Mr. Purdy's Blog
English Literature
Category: Uncategorized (page 2 of 4)
June 8th – June 12th, 2020
Hand in your Brains by this Monday.
I will be giving you another project, the final one for the semester and answering questions about it on Tuesday.
We have two motivational videos this week. Very different people, but aren’t we all?
Tuesday: Sylvester Stallone
Thursday: Marie Curie
Here’s the assignment if you want to take a look earlier than Tuesday.
Addiction Recovery Final Project
June 2nd – June 4th, 2020
Remember: We meet on Tuesday / Thursday until the end of the semester.
Did you turn in your Quarantine Video?
Motivational Videos for this week:
Tuesday: J.K Rowling
Thursday: The Rock
Here is the assignment for the week. It is due next Monday. We will talk about it on Tuesday and then talk about the article on Thursday.
May 20th- 22nd, 2020
We will meet on Wednesday for the video we can watch together and I’ll talk a little about it as I usually do. Notice, I’ve slowed down the work – week by week. Here is a quick outline checklist of the next 5 weeks:
- May 20th – May 22nd: Mock interviews
- May 25th – May 30th: Covid videos & mental awareness
- June 1st – June 5th: Covid videos & mental awareness
- June 8th – June 12th: Finances (Financial Portfolio)
- June 15- June 20th: Finances (Financial portfolio)
This week will be for the interviews only. Next week, we will talk about that idea of “Life of the Quarantine” project that I have been working on with Ms. Chappell.
Checklist for this week:
Get that interview done and uploaded to teams! These are the people currently signed up for a live interview:
None for Wednesday.
Friday:
12:35
12:45
12:55 Joshua Choi
1:05Nicole Putnam
1:15 Kate crew
1:25
May 11th – May 15th, 2020
Mock interview prep week:
- Let’s watch this video first:
2. Now let’s take a look at this sheet:
Mock Interview Tips and Top 10 questions with suggestions of how to answer them
3. We will meet on a video quickly. I will post some questions in the chat.
I need 3 volunteers to help me with a 60 second interview.
4. Let’s work on this all week so next week you’ll be fully ready with no questions.
______________________________________________________
Assignment due next week (When you sign up)
These are the questions you need to prepare with a checklist:
And this is the google docs you need to sign up with:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ymPCJxLZXgWXoCybGOtCO_3txsCMoM1HA9kbpoeF6S8/edit?usp=sharing
April 3rd, 2020
So Monday, I’d like to meet on teams.
Monday, April 6th at 12:30 – 1:30PM.
We will discuss what you were doing and where we are, going forward. Don’t worry, It won’t be video for an hour. I’d hate that. We will chat on the teams page and I will assign you a task for the week.
Wednesday we will be meeting at the same time as well to discuss further. I will probably have us video chat on this day so wear your best clothes.
January 28th, 2020
Welcome to class.
Please fill out this form:
Please Understand Me II
The Myers Briggs test is a very well known way of helping you know exactly who you are and what makes you ‘tick’. This week, we will be working with the information on this that will lead to next week’s ‘all about me’ stuff.
Why do we do this at first?
In grade 10, usually you have only a little bit of a clue to what defines you and makes you tick. Throughout the course we might set off some triggers that will make you a little confused to why there is such a major emotional reaction. The Myers Briggs test is an affirmation and also a wake up call to your EQ – Emotional Quotient.
Be honest. If you aren’t, it’s a waste of time.
Here is some information on your actual Quotient. If you’re an ENFJ (or whatever) you can look up the information in this pdf:
That’s all for today. Tomorrow, I’ll tell you about journals and we’ll continue on this new found info about your 1 of 16 personalities.
June 18th, 2019
This is the Back to the Future screenplay. Please choose a scene and confirm it with me.
June 12th, 2019
Handout
Meet Joe Black
Assessment –
Back to the Future Tomorrow
June 11th, 2019
Here are the Tuneful Tuesdays for block B
Lyrics:
Starman: https://genius.com/David-bowie-starman-lyrics
Space Oddity: https://genius.com/David-bowie-space-oddity-lyrics
Block C:
Tuneful Tuesday- PRIDE & Redbone lyrics
After that, I will check the document for some more Film Language. If we have time, we’ll go over it.
Tuneful Tuesday- Redbone & PRIDE
June 10th, 2019
9,7,6,3,2,1 – These are the lessons you need to study for regarding the final vocabulary test:
Welcome to our final Back to the Future Unit!
First things first, we will look at film as a literature lens.
What is film? Fill out a survey:
If we have time, I’d like to show you a clip from a movie and get you acquainted with a movie vocabulary.
Film Terminology Link:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fwzhONYo8T3_m5oyw2d3fOBgXB3D5L1vcztNHwwxyMI/edit?usp=sharing
June 4th, 2019
Peach Scone – Hobo Johnson https://genius.com/Hobo-johnson-peach-scone-lyrics
You belong with me – Taylor Swift https://genius.com/Taylor-swift-you-belong-with-me-lyrics
Today, we will look at what you need to do for the final after we have a little Tuneful Tuesdays.
Here is the Version 2 draft of our final mind map for Indian Horse.
You can start whenever we finish the presentations.
June 3rd, 2019
This will be our final discussion for Indian Horse. You should have finished the book by today. Please spend some time with it.
Those of you worried about the final vocabulary test, worry next week, as it will be then.
Here is the agenda for today’s discussion:
- What are the major themes of Indian Horse?
- Does it have a satisfying ending? What has happened to Saul?
- Get out your character sheets. We will go over each character brought up. You can read right off the questionnaire sheets that Clement made if you’d like.
- Each character can get about 10 minutes of people sharing with the class.
- Hand in your character sheets by the end of the class.
Tomorrow, we will have time to go over your final assignment that I will be posting in tomorrow’s blog on the final ‘mind map.’
May 30th, 2019
Indian Horse chapter 26-30 in class.
After that, you have the rest of the class to read through chapter 40. I’d like to finish the book by tomorrow at the end of class.
At the beginning of class, we will figure out what has gone on, and then you finish the book by yourself.
Here is the assignment before the final:
- Fill out a character sheet for 5 characters in the book.
- Be prepared to share that to different groups tomorrow.
Or a better version from Clement Yen (Who is awesome)
Template for Characters in Indian Horse
May 27th, 2019
Tuneful Tuesday:
Caed and gang
Spencer and boys
You have the rest of the time to work on the quotes. Due first thing Wednesday for our guided discussion.
May 27th, 2019
Finishing off spoken word:
Let’s get it done.
You have today to finish the quotes for class. please don’t waste this time as there is Tuneful Tuesdays tomorrow. If you don’t want homework, then the bulk of the work has to be done today.
May 24th, 2019
Vocab test (5 minute study period)
1st independent project:
I’ll explain everything so that no one is without understanding.
May 23rd, 2019
In class reading #2 – through chapter 10.
Finish the questions on the sheet. I’ll explain the next section for Friday.
We will go over the questions today.
May 22nd, 2019
Let’s read as much as we can together.
Good job Ellie, Kevin, Girl Crew! You did very well at the spoken word!
In class reading
then questions
May 21st, 2019
Vocab #7
We will read chapters 1-10 as a class of Indian Horse. These are the questions I’d like for you to complete after we’ve finished them.
Today, we’ll stop after chapter 4 so that you can complete the beginning chapters as a foundation for how we will proceed.
May 16th, 2019
Spoken word. Get into a circle. We start with volunteers then I just go down the list. I’m looking forward to this. Tuesday we get into the book.
May 14th, 2019
I’ll just go over the basics of spoken word then the time is yours.
May 13th, 2019
Spoken Word Week! Wednesday we start. We’ll go over a few things for ‘housekeeping’ first.
Idea generation through fractured narrative:
- find an ‘artifact’ in your bag.
- Put it in the center table.
- We’ll do a quick Kinesthetic warm up so you can get rid of your egos
- Focus on an object.
- Quietly go back to your desks, don’t talk to anyone else about anything
- Write for five minutes about the artifact
- Come back into the circle
- One word that comes to mind from your story ‘word ball’
- Go back to your story and circle key words
- Export these chosen words to another piece of paper and reorder them as a poem
- Make a physical emblem from these poems
May 9th, 2019
So today is about Sugar Falls. I think that we can finish it for the end of today.
May 8th, 2019
Let’s finish the questions.
Now, let’s go through Sugar Falls. There’s a mini assignment I’d like for you to complete.
Sugar-Falls-student-worksheet-16yyapo
Let’s read a little bit of it together. I have a few things I’d like to say about this before we jump into it. We might actually pause it for a little bit so that spoken word can get finished.
May 7th, 2019
B. Ruby, Jessica, Kira and the E’s.
C. Leo and his Crew
Afterwards, you have time to do those questions for tomorrow.
May 6th, 2019
Let’s finish the story.
Then you do the questions that were posted on Friday.
Finally, we will talk about the questions and I will check to see if you’ve done them.
And that’s Monday.
May 3rd, 2019
Today, we will be reading a story without introduction.
What you Pawn, I will Redeem Alexie-15dk5yr
Here are some questions to think about before we move on to a graphic novel. Finish them for Monday. We’ll try and go through a few today.
- In “What You Pawn I Will Redeem,” what is the purpose or symbolism behind the three Aleut Indians?
- How would you describe the narrator of this story?
- What are some of the literary elements used in Alexie’s “What You Pawn I Will Redeem”?
- Is there a bias? If so, what is the nature in the story?
- What does Jackson do with the money he gets?
- Who is Jackson and what does his quest symbolize?
- In Sherman Alexie’s “What You Pawn I Will Redeem,” how is Jackson alienated from the community? How does he respond?
- How does Jackson Jackson change as a result of completing his hero’s journey in Alexie’s “What You Pawn I Will Redeem”?
- What challenges does Jackson face in trying to get the $999 dollars in “What You Pawn I Will Redeem”?
- In Sherman Alexie’s short story “What You Pawn I Will Redeem,” does Jackson really work hard for the money at the end of the story like he says?
- Identify the historical era Sherman Alexie is writing about in “What You Pawn I Will Redeem” and its significance to the story.
- In “What You Pawn I Will Redeem,” how does Sherman Alexie show belonging ?
- In the opening of “What You Pawn, I Will Redeem,” explain what the protagonist means when he says “it’s my secret story, and Indians have to work hard to keep secrets from hungry white folks.”
- In Sherman Alexie’s “What You Pawn I Will Redeem,” is Jackson a reliable narrator? Is his story believable? Is it important for Jackson to be reliable or his story to be believable?
- How does Sherman Alexie complicate stereotypical notions about American Indians in “What You Pawn I Will Redeem”?
- How does Sherman Alexie in his story, “What You Pawn I Will Redeem,” complicate stereotypical notions about American Indians?
- What is regalia, as mentioned in “What You Pawn I Will Redeem” and why is it valuable?
- Is there an epiphany in What You Pawn I Will Redeem?
This unit is discussion heavy. I would like for you to be attentive and have respect for the material we will be discussing.
May 2nd, 2019
B Block: Work on your podcasts. Get them done.
C Block: Gallery walk and presentations (at the end of the gallery walk)
Tomorrow is a new unit for both classes.
May 1st, 2019
At the end of the class or at the beginning… Depends if you’re in block B or C.
Podcast. Go around the school to quiet places. The library is good.
Please don’t fall behind. I will hand out the rubric.
April 30th, 2019
Tuneful Tuesdays for block C.
Tuneful Tuesday Presentation Song
As for B block, this is your final day for work, so please get to it. I will expect nothing but the best!
April 29th, 2019
Vocab #6
Get your chairs in a full circle. Before we get to work, I’d like to have this time for each person’t reflection on how their story impacts their work moving forward. Say these two things:
- What was your book about / liked or disliked
- How your final project will look on Wednesday. (We don’t have time tomorrow because of Tuneful Tuesdays presentation.
Get to work!
April 25th, 2019
Reflection is due today.
By the end of class, I’d like for you to have a grounding and a set plan on what you’re going to be doing for next week. Everything will be due on the following dates:
Today –
Reflection of book due
Wednesday, May 1st –
Final project due
Friday, May 3rd –
Podcast finished and turned in to mr.leepurdy@gmail.com. The reason it’s this email is that I can accept larger files with this account.
April 24th, 2019
There are three things you should be doing right now:
- Finish your book
- Start on your final book project
- Get together in your groups and work on framing your podcast presentation.
This will go on until next week, so please use your time wisely.
Tuesday, April 23rd, 2019
Tuneful Tuesdays Presentations.
If anything falls through, I have a back up.
This is your week of independent study novels. Finish them. Tomorrow at the end of class, I will be picking up reflections on the novel.
You remember how to do reflections?
This is a minor assignment, so don’t spend too much time on it. Due tomorrow (Wednesday) because then you will be committing to your book final project:
Independent Project Final-wxjxup
Independent book questions podcast-14m2d6i
Tuesday, April 16th, 2019
Tuneful Tuesdays Presentation in the B block class.
Here are the lyrics to the song:
Lyrics for final tuneful tuesdays-2au6iul
Today, I will be here. I will be working on many things, including your stories. Please check to see if your ideas are working. If not, then you have until Thursday to finalize them.
That’s right. Thursday. Due at the end of class.
Monday, April 15th, 2019
Keep working on your short stories. Those of you I’ve talked to, I’ve loved your ideas (for the most part) and want to keep you committed to that idea. I will be in the school but not here as I have some work to catch up on. Email me with ideas.
I am not accepting any late work now. The report cards have been finalized already. Than you for those of you that used the window wisely.
Friday, April 12th, 2019
Spelling first.
After that, you will have some time to get an outline or first draft finished for the end of the class so that I know you are not wasting your time with this assignment. There are multiple sources online, but show me what you have of your own merit.
Thursday, April 11th, 2019
Last part of the time travel unit today. I will go over a few things with you:
- What is a good time travel short story?
Time Travel Short Story 5 Rules-u3qbp3
2. Story ideas:
Time Travel Short Story Ideas-13mlaqz
And here is an example from a student last semester:
Kristian Sison TT Exemplar-2fg4ief
And the rubric – (What I’m looking for)
Wednesday, April 10th, 2019
This is the last day for working on your papers. Please get it done. Finalize tonight and it’s due tomorrow.
Tuesday, April 9th, 2019
Today is a day for your tuneful Tuesday final paper.
- commit to a week (1-6)
- look at the template of week six for the full paragraph
- write the paragraph
- due at the end of class today
Monday, April 8th 2019
Work on vocabulary for a little while. About 10 minutes.
Independent reading for today. 15 minutes.
Questions for the final reflection?
