of learning

Works Cited

Engvid, Parts of a Paragraph - English Academic Introduction, Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCuExRE6N-4

Engvid, Writing Skills - The Paragraph, Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IFDuhdB2Hk

Edge Hill University, Introduction to Academic Writing, Retrieved from  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CelpkwseU5U

Tiva, Roxana

Areco, Yesica

Andrada, Gustavo

Metacognitive Analysis of "Writings and Writers are a must"

    Writing a text it is no as simple as it looks like. Specially if you do not know the purpose of it. That is why this was written in such as informal style.  

     There was not  much correction because it was made with little time in class. Paragraphs seems to be isolated without appropriate links to keep the focus of the reader. 

     There is no end to resume the main topic and give a conclusion neither in each particular paragraph nor in the end of the text. 

The main ideas are clear but are isolated by lack of cohesion. 

      Considering now where the text is going to be published and who will read it, I would consider a re-write in a more formal tone. Asking some pairs to check comprehensibility and amenity would be useful to corroborate the extent of the attempted result.

       This can not be done without going first through certain stages. All writers go through their own unique writing processes before they make their final drafts.

Before you start writing, you must think about what to write, or how to write. This is called Prewriting.

Now it is Writing time, at this stage, you don’t think about word-count, grammar, spelling and punctuation, you just write. 

Revising your work is about making big changes. You might remove whole sections, rewrite entire paragraphs, and add in information which you’ve realized the reader will need.The Editing stage, needs to be done after revising. Editing involves the close-up view of individual sentences and words.The final step of the writing process is Publishing.

    These five stages of the writing process are a framework for writing well and easily. 

    Follow this link for more useful information:  

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tzII_esONyN5kx9BJKBw6e5oTzvrk4ak6ecgNu5OfY8/edit?usp=drive_web

 

 

Writing and Writers are a must

      For this subject it is essential to take out the writer hidden inside us. If that happends, we will be able to express in writen form, how we feel and think.
Lots of people prefer this way of expression instead of just talking to somebody.

      Sometimes I wonder what happened to me, because when I was young I loved writing everywhere, but specially in my diary; a little book where I wrote day after day many details about my routines and adventures.

      Nowadays, maybe because of the busy style of life we have, it is almost impossible to sit down, think a few minutes and write a paragraph or two what we are feeling. That is why I consider that written expression is one of the most important subjects. Not only because we practise our grammar, vocabulary, etc., but also because during the writing moments, we enter in that magic world of imagination and creativity.

      Like the old times.