Communication Session 11: The MLA Presentation Orientation
Summary: In the class and also in research pairs, you focused on discussing actions and solutions, but you also spoke and reflected on your past work on your issue, including the basics, historical information, data, the causes, and then the effects, and possible solutions, or at least some relief to the situation that is your close reading. Afterward, you learned about strategies to synthesize your notes as a template and an outline for your upcoming MLA-formatted presentation.
You discussed possible actions and solutions to your issue in pairs. Then, we discussed ways to prepare for your presentation on November 11th. Finally, you reflected on the three questions in your Google Doc.
Guidelines for your Presentation, in addition to the information in the presentation of your issue document.
1. Your talk should be about 7-8 minutes and then 2-3 minutes for questions, comments, and answers.
2. There are usually 12 to 16 slides.
3. You’ll have a Reference page to show where you got your work from. Please include the author’s name, date published, the organization or publisher, and the URL link.
4. In the slideshow, please write and say where you got the information from in the form of in-text citations such as (Miller 5, Why Climate Change Matters sec. par. 3). You can also do narrative in-text citations such as Suzuki (5, Food Loss Solutions sec. par. 3) suggested that… If you use the author’s exact words, you need to use “quotation marks,” but you do not need quotes if you summarize in keywords.
5. Here are two free websites where you can download free and beautiful images and pictures:
6. Samples of Chuo Students’ PowerPoint Presentations
Homework due on Tuesday by 1:00 pm for presenters on their Day 1, Day 2, or Day 3. Please email your PowerPoint or share your Google Slides via attachment and not in your Google Document due to formatting. Please look for the email I will send you with feedback on your presentation. Please use the show that I sent back to you.
Presentation Checklist
Presentation Samples (MLA formatting, but not always correct)
Presentation 1: Vertical Farming
Communication Session 10: Synthesizing Your Research Notes
Session_10: The MLA Academic Essay -Synthesizing Research
Summary: First, you shared your research with your pair. Then, there was a discussion about making helpful research questions and categorizing notes for your upcoming presentation. Then, I shared the synthesis of your notes.
Afterward, you learned about strategies for synthesizing your notes by finalizing your structure map as a template and outline for your upcoming MLA-formatted presentation. Finally, you shared your research and gave feedback, and your pair asked questions and provided useful comments.
Note: So many of you are doing the homework incorrectly that I worry that you are not understanding what I am communicating. Is everything alright?
“Research is something that everyone can do, and everyone ought to do. It is simply collecting information and thinking systematically about it.”-Raewyn Connell
Documents and Links:
Quick Guide to Citing in MLA 9th Edition
Session_10_Synthesizing-Your-Issue-Structure Map-on-4-A4-PapersDownload
Synthesizing-Your-Issue-on-4-A4-Papers Download
Homework due at 1:00 p.m. a day before Communication Session_11 by uploading your Synthesized Notes in your shared online document:
1. Please write your four or five questions related to your topic that you are researching and categorize your notes on AT LEAST 5 articles on three pages in your shared online document, as shown in the sample images and the downloadable “Synthesizing Your Issue on 4 A4 Papers” PowerPoint below.
2. Then, use your research questions to categorize your notes into four or five sections in three pages of notes. The research questions become your paragraph topic thesis statements in your paper. Each section should have at least two citations. Note the paragraph numbers and pages, especially your quoted material, so you can remember where you got the information from to make the paper easier to write with the necessary in-text citations. Please take photos and place them in your Google Document under the Synthesized Notes section.
3. Please include your Works Cited in the document in MLA style on the fourth page and insert the corrected, clean copy of your Works Cited in alphabetical order in your shared online document at the end of your Synthesized Notes section. Please provide the details of the author’s name, date published, the title, pages (if needed), and the publisher (or organization). We have already formatted many of your Works Cited citations, so refer to the edited format provided and use that content.
Note: Your Works Cited section should be in alphabetical order based on the author’s last name or the organization if there is no author. You can make them single- or double-spaced for your presentation.
Communication Session 09: Researching and discussing the effects and possible actions/solutions of your issue
Summary: The students learned more about formatting the Modern Language Association (MLA) Works Cited. Then, collaboratively, we made sure you understood the steps of the research process, how to narrow down a research topic, how to find reliable, solid research material, and how to take valuable notes.