Here is a rough outline for the final reflection that you will find helpful if you’re looking for structure.
Final Reflection Rough Outline-210owyn
Friday, April 5th, 2019
We will finish the movie today. There are about 45 minutes left.
Then I would like for you to read this and we’ll go over it together, so that everyone is on the same page regarding the meaning behind this movie and how it can relate to a story of your choice.
And after everything has been sorted out, we can go for a nice weekend.
Thursday, April 4th, 2019
We will continue the movie today.
Wednesday, April 3rd, 2019
Remember that document I gave you on Monday? I just need to double check to see if you have finished the summaries again so that I can put the grades into the computer.
We start Interstellar today.
Remember: What’s the summary? What’s the theme? What elements of time travel are there?
Tuesday, April 2nd, 2019
Independent reading for 15 minutes approximately.
Tuneful Tuesdays #6:
Tuneful Tuesdays #6 V2-1w60ox0
Keep in mind that next week will be a Tuneful Tuesdays in class write. I would also like for you to sign up for your own tuneful Tuesdays. Here are the details of that:
Tuneful Tuesdays Final V2-v146yr
I will answer any questions. I will also have the sign up sheet ready for tomorrow so think about when you’d like to go. The groups can be up to 4 people maximum.
Monday, April 1st, 2019
We will be starting Interstellar tomorrow. I am excited to show this movie. Before we do our own short stories next week, I’d like you to do this reflection / comparison & contrast paper.
Here are the details:
Interstellar Final Paper-22dk0ka
This is also a worksheet that you have the rest of the class to finish and ask me questions about.
As of right now, I have a few papers to finalize before I can give your final reflections to you either tomorrow or Wednesday. I thank you for your patience.
Friday, March 15th, 2019
Vocab today!
Then get right in to your final reflection. Due today!!
If you’re done early, know that others are not so keep quiet or remove yourself from the room if you want to talk.
Thursday, March 14th, 2019
Silent Reading 15 minutes
C Block: Reflections due today.
Group: Come up with questions – we will go over them as a class and I will post them later this evening.
Solo: Come up with your own rough draft. You can bring notes to the in class write tomorrow.
IMPORTANT:
Questions for tomorrow’s write:
Final Reflection Questions-1q8qhh4
RUBRIC:
Final Reader Response Rubric-2i8hx2x
Wednesday, March 13th, 2019
Silent reading 15 minutes
B Block: Reflections due today.
Here are the final pieces. You have the time to read one of them today. There are two. Only read one.
#1 Yesterday was Monday: Yesterday Was Monday-2dkrxpw
#2 The Seventh Voyage: The Seventh Voyage Text-272tswf
You will be randomly assigned one of the two texts and you will read it today.
Tomorrow, you’ll come up with questions in your group – this will be followed by the final reflection that is due before the break at the end of class. An ‘in class write’.
Tuesday, March 12th, 2019
Silent reading 15 minutes
Tuneful Tuesdays #5 V2-1y7rbz4
Monday, March 9th, 2019
Silent reading 15 minutes.
Vocabulary:
Work block for the reflections. Check continuously for the finished questions if you’re absent.
Reflection 3 Questions B C-2gdl9sl
Friday, March 8th, 2019
Silent reading 15 minutes.
Let’s finish off that story today as a class and then do the following:
- come up with questions as a group
- Share those questions with the class
- Commit to a few and discuss them as a group
- Share those answers with the class
- Start your reflection
Your next reflection is due at the end of class on Monday. I will have #2 graded for you at the beginning of the class on Monday.
Thursday, March 7th, 2019
Silent Reading 15 minutes.
Today, we start a new story. I’m not sure if we’ll finish it today, but let’s get through as much as possible.
The Most Important thing in the world-2afi8ao
Keep in mind what questions you’d like to ask in the margins.
Wednesday, March 6th, 2019
Silent Reading 15 minutes.
Let’s finish off the Tuneful Tuesdays (B’s) and then you have the time to work on your reflections for the rest of class. They are due first thing tomorrow and then we will get to our next story.
Tuesday, March 5th, 2019
Silent Reading 20 minutes
Tuneful Tuesdays
Tuneful Tuesdays #4 V2-24poriw
Monday, March 4th, 2019
Silent reading 20 minutes
Let’s finish the questions – choose a few with your group that you connect to. We will go around the class and have a discussion.
After that, you have the rest of the class to finish the reflection. It is due on Wednesday, 6th of March. This time, it’s for a minor letter grade.
Tomorrow is Tuneful Tuesday with a post-colonial lens.
Here are the questions:
Friday, March 1st, 2019
Vocabulary #2
Silent reading 20 minutes.
We’ll have some time – you as groups – to come up with questions that will be accessible for a classroom setting, just like the other class. 10 minutes.
Then we’ll go around the classroom and have you talk about your responses. 20 minutes.
For the rest of time, you will be working on your second reflection based on a question you have chosen.
Thursday, February 28th, 2019
Silent reading 20 minutes.
We’ll continue (or start) the story today and then come up with questions that you will use on the reflections tomorrow. Same thing.
I will have your first reflections for tomorrow.
Wednesday, February 27th, 2019
We’ll finish off the first reflection today. Make sure to have it by the middle of class. you have the first 30 minutes to finish it.
We will start our second story today.
Is there anybody there-24c7fe9
It’s called: Is there anybody there? I love this one. Very time bending. Lots of questions emerge.
Same drill after this. Reflection – turn it in. Done. Next.
Tuesday, February 26th, 2019
we will do a Tuneful Tuesdays #3
Tuneful Tuesdays #3 V2-2c5cgqu
Make sure to read the questions and listen to the instructions before you complete this. I will check to see if you’re getting the concepts alright.
I will also double check your previous assignments because it all links to a mid-term paper analysis in about 3 weeks.
Monday, February 25th, 2019
Lots of things to do today:
- Vocabulary #2 – 15 minutes to write a sentence for each word.
- Here are the discussion questions from both blocks for consideration. Pick 5 with your group and answer them to the best of your abilities.
B Block Questions for Consideration-157r1n2
3. Start your reader response #1. It will be due on Wednesday. No more than 300 words. No fewer than 150 words.
Thursday, February 21st, 2019
So today, we will try and get through what I have planned for the ‘short story’ section of this unit.
The first short story is by H.G Wells called The Time Machine.
You will not be doing those boring worksheets that come with short stories. We will be doing something completely different. I will explain everything, of course. Here is the handout for it if you want to know before I give a brief lecture.
The Story:
I will walk you very closely through the first one so that you get it. We will be doing five.
Analysis on The Time Machine:
By ‘interesting-literature’
Why should four-fifths of the fiction of today be concerned with times that can never come again, while the future is scarcely speculated upon? At present we are almost helpless in the grip of circumstances, and I think we ought to strive to shape our destinies. Changes that directly affect the human race are taking place every day, but they are passed over unobserved.
This statement points up the value in speculating on the future, but in terms that are rooted in Wells’s present time: ‘fiction of today’, ‘At present’, ‘are taking place every day’. In The Living Novel, V. S. Pritchett remarked: ‘Without question The Time Machine is the best piece of writing. It will take its place among the great stories of our language. Like all excellent works it has meanings within its meaning’. This notion of multi-layered significance – of ‘meaning within meaning’ is worth bearing in mind when considering the novel’s themes. Like many great works of science fiction, Wells uses the concept of time travel, and the invention of the time machine, as a vehicle for exploring the issues of his time: class, industrialisation, and the implications of Darwinian evolution, degeneration (a big concern in the 1890s), imperialism, and many other things.
The Time Machine can be read as Wells’s attempt to understand the meaning of our existence in light of the theory of evolution, which had led many Victorians to question their firm faith in God and therefore in a Christian understanding of humanity’s purpose. If we’re not on Earth because God created us for his purpose, then what are we doing here? Is our existence merely random? Are we mere animals, albeit thinking ones? Partly what Wells is trying to do is examine the role of man in the modern world. He does this, I think, through several oblique references to the story of Oedipus, the mythical King of Thebes who inadvertently fulfilled a prophecy which stated he would kill his father and marry his mother. However, what is less well-known in the Oedipus story is how Oedipus came to be King of Thebes in the first place: namely, by solving the Riddle of the Sphinx and, through doing so, freeing the city of Thebes of its plague. The Riddle which the Sphinx asked people, but which nobody else had managed to solve until Oedipus came along, was the following question: ‘What goes on four legs in the morning, two legs at noon, and three legs in the evening?’ The answer is ‘Man’, because humans crawl on all fours as babies, walk upright on two legs during adulthood, and then use a walking-stick when they’re older.
Making Sense of the Gernsback Continuum
William Gibson’s short story illustrates how popular culture and public life are heterogeneous; they are not stable, solid, immutable forces. Rather, our notion of public life includes bits and pieces and fragments of many alternative visions of ideal human interaction. The title refers to Hugo Gernsback, an early twentieth century pulp fiction editor whose bold and vivid stories shaped our collective imagination of the future.
The ‘continuum’ refers to a conceptual space, an alternative universe that exists along side our own – and occasionally intersects with our ‘real’ world. This space includes a range of probabilities from the most concrete and sensible to the most abstract and fantastic visions of public life. The Gernsback Continuum is a broad arc of intersecting futures with alternative implications for public life. We can visit this continuum through various means; some are legal and safe, others illegal and dangerous.
Wednesday, February 20th, 2019
Time travel unit:
Time Travel Short Fiction Introduction-1g61it9
The Time Traveler’s bible:
The Time Traveler’s Almanac-rbqf2e
This text will include 4 of the 5 short stories we’ll be reading. Yet today, we will be looking at a non-fiction essay by a great guy (Charles Yu) who explains time travel.
What is Time Travel Fiction as defined by Charles Yu?
What are some examples of time travel fiction?
Tuesday, February 19th, 2019
New units are always interesting.
First things: This is the independent reading unit. Let’s spend a little time talking about this.
Independent Project Final-wub9kb
This is the end game. You’ll be reading a book of your choice for the next month or so and come back from the spring break with a chance to finish everything.
Tuneful Tuesdays Today. We missed last week…
Tuneful Tuesdays #2 V2-28208i3
Welcome to another Tuneful Tuesdays. I am glad you all have the basics of my expectations down. Now we are going to go one step further and have questions relating to the songs that will make you think in small groups. This will also help you with your comparison and contrast of detailed quotes.
February 14th, 2019
Vocab test today! Get out blank sheets.
After that, the time is yours to peer-review and get those paragraphs in for the end of the day.
Any questions, let me know.
February 13th, 2019
You can spend the time today to finish your final lenses paper. Since we had a snow day yesterday, you can spend some time both today and tomorrow on this.
We will start our new unit on Monday.
The vocabulary test is still this Thursday / then you can finalize your final paragraphs.
Next Tuesday – you can look forward to
-Independent reading project
-Time Travel short fiction unit
February 11th, 2019
Vocabulary #1
I will explain what to do for this.
We will finish the movie today and then, I’d like for you to start on your rough drafts for the final paragraph that will be due at the end of class, Wednesday. I am looking forward to looking at your notes so I know you’re doing alright.
Final thing before you leave today:
What makes a formal essay? Let’s have a discussion on this.
February 8th, 2019
The paragraphs are turned in and life is easy again – but here’s the literary grid once more:
Introduction to Literary Theory Grid Grade 10-2ipm6k2
Use it for the Lion King. If you need some help, there are a few tips I’ll give you before we start
THE LION KING.
Here’s the other PPT:
February 7th, 2019
Today you will finish your paragraphs based on the structure I presented yesterday. You have your info / matrix grid so now you’re good to go. I’ll be there for you the whole day.
Get to work! It’s due when the bell rings.
Sentence 1 – Topic Sentence – contains the title of the piece of literature, the writer’s full name, and your topic. If this is an answer to an assigned question, then your topic sentence might be a rewording of the question into a statement. (a thesis statement, your statement to prove)
Sentence 2 – Main Point #1, One way the writer does what you say he or she does is through…
Sentence 3 – Example/Reference or quotation #1. The best example from the piece of literature which supports you main idea #1.
Sentence 4 and 5 – The explanation in your own words of how/why this example/quote does what you say it does. This section is where you develop your answer and prove your thesis.
Sentence 6 – Main Point #2. Another way the writer does what you say he or she does is…
Sentence 7 – Example/Reference or quotation #2. The best example from the piece of literature which supports you main idea #2.
Sentence 8 and 9 – The explanation of how/why this example/quote does what you say it does. This section is where you develop your answer and prove your thesis.
Sentence 10– Concluding Sentence. Minimally: summarize your paragraph repeating some of the key words from the question. Better: relate this literary device/technique to the effectiveness of the whole composition and how the device/technique helps the author develop the theme, or, relate the composition’s theme to real life.
February 6th, 2019
You are doing a ‘part 2’ to your fairy tale before we work on the final part of the lenses unit.
This is an important part, as it will help you with your final paper due next week.
Here is a word document that I’d like for you to use – preferably online. I have paper copies as well.
Introduction to Literary Theory Grid Grade 10-2ipm6k2
Based on your fairy tale, I would like for you to fill out this grid, but I will show you what I mean with this PPT. On Wednesday, you have a work block with my help of course, to individually get this done. Those of you that brought Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, you’re in luck.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs-1nx9jtu
Tomorrow, we will start our first ‘Tuneful Tuesdays’.
Sentence 1 – Topic Sentence – contains the title of the piece of literature, the writer’s full name, and your topic. If this is an answer to an assigned question, then your topic sentence might be a rewording of the question into a statement. (a thesis statement, your statement to prove)
Sentence 2 – Main Point #1, One way the writer does what you say he or she does is through…
Sentence 3 – Example/Reference or quotation #1. The best example from the piece of literature which supports you main idea #1.
Sentence 4 and 5 – The explanation in your own words of how/why this example/quote does what you say it does. This section is where you develop your answer and prove your thesis.
Sentence 6 – Main Point #2. Another way the writer does what you say he or she does is…
Sentence 7 – Example/Reference or quotation #2. The best example from the piece of literature which supports you main idea #2.
Sentence 8 and 9 – The explanation of how/why this example/quote does what you say it does. This section is where you develop your answer and prove your thesis.
Sentence 10– Concluding Sentence. Minimally: summarize your paragraph repeating some of the key words from the question. Better: relate this literary device/technique to the effectiveness of the whole composition and how the device/technique helps the author develop the theme, or, relate the composition’s theme to real life.
Rewrite your paragraphs like this.
Monday, we will be going over a few things
February 5th, 2019
Let’s finish the presentations real quick.
