Thursday, December 13, 2007

Poetry Activity Due Tuesday December 18

Link to document: Poems by Szymborska (six poems, including "The Kindness of the Blind") The document also includes links to information on the poet and to five more poems.

Blog Activity:

Choose one of the poems (one you like for whatever reason).

Identify the poem by title in a comment. Write a short paragraph (150-200 words) that explains why you like the poem chosen. You may comment on poetic elements, on theme, on images or whatever else you notice.

Saturday, December 8, 2007

1984 Essay: Why Nineteen Eighty-Four?

NEW: Link to four drafts of "Why Nineteen Eighty-Four? I'm done as of Tuesday morning.

Sources referred to in my draft:

CIA destroyed video of 'waterboarding' al-Qaida detainees (Guardian News; UK)

Wikipedia Definition of "Unlawful Combatant"

Apologetic, Facebook Changes Ad Program (New York Times)

And for information on what "highs" are doing in face of climate change:

Homeland security: the hot new sector (The Georgia Straight)

Saturday, December 1, 2007

1984 Setting Assignment

Post your setting paragraphs here by 6 p.m. on Tuesday, December 4. Please read your fellow students' essays before coming to class on Wednesday.

NEW: The Depths of Degradation; a sample setting answer at Writeboard. Fourth draft is now available to read as of Wednesday night. My apologies: it is the "Outer Party" that is degraded!

Copy of Setting Assignment

Copy of Learning to Search Assignment


English 11 Student Descriptive Essay at The Pearson Buzz: The Mushroom Necklaces

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Character Descriptions Exercise: Share Your Best

Put your best, 50-word (only!), description for one of the characters as a comment to this post. Please have it entered before class meets on Friday!

NEW: Read an article on conditions in North Korea. Scary!

Friday, November 23, 2007

The Movie, 1984, and Our Personal Responses

Write a short personal response to viewing Michael Radford's movie version of Orwell's novel. You might want to mention what struck you as most important (shocking, interesting, relevant etc.). How did it feel to experience Orwell's world in a filmed version? Was it as you imagined as you read?

Do you agree with Roger Ebert's statement: "What is remarkable about the movie is how completely it satisfied my feelings about the book; the movie looks, feels, and almost tastes and smells like Orwell's bleak and angry vision."

Use any of the above questions to direct your thoughts. You may, however, let us know your reaction in any form you choose. No need to write more than 150 words or so (paragraph or multi-paragraph)

Link to a Word copy of Nineteen Eighty-Four

Friday, November 16, 2007

Writing about Language and Culture (Short Essay)

NEW: An Editing Checklist you may wish to use. Essays are due, on paper and word-processed Wednesday, November 28.

Read a charming essay on language in the Globe and Mail.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Experiences with Sexist Language for Discussion on Friday

Please write freely about your own experiences with language (any language!) and culture. Be sure to give examples (and translations, if needed) to specific words or sayings. Pay special attention to any sexist biases built into a language.

Saturday, November 10, 2007

Valentina's Essay Published at The Pearson Buzz

Cleaning the Well (November 10, 2007)
by Valentina

Well-described and edited story about the simple but hard work of cleaning a well. Reading this, you will enjoy a festive ritual as if you were there.

Saturday, November 3, 2007

Sample Answer with Link to Writeboard

View and Edit this piece at Writeboard. *(Note that Brad is editing this answer over the next few days; drop in to see what changes made [8 edits as of Monday night])

Friday, October 19, 2007

Discovering Fiction: Paragraph Assignment

Post your completed paragraph here by Monday midnight.

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Late Homework: Please Hand In

Students who had no printed copy of last Friday's homework need to hand it in or it will not be marked. Hand in the 17th or 24th (at the latest).

Saturday, October 13, 2007

Friday, October 12, 2007

Tina's October 17 Group Work

Put your answers here.

Lindsay's October 17 Group Work

Put your answers here.

Ruth's October 17 Group Work

Put your answers here.

Valentina's October 17 Group Work

Put your answers here.

Essay on "I Stand Here Ironing"

Last year, I wrote an essay on the story, "A Mother's Memory and Our Own."

