### Title: Final Class Summary: Preparing for Academic Success Beyond NGA
**Synopsis:**
In today’s last class of the course, students engaged in reviewing essays to improve writing skills and discussed the final submission requirements for course completion. The session aimed to solidify students’ understanding and application of critical writing skills, crucial for succeeding in future academic challenges such as TOEFL, IELTS, and other admission essays. The class also intertwined discussions on graduation and upcoming events post-graduation, providing a socio-academic wrap-up to the course.
### Attendance:
– Mentioned absences: Altai (specifically noted as not present)
### Topics Covered:
**1. Graduation and Post-Graduation Plans:**
– Discussion about graduation, final week activities, and a trip to Toykana.
– Mention of the event cost and logistics reflecting on its informal nature.
– Introduction of Khalil Tash as the tamada, setting a light-hearted tone for the event.
**2. Course Wrap-up and Final Exam Logistics:**
– Apology from the instructor regarding the rescheduled final essay deadline due to administrative changes.
– The urgency to grade essays quickly as grades are due sooner than initially planned.
– Announcements of additional support through sample essays and extended office hours to assist students in final submissions.
**3. Essay Review Session:**
– Detailed feedback provided on student essays dealing with artificial intelligence (AI) in education.
– Examples of student essays reviewed, including structured feedback focusing on thesis clarity, argument development, and the use of concrete examples.
– Emphasis on improving essay introductions, topic sentences, and conclusion reinforcements.
– Recommendations to integrate personal experiences and clearer logical connections between points.
### Actionable Items:
**Urgency High:**
– Reminders for students to submit their final essays by the newly stated deadline.
– Students are encouraged to participate in scheduled office hours for personalized feedback on draft essays.
**Urgency Medium:**
– Encouragement to attend the graduation event and finalize RSVP and travel/logistics plans for post-graduation events.
**Urgency Low:**
– Suggestion to review and internalize essay feedback to apply skills in future academic writing tasks.
### Homework:
– Complete and submit the final essay by the new deadline (Tuesday at 1 pm).
– Students advised to check the e-course platform for the posted sample essay and the final office hours schedule.
– Continue revising essay drafts based on the feedback provided during the class and discussion with the instructor during office hours.
This session provided a comprehensive recapitulation of critical writing skills alongside a communal closure on their educational journey at NGA, setting a fortified path for the students’ academic and professional futures.