We’re starting something new today: Tuneful Tuesdays. I will be continuing this with you for six weeks then you’re on your own – ready to do the presentations by yourself.
I have an introduction handout here for you to read on your device:
Tuneful Tuesdays Introcuction-1440sn9
Here are the devices you will be learning:
poetry_terminology_10-1v0wc28-1vepho9
Here is today’s song that we will be doing together.
Remember – you will be working on finding literary devices, comparing and contrasting, and finally coming up with a paragraph explaining a theme. This theme will be part of a thesis statement and 2 supporting details with examples.
It will get easier as time goes on.
February 4th, 2019
Today, we will have all of your presentations. I am looking forward to hearing what your fairy tale is and the lenses in which you see them.
you have 5-10 minutes to prepare.
The presentation rubric is basic – I write mostly. There are three parts and the whole thing is presentation category with maximum 12 points.
SUMMARY (Quick run-down): 2
CONTENT (Perspective & Lenses): 6
PRESENTATION STYLE (Collaboration): 4
An average presentation should be 2-5 minutes. We have about 13 groups. I think that this can be completed by the end of class today. If we have time, we can go over some more materials on lenses I will post. If there are extras, then they can go tomorrow.
Let’s have a great day.
February 1st, 2019
Wild Things Class Lenses-1hbmdxf
I have decided that today will be a day to finish questions, work on your presentations and practice them for Monday.
I will be walking around with Ava for block B and in block C to check and answer questions regarding your work today.
If anyone would like to go today, then I will allow it, but only after the first half is finished so that everyone has time to get their thoughts in order.
After that, I want you to have a good weekend. Cheer up when Monday comes around, because we will be watching The Lion King next week.
January 31st, 2019
Now, things might get a little strange right away, but I’d like for you to take notes on this video to reflect on the content. Write it on your device.
List of fairy tales / fables for analysis: (On board)
Find a fairy tale / fable. This is needed for today and tomorrow.
3 little Pigs – true story –
The_True_Story_of_the_Three_Little_Pigs1-1ykolbj
- Get with a partner (or a triplet) and explain your fairy tale – summary etc.
- Discuss the different lenses in which you can see this fairy tale. (We will come back to this on Monday.)
- Answer the following questions on your own. Over the weekend, I’d like you to write your own story based on this fairy tale. You can start in class today.
Fairy Tale Retold Part 1-1mkry46
January 30th, 2019
Let’s get started.
Let’s also finish the partner groups for presentation.
Here’s an intro to lenses:
2_critical_lenses_of_literature-170q8sa
Now, things might get a little strange right away, but I’d like for you to take notes on this video to reflect on the content. Write it on your device.
List of fairy tales / fables for analysis: (On board)
Go home and bring back a fairy tale. This is needed for tomorrow.
3 little Pigs – true story –
The_True_Story_of_the_Three_Little_Pigs1-1ykolbj
January 29th, 2019
Welcome to class.
Here’s the syllabus. Let’s go over it briefly. Each pair should come up with a question that you need clarified.
Grade 10 2018 Introduction-2nsw2rl
Here’s the introduction to the unit:
10 Lenses Introduction-2n4rlf7
10 Essential Questions
- Brainstorm with class on questions (I will write on the board)
- Find someone you don’t know
- Ask 10 of the questions from the board.
- Get ready to present your partner to the class.
Let’s get started.
2_critical_lenses_of_literature-16hqqrr
Now, things might get a little strange right away, but I’d like for you to take notes on this video to reflect on the content. I’ll hand out paper.
- Structuralism:the significance of the changing balance between text and image and its relationship to an interpretation of the story as a fantasy – a figment of Max’s imagination, oppositions.
b. Feminism: the role of the mother (and the absence of the father), the balance of power between mother and son, the role Max adopts with the ‘wild things’, the representation of the ‘wild things’ as gendered or genderless.
c. Postcolonial: the role Max adopts with the ‘wild things’, his colonising – and subsequent desertion – of the creatures, the behaviour of the ‘wild things’, the colour symbolism of Max’s clothing.
d. Psychoanalytic: what the ‘wild things’ might represent, Max’s relationship with his mother, the absence of the father, dream/reality distinctions, sublimation of desires into fantasy.
Go home and bring back a fairy tale. This is needed for tomorrow.
June 14th, 2019
Theme / analysis Paragraph tips and tricks (adapted from Provincial)
Look over the paragraph response question BEFORE you start reading the text.
Respond to the text and not your own ideas about the topic
In your AG (attention getter), focus on the theme of the text, then follow up with the significance (why, as a reader, we should care about this text)
Now ANSWER the question in a thesis statement followed up with support from the beginning, middle, and end of the text (2 or more quotes).
Move beyond WHAT is happening to HOW (choices) and WHY (context)
Use powerful revelatory VERBS
Use literary vocabulary such as protagonist, irony, foreshadowing, symbol, etc
Write descriptively with elevated vocabulary
Have a conclusion that has an epiphany that is insightful.
Create a title for your paragraph that uses elements from your conclusion.
June 11th, 2019
Some of you have been wondering the plan for these last 2 weeks:
- Last week: Overview of the stand-alone paragraph (peer review) + pre-assessment
- This week: Review of Stand-alone and rubric standard / peer review of synthesis (Thursday) + 2nd provincial online – Friday lecture and application of stand-alone
- Next Week: Narrative focus: Fine tune narrative essays and Thursday read aloud of narrative papers in circle – out loud = commitment to your words / Monday-Wednesday Final Provincial examination for final assessment
June 10th, 2019
Meeting in computer lab.
We will work on ‘extra’ practice today (Provincial F) because of many sick individuals who might need to recover from an epidemic.
June 5th, 2019
https://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/exams/search/
June 4th, 2019
Provincial Boot-camp day #1
Here are the preliminary papers I want to go over with you:
Exam Prompts and Themes_Setters
I would like for you to look at a specific prompt. Remember that we did this a little while ago? I would like to revisit this and then have you come up with a theme statement based on the prompt given.
June 3rd, 2019
The rest of the inquiry projects will go today.
Please respond to the questions in class.
We will also have a final vocabulary practice. I will print it out for you.
May 30th, 2019
Here are the sheets that you might have missed:
May 29th, 2019
Chapter 16 today – what the creature wants.
You have the 1st 30 minutes to work more on your presentations.
May 28th, 2019
So Victor has had a lot of bad things happen to him. Now it’s time for the Monster’s side of the story.
First, you have 30-40 minutes to get everything in order and then we’ll read.
May 27th, 2019
First 30 minutes is getting everything together. You will have this until Friday where you should be ready to present.
Here is the inquiry file:
Let’s go over this first.
After that, we will go through day 4 of the Frankenstein book.
May 24th, 2019
AP Quiz
- We will go over the questions for day 2
- We will go over the beginning of the second part.
- I also have section 3 of the inquiry project (That we’ll do 1st after the quiz.)
May 23rd, 2019
- We will go over the questions for day 1
- We will then read from the beginning of chapter 1
- I also have section 2 of the inquiry project.
Lots to do! AP test tomorrow.
May 22nd, 2019
We will complete ‘day 1’ of the schedule I gave you yesterday. Please see the link below.
I also have the sheet to help you find outside work that will link to your theme. We’re doing 2 things at once now. It’s crucial you will be on point. I will help you every step of the way.
May 21st, 2019
- what inquiry projects you have completed before.
- What does it mean to search for knowledge? How is it different from completing a task?
- How can you ask the right questions in order to get answers that invoke wonder and desire for more? In other words: How do I know I’m asking the right questions?
AP Test # 5
(Printout)
Frankenstein Overview:
Here is the text – we are short on books as the other 12 class is doing the same book.
Here is the overview of the unit:
And I will guide you through how this will actually play out. It is an ‘inquiry project’ first and foremost.
May 14th-16th, 2019
Spoken Word. Alphabetically ordered. Ackerman through… Walker perhaps.
May 13th, 2019
This is the week of spoken word. We will do a few exercises, but here are the major pieces that you should have with you. We’ll go over the rules again and then come up with a final sign up plan so that you can focus yourself to the due date.
Narrative Fragmentation
- find an ‘artifact’ in your bag.
- Put it in the center table.
- We’ll do a quick Kinesthetic warm up so you can get rid of your egos
- Focus on an object.
- Quietly go back to your desks, don’t talk to anyone else about anything
- Write for five minutes about the artifact
- Come back into the circle
- One word that comes to mind from your story ‘word ball’
- Go back to your story and circle key words
- Export these chosen words to another piece of paper and reorder them as a poem
- Make a physical emblem from these poems
May 9th, 2019
Showtime!
May 8th, 2019
Showtime!
May 7th, 2019
Like we talked about yesterday, this is all about getting those scripts ready for tomorrow. Good luck with everything. Let me know if you need more ideas.
May 6th, 2019
So today I cut out the AP quiz. I would like to do that next week. This week will be fast and very good if you have all the right tools.
Let me see if you have done the scene well. You don’t have to memorize it, but you do have to know it well enough so that you’re not reading all the time.
This is a work block to finish these scenes.
Here’s the final rubric – simple:
May 3rd, 2019
Look up awkward situations and the ideas will come for your scene. I know that buzzfeed is not the best source for information, but for stupid situations, it’s gold. Put one of these in your scenes and hilarity will ensue.
https://www.scoopwhoop.com/humor/weird-situations/#.efhg816cq
Also, scenes will be acted out today.
May 2nd, 2019
Please continue your hard work. We have a group today that will be going at the end of class. I will give you up to 10:05 to complete this work.
For the rest of you, after the vocabulary test is your time, then you’ll have some script writing time. Rough draft will be due on Monday.
May 1st, 2019
Today is a day in which you can memorize your scenes throughout the school. I have a few sites to show you first. These will get you ready for the scene.
Let me know about if you need any help.
Here is the rubric:
April 30th, 2019
Test today. Do your best. Come up with good answers that show extended learning – not just what I said.
After you’re finished, quietly pick a scene (2 pages) you are going to memorize. We will have a showtime on Friday. During that time, you should think about ideas for your scene as well.
April 29th, 2019
Vocab Printout. 20 minutes to work on this.
Final written test based on 4 questions from the text. Each question is worth 5. There are no secrets. We’ve discussed it all in class.
Good Luck!
Also… In your group, pick a scene that you will memorize in the next 2 -3 days. Should be no more than 2 pages. These pages will be an inspiration for your own plays. More to come soon.
Here are some excellent ‘Farce’ scenes you can get your ideas from:
http://www.lazybeescripts.co.uk/Scripts/Results.aspx?iSk=1&i17=1&iFa=1
And a fun way to generate a short story to base your scene on:
https://www.plot-generator.org.uk/story/
April 25th, 2019
AP test #6
Finish questions for act 2
Finish act 3
Start questions for act 3:
- Lady Bracknell has been described as “the perfect embodiment of the
attitudes and rules of conduct of the British aristocracy.” How does Wilde
unmask the mercenary motives of Lady Bracknell to reveal her essential
snobbishness and hypocrisy in the final act? - To a certain extent, Miss Prism and Dr. Chasuble are also satirical figures
through whom Wilde attacks British institutions, namely education and the
Church of England. Explain briefly what aspects of these institutions Wilde is
satirizing. - Define the term “bunburying,” and explain its significance in the play. How
does bunburying relate to Wilde’s critique of Victorian earnestness? How are
even Cecily and Dr. Chasuble “bunburyists”? - The play has a number of objects that acquire additional meanings as the
action develops. Explain how three of the following symbols in The Importance of Being Earnest relate to the plot and especially to the characters: cucumber sandwiches, bread-and-butter, the German language, French music and language, bottles of champagne, teacake, muffins, and the capacious handbag. - “Although we see little of them, each of the butlers has a back story and
serves as a vehicle for Wilde’s satire of the aristocracy.” Explain. - If the principal characters will go to any lengths to avoid their
responsibilities and place self- interest at the top of their own agendas, then a resolution of the conflicts in the play would be impossible: somebody has to make concessions. How does the resolution scene in the third act resolve the conflicts between Lady Bracknell and Jack? Jack and Algernon? Gwendolen and Cecily?
April 24th, 2019
Finish off questions for act 2
Read all of act 3. It’s pretty short.
Get ready for the final questions tomorrow and a review of the whole book. Final on Monday – 5 select questions from the 30 questions you have been assigned.
April 23rd, 2019
AP test #6 (Printout of first 2 pages)
Today, you will finish the questions for act 2.
We will discuss these 20 minutes before the end of class.
April 18th, 2019
Vocbulary.
Let’s go over the questions first. Depending on your attention level, this should take no more than 15 minutes. Please go into depth with what you said, not what you copied and pasted.
Act 2 actors:
Miss Prism: Edgecombe
Cecily: Paige
Chasuble: Max
Merriman: Ryan
Algernon: Hannah
Jack: Alex
Gwendolen: Keisha
- “Gwendolen and Cecily are not so much opposites as complements.” Explain this remark by reference to their speeches and actions.
- Early on in Act One Jack Worthing articulates the difference between city lifeand country life. Show three ways in which the life of the country (as
exemplified by the Manor House, Woolton, Herfordshire) is very different from the bachelor life of The Albany, London. - Like Jack, Algy leads a double life, utilizing an escape mechanism when
necessary to free himself of a life of social obligation and lead a life of
unrestrained pleasure. Explain their differing motivations, but how both are
“confirmed Bunburyists,” nevertheless. - The comedy of mistaken identity is a very old dramatic form – as old, in fact, as comedy itself – which Wilde manages to revitalize in The Importance of Being Earnest. The key mistaken identity in this play, of course, is that of “Ernest” himself. What comic consequences result from Algernon’s assuming the role of Ernest Worthing?
- In what ways would the terms “hedonist,” “aesthete,” and “gourmand” be
suitable descriptors for Algernon? - How would you characterize Canon Chasuble and his relationship with Miss Prism? Why does Wilde include them at this point in the play?
- Give five examples of Wilde’s wit, comedy and/or satire in this act. How
does this further his satirical purpose? - A subtle sub-theme of the play is readers, publishers, fiction, and
censorship. What points by implication is Wilde making about contemporary
literature? - What role does food have within the play? (Notice how Jack and Algy are
eating muffins at key points – and then those pesky cucumber sandwiches in
Act I…) - Based on the types of comedy discussed, how would you define The
Importance of Being Earnest thus far? Defend your selections using textual
references.
October 30th, 2018
“All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does, and that is his.”
― Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest
Questions before we start:
What is a parody, satire or farce?
What is comedy?
