Wikis

What is wikipedia?

Is a free open source encyclopedia, wich means that anyone can log on and add to it or edit it. It is supported by non-profit Wikimedia Foundation. Also, its the largest and most popular general reference work.

What is a wiki?

Wikis are deceptively simple pieces of software that you can download for free. It allows people to add, modify, or delete content in a collaboration with others. Text is usually written using a simplified markup language.

Who is Jimmy Wales?

Jimmy Wales, well known as Jimbo, is the co-founder and promoter of Wikipedia.

However, he has declared himself as the sole founder.

What problems has Wikipedia had?

Many people can take advantage of Wikipedia's open system to deface, delete or push one-sided views. Also:

• Anyone can change an article in Wikipedia. Because of this, some articles may not be completely true and accurate.
• There is the problem of vandalism, or purposefully making bad edits. 

What critiscisms has it faced?

The site has been critizied for a perceived lack of reliability, comprehensiveness and authority.

What do people like about it?

People know that Wikipedia information can't be guaranteed, but people still use it and the like it because the information is very accessible. 

UNIT 10: No technology? No way!

Essay: Technology

    Technology has become an important part in everybody’s lives. It is part of our daily routine, since we wake up until we go to bed, 24/7. The new advances are so useful in so many aspects and are in charge of making our lives easier.

    Nowadays, humans are so independent of these items, we can’t even think been without it. And it has become a necessary. For example, there are people that return to their houses when they realize that they have forgotten their cellphones at home. Besides, some others, they don’t even forget cellphones because it’s almost a part of their body. Another example, is the use of the cars; if we need to attempt somewhere, no matter how near is it, we are so used to go by car or bus.

    Technology is evolving so fast, that in a couple of years we are already outdated, we might find positive and negative sides. There things that are so nice, but so expensive. Also, I think it’s disturbing how important technology is for us. There are important tools but we shouldn’t be that independent. 

Grammar: Future Pefect and Future Progressive

 Both of them are commonly used to speak about events in the future. 

Future Perfect: Used to talk about a future action that will already have been completed by a certain time in the future. Used with Simple present tense to show the relationship between two future events.   To form the future perfect, active voice:  Use will + have + past participle

To form the future perfect, passive voice: Use will + have been +past participle

Future Progressive: Use it to describe actions that will be in progress at a specific time in the future. To form it: Use will + be + present progressive 

Vocabulary + Definition

Siren: Warning Signal

Sonic: Noise

Vibrations: Movements

Banned: Prohibited

Towed: Removed

Shattered: Destroyed

Wail: Long loud cry
Jolts: Shake
Defective: Faulty
Offense: Crime
Awful: Horrible
Faint: Weak
Low: Reduced
Soft: Gentle
Startling: Alarming
Shrill: Strident
Loud: Strong, high
Rhythmic: Rhythmical

UNIT 9: Finding a Niche: The challenge for young immigrants

Essay: Amercian Dream

     Thousands of people go to the United States every year, people of the entire world, who are in pursuit of the American Dream. These are the ideals of freedom, equality and opportunities; a life of personal happiness and material comfort.  U.S.A is seems as a land of opportunities and abundance for everyone.

     Even it promises the heaven, formers must face a lot of situations in order to keep living there. Illegally or legally, people have to overcome the discrimination of the natives. Also, most of the people go there looking for a job, which might not be the best one. They receive bad salaries by doing the hard work.

    The illegal people have to face a lot of different dangerous situations to cross the borders. They exposed themselves to death, sickness, being murdered or sexual abuse. Besides, they are without a health insurance. 

     I think we can get the "american dream", the successful life, without caring the country we are. But making right choices and with studiers. Doing the "illegal" things will always bring consequences.   

Grammar: Present and Past- Contrasting Verb Tenses

Present progressive and Simple Present 

Present progressive: Use it to describe something that is happenig right now. We can use it with simple present to describe a present action that is continuing while another present action takes place.

Simple present: Use it to describe a general fact or habit. But, it is also used with non- action verb to refers to states that are true at the moment of speaking.

