Food Inc.

Well I am excited that this will be my last blog. Although I did enjoy this assignment, it is getting difficult to think of things to share with everyone. Before I wrap up the blog assignment, I do have an interesting story.

My mom has been talking about this movie “Food Inc.”. Has anyone heard of it? Her coworkers were saying that it’s a great movie to make you more conscious about the foods we are eating. Many of her friends have gone vegetarian or vegan after watching this movie. They warned us that it can get a bit graphic, but I decided to watch it anyway. As it is, I am very conscious of the foods I eat. I always try to stick to healthy choices. After watching this movie, I was so disgusted; I did not want to eat ANYTHING! Throughout the movie, they take you through the slaughterhouses and show you how the animals are kept. They explain the process of the foods that they force feed the animals in order to make them grow quickly. Not only was this challenging to watch, but when they explained how almost everything we eat is made out of corn, it really gets you thinking. The food corporation is so corrupt and there is nothing that we, as a society, or the government can do about it.

After watching the movie, I stopped eating meat for a week. The thought of the poor animals and their living conditions, and the visuals of the slaughterhouses, was just heartbreaking. Today was the first day I decided to eat meat. Going vegetarian is definitely something I am considering; however, it is not something that I would want to do on my own. I would consult a doctor first. During the one week without me, I could not believe how tired I felt. Even still today, I had no desire to eat meat, but I felt it was necessary in order to maintain my energy levels. I do suggest this movie to anyone that is interested in this topic. In fact, everyone should watch this movie to make you more aware of the products that we are consuming.  

Well, that is all! I hope you all enjoyed the ESL blog. I certainly enjoyed reading the posts. It was a great semester and I truly enjoyed the grammar class. I hope to see some of you next semester J Enjoy your summer!

Vocabulary

1.       Conscious: to be aware of; mindful of something

2.       Vegetarian: someone who does not eat meat

3.       Vegan: someone who does not eat meat or any product that is produced by an animal

4.       Graphic: explicit, visual and vivid

5.       Disgusted: repulsed, sickened, and turned off

6.       Slaughterhouse: an area where they kill the animals and package them to sell as food

7.       Challenging: difficult; perplexing

8.       Corrupt: unethical, immoral, and dishonest

9.       Consult: to refer or check

10.   Consuming: taking in

Exercise

1.       What was the name of the movie I watched?                                     a. yes

2.       How long did I not eat meat for?                                                          b. true

3.       Would I consider going vegetarian?                                                     c.no

4.       What is all the food made of today?                                                    d.corn

5.       The animals lived in great conditions!                                                  e.false

6.       How many more blogs are there?                                                         f. dirt

                                                                                                                   g. Food Inc.

                                                                                                                   h. Fast Food Nation

                                                                                                                    i. 1 week

                                                                                                                    j. 5

                                                                                                                    k. 0

Grammar Point

Different types of sentences.

There are 4 types of sentences

a.       Simple sentences: simple sentences use ONE independent clause

a.       Examples: Jane opened the book.

b.      Charlie walked the dog.

c.       Mom made cookies.

d.      Jackie watched television.

b.      Compound sentences: compound sentences use TWO or more independent clauses. To combine these clauses, a coordinating conjunction must be used. FANBOYS is a great way to remember some conjunctions (For, and, nor, but, or, yet, so). If a FANBOYS is not used, a semicolon can be used to link the clauses.

a.       Examples: The family attended church, but the youngest child was sick.

b.      Jack and Jill went to the well, so they could fill their pail with water.

c.       Tommy was sickly, for he was undernourished.

c.       Complex sentences: complex sentences use ONE independent and ONE dependent clause. To connect these clauses, a subordinating conjunction must be used. AAAWWUBBIS is a way to remember some of the conjuctions (as, although, after, while, when, unless, before, because, if, since).

a.       Examples: He went to China because he wanted to learn Chinese.

b.      If you finish early, please come over.

c.       Before he handed in his work, he checked it for errors.

d.      Compound/Complex: Compound/complex sentences use TWO or more independent clauses and ONE or more dependent clauses.

a.       Examples: Here is my paycheck, and I hope you won’t spend it all because we need to pay the oil bill.

b.      Because she dressed very elegantly, she was invited to all the parties in town, and she never tired of dancing.

