What is an "Empty Suit"?

Quick recap of what we did today:

Went over academic writings,
Read, discussed poems,
Did dictionary bluff activity
Groundhouse films trailer--Werewolf Women of the SS

Homework: work on an academic writing, and enjoy your "puente" (long weekend)!

Academic Writing Continued

Today we starting off talking about the Pope's visit to Barcelona, and discovered that Ruben was actually there in the Sagrada Familia!  I think that had to have been a remarkable experience...
We spent the rest of class working on academic writing: analyzing an abstract, listening to some advice on writing abstracts from Texas A&M, and providing some feedback to each other on our own writing.

Vocabulary:
He can write a creative abstract and get away with it because he's famous.
word of mouth
mouth to mouth
pitch an idea (promover?) = to attempt to promote or sell
ex. pitch a movie idea to a producer, give a sales pitch


Homework:
Bring a writing (abstract, introduction, paper) to class next time.  If possible, bring copies to share.
Optional: Watch the TED presentation embedded below.  We will discuss it in class next time.
Translate: How do  you translate "sobre la marcha"?
Curiosity: http://www.boingboing.net/2010/11/09/action-plants-time-l.html


 Movie Recommendations: A River Runs Through It, The Social Network

Link to TED talk by the artist Chris Jordan (among other things, image of cigarettes)
For a transcript and more options, go directly to TED.com 

Academic Writing

Check the previous post for a summary of class today.  As for links to academic writing, I will put them to the immediate right on the blog cover page...
Have a good week!
Lewis

Every man for himself!

When the ship began to sink, it was every man for himself.  I mentioned this in reference to waiting in line in Spain at the health clinic or bakery.  It's survival of the fittest...
Today we:
exchanged articles to be read for homework,
read about modern health problems and listened to an article speaking about the dangers of alcohol,
proposed and discussed changes to the health care system in Spain.

Next week we'll take a look at a guide to academic writing.

Homework: read article, and formulate 5 questions about drugs and society.

La Salle Antartic project

Hi everybody,
if you are interested in the Antarctic project we are developing in the Department of Electronics and Communications of La Salle have a look at this blogg Antarctica
You will find a lot of videos and photos discribing the project and the routine in an antarctic station.

I'm afraid it's all written in Spanish and Catalan.
Enjoy it.

Men's Brain Women's Brain, courtesy of Isabela

Academic Writing

Next week we are going to look at doing some academic writing workshops in class occasionaly.
Feel free to comment on this idea...

Vocabulary from today:
flash your lights in traffic
a friend of yours
deaf
white lie
pneumatic drill
degree vs career
to be born (was born)
give birth
I was going to call you, but...
I'm not crazy about it.

Lewis