Actors today:
Jack (Earnest) : Kevin
Algernon :
Lane : Julien
Gwendolen :
Lady Bracknell : Haein
Cat: Shannon
We will be starting the play. If we finish act 1 today, then these questions will be due by tomorrow for discussion. I’ll collect your answers after.
- Why does Jack Worthing call himself “Ernest” instead when he is in “town”
(London)? - Why has Algernon invented an invalid friend named “Bunbury”?
- Jack has an insurmountable impediment to marrying Gwendolen in his
background: what, as Lady Bracknell sees it, is this problem? How does she
propose that he resolve this problem? What is Wilde satirizing in this
situation? - How does Wilde use the subject of cucumber sandwiches to reveal the
characters of Jack and Algy? - How does Wilde satirize the vacuous mentalities and lifestyles of the British
aristocracy in Lady Bracknell’s interview with Jack? - How does Wilde use the cigarette case to facilitate the exposition of the
dramatic action? - The character of Algernon Moncrieff reflects the public persona of the
dramatist himself: in what ways in Algy like Wilde? Refer to background
information. - Why is the classical allusion in which Wilde compares Lady Bracknell to the
Gorgon particularly apt? Look up this allusion if you don’t know. - What point is Wilde making about journalism in general and reviewers in
particular when Algernon remarks, “You should leave that [literary criticism] to
people who haven’t been at University. They do it so well in the daily papers”? - What tools of satire –irony, juxtaposition, understatement, paradox –are
apparent in this opening act?
April 16th, 2019
“It is awfully hard work doing nothing. However, I don’t mind hard work where there is no definite object of any kind.”
-Algernon, Act 1, Importance of Being Earnest
Finish act one.
Complete the questions by the end of class.
April 12th, 2019 / April 15th, 2019
“Men always want to be a woman’s first love. Women have a more subtle instinct: What they like is to be a man’s last romance.”
― Oscar Wilde
Actors today:
Jack (Earnest) : Alex
Algernon : Kirsten
Lane : Jayden
Gwendolen : Keisha
Lady Bracknell : Haein
We will be starting the play. If we finish act 1 today, then these questions will be due by tomorrow for discussion. I’ll collect your answers after.
- Why does Jack Worthing call himself “Ernest” instead when he is in “town”
(London)? - Why has Algernon invented an invalid friend named “Bunbury”?
- Jack has an insurmountable impediment to marrying Gwendolen in his
background: what, as Lady Bracknell sees it, is this problem? How does she
propose that he resolve this problem? What is Wilde satirizing in this
situation? - How does Wilde use the subject of cucumber sandwiches to reveal the
characters of Jack and Algy? - How does Wilde satirize the vacuous mentalities and lifestyles of the British
aristocracy in Lady Bracknell’s interview with Jack? - How does Wilde use the cigarette case to facilitate the exposition of the
dramatic action? - The character of Algernon Moncrieff reflects the public persona of the
dramatist himself: in what ways in Algy like Wilde? Refer to background
information. - Why is the classical allusion in which Wilde compares Lady Bracknell to the
Gorgon particularly apt? Look up this allusion if you don’t know. - What point is Wilde making about journalism in general and reviewers in
particular when Algernon remarks, “You should leave that [literary criticism] to
people who haven’t been at University. They do it so well in the daily papers”? - What tools of satire –irony, juxtaposition, understatement, paradox –are
apparent in this opening act?
April 11th, 2019
New unit, finally –
There are only two tragedies in life: one is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it.”
-Oscar Wilde
Here is the unit plan:
Importance of Being Earnest Unit Plan-1otdpxu
There are two ways we can go with this:
Start with one of the best short stories Oscar Wilde has done, or the biography of Wilde.
This is the biography of one of my personal heroes: Oscar Wilde. The bet way to know a work and the time is to find out about the creator. Tomorrow, we will be starting The Importance of Being Earnest.
Five minute write on what you got out of this video. We will share tomorrow
April 10th, 2019
This is the last day to work on your papers. Please get them done.
I’ll collect them at the end of class.
April 9th, 2019
Keep going and doing a good job in completing this assignment. I will be here to help you with whatever step you need in order to get that good grade.
I’ll do my rounds as the class progresses.
April 8th, 2019
AP #4 (Handout)
So today is a workshop day. Remember that outline from last Thursday’s class? Now it’s up to you to check and work on. The final draft for this assignment will be on Wednesday at the end of class.
April 5th, 2019
Three things to do today:
- Spelling test.
- Finish the last 30 minutes of Perks
- Discuss the characters in the story
Next week, get ready to finalize an outline. It will be a bit of work. I will extend the due date to Wednesday. If there are any questions, make them for this class and Monday when you do the outline.
April 4th, 2019
We will be starting The Perks of Being a Wallflower today. Keep in mind the character sheet as we will be going over that on Friday. I have a basic outline you can follow for a three paragraph structure. Luckily it’s the same as the 1 paragraph structure. You follow it, you’ll be good.
3 Paragraph Essay Structure-16k8ktw
April 3rd, 2019
After the movie finishes, we will talk about the four main characters. This discussion is important because others can get ideas from what you talk about. If you need more time, look at the working script:
STAND BY ME (1986) by Raynold Gideon & Bruce A Evans (1985-06-19) [scan]-1w3y242
After that, we will start The Perks of Being a Wallflower. I think that we can finish it tomorrow.
Friday is a day to work on the 3 paragraph comparison / contrast essay outline.
April 2nd, 2019
We will start our movie today. I am excited for this, as you can adopt film into your own analytical minds – impress your friends.
Here are the characterization maps for Stand by Me and Wallflower.
Characterization Map – The Body-21ed56v
Characterization map Wallflower-1he5x2u
These are basic character bubble sheets. Take notes on each character as it will help you while you’re watching the movie.
April 1st, 2019
Vocabulary #4 (Printout)
Rites of Passage Unit:
Overview: The Body Synthesis unit overview-2arv043
- What are some ‘coming of age’ stories?
- What are the elements of a maturity story? (Brainstorm)
-A comparison essay PPT (Take notes)
Textual Analysis – PowerPoint(1)-1jsncqq
We will be analyzing film.
These are the texts to the films we will be watching:
The Body by Stephen King Full Text-1dzzuy5
the_perks_of_being_a_wallflower-yh7f7z
Read over some of them. I will give you 15 minutes and then we can talk about it.
Tomorrow, we will be starting The Body – I will give you a handout to take notes, first thing.
March 15th, 2019
AP test #3 – look over it.
Then, peer review sheets (I’ll hand out)
The time is yours to finish that paper. Good luck. Please finish by the end of class.
March 14th, 2019
This will be very short 5 mins – I would like for you to really understand the structure which is quite important for a provincial paragraph.
And the rubric I will use.
Rubric Theme Paragreph-1wrlj18
The peer review sheets I will give out first thing tomorrow. Please get it checked from other sources.
March 13th, 2019
Let’s continue the Lion King. We have 65 minutes – The film has about 55, so I will check if you’re getting the major details and I will then start it for the rest of class.
Tomorrow, I will give a short lecture on how to put together a 10 sentence paragraph (a review for most of you) and when you get it, you can start to work on your own lens paragraph.
Enjoy the film.
March 12th, 2019
Lion King today!
Let’s share our fairy tales. I’ll give you 15 minutes to get everything sorted out.
I’m excited.
March 11th, 2019
AP #3 Printout
Lenses! Here is a week long review on lenses for you to enjoy before we do a synthesis movie unit when we get back from break. Three movies in Three weeks!
Power-point today:
2_critical_lenses_of_literature-172odea
Find a children’s story and use a lens to dissect it. (Minor letter grade)
March 8th, 2019
Vocab Test!
No quote today… I would like you to spend this full block to really polish those papers, get everything ready – confirm your genius with another human being and print it out to be turned in. I’ll read them over the weekend.
March 7th, 2019
“The most important things are the hardest things to say. They are the things you get ashamed of, because words make them smaller. When they were in your head, they were limitless; but when they come out they seem to be no bigger than normal things.”
― Stephen King, The Body
Check with three people. Have them really go to town on your work.
The rest of the time is yours to finish the narrative. You can always check with me.
If you have more than one you’d like for me to read, hand it in as well. Can’t hurt your chances!
March 6th, 2019
No quote today, like I promised.
Journals yesterday were excellent. Did you commit to your prompt? This can be a springboard for you to get into your final narrative. They don’t have to be the same thing.
- Participants? I’ll check each person if you’re uncomfortable.
- Work on your stories together / solo.
- Rough draft is due tomorrow for peer review.
- Good draft is due at the end of the class, printed, for Friday.
March 5th. 2019
It takes considerable knowledge just to realize the extent of your own ignorance.
Thomas Sowell
So we have done the work with the last reading – the Dave Sedaris diary. Now it is time to share your diary journals.
Today will also be a kind of – improvised class for your own narrative. The trick to finding a good thing to write about is to find a good voice.
And with this voice comes improvisation skills.
So many times I’ve heard “I don’t know what to write.” So here are some good ideas for you to get started.
Creative Writing Prompts-2hleeyj
By the end of class, I do believe that you’ll have something to write about and it will be due on Friday.
Peer edit first draft will be first thing Thursday.
March 4th, 2019
“Every one of us is, in the cosmic perspective, precious. If a human disagrees with you, let him live. In a hundred billion galaxies, you will not find another.”
― Carl Sagan, Cosmos
Vocabulary #3 (Printout)
10 minutes to do the vocabulary.
We will talk about the voice and tone of the author in How to Travel With a Salmon.
This is our final paper:
- How does tone drive the narrative?
- How can one make a strong writing out of mundane points? What does Eco do to make a playful event work?
- How is humor used in the text?
If we have time, we will go over the final text by David Sedaris – thus making a true definition of humor in a narrative.
Let’s finish this today and talk about the parts to make a great whole when it comes to non-fiction storytelling.
https://www.newyorker.com/culture/personal-history/david-sedaris-the-ihop-years
March 1st, 2019
Journal #19
“We wear clothes, and speak, and create civilizations, and believe we are more than wolves. But inside us there is a word we cannot pronounce and that is who we are.”
― Anthony Marra, A Constellation of Vital Phenomena
So we will read our second story after talking about the questions regarding structure on your piece.
Then we’ll read the second piece by Eco called “How to travel with a salmon.”
We will talk about the voice and tone of the author.
- How does tone drive the narrative?
- How can one make a strong writing out of mundane points? What does Eco do to make a playful event work?
- How is humor used in the text?
If we have time, we will go over the final text by David Sedaris – thus making a true definition of humor in a narrative.
https://www.newyorker.com/culture/personal-history/david-sedaris-the-ihop-years
February 28th, 2019
Journal #18
“Whoever is not in his coffin and the dark grave, let him know he has enough.”
― Walt Whitman
So, the non- fiction narratives should be done. If not, please spend some time today getting things ready and getting a peer review of the essay before you hand it in at 9:45AM.
After that, we will be working on a story today that is a true non-fiction piece.
I also have a hard copy of this as well.
If we have time, I have another. Here is the link:
https://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2016/02/22/how-to-travel-with-a-salmon/
What make these pieces work as non fiction?
What is the voice in both pieces?
How do these pieces speak to the reader?
Tomorrow we’ll finish these two and then work on college prompt brainstorms. I’ll show you that even a sentence can trigger a full story. Even if your life is boring – which I assure you, is not.
February 27th, 2019
Journal #17
“We’re so self-important. So arrogant. Everybody’s going to save something now. Save the trees, save the bees, save the whales, save the snails. And the supreme arrogance? Save the planet! Are these people kidding? Save the planet? We don’t even know how to take care of ourselves; we haven’t learned how to care for one another. We’re gonna save the —–‘ planet? . . . And, by the way, there’s nothing wrong with the planet in the first place. The planet is fine. The people are ——! Compared with the people, the planet is doin’ great. It’s been here over four billion years . . . The planet isn’t goin’ anywhere, folks. We are! We’re goin’ away. Pack your —-, we’re goin’ away. And we won’t leave much of a trace. Thank God for that. Nothing left. Maybe a little Styrofoam. The planet will be here, and we’ll be gone. Another failed mutation; another closed-end biological mistake.”
― George Carlin
Today we work on our narratives. They are due tomorrow at the end of class, so if you’re finished, get some people to check it and then you can feel a good sense of how it will be received by me.
Our next step after this is to do a little reading on good non-fiction narrative pieces.
February 26th, 2019
Man surprised me most about humanity. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived.
-Dalai Lama
I’ll finish the PPT.
Next – look up some questions (generic) that colleges ask you.
We’ll share these as a group.
Choose one.
Check these out for laughs: Let’s take a look at these gems.
the_very_worst_college_application_essays-27240kk
This might be a major example, so let’s come up with “what a bad essay looks like” as a class. I will write down some good ideas that we will share.
February 25th, 2019
“To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.”
― Oscar Wilde
Vocab test.
AP exam questions printout.
Now this is framed as a ‘college application’ unit – but the actual premise will be for you to write strong narrative non fiction. This week, I will be giving you examples, but first, I need what is called a pre-assessment.
We are going to start our ‘college application’ non-fiction unit today. Here is the outline for the unit so you know what to expect:
College Application Unit 12’s-14ttndi
Take notes on this:
Writing The College Essay – Dos and Donts-tx55h2
Choose a college and research it. I’ll come around with a checklist at the end of class and help you with it.
February 21st, 2019
Man surprised me most about humanity. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived.
-Dalai Lama
Finish up and turn in those speeches today.
February 20th, 2019
Journal #13
“Some things you miss because they’re so tiny you overlook them. But some things you don’t see because they’re so huge.”
― Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
Today, you can work on your speeches. They are due tomorrow.
February 19th, 2019
Journal #12
“It seemed right to do it this way, because the rite of passage is a magic corridor and so we always provide an aisle – it’s what you walk down when you get married, what they carry you down when you get buried. Our corridor was those twin rails, and we walked between them, just bopping along toward whatever this was supposed to mean.”
― Stephen King, The Body
Vocabulary 15 mins (Printout – absent? Get it from a friend.)
Obama Paper is due. I’ll collect it. Through Wednesday, you have time to work on your own rhetorical speech. Please see me for anything.
Thursday: Narrative Non-fiction crash course. This will go through the next Wednesday. It’s a provincial prep unit, framed as college / grad school apps.
February 14th, 2019
Journal #11
“We were young, and we had no need for prophecies. Just living was itself an act of prophecy.”
― Haruki Murakami, The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle
AP test #1
So Today is the final day for the Obama paper. If you are finished, I’d like for you to work on your own rhetorical speech. I’ll give you a guideline for this by the end of the day.
Hope you had fun yesterday!