Review of the Outline of Our Research Process:
- Basic Information
- Causes
- Further Examples or Case Studies
- Effects
- Solutions
Documents:
Quick Guide to Citing in MLA 9th Edition
“If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.” ~Albert Einstein
MLA Note Taking Sample:
Wong, Yu, Hussey Freeland, Deborah M., and Kari C. Nadeau. “Food Allergy: Immune Mechanisms, Diagnosis and
Immunotherapy”, Nature Reviews Immunology 16, 31 October, 2016, pp. 751–765.
https://www.nature.com/articles/nri.2016.111
Homework is due by 1:00 p.m. the day before Communication Session_09. Please take photos of your notes and insert them in your shared online document under Research Articles #6 & #7. If you are behind, upload them to your shared online document. Then, your teacher can edit your MLA Works Cited if needed.
Free Database Engines for research on your MLA Presentation:
Carrot 2 Carrot helps you find topics related to your search term. After entering the term you enter and then clicking on ‘search,’ you can see the results as a list, treemap, or pie chart that helps you visualize your issue and narrow your search simultaneously.
CORE Research Engine UK: This research search engine claims to be the world’s largest open-access research database, offering free access.
Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ): DOAJ is a community-designed and maintained online journal directory that provides access to robust, open-access, peer-reviewed journals. This search engine is independent and free, including being indexed in DOAJ. Please use this engine for topical issues and authors; you might find research that supports your academic essay. DOAJ is an educational outreach search engine focusing on high-quality applications and submissions.
Google Scholar: Google Scholar helps you do a broad or narrow search of articles. It also lets you cite your “references” for APA and “works cited” for MLA!
JSTOR is a digital library of academic journals, books, and primary sources.
Learning About Global Issues—This explicitly relates to Chuo University Faculty of Law English courses and provides 18 core global issues. I got permission. Thank you, Chuo U, for the Sadai students.
Zenbird Media: Topics & Issues: Do you often think about researching issues related to your local community or Japan in general, but find the data in Japanese? Then, Zenbird Media is for you!
Communication Session 08: Researching and discussing the causes and effects of your issue
Summary: Dear Class, Please check your messages in Web Class and in your Homework Doc for your personalized message with what you should do in class today. I will be in the hallway before class for any questions until 10:15, and then I will return from 11:40. In the meantime, the Saitama University Community will check in on our class from time to time. A teacher or a member of the administration might drop by and say hello.
To start the communication session, you will work in pairs to discuss the causes of your issue in Notes #3 and #4.
Communication Session 1 10:40 to 11:10:
- M, S & Y. S
- Y. I. & H
Communication Session 2 11:10 to 11:40:
- Y. S., Y. I & S
- M & H
Sadly, R. S, K, R. O, S. U., Y, C, S.T., & M. have not uploaded their homework. Is everything alright? No worries. Please finish your homework in class by yourself, and then join a pair or group of three. Avoid communicating in groups of four, as there is less time to discuss your research.
Final warning! IELTS Speaking Practice Test Booking Schedule for Stacey’s ACS1a Class (The meeting place is in Stacey’s Office/Vye’s Kenkyushitsu on the same floor as the ERC):
Last chance: ‘Y.S’ and ‘S.T.’ (or zero points for the speaking practice test). Please email me to book five times and the dates you are free. This is like your midterm, so you need the score.
“Communication works for those who work at it.” — John Powell
Homework is due at 1 p.m. the day before Communication Session 10. Take photos of your notes and insert all pages under Research Articles #5 & #6 in your shared online document about the EFFECTS your issue brings. The readings should be on the same issue you researched in Research Articles #1-#4. Please type your MLA Works Cited, including the URL link above your notes. Remember to write the author’s name(s), the date, and page or paragraph numbers if you use direct quotations for in-text citations. Try to summarize your work and do not simply copy/paste.
Note-taking Sample A on the Death Penalty and COVID-19
Works Cited
Amnesty International, “Death Penalty 2020: Despite Covid-19, Some Countries Ruthlessly Pursued Death
Sentences and Executions.” Amnesty International, 2004-
2021, https://www.amnestyusa.org/reports/death-penalty-2020-despite-covid-19-some-countries-
ruthlessly-pursued-death-sentences-and-executions/
MLA Note-taking Sample B on Freedom of Speech:
Miklaszewska, Justyna. “Freedom of Speech in Modern Political Culture.” Avant: Journal of the
Philosophical-Interdisciplinary Vanguard 10, 77-88, 30 June 2019, pp. 77-88,
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/7513/20f2b891b74388e4fb533f948b18dd71c14d.pdf?
_ga=2.106479559.577207015.1622045798-1412271447.1622045798.
Documents:
Quick Guide to Citing in MLA 9th Edition
How to Find an Issue to Research
Free Database Engines off Campus to collect research for your MLA Paper:
New! Zenbird Media: Topics & Issues: Do you often think about researching issues related to your local community, or Japan in general, but find the data in the Japanese language? Then, Zenbird Media is for you!