Now that you know what the four types of sentences are, create one of each.

Summer 2011

Now that summer is rapidly approaching, I am beginning to start my ‘To-Do list’. There are many places I want to visit and activities that I want to do. Here are some:

1.       The Hamptons: Every year I drive out to the Hamptons with my friends for the day. There is a spot located in East Quogue that we visit every summer where we listen to music, hang out in the sun, and enjoy each other’s company. These days always are my favorite memories of summer. However, this summer I want to spend a weekend in the Hamptons. I am currently researching hotels for Memorial Day Weekend, but I cannot believe how expensive it is.

2.       The Jersey Shore: I am not going to lie when I tell you I am not influenced by the television show “The Jersey Shore”, but I feel like everyone has to have a jersey shore experience. When I was younger, my parents always took my brother and me to the jersey shore for long weekends. We would go with big groups of family friends, and play on the beach all day. These weekends will always remain an exciting memory in my head. This summer I want to relive those weekends, but only with my friends. Maybe if I am lucky I will meet Pauly D J

3.       Baseball Games: Every summer, my family and I get tickets to a Mets game. It always turns out to be an adventure. Last year, my mom and I packed up food to tailgate and we were off. After hours of traffic we finally arrive. Dad pays for parking and we find a spot. After we finish eating and get ready to walk over to the stadium, it starts torrentially down pouring. They inform us that the game will be postponed to the following day. Although this story doesn’t seem so adventurous, sitting in the car with father screaming and cursing the entire way there and back made it a whole other story. Despite last year, I am looking forward to it this year.

4.       Concerts: Last summer I wanted to go to a concert, but none of my friends wanted to go. This year I am not taking “NO” for an answer. Jones Beach recently revealed their summer concerts and I was excited to see that The GooGoo Dolls were playing. This will definitely be on my summer ‘To-Do List’.

Although I am sure I will have many other things on my ‘To-Do List’ for summer 2011, this is only the beginning. Other things include, lying on the beach, reading a good book, dinner on the nautical mile, and many more. I would love to hear what everyone else has planned for summer. What’s on your list?

Vocabulary

a.       Approaching: in the future, upcoming

b.      Memories: recalls, remembrances, or recollections

c.       Expensive: costs a lot of money

d.      Tailgate: before a game or concert, people sit in the back of their cars and eat food, drink, barbeque, and talk with friends.

e.      Torrentially down pouring: heavy rain, a violent storm

f.        Inform: notify, update

g.       Revealed: publicized, uncovered

Exercise

Answer the following questions

1.       What are my favorite memories of summer?

2.       Where am I looking to go for Memorial Day weekend?

3.       Am I influenced by anything to have the desire to go to the jersey shore this summer?

4.       If I am lucky, who will I meet this summer at the jersey shore?

5.       Am I a Met or Yankee fan?

6.       What band am I looking forward to seeing this year at the Jones Beach Theatre?

7.       Did I go to any concerts last summer?

8.       What are some other things I hope to do this summer?

9.       What are some places you would like to visit this summer? Why?

Grammar Point

The future tense

The simple future has two different forms, “will” and “be going to”. Although they can sometimes be used interchangeable, they often express two different meanings.

(will + verb)

“will” often suggests that a speaker will do something voluntarily. A voluntarily action is one the speaker offers to do for someone else. Often, we use “will” to respond to someone else’s complaint or request for help.

It is also used to express promise

Examples:

a.       You will help him later.

b.      Will you help him later?

Or

(am/is/are + going to + verb)

“be going to” expresses that something is a plan. It expresses the idea that a person intendeds to do something in the future. It does no matter whether the plan is realistic or not.

It also expresses prediction

a.       You are going to meet Jane tonight.

b.      Are you going to meet Jane tonight?

Now that you know what the future tense is and how to use it write some examples. Write 3 examples using “will” and 3 examples with “be going”. Before doing this, underline all the examples from my story in the future tense.