Presentation skills                                   

This comes in handy when you need to deliver a speech or present something. I learnt a lot of things under this topic like organizing an effective presentation, using visual aids, been confident and making eye contact. I also found out the ways to give a good delivery and that is by speaking clear, not talking to fast and by using visual aids for the audience to understand better. I also need to improve on my pitch, tone and body language when presenting. Now I know in what areas I need to make my improvements to be an effective presenter.

                                                     Teamwork                                       

This is necessary when working with a group of people like discussion groups, workshops, lab groups. You should have good interpersonal skills to communicate and be cooperative in the group. When working with people one should be a good listener to the thoughts and ideas of others in the group. Should not be harsh on group members and take authority as each individual has a right to speak up and share ideas. Whatever points made should be made clear and understandable.

I used to be a person who was quiet during discussion and I never got a chance to share my ideas with the group so now I know to act in a group by actually participating and arguing with points. I also learned that showing body language is essential as it shows you are aware of the situation and non verbal communication will help to deliver what you are saying clearly.

                                 Argumentative essay                                   

The lecture started when Mr.Rehan handed out some papers to all the students about a 'Framework for an argumentative essay'. It seemed like we have a lot to write because there were spaces kept for our answers. I thought maybe it will turn out to be a boring class but by the end of the day I did not think that this lesson could help me so much in completing my assignment to the fullest. Given below is the handout which was given in the class.

By reading the introduction paragraph in the handout we were supposed to read the paragraphs. To argue effectively, you need to:

1. State clearly what the issue is.
2. State your position in the thesis statement.
3. Support your position with sound arguments supported by details or examples.
4. Anticipate and respond to your readers' objections or concerns.
5. Conclude cogently.

More information related to argumentative writing please visit the following link

Argumentative writing: Logical structure

                        Steps to write a Research paper                         

Today we had extra lectures for the LFS module because the lecturer was abroad the previous week and we had lot of free time in college playing the fool and by the look on everyone's faces they weren't very happy this week because all our free time was going to be taken to cover up the missed LFS lectures :( 

But fortunately today's lecture was going to be about how to write a research paper and what topics must be covered in it. The content of the paper is divided into 5 main topics and those are:

1) Introduction
Give a brief description of what the research paper is about and what the user will expect in the latter parts of the paper. For example : What is this project, why are doing it, how did you do that, resources accessed and method used (Business research methods by Pitzman)

2) Problem analysis

• What is your research issue
• Analyze general trends

3)Literature survey

• Places your study in the context of other work that has already been done in the field.
• Informs your reader about the theories your study is based on.
• Defines terminology and concepts drawn upon in your study.

                                CGU Writing Center (2012)

4) Critical evaluation
Comparison and contrast of your work and also other researchers work and what information they have gathered and comparing it with your evaluation on the particular topic.

5) Conclusion
Here the necessary recommendations are given on how to improve the situation and with reference to previous research papers the conclusion can be drawn out.



For more tips on how to write literature survey please visit the link below
http://www.cgu.edu/pages/899.asp
https://writingcenter.unc.edu/resources/handouts-demos/specific-writing-assignments/literature-reviews

                                        Time to 'DEBATE'                                   

As the students were told ahead of time that there would be a debate the following week the debaters were all set for the session. There was a little bit of tension in the room and we were all very exited to hear the debate in action..The topic of discussion was chosen by the students itself and it was:

" DO TEACHERS RUIN STUDENTS CREATIVITY"

Everyone was very exited and the audience were separated into two sides of the class. One side were the people who supported the topic and the other side was me and some other friends and we were the opposing audience..this is a really good topic to discuss about especially for students who have doubts if teachers really ruined their talent and kept it hidden o was it their own faults that they were not able to expose their creativity and talent. 

The debate began with four speakers on each side, the timer and the ______. The debate started and soon the idea the speakers were talking about was 1+1=2. This was put forward by the proposing team and mentioned that this sum was taught to students from pre- grade onward and it was just theory and not an explanation of how 1 and 1 becomes 2. Well my opinion is that 1+1=2 is a practice and there is absolutely nothing to explain in it. For example if a person has 1 orange in one hand and another orange in the other, whats the total number of oranges the person has. Its obviously 2..The judges mentioned in the end that the debate was not that effective because the entire time both sides were circling around one point that was brought up (1+1=2).


