Sample Blogs

Links to Model Blogs:

"Wonders of the Subconscious : Land of Dreams" by Geo Majadas

"Homework, Is it Essential? by Anne Regala

"The ScrapBlog Of Mine: Discrimination of Muslim Culture" by Hana Gardon

"How Dreams Shape People" by Melissa Llorca

"Family" by Ran Manuel

"Fortune Telling" by Alpha Pedralvez

New Lectures for GRAMCOM Available (A5 - A7)

English 1 -- Verbs

Verbs (Part 1)
Verbs (Part 2)
Subject-Verb Agreement

New Lectures for GRAMCOM Available (A3 - A4)

GRAMCOM:
A3 - Pronouns
A4 - Adjectives

New Lectures for RESWRIT Available (A4 - A5)

RESWRIT:
A4. Following the Academic Writing Style
A5. Refining the Research Focus

New Lectures Available For Download

Hello student, so far we've had 2 lectures for GRAMCOM and 3 lectures for RESWRIT. If you want a copy of these lectures, please download them from the links posted below:

GRAMCOM:
A1 - Affixes
A2 - Nouns

RESWRIT
A1 - How to Make a Blog
A2 - Understanding Research
A3 - Choosing the Research Topic

Topics for Your Blogs

Hello students, by now you can safely assume that I've seen your blog. I can't help but notice that many students from the RESWRIT classes are struggling with the topics they've initially chosen. As for the GRAMCOM freshmen class, most of them have not even created a blog yet. Well, good luck freshmen. I think you're about to learn, the hard way, the difference between high school and college standards.

In any case, if you are a RESWRIT student struggling to find a topic for your blog, here are some good subjects you can research about: RESWRIT Suggested Topics.

If you are a GRAMCOM student looking for a topic to help you come up with blog posts worth reading, here's a list of topics for descriptive writing (GRAMCOM Suggested Topics II) and another list for argumentative writing (GRAMCOM Suggested Topics). This is 20% of your grade. You will receive 1% for each blog entry you make from the descriptive writing list and 2% for each entry you make from the argumentative writing list. Good luck!

Blog Post Samples

As I have mentioned in class, I will be providing samples of blog posts I've written in the past when I was working as a copywriter for a marketing company. I was tasked to ghost-write the blog of a fictional person - a career woman in her 30s. Take note, however, that these posts are not particularly well written since they were meant simply to be vessels of online advertisements.

Regardless, I'm posting them here in the hope that they will help you write your own blog posts. Just click on the titles of these blog entries and you will be redirected to Google docs where these posts can be viewed and downloaded in .doc format:

- "A Few Reminders on Family Health"
- "Is the Productivity Cycle a Myth?"
- "End the Abuse: Beat the Culture of Bullying"
- "A Short Segment on Spiritual Awakening"
- "Giovanni, Anna and the Story of the Perfect Pasta"
- "Tips on True Love: Is the Nice Guy the Right Guy?"

Syllabus - GRAMCOM

GRAMMAR AND COMPOSITION

Course Syllabus

Course Code
EGRAMCM

Description
This course provides students a venue for proper English usage. This is a preliminary course for honing written and spoken English.

Objectives
General:
This course aims to equip the students with the knowledge of fundamentals of English grammar and writing conventions.

Specific:
At the end of the term, the students are expected to:
• Be able to apply the rules of writing and speaking for effective expression of ideas and emotions.
• Write English compositions with the correct spelling, punctuation and with proper capitalization.
• Write clear, accurate and refined prose.
• Demonstrate an ability to work well within a group dynamic.

Course Credits
Three (3) units

Instructional Strategies
Lectures on the 8 parts of speech, Spelling Drills, Discussion Forums, Language Games, Writing Assignments (Blog/Journal)

Course Outline
I.  Vocabulary
a. Affixes
b. Synonyms and Antonyms
c. Context Clues
d. Correct Usage

II. Parts of Speech
a. Nouns
b. Verbs
c. Adjectives
d. Adverbs
e. Pronouns
f. Prepositions
g. Conjunctions
h. Articles

III. Nouns
a. Functions of Nouns in a Sentence
        1) Subject
        2) Subject Complement
        3) Object of a Verb
        4) Direct Object
        5) Indirect Object
                5.1) Appositive
                5.2) Object Complement

III. Pronouns
a. Cases of Personal Pronouns
        1) Nominative
        2) Possessive
        3) Objective
        4) Reflexive