Here’s the instructions for your own speech:
Purdy Own Rhetorical Speech-1lr23vu
February 13th, 2019
Journal #10
“We often miss opportunity because it’s dressed in overalls and looks like work”
―
Today is a day to work on your final Obama paper. It will be due at the end of class on Thursday because of recent events. You can also spend some time to finish your own rhetorical speech. See me if you need any help.
February 11th, 2019
Journal #9
“It’s ok to be a fool once or twice but never let it be a third time. Be smart and pretend to be a fool and at the end of the hunt make sure you’re the one that has the gun.”
― Surgeo Bell
AP Passage to explore today:
Read it and then do the questions by yourself. We’ll go over the answers in class today.
Here is the final for the Rhetorical essay:
And the rubric for the final:
It’s due at the end of the class on Wednesday. Thursday, first thing, I’d like for you to be working on your own Rhetorical speech. (Not to be performed.) Please think throughout the week what your speech will be on.
February 8th, 2019
Journal Entry #8
“Sometimes when you’re young, you have moments of such happiness, you think you’re living on someplace magical, like Atlantis must have been. Then we grow up and our hearts break into two.”
― Stephen King, Hearts in Atlantis
Vocabulary quiz #1. AP focus next week.
Today is a peer edit.
Here is the actual rubric – I gave you all copies yesterday. Get up to three responses from others. You can use the one online.
Rubric rhetorical analysis-1npc6dd
You have the weekend to fine tune this essay as it is due on Monday. Monday will be your own essay, but it will be a take home based on Obama’s famous 2008 speech.
February 7th, 2019
Journal Entry #7
“Youth is happy because it has the capacity to see beauty. Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old.”
― Franz Kafka
Today, you will have the class to get those essays finished. I will collect them for completion grades, yet will attach a peer review for tomorrow. This is for your own use, as you will be using the structure to get your peers to edit the paper. I will collect the finalized edits and give you your final paper that you will do over the weekend and finalize on Monday (tentative).
Next week will be all about your own rhetorical speeches which I will give you a quick run-down for. Brainstorming on Monday.
February 6th, 2019
Journal Entry #6
“What are heavy? sea-sand and sorrow.
What are brief? today and tomorrow.
What are frail? spring blossoms and youth.
What are deep? the ocean and truth.”
― Christina Rossetti
We will work on body paragraphs today. Quick lecture on them – then I’ll have you finish it by tomorrow. Same sort of thing. You seem to be doing well so far, and I am glad to see your final essays on this rhetorical analysis.
February 5th, 2019
Journal Entry #5
“I have lived a great deal among grown-ups. I have seen them intimately, close at hand. And that hasn’t much improved my opinion of them.”
― The Little Prince
Here’s notes for the lecture today. I hope you have your devices, because I’m going to show you how to, sentence by sentence, write a strong rhetorical essay.
How To Booklet Essay Outline Samples for each paragraph and tips-1i070a1
- Choose one of the three speeches we have worked on so far.
- copy and paste the sentence by sentence instructions.
- apply it to your own rendition of a rhetorical essay.
Tomorrow we will peer edit this, using the structure I provided today.
February 4th, 2019
Journal entry #4
“Whatever it is you’re seeking won’t come in the form you’re expecting.”
―
Hope you had a good weekend.
Vocabulary #1 is today. I’ll explain it today.
We will be continuing with the analysis of the speeches. I will walk around and help you a little bit with them as we go through the different stylistic devices.
Your job or takeaway today is to share your findings with the class on either the second or third speech in the package and turn in the worksheet (the first page).
I won’t be lecturing, but working with you individually on this assignment.
Tomorrow, I’ll teach you how to put it all together.
February 1st, 2019
“Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky.”
― Stray Birds
Today, we’ll be going over the MLK speech after you have time to write about it and watch the video. This video is remastered and edited from the 18 minute full version. You will get an idea of his orating style and we can talk about it.
You have 20-30 minutes to go over the speech and find how some of the rhetoric either works or doesn’t work. (Pathos, Logos, Ethos – literary devices from yesterday’s class.)
You will continue this on Monday as well.
January 31st, 2019
Journal Entry #2
“Youth is the best time to be rich, and the best time to be poor.”
-Euripides
Youth cannot know how age thinks and feels. But old men are guilty if they forget what it was to be young.
-J.K. Rowling
Let’s look at this longer lecture and then review:
Now take a look at this stuff. We’ll be working on this for a few days – taking note of all the things you’ve learned.
(Handout Physical) If you’re absent – please find a person who you trust to give you the missing copies.
Speeches and Rhetoric
First, with rhetoric, there is more than just “Ethos Pathos & logos.” Authors use rhetorical devices to persuade their audiences as well.
- Alliteration – the recurrence of initial consonant sounds – rubber baby buggy bumpers
- Allusion – a reference to an event, literary work or person – I can’t do that because I am not Superman.
- Amplification – repeats a word or expression for emphasis – Love, real love, takes time.
- Analogy – compares two different things that have some similar characteristics – He is flaky as a snowstorm.
- Anaphora – repeats a word or phrase in successive phrases – “If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh?” (Merchant of Venice, Shakespeare)
- Antanagoge – places a criticism and compliment together to lessen the impact – The car is not pretty but it runs great.
- Antimetabole – repeats words or phrases in reverse order – “ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.” (J F Kennedy)
- Antiphrasis – uses a word with an opposite meaning – The Chihuahua was named Goliath.
- Antithesis – makes a connection between two things – “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.” (Neil Armstrong)
- Appositive – places a noun or phrase next to another noun for descriptive purposes – Mary, queen of the land, hosted the ball.
- Enumeratio – makes a point with details – Renovation included a spa, tennis court, pool and lounge.
- Epanalepsis – repeats something from the beginning of a sentence at the end – My ears heard what you said but I couldn’t believe my ears.
- Epithet – using an adjective or adjective phrase to describe – mesmerizing eyes
- Epizeuxis – repeats one word for emphasis – The amusement park was fun, fun, fun.
- Hyperbole – an exaggeration – I have done this a thousand times.
- Litotes – makes an understatement by denying the opposite of a word that may have been used – The terms of the contract are not disagreeable to me.
- Metanoia – corrects or qualifies a statement – You are the most beautiful woman in this town, nay the entire world.
- Metaphor – compares two things by stating one is the other – The eyes are the windows of the soul.
- Metonymy – a metaphor where something being compared is referred to by something closely associated with it – The knights are loyal to the crown.
- Onomatopoeia – words that imitate the sound they describe – plunk, whiz, pop
- Oxymoron – a two word paradox – near miss, seriously funny
- Parallelism – uses words or phrases with a similar structure – I went to the store, parked the car and bought a pizza.
- Simile – compares one object to another – He smokes like a chimney.
- Understatement – makes an idea less important that it really is – The hurricane disrupted traffic.
Now fill out a questionnaire on speeches and we will read MLK I have a dream. We have the rest of class together to come up with the rhetorical devices and appeals. Tomorrow, you’ll be split into two groups to do two more speeches – time willing
Then we’ll be ready to write an essay.
January 30th, 2019
Youth ends when egotism does; maturity begins when one lives for others.
-Herman Hesse
Journal entries:
Quote Journal Grade 12-1h9pdy9
We can do the first exercise:
Present this to the class WITHOUT mentioning the appeal and we can guess and see if this is a good argument to buy the shoes.
There is also a handout that will be beneficial to you for when we go over speeches soon. Finish it at home before you get to class tomorrow because we will go over it before getting into groups for the next section of this class.
This is our unit on Rhetoric:
Introduction to EPL Purdy-26g84rb
Here’s a PPT that I’d like for you to take notes on:
Tomorrow we go further. One step at a time and you’ll nail this unit.
January 29th, 2019
Welcome.
Let’s Get started.
First, I would like you to write a paragraph about what it is you would like out of class following these questions: (This isn’t just for me – treat it as a rough draft for your grad transition shenanigans)
- What are my plans for post secondary? To what end will these plans meet?
- What are my strengths in English Literature? Be specific.
- What are my weaknesses in English Literature? Be specific.
- What do you expect out of this class this semester? – This is an important question because each grade 12 class I’ve designed is tweaked for each dynamic.
- What is my expected grade? Why?
Then we’ll get to work:
Grade 12 2018 Introduction-zja3qg
This is our unit on Rhetoric:
Introduction to EPL Purdy-26g84rb
Here’s a PPT that I’d like for you to take notes on:
June 11th, 2019
Some of you have been wondering the plan for these last 2 weeks:
- Last week: Overview of the stand-alone paragraph (peer review) + pre-assessment
- This week: Review of Stand-alone and rubric standard / peer review of synthesis (Thursday) + 2nd provincial online – Friday lecture and application of stand-alone
- Next Week: Narrative focus: Fine tune narrative essays and Thursday read aloud of narrative papers in circle – out loud = commitment to your words / Monday-Wednesday Final Provincial examination for final assessment
June 10th, 2019
Meeting in computer lab.
We will work on ‘extra’ practice today (Provincial F) because of many sick individuals who might need to recover from an epidemic.
June 4th, 2019
Tomorrow, you will take a full provincial (that will go into Wednesday) and then we will go over it. This is so you can see where you are. Today, we will go over the exact structure of what a provincial exam is. I will call it:
Provincial Boot-camp day #1
Lots of things to go over. You need to know your enemy before you can beat it.
Here are the preliminary papers I want to go over with you:
Exam Prompts and Themes_Setters
I would like for you to look at a specific prompt. Remember that we did this a little while ago? I would like to revisit this and then have you come up with a theme statement based on the prompt given.
May 29th, 2019
Here is the basic outline of what I’d like to see starting tomorrow:
- Have the summary ready (The mash up of all the questions on your inquiry sheets) as your 1000 word response. It should be cleaned up and in a readable format.
- A presentation PPT of all of your work so that everyone can see on either Friday or Monday. (10-15 minutes)
For Monday at the end of class, you should have completed the questions on the daily reading sheet (There are 15 total) to hand in one per group as a participation mark.
FRIDAY:
Language: Sara, Nighina, Emily
Innocence: Nicole, Tessa, Gabby, Mara
Equality: Alyson, Meg, Brielle
Authority: Shea, Cosh, Kristin, Zoe, JP
MONDAY:
Unity: Nathan, Javid, Logan
Kindness: Chloe, Gio, Teagan
Love: Karol, Karolina, Eaeyma
Virtue: Hannah, April, Caitlin
Sexuality: Raiyah, Rachel, Viktoriya
May 28th, 2019
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is a great parallel to what will happen to Victor and the Monster, doomed never to meet again.
We will go over some poignant scenes today after I let you work with your groups for 30 minutes approximately.
Chapter 16 – where the creature is finding out about life, and makes a request to Victor that he has to fulfill. Perhaps the creature is the albatross and victor is the mariner? By forsaking the monster, he has, in a way, killed it?
Chapter 23 Victor’s life ended – mentally.
I will explain the ending and Walton’s letter after that.
May 27th, 2019
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner with guides
This is our plan today:
- As a class, read Rime of the Ancient Mariner – I will go over it with you.
- parts designated to people in class – do a deep cut of the lines in the poem
- go back with your inquiry group – find where your themes are the most prominent.
- How does this poem connect to Frankenstein – personal reflection 10 minute write.
Questions from the internet to help you in your groups if you’re stuck on your parts:
- Who or what is responsible for the curse against the Mariner?
- Why does the Mariner get to survive to voyage when all the sailors die? After all, he was the one who shot the albatross?
- What does “Life-in-Death” represent, and what is the result of her winning the dice match with Death?
- What does the albatross symbolize, and why does the Mariner decide to kill it?
- Does this seem like a religious or specifically Christian poem? Does it change your perspective at all to learn that Coleridge was considered by many to have radical, free-thinking tendencies?
- Why do you think this poem has become so famous and influential? Does the poem seem ahead of its time, or does it seem quaint and old-fashioned?
May 24th, 2019
Here is the overview again just for those of you who are confused as where to read.
The last part of the reading will be today. This is the Monster’s story.
We will also go over the last part of your inquiry which is the fiction piece. I’ll have a printout of this.
May 22nd, 2019
- what inquiry projects you have completed before.
- what does it mean to search for knowledge? How is it different from completing a task?
- How can you ask the right questions in order to get answers that invoke wonder and desire for more? In other words: How do I know I’m asking the right questions?
Close read through of Victor’s story – his early life mostly. Let’s go over the questions in your reading guide as well. What we don’t do today, we can finish for tomorrow before we move on. Tomorrow will be a reading and connection day.
Now – Most of the reading I would like for you to do yourselves. For half the class, we can go over questions and ideas and the other half will be for you to work on your connections to themes and your own pieces.
The final project will be due by next Wednesday so that we can have presentations until the end of the week. Let’s discuss this today.
May 16th, 2019
Welcome to Thursday. So complete day 1 in Frankenstein for the end of the day. We went over this yesterday. If you prefer the online version, here it is:
Also, some of you might want to know where the inquiry project is going. These are some examples of earlier ones:
These are from 2 different classes, but the feeling of the project is the same.
Good luck today. Find your themes!!
May 15th, 2019
WEDNESDAY
R – Pinsky
Karina
Brielle
Logan
April
Tessa and Nicole
Eaemya
May 14th, 2019
“Everything you think, feel, say, and do contains seeds of more of itself.”
―
Here’s the updated list for Tuesday only – Please Email me if I’m missing your name:
TUESDAY:
Alyson
Shea
Karolina
Sara
Mara
Javid
May 13th, 2019
“I am master of my spoken words and slave to those which remain unspoken.”
―
Here is the info on Spoken word – This is from Mrs. Thomasen, but she is the guru of this stuff!
So we will go over it and then, dare I say it, you can have this time to work on them. Tomorrow we start.
TUESDAY:
Alyson
Shea
Karolina
Sara
Mara
Megan
Javid
WEDNESDAY
Gio
Brielle
Logan
April’
Raiya
Tessa and Nicole
Eaeymya
FRIDAY:
Nathan
Zoe
Kristin
Gabby
Victorya
May 9th, 2019
“It is the task of the translator to release in his own language that pure language that is under the spell of another, to liberate the language imprisoned in a work in his re-creation of that work.”
―
Today, let’s take the text we looked at yesterday and do a little bit from Pinball 1973 in the same manner for about 15 minutes and talk about the changes.
Here is a breakdown of the final project that I will be doing with you today. I will go over it with you tomorrow. The first two parts should take 5 minutes if you have a text ready. As long as you like the text, you’ll be okay. Find one before class if you’re reading this!!
The final step is the work. Since you’ve reflected on your own practice so far (2nd reflection) you should have the confidence to continue.