JSTOR is a digital library of academic journals, books, and primary sources.
Carrot 2 Carrot helps you find topics related to your search term. After entering the term and then clicking on ‘search,’ you can choose to see the results as a list, treemap, or pie chart that helps you visualize your issue and narrow your search at the same time.
Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ): DOAJ is a community-designed and maintained online journal directory that provides access to robust, open-access, peer-reviewed journals. This search engine is independent and free, including being indexed in DOAJ. Please use this engine for topical issues and authors; you might find research that supports your academic essay. DOAJ is an educational outreach search engine focusing on high-quality applications and submissions.
Google Scholar: Google Scholar helps you do a broad or narrow search of articles. It also lets you cite your “references” for APA and “works cited” for MLA!
CORE Research Engine UK: This research search engine claims to be the largest open-access research database in the world, giving free access. This website is very informative and easy to understand, where you might find research on your issue from Professor Andy Barfield:
Learning About Global Issues—This relates to Chuo University Faculty of Law English courses and provides 18 core global issues. I got permission. Thank you, Chuo U, for the Sadai students.
Communication Session 07: Researching basic information and causes of your self-selected current social, scientific, and global issues in English
Summary: The students learned more about Modern Language Association (MLA) formatting and the Works Cited page. Then, the class collaboratively confirmed the steps of the research process: key terms in academic writing, narrowing a research topic, finding reliable, solid research material, and taking useful notes.
IELTS Speaking Practice Test Booking Schedule for Stacey’s ACS1a Class (The meeting place is in Stacey’s Office/Vye’s Kenkyushitsu on the same floor as the ERC):
Late students, please email me to book five times and the dates you are free. This is like your midterm, so you need the score.
“If you can’t communicate and talk to other people and get across your ideas, you’re giving up your potential.” ~ Warren Buffett
Homework is due at 1 p.m. the day before Communication Session 09. Take photos of your notes and insert all pages under Research Articles #3 & #4 in your shared online document. The readings should be on the same issue you researched in Research Article #1, which includes general or basic information and the causes of the theme. Please type your MLA Works Cited, including the URL link above your notes. Remember to write the author’s name(s), the date, and page or paragraph numbers if you use direct quotations for in-text citations. Try to summarize your work and do not simply copy/paste.
Note-taking Sample A on the Death Penalty and COVID-19
Works Cited
Amnesty International, “Death Penalty 2020: Despite Covid-19, Some Countries Ruthlessly Pursued Death
Sentences and Executions.” Amnesty International, 2004-
2021, https://www.amnestyusa.org/reports/death-penalty-2020-despite-covid-19-some-countries-
ruthlessly-pursued-death-sentences-and-executions/
MLA Note-taking Sample B on Freedom of Speech:
Miklaszewska, Justyna. “Freedom of Speech in Modern Political Culture.” Avant: Journal of the
Philosophical-Interdisciplinary Vanguard 10, 77-88, 30 June 2019, pp. 77-88,
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/7513/20f2b891b74388e4fb533f948b18dd71c14d.pdf?
_ga=2.106479559.577207015.1622045798-1412271447.1622045798.
Documents:
Quick Guide to Citing in MLA 9th Edition
How to Find an Issue to Research
Free Database Engines off Campus to collect research for your MLA Paper:
New! Zenbird Media: Topics & Issues: Do you often think about researching issues related to your local community, or Japan in general, but find the data in the Japanese language? Then, Zenbird Media is for you!
JSTOR is a digital library of academic journals, books, and primary sources.
Carrot 2 Carrot helps you find topics related to your search term. After entering the term and then clicking on ‘search,’ you can choose to see the results as a list, treemap, or pie chart that helps you visualize your issue and narrow your search at the same time.
Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ): DOAJ is a community-designed and maintained online journal directory that provides access to robust, open-access, peer-reviewed journals. This search engine is independent and free, including being indexed in DOAJ. Please use this engine for topical issues and authors; you might find research that supports your academic essay. DOAJ is an educational outreach search engine focusing on high-quality applications and submissions.
Google Scholar: Google Scholar helps you do a broad or narrow search of articles. It also lets you cite your “references” for APA and “works cited” for MLA!
CORE Research Engine UK: This research search engine claims to be the largest open-access research database in the world, giving free access. This website is very informative and easy to understand, where you might find research on your issue from Professor Andy Barfield:
Learning About Global Issues—This relates to Chuo University Faculty of Law English courses and provides 18 core global issues. I got permission. Thank you, Chuo U, for the Sadai students.