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Something to Think About

For our new story, you might spend a few minutes thinking about the following questions. We'll discuss our answers to them on Friday morning.

  • Do you have any regrets in your life? What are they and how do you feel about them now?

    What effect does a person’s personal background have on his or her success in life? Do you believe that fate (versus a person’s hard work) has an important influence on a person’s life?

Saturday, October 6, 2007

Demonstration Paragraph for October 10 Homework

If people are good-What good do they do? If people are flawed, how and to what extent are they flawed? (Question from “Theme”)

In Dorothy Canfield Fisher’s “Heyday of the Blood,” characters are presented as flawed to some extent, but the good outweighs their flaws. Flaws are most evident in Gran’ther Pendleton, portrayed as a “rebellious, unreasonable, whimsical old madcap,” seemingly unafraid of danger, even if it results in conflicts with Professor Mallory’s “anxious, dutiful father.” Despite being “naughty,” the old man has a positive effect on young Joey Mallory, teaching him to live life with a “whoop.” Clearly, Fisher intends to demonstrate that, in life, being careful may not always be the best; in fact, being incautious might be more fun!—99 words; first draft

Be sure to check the expanded Student Links on the right of your screen to help you improve your writing. Brad's Weekly Feature: I am Thankful

Friday, October 5, 2007

Valentina's October 10 Group Work

Each student in the group is responsible for posting an answer to one question taken from available questions on four different literary terms. Be sure to include the question you are answering in your comment. Group members are Lien, Rahel, Amanda and Emilia.

Tina's October 10 Group Work

Each student in the group is responsible for posting an answer to one question taken from available questions on four different literary terms. Be sure to include the question you are answering in your comment. Group members are Young In, Tien and Larry.

Lindsay's October 10 Group Work

Each student in the group is responsible for posting an answer to one question taken from available questions on four different literary terms. Be sure to include the question you are answering in your comment. Group members are Kaisa, Catherine, Vincent and Jonathan.

Ruth's October 10 Group Work

Each student in the group is responsible for posting an answer to one question taken from available questions on four different literary terms. Be sure to include the question you are answering in your comment. Group members are Natalia, Lydia and Max.

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Ruth's October 3 Group Work

Each student in the group is responsible for posting one short example. Group members are Natalia, Lydia and Max.

Lindsay's October 3 Group Work

Each student in the group is responsible for posting one short example. Group members are Kaisa, Catherine, Vincent and Jonathan.

Tina's October 3 Group Work

Each student in the group is responsible for posting one short example. Group members are Young In, Tien and Larry.

Valentina's October 3 Group Work

Each student in the group is responsible for posting one short example. Group members are Lien, Rahel, Amanda and Emilia

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Valentina's Group

Post here.

Lindsay's Group

Post here.

Natalia's Group

Post here.

Tina's Group

Post here.

Friday's Test on "The Heyday of the Blood"

Here are the details:

You write three paragraphs of 125 to 150 words.

Five topic choices.

Quotations required (minimum one; no more than 15 words total)

English-only dictionary is allowed.

All papers handed in by 11:30

Bring a copy of the story with you to class.

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Missed Homework from First Week

In order to be fair to everyone, I've decided that I will "forgive" one assignment this term. If you did not do the first blog homework, you are forgiven! What it means is that I will enter no mark and will not count it towards the final evaluation.

Every student can do this once a term. Those of you who have not missed an assignment can save your "forgiven" assignment for a time when you are busy. This applies only to individual assignments and not to group assignments, however.

Monday, September 24, 2007

Final Draft of "Blackberry Picking at Jericho"

Blackberry Picking at Jericho


Every summer I gather blackberries, make delicious jam then, best of all, slice cheese onto bread and slather them in jam made from berries picked only a few hours before.

My wife and I go—usually in late August, but this year on the 8th of September—and pick as many berries as our pinpricked hands can stand. Blackberries are armoured with prickles and thorns, so I always have many scratches on my arms and legs.