May 8th, 2019
“Never trust the translation or interpretation of something without first trusting its interpreter.”
―
We will begin by reading the second article, then I’ll give you the text in translation – two translations actually. One group will read and analyze the changes of Hear the Wind Sing and another group will read and analyze the Pinball 1973 text.
I would like to read the Pinball 1973 text with you. Keep in mind, we cannot read the original, as it is in Japanese. We need to take these texts as ‘gospel’ and go from there.
Let’s discuss these texts in class analytically. Yet, keep in mind the end goal:
- How can interpretation change the meaning?
- Do the effects of two different translations change the meaning?
- Are there different tones between the two?
Here are the ‘raw’ versions. I don’t have the cleaned up version as a PDF.
[Haruki_Murakami]_Hear_the_Wind_Sing(BookFi)
Pinball, 1973 – Haruki Murakami
May 7th, 2019
“The word ‘translation’ comes, etymologically, from the Latin for ‘bearing across’. Having been borne across the world, we are translated men. It is normally supposed that something always gets lost in translation; I cling, obstinately to the notion that something can also be gained.”
―
Here is the brief overview:
And the text for today:
I have paper copies.
Also, regarding spoken word, I have this to show you. I would like to hear comments.
I will teach you something – Keep in mind: WWPH?
May 6th, 2019
“What day is it?” asked Pooh.
“It’s today,” squeaked Piglet.
“My favorite day,” said Pooh.”
―
Why did I pick this? Because we have six weeks left and I love Winnie the Pooh. And it’s hard for grade 12’s – especially ones as… vocal as this group to find justification in things that might not seem important now.
So I will do my one day experiment with spoken word, as it should be in the back of your head. Showtime will be next Tuesday – but a lot of you will be working on it sooner.
I wanted to start the translation unit today, but I will postpone that until tomorrow.
Today: Embodied Poetic Narrative (or fractured Narrative) for spoken word ideas.
- find an ‘artifact’ in your bag.
- Put it in the center table.
- We’ll do a quick Kinesthetic warm up so you can get rid of your egos
- Focus on an object.
- Quietly go back to your desks, don’t talk to anyone else about anything
- Write for five minutes about the artifact
- Come back into the circle
- One word that comes to mind from your story ‘word ball’
- Go back to your story and circle key words
- Export these chosen words to another piece of paper and reorder them as a poem
- Make a physical emblem from these poems
Sound difficult? It’s not if you let yourself go.
Stories are due today.
May 2nd, 2019
“Glory be to Him who changes others and remains Himself unchanged!”
― The Arabian Nights
Thread #4 – some diamond in the rough
Cody, the Coder, & a Bad Luck Loader
Eaemya
I went to chapters but couldn’t find the book. It was sold out. He had a book recommendation.
Shea
I got a book and it was black. Inside, it was in cursive. On the last page, it said “the book touch” I looked around the area and looked around the library. Something was going on. There were strange people around me. I looked for someone to give the book to.
Paige.
I went into the street to escape. I almost got hit by a car. Black cat is vicious. I ran. Bad things are starting to happen. I started to read the book and looked at the last page and tried to decipher it. Inside the flap there were strange letters.
Kristin
Random letters. Didn’t know rhat there was a code store. I needed help. The coder talked about his WW2 experience.
Zoe
He deciphered codes in WW2. One time he was under pressure from the Further and he deciphered the codes. Little did he know that there was an even better code decipherer who had a tale to tell.
Nathan
His story starts in WW1. He was in the war for Germans. He was Jewish. Saw the segregation in Germany for a long time. Didn’t like the cause they were fighting for. Learned Russian. SO The Cody Coder stressed the importance of language to the coder.
Brielle
Language is an important part of life. He was glad so he didn’t care for the war. Language is key and then he opened the shop because of this revelation.
Javid.
The shopkeeper gets a ding on his phone. They actually both started shops. He messages the other coder to get a good job done on the book that Eaemya showed them in the fist place.
Megan.
The code was cracked! So it said: The people who are reading the book have bad luck. He told Eaemya,
Logan
Eaemya accepts this. She now has a bad luck life .
May 1st, 2019
“A loss that can be repaired by money is not of such very great importance.”
― The Arabian Nights
Here is Thread #3 in all of its bizarre glory
Taco Bell Cosmopolitan
Teagan
Teagan is stressed about spoken word, so she went to Gio to hear a story.
Gio
Gio was too nervous and so was Teagan. She said that how her life got turned upside down
Tessa
Gio was talking about one day she went to her favorite restaurant and ordered a pizza. The pizza was odd She gets food poisoning and throws up. She complains to the manager. The manager
Gabby
Manager’s Taco bell story – laid out his taco feast. Watched some Netflix. Felt off and then something weird started to happen.
Victoria
The manager injected something he wasn’t supposed to. His world starts spinning. He started to…
Rachel
Woke up and found that everything was upside down. Working out this new found power. Dexter – his dog was lost.
Raiya
Dog was found. Realized he was dreaming. Woke up and dog was there. Talks to dog. Went back to bag. The taco bell gave him a formula for zombies.
Nicole
In the story, he was a zombie and went to the store. However – he went to cosmology school to disguise his zombie-ness So you should feel better, Gio, for your food poising because like a box of chocolates.
Karina
Gio looked at the manager and thanked him for the story. My problem won’t be as bad she said. Teagan she said – theres nothing as bad as what happened to the manager.
Karolina
She felt better and Teagan did a good spoken word and threw up.
April 30th, 2019
“Only in utter solitude can man be safe from the doings of this vile world! By Allah, life is naught but one great wrong.”
― The Arabian Nights
Today, we will do thread #3 and read about six more nights of Arabian Nights.
So far, I’ve seen a great improvement in the classroom climate. Keep it up, as our Honors English class should be a safe space for learning and playing with ideas that might seem outlandish outside of class but in class are cherished.
I thought you’d appreciate this – An outline of what I have had planned.
DATES TO REMEMBER (All the way to June— I’ll re-post):
Monday, May 6th – SHORT STORIES DUE
Friday, May 10th – Slam Poetry Unit Begins
Monday, May 13th – Rough copies of poems due. Good copies due on Tuesday for final in class. Three days for this.
Friday, May 17th – Shakespeare Lit Circles Begin (Synthesis essays with 3 sources & MLA Formats)
Monday, May 27th, Shakespeare Synthesis Finals due – Frankenstein and the rise of Technology (Selections and Theme based Inquiry papers “Formal Reflections & Meta-cognition”)
June 3rd – END: Provincial Boot-camp (Micro Lessons that lead up to 3 examinations. This includes the puppet lesson)
April 29th, 2019
AP test #2 (At your desks)
After we justify answers, we will get back into a circle. I would like to know if anyone has an idea yet for their work. I will show you with thread #2 how to connect theme and insight to a spine of a story for impact.
This is thread #2
Pomerania
Alyson
Dad lost his job. Mom sent us away. I took my sled and went to the Yukon. Because of the truck accident I lost my spleen. The doctor had more news for me.
Logan.
Doctor started to tell a story about the Vietnam war. His father had lost organs in the war. His personality had changed. One day, the doctor and his father were walking down the street and seeing a homeless man gave him a quarter.
Emily.
The homeless man said that when he was younger, he and his family used to do a stealing ring together. Then he talked about a young woman who had a dog and the story she told.
Megan
The woman was walking at night. She heard a rustling. She met the dog.
Brielle
Husband was there when she got home. He told a coworker about how he’d fallen in love with dogs in Mexico. He found a Pomeranian dog tribe. He wanted to learn the Pomeranian language.
Javid
As time went on he learned the language. He grew a beard. He learned about the class system. Realized that there is a system language for all animals.
Nathan
Coworker went to land of the squirrels. Easier. Continued quest to learn languages. Traveling the world, the coworker knew the languages he’d learned. Many people thought he was crazy so he decided to put this behind him until now.
Kristen
Husband still didn’t want the dog. Made the wife take it to the shelter. She left him. She lived with the dog and that is how she met the homeless man.
Paige
Decides to get an apartment with dog. She didn’t go out often. Reconnected on pigeon with a friend. Went to a movie, she was walking back with her dog. Met the homeless guy.
Karina
As the homeless guy wrapped up his story, he said to the quarter giver. he hopes that this story is enough.
Eaemya
The doctor’s father said that he’d lost his organs. Even though he’d lost his organs, he still lived a life and was inspired by stories and things.
Mara
I was so touched. My heart began to burst along with the spleen which had already burst. This was what the doctor was alluding to in the whole time. Her heart was filled with literature of people. A story that can break a heart both figuratively and literally.
THE END
April 25th, 2019
AP test #2 – We’ll go over answers like last week.
Get your devices out.
let’s get everyone together again and go over the 1st 10 nights. SO that everybody gets a chance to do something, let’s split the reading into paragraphs.
And for the last part of this unusually busy week, let’s start with someone to begin a deeper thread. Here’s yesterdays for your convenience… What was the point of the story?
Practice Thread #1: The Lost Keys
Megan –
Crew at talent show – getting ready to go home. Don’t be loud when you get home. Megan didn’t have her key.
Javid –
I hadn’t lost keys in a while. Because of trauma. I lost them in Iran in 8th grade. Didn’t know Farsi. Needed a key to open door and it was 10PM. Went to the landlord’s house and played Pictionary… Gave me some food.
Alyson
While we played Pictionary, Landlord lectured me about how he’d been diagnosed with cancer and his wife left him. She left him because of
April –
The man she met, was a godsend from heaven. He’d go up to people and let people touch his biceps. He did it at Starbucks.
Hannah –
Sitting in Iran Starbucks – wasn’t interested in 67 year old. Girl had to finish assignment comes up with the idea based on the bicep man. London based. Walks around in jacket. Flexes. Drug dealer. Front for criminal organization. Approaches different girl.
Caitlyn
The old man left starbucks. He went to the hospital and was never seen again after going to Canada.
Nighina
Found out that the flexor had died. He didn’t get back with his wife. He threw her in his house. She died alone and sad in the house.
Sarah
Listening to the story, she gets scared. Because she lost her keys in Iran. A very life changing story that she remembered about losing her keys.
Chloe
Wanted to go home. Was left alone after all friends left. Couldn’t get back in the house. Basically snuck in to the house. Her cat was staring back. Thought about the cat door. Swiveled her way through. Didn’t work. Mom found her.
THE END.
April 24th, 2019
“A truth once seen by a single mind ends up by imposing itself on the totality of human consciousness.”
― The Arabian Nights
- Finish Three nights of Arabian Nights
- Start our own narrative brainstorming. I will be taking notes on the threads and will post them on tomorrow’s blog.
April 23rd, 2019
“Bless thee, Bottom, bless thee. Thou art translated!”
-Peter Quince
Let me collect your documents, assignments and everything you’d like for me to go through regarding the trial. This final grade will be done by next Monday.
We are starting the Arabian Nights today. Save this document:
The Arabian Nights (New Deluxe – Muhsin Mahdi-2e5cj6r
Put the chairs in a circle. They will be like this until next Friday.
Here is what I’m planning:
Arabina Nights Intro and Assignment-151j4mq
So we can get started right away.
April 15th – 18th, 2019
THE SUPREME COURT
Monday, April 15, 2019
A Mock Trial of Antigone
Before Lord Giles, Judge
The charge: that Antigone was guilty of breaking the law of Thebes
Counsels for the Prosecution: Shea & Karolina
Counsels for the Defence: Hannah and Caitlyn
The trial will follow this basic format:
1. Opening Statements
• First Prosecution
• Then, Defense
2. Prosecution’s Case
• First Witness
– Direct Examination
– Cross examination by the Defense
• Second Witness
– Direct Examination
– Cross examination by the Defense
• Third Witness
– Direct Examination
– Cross examination by the Defense
Etc.
3. Defenses’ Case
• First Witness
– Direct Examination
– Cross examination by the Prosecution
• Second Witness
– Direct Examination
– Cross examination by the Prosecution
• Third Witness
– Direct Examination
– Cross examination by the Prosecution
etc.
4. Closing Arguments
• First the Prosecution
• Then the Defense
5. Jury’s Decision
• Deliberation
• Verdict
• Explanation
April 12th, 2019
Antigone Trial Structure-2eciep8
AP English explanation and test #1
Blocking of our Monday trial.
Time to work on fine tuning the trial and questions / answers.
April 11th, 2019
Keep on going with the plan.
You have Mr. Mackenzie to keep you company.
Email me if you need help.
April 9th, 2019
Give me your first update.
Who are your witnesses (so we don’t have any overlap) and tell me the overall roles so we can make a master list for next week. This is tentative until tomorrow, of course.
Remember: One actor per trial. If you want your play actor, and they’re not on your side, you have to cross-examine the witness.
And the rest of the time is yours! Let me know if you need any help before we get to work.
April 8th, 2019
“It is better to risk saving a guilty person than to condemn an innocent one.”
― Zadig et autres contes
I have an easier handout for you. Today is a day for you getting things together and helping each other organize a solid defense or prosecution.
With all of the papers you have, you know (or should know) everything that is going down next week. The trial starts next Monday.
This means that this week is for you to really get everything together – the witnesses (Which we will do today) the characters, the defense, the prosecution. I will ask about our jury and judge.
Me? I’m God – simple. All seeing / being, and very biased.
April 5th, 2019
Last 5 pages or so.
Then I have paper for this final theme analysis before we start the good times next week.
Instructions:
Pick one of the six thematic papers.
Answer it in approximately 300 words.
Integration of quotes handout:
Here is the structure to complete this task:
The Ten-Sentence Critical Paragraph – A Variation of P.E.E.
Like any model for composition, this is open to criticism. For instance, these paragraphs tend to become formulaic and predictable in structure. Excellent paragraphs, certainly, don’t always follow this or any guide. This guide might help, however, especially in the beginning stages of writing about literature.
Sentence 1 – Topic Sentence – contains the title of the piece of literature, the writer’s full name, and your topic. If this is an answer to an assigned question, then your topic sentence might be a rewording of the question into a statement. (a thesis statement, your statement to prove)
Sentence 2 – Main Point #1, One way the writer does what you say he or she does is through…
Sentence 3 – Example/Reference or quotation #1. The best example from the piece of literature which supports you main idea #1.
Sentence 4 and 5 – The explanation in your own words of how/why this example/quote does what you say it does. This section is where you develop your answer and prove your thesis.
Sentence 6 – Main Point #2. Another way the writer does what you say he or she does is…
Sentence 7 – Example/Reference or quotation #2. The best example from the piece of literature which supports you main idea #2.