IV. Adjectives
a. Functions of Adjectives in a Sentence
        1) attributive
        2) appositive
        3) predicate

b. Participles
c. Proper Adjectives
d. Compound Words
e. Prepositional Phrases
f. Adjective Forming Suffixes
g. Comparisons

V. Verbs
a. Transitive Verb and Complement
b. Linking Verb
c. Intansitive Verb and Modifier
d. Tenses of Verbs
        1) The Simple Forms
        2) The Progressive Forms
        3) The Perfect Forms
        4) The Perfect Progressive Forms
        5) Conditional Tenses

VI. Adverbs

VII. Conjunctions
a. Coordinating Conjunctions
b. Subordinating Conjunctions
c. Correlative Conjunctions
d. Prepositions
e. Interjections

Requirements:
a. Quizzes/Exercises
b. Blog/Journal
c. Long Exam
        1) Midterm
        2) Final
d. English Olympics
        1) Taboo Activity
        2) Reverse Charades
        3) Play Adaptation
        4) Battleships
        
References
Avalos, A.G. (2007). From Grammar to Fluency in 30 Days. 
Manila FPR Publishing
Flauta, (2008). Master English Grammar in 28 Days.
Manila FPR Publishing

Grading System
20% Quizzes/Exercises     
30% Long Exams
20% Blog/Journal
10% EEP
10% English Olympics
10% Attendance

*If you would like a printable version of the GRAMCOM syllabus, please follow this link.

Syllabus - RESWRITE

RESEARCH WRITING

Course Syllabus

Course Code

RESWRIT

Description

This course offer basic instructions on research writing with emphasis on critical reading and organized academic writing.

Objectives

General:

This course aims to develop the student’s writing skills for research purposes.

Specific:

At the end of the term, the students are expected to:

• Demonstrate an ability to conduct research and utilize various sources of information for the purposes of gathering needed information.

• Be able to formulate a solid thesis statement and provide resolutions for the problems that they present with the use of appropriate supporting evidence collected through their research.

• Be able to synthesize, correlate, and juxtapose data for the purpose of strengthening their claims.

• Submit a research paper following scholarly practices and techniques.

Prerequisite

GRAMCOM (Grammar and Composition)

Course Credits

Three (3) Units

Instructional Strategies

Lectures, Blog and Article Writing Activities, Library and Online Research Assignments, Research Paper Writing

Course Outline

I. How to Write a Blog

II. Understanding Research

a. Definition of Research

b. Research Tips

c. What is a Research Paper?

III. Choosing the Research Topic

a. Topic Selection

b. Topic Search

c. Formulating Research Questions

IV. Academic Writing

a. Formality

b. Impersonality

c. Structure

d. Hedging

V. Locating Resources

a. Library Resources

b. The Internet as a Resource

c. Preparing a Bibliography

d. Conducting an Interview

e. Conducting a Survey

VI. Formulating a Thesis Statement

a. Narrowing Down a Topic

b. Preparing an Outline

VII. Writing Chapter 1

a. Introduction

b. Statement of the Problem

c. Significance of the Study

d. Scope and Limitations

e. Materials and Methods

f. Definition of Terms

VIII. Writing Chapter 2 & Chapter 3

a. Discussion

b. Summary

c. Conclusions

d. Recommendations

e. References

Requirements:

- Quizzes/Exercises

- Blog/Journal

- Oral Presentation

- Research Paper

References

Miranda-Plata, Beltran-Montenegro (2006). Research: Process and Product Workbook. 

Laguna, Philippines. Trailblazer Publications.

Aquino, G. V. & Aquino M. V. (2005). How to Write a Term Paper.

Mandaluyong City, Philippines. National Bookstore.

Ariola, M. M. (2006). Principles and Methods of Research. 

Manila, Philippines. Rex Bookstore.

Grading System

30%    Research Paper

30%    Blog

30%    Oral Presentation

10%    Attendance

*If you would like a print-ready copy of this syllabus, please follow this link.

Introduction

Hello, student.

I'm Dustin Edwad D. Celestino and this is OUR blog. To make it easier for students to have access to important information regarding the construction of a blog, I've decided to turn this sample blog into a resource blog. You can find copies of your syllabus, some lectures and samples in this blog. From time to time, announcements are also going to be made here. So, feel free to browse around. Later on, I'll probably create a table of contents to make browsing for the information you need more convenient.

Cheers!