Past Progressive and Simple Past

Past progressive: Use it to describe an action that was in progress at a specific time in the past. Alos,  is used with simple past to describe an action that was interrupted by another action.

Simple past:  Use it to describe an action that was completed in the past. Also, use it to describe 2 actions that happened in a sequence, one after the other. 

Present Perfet and Present Perfect progressive: Used to talk about things that started in the past, continue to the present, and may continue in the future. 

Vocabulary + Definition

Unique: Special

Native Tongue: First language

Flourishing: Growing and developing well

Mainstream: The common way of thinking or acting.

Tight knit: Connected

Assimilate: Adapt and adjust

Suppresed: Not allowed to express
Relieved: Happy that you don't have to worry about something 
Dialect: A distinct variety of language
Learn by doing: Learn in an active, practical way
Have a hard time: Have difficulty 
Punishment: Something that is done to make someone suffer
Do (your) part: Act in a similar way, not stand out or be noticed
Encouragement: Support
Deal with: Do what is necessary to solve a problem 
In the process: At the same time

UNIT 8: Goodbye to the Sit-Down Meal

Essay: Eating Outside

    Some time ago, people used to eat better. However, life style have change and the eating habits have change with it. Now, we are getting used to the “easy and fast” things, including fast food with it.

    Eating outside is okay once in a while, but we are adopting it as habit, these because of  lack of time, they don't like to cook or just because they’re lazy and don't want to do it.

    Eating outside might bring a lot of consequences. First, people spend a bunch of money eating outside and sometimes they are not conscious of the amount.  Then, they don’t know the amount of calories and energy pf the food, this might not be good for an healthy diet. Also, the hygienic conditions the food was prepared are unknown, been exposed to a disease.

    Nowadays people doesn’t have enough time to prepare a good meal; this is disturbing because it’s a basic necessity and they are letting aside. 

Grammar: Phrasal Verbs

It's two or three words put together to make one verb. Two-word phrasal verbs consist of a verb and a particle. Examples: 

• Keep + up with 
• Take + out
• Make + up
• Call + up

Intransitive: Do not take a direct object.

Transitive: Take a direct object 

Vocabulary

• Witnessing: Seeing
• Stacked: Full
• Shift: Change
• Workforce: Industrial workers
• Tough: Difficult
• Hard to swallow: Difficult to believe
• Put bread on the table: To earn money
• Hit: Popular
• Beaned someone: Hit someone
• New chain: Part of a group of stores
• Overrun: Invade, encroach on
• Delicacies: Luxuries
• Sit-down: Relaxed
• Intimate: Close
• Core: Key
• Call up: Phone
• Catch on: Become popular
• Check out: Investigate
• Ask over: Invite to one's home
• Turn down: Reject
• Put off: Postpone
• Call off: Cancel
• Let down: Disappoint 

UNIT 7: What's the Use of Homework?

Essay: Homework

    Its school work done out of lessons, especially at home. Or assigned to do it outside the classroom. Which objective is to increase the knowledge and enforce things that the students already learned.  Homework helps in developing an aptitude for exploring and learning.

    Students complain about the homework, the amount of it and the difficulty of it. However, homework help students to practice the things they saw in class and to realize what they do understand and what they don’t.

    Though, some professors don’t remind students are cursing a lot of classes, so they let a lot of homework. So it’s important to learn how to organize them, and set the priorities, otherwise it would be very stressful and hard to finish all of them. As a negative fact, some teachers don’t checked what the students gave.

    Homework is an extension to schoolwork. It’s worth it to do all of our school responsibilities, and don’t see it as a waste of time. Also, parents should encourage their children to do it, and help them. Homework develop the sense of commitment and responsibility.

Grammar: Make, have, let, help and get

- Use make, have or let + object + base form of the verd when we are talking about things that someone can requiere, cause or allow someone to do.

- Help + object + base form of the verb or, help + object + infinitive. 

- Get has a similar meaning to make and have, however, it implies a less direct action by the subject of the sentence. It's followed by an object and infinitive, not the base form of the verb. 