Sentence 8 and 9 – The explanation of how/why this example/quote does what you say it does. This section is where you develop your answer and prove your thesis.
Sentence 10– Concluding Sentence. Minimally: summarize your paragraph repeating some of the key words from the question. Better: relate this literary device/technique to the effectiveness of the whole composition and how the device/technique helps the author develop the theme, or, relate the composition’s theme to real life.
|
Due at the end of class.
Loyalty or obligation to family: Throughout the text, there are numerous cases where the value of loyalty and obligation to family is tested. In the end of this text, nearly all family ties have been broken for one reason or another. Why is it important to the characters in this text? How and why are these family ties tested and broken? What does it teaches us about the importance of family?
Obedience to civil law: Creon states that anarchy is the greatest of evils, and that good lives are made through discipline and lawfulness (3:42-47). How does this line of thinking explain Creon’s judgments? Discuss how Creon’s emphatic support of this value is a positive and negative quality as a leader.
Observance of religious law: Antigone was originally written by Sophocles to be performed at a religious festival. How does this relate to author’s intent and the text’s treatment of the importance of observing religious law? Provide specific examples from the text to defend your answer.
Protection of Personal Dignity: If “personal dignity” is defined as “an individual’s own self-respect,” many characters in Antigone work to maintain theirs. Conflict occurs in the play when one character’s personal dignity interferes with what another character thinks is right. Keeping this in mind, explore what the play teaches us about the importance of protecting not you’re your own personal dignity but that of others as well?
Freedom: Some people say freedom is a state of mind. Other people say that freedom is the right to choose actions for yourself. Still others say freedom is a basic human right. Keeping these things in mind, examine the topic of freedom using Antigone as your guide. Be sure to look at the words and actions of particular characters to see what we in the 21st century can learn from this ancient text.
Protection of Community or Nation: Thebes has undergone an extremely stressful time before the play begins. Oedipus’ family seems plagued by the gods. The city has been in the state of civil war since Etocles would not surrender the throne to Polyneices as promised. Creon comes to the throne untested, and he rules with “an iron fist.” Explore how effective Creon’s rule of Thebes is keeping in mind the gains and losses he, his family, and the city have experienced.
April 4th, 2019
Let’s finish the play today.
Explain how Antigone’s use of allusions is appropriate for her situation.
Does Antigone take responsibility for her situation or are others accountable?
Analyze Creon’s final decree before Antigone is taken away. What does it reveal?
Summarize the Chorus’ thoughts.
What does Teiresias claim to be the Gods’ reaction to the offerings? What does this reveal?
How does Creon react to Teiresias, and how does he justify his actions? Cite text evidence.
To what do the Choragos make their appeal to Creon?
Analyze all of the appeals people make to Creon throughout the play. How are they different, and what do his reactions to them say about Creon’s character?
April 3rd, 2019
“Do not believe that you alone can be right.
The man who thinks that,
The man who maintains that only he has the power
To reason correctly, the gift to speak, the soul—
A man like that, when you know him, turns out empty.”
― Antigone
Let’s continue with the play. I love what we did yesterday. The actors acted, the discuss[ors] discussed. And I… Well I just stood there like Hamlet’s father.
If there is a lull, check out these questions:
Antigone Questions: Scene 2 / 3
- What metaphor does the Sentry use to describe Antigone? What is the purpose of this metaphor?
- What two types of laws conflict in this scene? What does Antigone believe about these two types of laws?
- Explain what Antigone means when she says “Words are not friends.”
4. How do the themes in Ode 1 differ from the themes in Ode 2? - Why is Creon intent on harshly punishing, even family members, for their foul deeds.
- What does Haimon claim is God’s crowning gift to man? Why does Haimon bring up The City?
- Explain what Haimon conveys through the use of the tree and sailing analogies.
- How is the Chorus’ allusion to Aphrodite appropriate?
If we don’t finish today, so be it. We also have tomorrow.
For those of you that want a little more focus for the future, I have a handout.
April 2nd, 2019
“All men make mistakes, but a good man yields when he knows his course is wrong, and repairs the evil. The only crime is pride.”
― Antigone
Let’s read as much as possible today. Remember, there are the players and then the audience that can stop the action at any time.
Keep this in mind:
How can I apply these words to the guilt or freedom of Antigone?
April 1st, 2019
“And if I have to die for this pure crime,/ I am content, for I shall rest beside him;/ His love will answer mine”
Antigone (lines 72-74)
First, we will have a short 25 question multiple choice quiz on Antigone.
Next, I’d like to check and see if you still remember the worksheet that we completed (or did a little bit of) over the break. It was a hard copy. I’ll show you.
I think that we’ll have time for me to talk a little about the themes and intricacies of Antigone before I assign roles.
And here is the roles sheet I’d like to get ready today before we leave:
Antigone Character list-1y42xn5
I know I’m ambitious for the first day, but it’s OK. There’s a lot to do and we’re only a few stories deep into Scheherazade’s tale for this semester.
By the way, if you’re not picked to read, you have the opportunity to stop the play at any time, as like in smaller venues of Athenian theatre. You can make comments or share a query. I’ll have questions for each scene up on the board starting tomorrow.
March 15th, 2019
“Some birds are not meant to be caged, that’s all. Their feathers are too bright, their songs too sweet and wild. So you let them go, or when you open the cage to feed them they somehow fly out past you. And the part of you that knows it was wrong to imprison them in the first place rejoices, but still, the place where you live is that much more drab and empty for their departure.”
―
We’re going to go over the lectures and then start our book today. I am extremely excited.
Here’s a worksheet to help you through the first part – It’s a physical handout.
So – Finish the play of Antigone by the end of break – there will be a quick quiz for comprehension then we will go over the play again for analysis.
March 14th, 2019
“A silly man lies awake all night, Thinking of many things. When the morning comes he is worn with care, And his trouble is just as it was.”
― Mythology
Today, we will finish off the presentations and then after that, I will give the first of 3 PPT lectures that will go over what we will be doing after the break. The first:
The Second:
And the last:
These can be found on the internet as well, if you’re guessing the source. I hate making PPTs. If it ‘aint broken, don’t fix it or re-invent it.
Tomorrow:
ANTIGONE: The intro.
Or as I like to think: OEDIPUS 3: REX HARD – WITH A VENGEANCE
March 13th, 2019
“For, thought Ahab, while even the highest earthly felicities ever have a certain unsignifying pettiness lurking in them, but, at bottom, all heartwoes, a mystic significance, and, in some men, an archangelic grandeur; so do their diligent tracings-out not blue the obvious deduction. To trail the genealogies of these high mortal miseries, carries us at last among the sourceless primogenitures of the gods; so that, in the face of all the glad, hay-making suns, and the softcymballing, round the harvest-moons, we must needs give in to this: that the gods themselves are not for ever glad. The ineffaceable, sad birth-mark in the brow of man, is but the stamp of sorrow in the signers.”
―
Presentations final few. I’m looking forward to it.
March 12th, 2019
“Freedom of the Heart
Imagination is beyond my comprehension,
Such is the beauty of creation.
With every soul in constant migration
We inhale the light of our suffering’s transmutation.
We move into our core, our love, our heart
A sacred space within, our deepest art
Move from our thoughts, our noisy mind space,
Into a sanctuary of love, joy, peace and grace
And as we dive deeper and deeper still,
We find in that silence, the divine will
And see there’s nothing else to really fear,
In freedom we surrender our inner victim.”
―
Presentations today – Give me the written work after. This will go through tomorrow.
March 11th, 2019
“It may seem odd to say that the men who made the myths disliked the irrational and had a love for facts; but it is true, no matter how wildly fantastic some of the stories are…”
―
Final Work Block for Creation stories. This will be the last work block of the semester – unless you convince me otherwise.
Tomorrow / Wednesday: Presentations
Thursday / Friday: Greek & Roman PPT / Beginning of Antigone
March 8th, 2019
“I am an act of kneading, of uniting and joining that not only has produced both a creature of darkness and a creature of light, but also a creature that questions the definitions of light and dark and gives them new meanings.”
― Interviews/Entrevistas
It’s your time today. Don’t let me stop you. Go anywhere in the school that makes you comfortable and work.
March 7th, 2019
“The most important things are the hardest things to say. They are the things you get ashamed of, because words make them smaller. When they were in your head, they were limitless; but when they come out they seem to be no bigger than normal things.”
― Stephen King, The Body
So here’s what I came up with. Well actually, you came up with it. The second page is a wonderful outline of the whole process I had to share – it was exactly what I was looking for.
Look over it. Critique it. Trust the process of things that are demanded of you. Never accept the first draft. Always question the teacher. Down with the government!
Creation Story Final Rubric-23t483d
March 6th, 2019
“Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.”
―
Okay – first 30 minutes are looking at what we came up with, then we will work on what you’ve come up with in your group based on the questions. Check it out:
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Open in new tab March 5th 2019
“There are no owners in nature.”
―
Today is full of stories of the First Nations people. Pay a lot of attention to the simplicity of the story, the attention and love of nature and the rich and deep meanings.
We will do our final reflection and find creation elements. Tomorrow, you will do an exercise with our final document that I’ll fix tonight and post tomorrow.
(An Aborigine Creation Story)
“Heart of My People”
Weowie the water serpent came out. And where the water serpent traveled he made waterholes and streams and depressions in the land. So once all that was finished, of course, Weowie went back into the mountain to live and that’s where Weowie lives now, in Mount Minara. But then after that, they wanted another lot of water to come down from the north, throughout our country. Old Pundu, the Cod, it was his duty to drag and create the river known as the Darling River today. So Cod came out with Mudlark, his little mate, and they set off from the north and they created the big river. Flows right down, water flows right throughout our country, right into the sea now.
And of course, this country was also created, the first two tribes put in our country were Eaglehawk and Crow. And from these two tribes came many tribal people, many tribes, and we call them sub-groups today. So my people, the Ngiyaampaa people and the Barkandji further down are all sub-groups of Eaglehawk and Crow. So what I’m telling you the stories that were handed down to me all come from within this country.
Mayan Creation Story
From the Popul-Vuh of the Quiche Maya
“God made some men of mud, but they were very soft and limp and couldn’t see. They could speak, but what they said didn’t make sense. When they got wet the couldn’t even stand up. God saw that they were of no use so he broke them up and said “I will try again”. Then he made men out of wood. The wooden men were better; they could walk and talk. They built houses and had children, and there were very many of them. But they were dry and yellow, and their faces had no expression, because they had no minds nor souls or hearts. They beat their dogs and they burned the bottoms of their cooking pots. They had forgotten how they were made and could not remember any of the names of God. So he said,
“These men will not do either. I must destroy them also”. And he sent a great flood and the houses of the wooden men fell down. The wooden men wanted to escape, but the animals they had starved and beaten, and cooking pots they had burned, and the trees whose branches they had chopped off, all turned against them and wouldn’t help them. Only a few of them escaped from the flood, and it is said that their descendants are the monkeys. And it still hadn’t dawned; and God wanted to make real men when the dawn came and the sun rose. . . . He took ears of yellow corn of white corn and ground them into meal. With the corn meal he make nine kinds of liquor, and these became man’s strength and energies. With the dough of the meal he shaped the body and he made four men, very strong and handsome. They were called the Wizard of the Fatal Laugh, the Wizard of the Night, the Careless and the Black Wizard…They were gifted with intelligence and they managed to know everything there is in the world. While the men slept, he made four women very carefully, and when the men woke, each found at his side a beautiful wife. .
. . When they looked they would see everything that was around them, and they constantly contemplated the arch of the sky and the round face of the earth. “Thank you for our life!” they said. “We can see, we can hear, we can move and think and speak, we feel and know everything, we can see everything in the earth and in the sky. Thank you for having made us, Oh Father!” Then the Creator was troubled, for he realized that these men could see too much and too far, so that they would not really be men, but gods. He saw that he had to change them so that they could be what he needed. So he leaned down and blew mist in their eyes and clouded their vision, like breathing on a mirror, and from then on nothing was clear to their sight except what was close to them. The four men and their wives went up on a mountain and waited for the dawn. First they saw the shining face of the great star, the Morning Star which comes ahead of the sun, and burned incense and unwrapped three gifts to offer the sun. Then the sun came up. Then the puma and the jaguar roared and all the birds stretched their wings and sang, and the men and their wives danced with joy because the sun had risen.”
Northwest Creation Story
Raven was so lonely. One day he paced back and forth on the sandy beach feeling quite forlorn. Except for the trees , the moon, the sun, water and a few animals, The world was empty. His heart wished for the company of other creatures. Suddenly a large clam pushed through the sand making an eerie bubbling sound. Raven watched and listened intently as the clam slowly opened up. He was surprised and happy to see tiny people emerging from the shell. All were talking, smiling, and shaking the sand off their tiny bodies. Men, women, and children spread around the island. Raven was pleased and proud with his work. He sang a beautiful song of great joy and greeting. He had brought the first people to the world.
Salish: The ancients all had greater powers and cunning than either animals or people. Besides the ancients, real people lived on the earth at that time. Old One made the people out of the last balls of mud he took from the earth. They were so ignorant that they were the most helpless of all the creatures Old One had made.
The difficulty with the early world was that most of the ancients were selfish, and they were also very stupid in some ways. They did not know which creatures were deer and which were people, and sometimes they ate people by mistake.
At last Old One said,”There will soon be no people if I let things go on like this.” So he sent Coyote to teach the Indians how to do things. And Coyote began to travel on the earth, teaching the Indians, making life easier and better for them, and performing many wonderful deeds.
Iroquois: The Iroquois trace the beginning of human life to a time when Skywoman fell to an island created by a giant turtle. The island grew in shape and size and became North America. There, Skywoman gave birth to a daughter whose children propagated the human race.
Penobscot: When Kloskurbeh, the All-Maker, lived on earth, there were no people yet. But one day a youth appeared, born from the foam of the waves, and became his chief helper. After these two beings had created all manner of things, there came to them a beautiful girl. She was born of the wonderful earth plant, and of the dew, and of warmth. First Mother (as she was called) married the chief helper of Kloskurbeh. When their children multiplied until there was not enough game to feed them all, First Mother made her husband kill her. Then he and his children dragged her body back and forth across a barren plot of land, as she had ordered, and buried her bones in the center of the field. Seven months later they returned and found the field green with ripe corn and, in the center, fragrant tobacco.
Tewa/Hopi: Way back in the distant past, the ancestors of humans were living down below in a world under the earth. They weren’t humans yet, they lived in darkness, behaving like bugs. Now there was a Great Spirit watching over everything; some people say he was the sun. He saw how things were down under the earth, so he sent his messenger, Spider Old Woman, to talk to them. She said, “You creatures, the Sun Spirit doesn’t want you living like this. He is going to transform you into something better, and I will lead you to another world.” When they came out on the surface of the earth, that’s when they became humans. In the journeys that followed, they were looking for a place of harmony where they could follow good teachings and a good way of life.