“You want to go to Jericho?” I suggest, meaning Jericho Park, one of Vancouver’s finest, a park that includes a large patch of wild blackberries on its northern edge.

We drive across the city, remarking on the highly overgrown boulevards up and down King Edward Avenue. Vancouver looks shabbier than usual. It’s late summer, grasses brown, wasps a bother at picnics, the crisp chill in the air heralding autumn breezes still to come. Parking is easy along Fourth Avenue since we’re not heading to the beach. Instead, we march into the woods.

On the way, we see a family walking home, buckets empty. We continue. Under the forest canopy it is wet from Monday’s rain. I begin to fear that the berries will be moldy or nonexistent.

The blackberries have had a hard year. Half their normal height, standing barely a meter above the ground, the plants hide the best berries under dark green leaves, their glowing purple like the garnets on the fingers of a king. Most years, I’m teetering like some crazy leaning tower of Pisa, standing too high on my aluminum ladder, reaching for the plumpest berry, all the while raked by thorns and, nastiest of all, by tiny prickles nearest to where each purple black berry grows.

We start picking. The traffic noise is distant; a fall wind swirls through the poplars. My hands turn purple as more berries fill the plastic yogurt container hung round my neck. I eat one, maybe two. The berries are too few this year to waste; besides, I want to make jam or maybe even a pie, the best pie of summer, the blackberry, topped with a dollop of whipping cream.

But there are not enough for pie, even after one hour of picking, the hot late summer sun burning the backs of our necks, our t-shirts sticking to our backs. Jam will do, emerging from our freezer on some dreary, mist-filled February day, bringing back memories of this afternoon. We make two batches, taking turns stirring stirring stirring the bowls of berries. Loaded into jars, we have 13, the unlucky one half eaten in a day.

Picking blackberries in summer, gathering them together, then stirring them in a bowl of freezer jam for a few minutes, the smell of ripe berries wafting up, mixed with the apple-sweet smell of the pectin, is a favourite summer ritual, one I hope to continue as long as I am able.

—Draft Four (484 words) You can see a document that shows my final changes here.

Friday, September 21, 2007

Questions/Comments/Problems for Essay Assignment

This is where you can ask for any help you might need as you work on your final draft for the essay. Use the comments link below the message. Be sure that your question is of general interest; otherwise, use my email to correspond with me directly.

Saturday, September 15, 2007

Homework Activity for "Summer Rituals" Due by 8 p.m. Tuesday Night

Here it is:

Think of a summer ritual (remember the definition given in my first post) and respond to these questions from your handout.

What summer ritual do you participate in? Why do you repeat this ritual? What purpose does it hold for you? For others whom you know? For society in general? Use concrete examples in the same manner as Ray Bradbury. Write no more than 125 words in paragraph form.

Save your answer as a comment to this message. See the link below. Be sure to login first!

Copy of "Summer Rituals" and Place for Questions

Here's a copy of the reading by Ray Bradbury, "Summer Rituals."

If you have questions or comments to make, use the comment link under this post. This is not a homework assignment, but will count towards my extra marks for participation (awarded before your final mark is calculated).

Quality of submissions count. Good questions are welcome.

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Welcome New Students

This is your blog. It provides a fun and interesting way for us to meet the Ministry of Education requirement that we "employ a variety of effective processes and strategies, including the use of electronic technology, to generate, gather, and organize information and ideas."

This week, we will examine our rituals, with an emphasis on the ones associated with summer. We will write a 500-word descriptive essay on one of our summer rituals as the final evaluation in the unit. Remember the meaning of a ritual: "a customarily repeated act that expresses a system of values." This "system of values" is what we refer to as a culture.

On Saturday, I will post questions for us to answer about rituals in our lives. Your work here will be marked out of ten and count as an out-of-class mark. This work will help us all to generate good ideas for our essays.

Next week, I'll introduce the essay topic in class and show "Blackberries at Jericho," my sample essay, (first and second draft) to the class. My third (and fourth, not yet written) drafts will be published later in the week and over the weekend.

This year's Writing 12 class will participate in the exercise and, with their help, will publish a few of the best student essays at their online newspaper, The Pearson Buzz.