In order to make the debate more meaningful both parties must bring out new ideas to the table so that the audience can also gather information that is been argued and help them to clear any doubts they have. Some had strong points and the audience also gave in their opinions as well. My opinion is that teachers do not ruin students creativity because if teachers ever ruin creativity of the students why do students even come to school. They could be home schooled by their parents and also make sure their kids do creative activities. But they do send them to school that's because parents do think all teachers do not actually ruin creativity. It just depends on the type of teacher. 
Well one of my personal experience was when I was in grade 7 and it was the art period and I was sitting at the back of the class drawing the picture that the art teacher was drawing on the white board. Mr. Sextus, the art teacher came towards me and peeked at my drawings and said that I should participate in the upcoming inter-schools Ramadan drawing competition. I have never participated in a competition as huge as this and I was shocked because I thought that I had no talent in drawing and that all my drawings were bad..Then I got the application and entered the competition and there I was completely lost inn what I had to draw but I put my creativity first and survived the day. 

One morning the principal came on the PA system and announced the winners of the competition and my name was called and when we went down to his office I got a letter inviting my family to a buffet at the Crowne Plaza hotel followed by the awards ceremony. I was soooo happy and I know that because my teacher pushed me to participate and knew my talent I was able to shine my colors and my creativity. And I really thank and appreciate all my teachers who helped me and encouraged me to show out my creativity. So basically it totally depends on the type of teachers who ruin creativity.

The art competition appeared on a newspaper article

Good teachers are costly, but bad teachers cost more. Bob Talbert

                                         Note taking                                         

Today the lecturer discussed about the blooms taxonomy and the related keywords used. It was a boring day in class because too much of explaining to do. Mr. Rehan also mentioned the methods used for effective note taking which includes the psycho-motor skills, SQ4R, bloom taxonomy and retention.SQ4R Is a method for remembering  and helps to get key points and reading aloud and resurveying that will help to remember things and for studying later. Blooms taxonomy includes intellectual skills, psycho motor skills(ability to use hands) and Affective domain(attitudes).
There are several methods to remembering notes. It is called the SQ4R method. The S represents Survey(topics, summary, key points), Q for question(why, how, when, where), and the 3R's for read(selectively), recite(read aloud to yourself), w Rite and review(resurvey).

According to Article Alley (2012), "Bloom's taxonomy contains three overlapping domains: the cognitive, psycho motor, and Affective. Within the cognitive domain Benjamin Bloom identified six levels that have become commonly known as Blooms Taxonomy."


There are 5 methods of effective note taking and they are:
1. The Cornell method
2. The Outlining method
3. The Charting method
4. The Mapping method

5. The Sentence method

I think the easiest and more effective method to follow in a class, seminar or lecture is the Cornell note taking method. This is useful in writing down important key points  and topics said and writing down short summaries for future use.

This is an example of how to take down notes in the Cornell note taking method

For more details on blooms taxonomy and examples please click the link below

http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/hrd/bloom.html
http://www.redlands.edu/docs/StudentLife/1Five_Methods_of_Notetaking.docx_UPDATED_7-09.pdf

                            Assessing ones own creativity                        

Today's lecture is the most interesting of all. We actually had to make something and bring to class. Felt like being in a 'Life skills class' in school. Well since the lecturer told the previous week to the students to make something creative from a object that is not useful the students were ready to present the items. Some of the students did not make anything while the others forgot to bring their created items to the class.And when the lecturer entered the class he was in a little happy mood. He was exited to see what we had brought to class. The class was going to be fun today. As he was entering the class he asked each student if they were ready with their items. Then the lecturer told each person to present their item saying out of what they made it and how is it useful. Many students came up with wonderful and creative items. 

I came up with a idea of making a wedding cake box which was really simple. It was made out of cardboard found in brand new shirt packets. The author drew the block on the cardboard on it and by cutting and glue in the parts and a little of decorating the item was done. I could have made something more creative but since I did it at the last minute I had no other option. When the box was presented the lecturer asked if it was for the my wedding and everyone in the class started laughing. LOL


My classmate, Madara came up with a wonderful creation a "collage" made out of twigs and colorful stones that she picked up. It was the best out of all the creations. Dinithi made a photo frame made out of newspapers, paper and cardboard and it was also very creative. Sashya made a pencil stand with a piece of bamboo and colorfully painted it (well I teased her all day saying that she killed a bamboo tree :D)and Hirushi's creation was outstanding because she had done alot of hard work in making a flower basket with only magazine papers. It looked really hard to make..wonder how she did that!...AMAZING WORK