Vocabulary + Definition

• Ritual: Something you do on a regular basis.
• Advocates: Supporters believers of one side of a controversy.
• Foundation: Basis, an idea from which a system develops. 
• Fluctuated: Changed from one level to another.
• Tangible: Real, something that can be measured. 
• Self-steem: Feeling good about yourself
• Sacrifice: Give up something you want or enjoy.
• Duty: Something you must do.
• Demanding: Difficult.
• Monitor: Carefully check
• Distraught: Very upset.
• Obedient: Willing to do what is asked
• Outlawed: Made illegal
• Held accountable for: Considered guilty of

UNIT 6: Giving the Others: Why do we do it?

Essay and Vocabulary: Philanthropist

    Philanthropist is the person who gives his money and time to help other people. Someone who wants to promote human welfare, and contribute to different causes. Some famous people, like singers, actors or others have made campaigns and appeals others to help people needed. Some of them do it anonymously, others don’t. Some of the fundraisers are Bono, Beyonce, Warren Buffett, Angelina Jolie, Alicia Keys, Bill and Melinda Gates.

    Bono, is an irish singer. He has organized concerts and events that benefit charities. He has shown passion for these, Bono motivates politicians to help too. Another example are the Gates, who said it is mandatory to help. He’s the fundraiser of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which has grown a lot.

    It’s important to help others, and been generous with the needed ones.  Even if we don’t have an inherit to give, we might help with our time and having passion for it, some people will really appreciate it.

Grammar: Adjective Clauses

It's also callled relative pronouns and are used to identify or add information about the nouns. Usually, the adjective clause follows the nouns it refers to. Relative pronouns as: Who, that, which, whose, where or when.

We might found an identifying adjective clause or a non identifying adjective clause. 

1. An identifying adjective clause gives essential information about the noun it refers to. 

2. An non identifying adjective clause gives extra information about the noun. It is  set off in the sentence by commas. 

Examples:

I visited my doctor, who has a lot of experience.

I went to the college, which was crowded.

More Vocabulary

Inherit: To receive something from someone who has died. 

Mandatory: Something that is required or that must be done

Moral: Related to principles of what is right and wrong

Donation: A gift

Wealth: Richness

Philantripist: Someone who cares about the others

UNIT 5: Longevity

Essay: What challenges do you think elderly people might face in the future?

    Over the years, the challenges that elderly people face have been changing from generation to another. Some time ago, the problematic was the health and the non-advanced technology. Nowadays, there’re economic problems. 

    The challenges that old people will face, might be the same as todays but much worst. In the future there won’t be a balance between young and old generation. So less people working and producing, it means a big economic problem. The government won’t have enough income to pay all of the pensions that should be, but probably everything is going to be much expensive. Unfortunately, elderly people that should be resting, will have to work to pay the bills, as well as their necessities. 

    Also, technology and medicine are going to improve, it means that people might live longer than in the present. We’ll need more to people care of us. On the other hand, environmental problems might affect us.

    We will be the next generation, the one that these problems might affect. It’s interesting that we have the guilt of these, and we don’t do anything to help. People keep decreasing the number of the family, without thinking they’re the ones that are going to take care of them.

Grammar: Tag Questions

We'll find two types. 1. Question type: Use it rising intonation or to confirm information. 2. Comment type: Makes a comment.

Tag questions have two partes: A statement and the tag, an added question. For example:

             David will play a videogame, won't you?

             The doctor was going to Italy, wasn't he?

             You want to marry me, don't you?

             Sara is crying, isn't she?

Vocabulary + Definition + Example

• Bold: Brave. I've always admired my mom, she's so bold.
• Gorgeous: Attractive. My boyfriend has gorgeous eyes.
• Go in for: Want to. I wanted to do bungee jumping, so I go in for.
• Flamboyant: Colorful. I love runways, the models use flamboyant dresses.
• Self- Improvement: Working hard to become better.
• Assited living facility: A place where seniors sometimes live, similar to a nursing home. I won't leave my mom at an assited living facility.
• Bitterness: Anger
• Solidarity:  Support
• Ensemble: Outfit
• Chapter: Local group of an organization
• Brag: Boast
• Nurturing: Offering kind