Communication Session 06: The Modern Language Association (MLA) research selection, research questions, and basic information on your self-selected current social, scientific, and global issues in English
Summary: We worked on gathering research for your upcoming final academic presentation in July, where you get to choose what you would like to communicate in each class and present to your classmates, and how to do MLA formatting.
Wednesday, May 27th, 2026: 4:00
Thursday, May 28th, 2026: 1:00, 1:30, 2:30, 3:00, 3:30, 4:00, 4:30
Tuesday, June 2nd, 2026: 1:00, 1:30, 2:00, 2:30, 3:00, 3:30, 4:00, 4:30
Tuesday, June 2nd, 2026: 1:00, 1:30, 2:00, 2:30, 3:00, 3:30, 4:00, 4:30
“We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect.”
-Anaïs Nin
Documents
Quick Guide to Citing in MLA 9th Edition
How to Find an Issue to Research
Instructions for Homework Content:
Homework is due the day before Communication Session_07 at 1:00 p.m., when you take photos of your notes and insert all the images in your online document under the title Research Articles #1 and #2.
Other students get to see your work and share it., research your self-selected Internet, book, newspaper, or journal articles about a topic that you are passionate to write about. Please select general information or a wide reading on the issue.
Then take two to three pages of notes on Article #1 and #2 using the keywords on the pages. Remember to write the author’s name(s), the date, and page or paragraph numbers if you use direct quotations.
Try to summarize your work and concentrate on the basic information. Could you include the details of your typed MLA Works Cited next to your notes, including the URL? Please type in your Google Document above your Research Article #1 notes. There are MLA quick guides you can download and view below.
Note: Please choose your issue carefully. You should not change the topic. Changing the issue will require you to do a lot of extra homework!
MLA Works Cited Sample and MLA Note Taking Sample A on Media Manipulation:
Bradshaw, Sarah and Phillip N. Howard. The Global Disinformation Order 2019 Global Inventory of Organised Social Media Manipulation. Oxford Internet Institute: University of Oxford, 02 2019, https://demtech.oii.ox.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/93/2019/09/CyberTroop-Report19.pdf
MLA Note-taking Sample B on Gender Equality:
UNICEF. “Gender Equality.” UNICEF, https://www.unicef.org/gender-equality
Free Database Engines to collect research for your MLA Paper:
New! Zenbird Media: Topics & Issues: Do you often think about researching issues related to your local community, or Japan in general, but find the data in the Japanese language? Then, Zenbird Media is for you!
“Japan has its unique set of solutions and problems when it comes to sustainability. Zenbird Media has witnessed how Japan’s ancient knowledge are widely untapped, while persistent problems continue its grip its society and environment. Of course, no country is perfect.” Zenbird.media
Carrot 2 Carrot helps you find topics related to your search term. After entering the term and clicking ‘search,’ you can choose to view the results as a list, treemap, or pie chart to help you visualize your issue and narrow your search.
Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ): DOAJ is a community-designed and maintained online journal directory that provides access to robust, open-access, peer-reviewed journals. This search engine is independent and free, including being indexed in DOAJ. Please use this engine for topical issues and authors; you might find research that supports your academic essay. DOAJ is an educational outreach search engine focusing on high-quality applications and submissions.
Google Scholar: Google Scholar helps you do a broad or narrow search of articles. It also lets you cite your “references” for APA and “works cited” for MLA!
CORE Research Engine UK: This research search engine claims to be the largest open-access research database in the world, giving free access to this website is very informative and easy to understand, where you might find research on your issue from Professor Andy Barfield:
Learning About Global Issues—This is specifically related to Chuo University Faculty of Law English courses and provides 18 core global issues. I got permission. Thank you, Chuo U, for the Sadai students.
Communication Session 05: IELTS Practice Writing Test/TOEFL Video Homework
Summary: You tried the IELTS practice writing test, and the students checked their answers. Your teacher will check your answers and provide your score during Communication Session 06.