“One day the Great Spirit collected swirls of dust from the four directions in order to create the Commanche people. These people formed from the earth had the strength of mighty storms. Unfortunately, a shape-shifting demon was also created and began to torment the people. The Great Spirit cast the demon into a bottomless pit. To seek revenge the demon took refuge in the fangs and stingers of poisonous creatures and continues to harm people every chance it gets.”
Now that we have some creation stories – Take a look at this tale of the Squamish people and how Salmon came to the Squamish rivers.
https://www.firstpeople.us/FP-Html-Legends/Why-The-Salmon-Come-To-The-Squamish-Waters-Squamish.html
March 4th, 2019
“It is interesting that Hindus, when they speak of the creation of the universe do not call it the work of God, they call it the play of God, the Vishnu lila, lila meaning play. And they look upon the whole manifestation of all the universes as a play, as a sport, as a kind of dance — lila perhaps being somewhat related to our word lilt”
― Zen and the Beat Way
Hopefully you read the Bhagavad Gita Chapter XIII
We will look over it today. You’ll write a reflection – just as we have been doing – and then we will look at the creation elements.
Wednesday, we will have finished everything and I will have a finalized document to help you on your own creation story – this will be due the following Monday. Thursday and Friday are work days for you to collaborate and write. The school is yours.
Next week we’ll share… then ANTIGONE (after a Tuesday or Wednesday lecture by me on the Greek and Roman Gods – and a little bit of Oedipus Rex.)
March 1st, 2019
He sees, who sees the Supreme Lord, existing equally in all beings, the unperishing
within the perishing.
Bhagavad Gita XIII, 28
Gilgamesh is now done. Please work on the reflection.
That will take about 25 minutes to write. Please be quiet and just reflect on it by yourself.
After that, we will do the elements of a good creation story for Gilgamesh.
If we have time, we can do bgita-2csdrxa
The Bhagavad Gita Chapter XIII – or read it a little bit. Read the rest over the weekend.
February 28th, 2019
“This curious world we inhabit is more wonderful than convenient; more beautiful than it is useful; it is more to be admired and enjoyed than used.”
―
Here is the Epic of Gilgamesh – you only need to read the first three tablets.
So far we have the creation of the universe and the modes in which to live by through direct explication or through parable.
Like the other two pieces, you do the following:
- summarize what has happened
- explain elements of creation
- give your reaction.
We will read some of it as a class – this might help.
This is what we have so far for the first 2 reflections:
Compare and Contrast Chart for Creation Myths-2a75v6y
February 27th, 2019
Journal #18
“The creation of the world did not take place once and for all time, but takes place every day.”
― Proust
Here is the Epic of Gilgamesh – you only need to read the first three tablets.
So far we have the creation of the universe and the modes in which to live by through direct explication or through parable.
Like the other two pieces, you do the following:
- summarize what has happened
- explain elements of creation
- give your reaction.
Here is the text for those of you who are absent:
February 26th, 2019
Journal #17
“In the beginning, God created the earth, and he looked upon it in His cosmic loneliness.
And God said, “Let Us make living creatures out of mud, so the mud can see what We have done.” And God created every living creature that now moveth, and one was man. Mud as man alone could speak. God leaned close to mud as man sat up, looked around, and spoke. Man blinked. “What is the purpose of all this?” he asked politely.
“Everything must have a purpose?” asked God.
“Certainly,” said man.
“Then I leave it to you to think of one for all this,” said God.
And He went away.”
― Cat’s Cradle
Reflection #1 – Get it ready and we’ll go around the room.
The Quran “the opening” is to be read quietly before the end of class today. Same thing applies. Reflect – find creation element and we’ll talk about it on Wednesday.
Key differences between the Bible and the Koran
Table 1. Creation |
|
| The Bible Says: | The Koran says: |
|---|---|
| Man was created on Earth, in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:8). | Man was created in Paradise (‘janna’),1 not on Earth (first couple later banished to Earth, e.g. Koran 2:36). |
| The Bible describes clearly what was made on each day of Creation Week. The ‘Big Bang’ is excluded by this sequence (E.g. Earth before Sun). | No clear details of each creation day. Some vague clustering of the days in 41:9–12.2 |
| Creation in 6 Days which are clearly Earth-rotation days (c. 24 hours). | Creation also in 6 ‘Days’2 but could easily be interpreted as ‘millions of years’ (see main text). |
| Man and the animals were created vegetarian (Genesis 1:29–30). No death and suffering in the original creation. | Carnivory (and thus death and suffering) apparently integral to life on the created Earth from the first. The Koran (6:142, 16:5, 40:79) says that cattle were created for man to eat. |
| Man was created naked (but not ashamed—Genesis 2:25). | The Koran speaks of Adam’s (and his wife’s) nakedness becoming apparent to them after they sinned (20:121; also implied by 7:22), yet also implies that they were wearing some kind of raiment prior to the Fall (Koran 7:273). |
| All things were created through Christ and for Christ. He was pre-existent to Creation (e.g. Genesis 1:26, 3:22, 11:7; Micah 5:2; John 1:1–3, 10; 3:13; 6:62; 8:35, 58; 17:5, 24; Romans 11:36; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Colossians 1:16–17; Hebrews 1:2). | Jesus Christ was a created being. Koran 3:59 ‘The similitude of Jesus before Allah is as that of Adam; he created him from dust … .’ |
February 25th, 2019
Journal #16
“I think God, in creating man, somewhat overestimated his ability.”
―
This unit is very interesting. The end result is you will be creating your own story… of creation. The point of this exercise is simply to see if you can provide elements of a narrative in a cohesive and creative way. These are the five texts we will be going over:
Monday: The Bible: Genesis Chapter 1 / 2-3
Reflection #1 – Share Tuesday
Tuesday: The Quran: “The Opening”
Reflection #2 – Share Wednesday
quran-english-translation-clearquran-edition-allah-110x89g
Wednesday: Gilgamesh: Tablets 1-3 (For heroic qualities)
Reflection #3 – Share Thursday
(Printout)
Thursday: The Bhagavad Gita Chapter XIII
Reflection #4 – Share Friday
Friday: Squamish Tribe: Reflections of Vancouver – The Lost Salmon Run
http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/johnson/vancouver/vancouver.html#ch-04
Reflection #5 – Share Monday
Next week is your time to create your own creation story after we have similar elements of all five texts.
February 21st, 2019
Journal #15
Man surprised me most about humanity. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived.
-Dalai Lama
Showtime today!!
Monday is the first day of our creation stories. It will (hopefully) be a week.
February 20th, 2019
Journal #14
“You are never dedicated to something you have complete confidence in. No one is fanatically shouting that the sun is going to rise tomorrow.”
― Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
Please work well on your presentations for tomorrow. I am looking forward to them.
Please also ask me for help. I’ll be around.
February 19th, 2019
Journal #13
“To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.”
― Oscar Wilde
Obama essay is done? Gimme. I will give back your other MLK essay.
Be proud. I am proud of all of your work so far. You started strong.
Speeches start on Wednesday of this week. Those are going to be excellent. They will go through Thursday (I’m planning) and then we’ll branch off and go honors style with some creation stories.
Get ready for small selections from: The Torah / Gilgamesh (as heroic introduction) / The Quran.
February 14th, 2019
Journal #12
“The whole educational and professional training system is a very elaborate filter, which just weeds out people who are too independent, and who think for themselves, and who don’t know how to be submissive, and so on — because they’re dysfunctional to the institutions.”
―
Finish up that Obama essay. If you’re done – this will help you for the next step.
Purdy Own Rhetorical Speech-1lr23vu
February 13th, 2019
Journal #11
“Without willing it, I had gone from being ignorant of being ignorant to being aware of being unaware. And the worst part of my awareness was that I didn’t know what I was aware of.”
― I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings
Today, you will have time to work on your Obama essay. I am excited for the results. Please see me if you would like me to proofread.
February 11th, 2019
Journal #10
“It’s ok to be a fool once or twice but never let it be a third time. Be smart and pretend to be a fool and at the end of the hunt make sure you’re the one that has the gun.”
― Surgeo Bell
Finish up and turn in that first essay. If you can, staple the rubric I gave you and any drafts you’ve had. I’d like to see each individual progress, so I can know more about how you make papers into the final.
Here is the final for the Rhetorical essay:
Rubric:
Obama Paragraph Final Rubric-14427uf
Speech: (This is Part 1 – but you can get the rest of the links as a continuation)
It’s due at the end of the class on Wednesday. Thursday, first thing, I’d like for you to be working on your own Rhetorical speech. Please think throughout the week what your speech will be about.
I know that there’s a lot of work – but I’ve cut it down a little bit. You have class time and also time to talk to me one on one during class so that no one feels too overwhelmed too soon.
February 8th, 2019
“Sometimes when you’re young, you have moments of such happiness, you think you’re living on someplace magical, like Atlantis must have been. Then we grow up and our hearts break into two.”
― Stephen King, Hearts in Atlantis
Peer edits today. You can use the printout. I have more, but also here it is online:
Rubric rhetorical analysis-1npc6dd
I’ll collect them on Monday – this is also when we will start the AP exam quiz section of our class. Every 2 weeks, I’ll give you old texts with questions and we’ll go over the answers together culminating with a quiz on Friday on the passage you learned.
Then we’ll work on Obama’s speech and you can take that home for Tuesday hand in.
Then you’ll do your own rhetorical speech for Thursday (Tentative).
Then it’s time to get into our actual honors class the following week.
Time flies.
February 7th, 2019
“Youth is happy because it has the capacity to see beauty. Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old.”
― Franz Kafka (who is not a cousin lover)
Today, you will have the class to get those essays finished. I will collect them for completion grades, yet will attach a peer review for tomorrow. This is for your own use, as you will be using the structure to get your peers to edit the paper. I will collect the finalized edits and give you your final paper that you will do over the weekend and finalize on Monday (tentative).
Next week will be all about your own rhetorical speeches which I will give you a quick run-down for. Brainstorming on Monday.
February 6th, 2019
“Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people.”
―
I have a handout with examples and a definition for you.
How To Booklet Essay Outline Samples for each paragraph and tips-1i070a1
We’ll do as much as we can today on a speech you connected to the most. I will check for any inconsistencies in your structure.
Paragraph by paragraph!
February 5th, 2019
Full text: Eagleman, Sum: 40 tales from afterlife
Sum_ Forty Tales from the After – Eagleman, David-2e9ptbm
Journal entry #6
“There are three deaths. The first is when the body ceases to function. The second is when the body is consigned to the grave. The third is that moment, sometime in the future, when your name is spoken for the last time.”
― Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlife
Let’s Kill Metonymy and Synechdoche once and for all.
Metonymy and Synecdoche-1na6878
I also have a handout with examples and a definition for you.
How To Booklet Essay Outline Samples for each paragraph and tips-1i070a1
We’ll do the first paragraph today on a speech you connected to the most. I will check for any inconsistencies in your structure.
February 4th, 2019
Journal Entry #5
“And once the storm is over, you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure, whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm’s all about.”
―
Let’s hear the last 6 people and what they’re all about.
We will finish the analysis of the MLK speech and then…
We will be continuing with the analysis of the speeches. I will walk around and help you a little bit with them as we go through the different stylistic devices.
Your job or takeaway today is to share your findings with the class on either the second or third speech in the package and turn in the worksheet (the first page).
I won’t be lecturing, but working with you individually on this assignment.
Tomorrow, I’ll teach you how to put it all together.
February 1st, 2019
Journal entry #4
“Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky.”
― Stray Birds
Let’s finish with the questions for class today. I enjoy hearing your stories.
Today, we’ll be going over the MLK speech after you have time to write about it and watch the video. This video is remastered and edited from the 18 minute full version. You will get an idea of his orating style and we can talk about it.
You have 20-30 minutes to go over the speech and find how some of the rhetoric either works or doesn’t work. (Pathos, Logos, Ethos – literary devices etc.) I need that excellent critical analysis I’ve gotten very happy to see these past three days.
You will continue this on Monday as well. – other speeches based on the same subject.
January 31st, 2019
Journal Entry #3
“Life often turns upon such small things as a flickering oil lamp.”
Let’s finally finish those stories about you as learners. Here are the questions again:
- What are my plans for post secondary? To what end will these plans meet?
- What are my strengths in English Literature? Be specific.
- What are my weaknesses in English Literature? Be specific.
- What do you expect out of this class this semester? – This is an important question because each grade 12 class I’ve designed is tweaked for each dynamic.
- What is my expected grade? Why?
I have a physical handout that we’ll use for the next 2 days to solidify learning on your rhetorical analysis.
- Review the following literary terms. (You can choose as many or as few as you’d like for your class to focus on for this lesson). If you click on the hyperlinked terms, you’ll find definitions and individualized lesson plans that we’ve created for the term.
- Alliteration
- Allusion
- Anaphora
- Assonance
- Metonymy
- Hyperbole
- Parallelism
- Personification
- Simile
- Synecdoche
January 30th, 2019
Journal entry #2
“Only in utter solitude can man be safe from the doings of this vile world! By Allah, life is naught but one great wrong.”
-Arabian Nights
Journal entry rubrics etc.:
Quote Journal Grade 12-1h9pdy9
Continue the plans for post secondary – individualized.
This is our unit on Rhetoric:
Introduction to EPL Purdy-26g84rb
Here’s a PPT that I’d like for you to take notes on:
And if you (or I) still have energy after that, here’s the big one:
We can do the first exercise:
Present this to the class WITHOUT mentioning the appeal and we can guess and see if this is a good argument to buy the shoes.
January 29th, 2019
Journal Entry #1
“A truth once seen by a single mind ends up by imposing itself on the totality of human consciousness.”
― The Arabian Nights
Write about this for about 10 minutes.
Welcome to class.
First, I would like you to write a paragraph in your journal about what it is you would like out of class following these questions: (This isn’t just for me – treat it as a rough draft for your grad transition shenanigans)
- What are my plans for post secondary? To what end will these plans meet?
- What are my strengths in English Literature? Be specific.
- What are my weaknesses in English Literature? Be specific.
- What do you expect out of this class this semester? – This is an important question because each grade 12 class I’ve designed is tweaked for each dynamic.
- What is my expected grade? Why?
Here is the syllabus for the class. Spend some time looking over it and pose any questions to me regarding the class. each pair should come up with one or two questions.
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