IELTS Speaking Practice Test Booking Schedule for Stacey’s ACS1a Class (The meeting place is in Stacey’s Office/Vye’s Kenkyushitsu on the same floor as the ERC):
Tuesday, May 19th, 2026: 1:00, 1:30, 2:00, 2:30
Wednesday, May 20th, 2026: 3:00, 3:30, 4:00, 4:30
Thursday, May 21st, 2026: 1:00, 1:30, 2:00, 2:30, 3:00, 3:30, 4:00, 4:30
Monday, May 25th, 2026: 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30
Tuesday, May 26th, 2026: 1:00, 1:30, 2:00, 2:30, 3:00, 3:30, 4:00, 4:30
Wednesday, May 27th, 2026: 3:00, 3:30, 4:00, 4:30
Thursday, May 28th, 2026: 1:00, 1:30, 2:00, 2:30, 3:00, 3:30, 4:00, 4:30
Homework is due at 1 p.m., one day before Communication Session 06:
1. Please watch, use the cc funtion to view the writing text, pause as you need to, and take 3 to 4 detailed pages of notes on: TOEFL 2025 vs TOEFL 2026: Which is Easier? How to Prepare? YouTube video, which was prepared by TST Prep, and include your notes, keywords, diagrams, drawings, and charts in your own words as much as you can. Please use color in your notes, or use whatever you like.
Then, take a picture or a screenshot and insert the photos into the Communication 06 IELTS section of your online Google Doc.
Session_02 IELTS Preparation
Summary: Today, we focused on discussing your first Cambridge English Write & Improve essay in pairs with individual support from the teacher:
Writing Academic English at Saitama University: The reasons you are taking this Academic Essay Writing (AEW1) course
Please use these question prompts to help you with a 200-250-word essay.
What kind of academic essay writing have you done so far in English?
What is puzzling for you about academic essay writing (i.e., what questions do you have about academic writing)?
Which writing concepts/skills do you most want to develop this semester? Why? How? Please explain in detail, giving clear reasons.
You can still review the guidance of Write & Improve and revise the essay repeatedly as often as you like to get a higher score by the end of the first quarter.
Finally, we discussed the homework below.
Homework is due at 1 p.m., one day before Session_03:
1. Please take 2 to 3 detailed pages of notes on: Click to access ielts-guide-for-test-takers.pdf (<– click this link), and include your notes, keywords, diagrams, drawings, and charts in your own words as much as you can.
New Instructions: Then, take a picture or screenshot, and insert the photo into the Class 02 IELTS section of your online document that your teacher provided.
Other students get to see your work and share it. Just doing the work will give you credit for the homework. Document attached also below. Here are two samples of IELTS note-taking:
Notes 1 from UCLES (2019). Information for candidates: Introducing IELTS to test takers (an older version of the 2025 introduction).
Cambridge University Press & Assessment. (2025). Open up your world of opportunity: Your guide to IELTS.
IELTS-Presentation_Vye_AEW1a-Class-02Download
Click to access ielts-guide-for-test-takers.pdf
Communication Session: Reading Proficiency Preparation
Summary: You tried the IELTS practice reading test, and the students checked their answers. Your teacher will check your answers and provide your score during Communication Session 05.
For Stacey Vye’s Sessions, some students booked a time outside class to do a speaking test.
Homework is due at 1 p.m., one day before Session 05:
This homework is enjoyable and ongoing as your four-skills logs of self-study on the English subjects within the Free Rice Programme. Please get 4,000 points this semester. I recommend you finish your Free Rice Homework by Session 05 because you will start your ACS1 individual research and will be busy researching and taking notes.
Free Rice: The World Food Programme of the United Nations!
We can fight climate change, feed hungry children and families for free, and learn English, too!
Freerice.com: This United Nations project website has 60 levels of English vocabulary to learn and develop. For each correct vocabulary word comprehended, Free Rice will donate 10 grains of rice through the World Food Programme to help end hunger, so students can learn new words and also contribute to reducing world hunger at the same time. And the levels of difficulty range from low to very high, so it is also suitable for teachers. There are also various subjects to choose from, including English Grammar and SAT Test Preparation. And amusingly, the site warns that this game may make a person smarter! http://freerice.com/#/englishvocabulary/1424
Communication Session 03: Listening Proficiency Preparation
Summary: You took the IELTS practice listening test provided by your teacher and reviewed the answers afterward. Your teacher will check your answers and provide your score during Session_04.
Homework is due at 1 p.m., one day before Session_04:
This homework is enjoyable and ongoing as your four-skills logs of self-study on the English subjects within the Free Rice Programme. Please get 4,000 points this semester:
Free Rice: The World Food Programme of the United Nations!
We can fight climate change, feed hungry children and families for free, and learn English, too!
Freerice.com: This United Nations project website has 60 levels of English vocabulary to learn and develop. For each correct vocabulary word comprehended, Free Rice will donate 10 grains of rice through the World Food Programme to help end hunger, so students can learn new words and also contribute to reducing world hunger at the same time. And the levels of difficulty range from low to very high, so it is also suitable for teachers. There are also various subjects to choose from, including English Grammar and SAT Test Preparation. And amusingly, the site warns that this game may make a person smarter! http://freerice.com/#/englishvocabulary/1424