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Group Three (Hao, Zarghoona, Inaya, Olivia, Jenna) Answers on Poetry

Put your answers as comments to this post. Please complete before class begins on Friday.

Group Two (Yi, Rosemary, Gloria, Cynthia K) Answers on Poetry

Put your answers as comments to this post. Please complete before class begins on Friday.

Group One (Russ, Cynthia S, Yang, Zarmina) Answers on Poetry

Put your answers as comments to this post. Please complete before class begins on Friday.

Sunday, May 13, 2007

New Articles in The Pearson Buzz

Including Yang's piece: We'll Go to Hell Together

Find the other articles at The Pearson Buzz

Wednesday, May 9, 2007

Group 1 Answers (Hao, Yang, Rosemary, Inaya, Cynthia K)

Put your answers as comments to this post. Identify the question by Chapter and Question number only. No need to rewrite.

Group 2 Answers (Yi, Cynthia S, Olivia, Zarghoona)

Put your answers as comments to this post. Identify the question by Chapter and Question number only. No need to rewrite.

Group 3 Answers (Russ, Joy, Zarmina, Gloria and Lloyd)

Put your answers as comments to this post. Identify the question by Chapter and Question number only. No need to rewrite.

Sunday, May 6, 2007

Joy, Hao and Yi's Pieces Published at The Pearson Buzz

View their work at The Pearson Buzz. Note that Writing 12 students have edited your pieces. See if you can spot their changes!

Friday, May 4, 2007

Homework for The Catcher in the Rye: Your Advice to Holden

Peter Kuch, a lecturer in the English department at the University of New South Wales (Australia) believes that "When you're reading The Catcher in the Rye, you're speaking to Holden, not so much him speaking to you."

Certainly, people have a strong reaction to Holden Caufield. In fact, the world's richest man, Bill Gates, says The Catcher in the Rye is his favourite novel.

In about 100 to 150 words, give some advice to Holden based on a statement or incident in the novel. In other words, what would you say to him if you had the chance?

Please submit your answer as a comment to this post by midnight on Tuesday, May 8.

Saturday, April 28, 2007

Script for Ghost World etc.

If you are interested. Note that some of the events in the movie do not match the original script. For instance, Rebecca ends up as Josh's girlfriend in the script! Also, Enid doesn't sleep with Seymour in the original script; instead, she sleeps with Josh. . .

http://www.imsdb.com/scripts/Ghost-World.html

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Activity for English 12 Students (The Catcher in the Rye)

Find and explain at least one idiom (idiomatic expression) from the novel. Check with an English speaker for help with meaning or, better yet, use The Idiom Dictionary online to get the meaning (use quotes on their definition!). Identify the page number, also.

http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/

Check the comments first to make sure you are not repeating an idiom presented by another student. Students who present two or more idioms will receive a higher mark. Minimum is one per student.

One example from page 13 comes in the following sentences: “I’m lucky, though. I mean I could shoot the bull to old Spencer and think about those ducks at the same time. It’s funny. You don’t have to think too hard when you talk to a teacher.” (my italics).

From the context, it is possible to guess that “shoot the bull” is a form of informal conversation, often also meaning that the conversation is unimportant.

Articles for The Pearson Buzz (REVISIONS)

Please post your revised and final versions for The Pearson Buzz at this post.

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Articles for The Pearson Buzz (200 words)

Please submit your articles to The Pearson Buzz at this post. Remember to spell check your work before submitting (type in Word and then "paste" into the comments). Please supply a word count and do not exceed the 200-word limit.

Note: There are five new articles at the "Buzz" today if you'd like some inspiration!

Friday, March 30, 2007

Instructions for Questions on Point of View

Please respond to two (2) of the following questions. You must answer at least one of the questions for “A Respectable Woman.” Otherwise, choose a question that interests you! Most responses should need no more than 50 to 75 words or so. Be concise and make reference to the story by quotation when appropriate.

Question One for "A Respectable Woman"

In the story, “A Respectable Woman,” Kate Chopin gives us a great deal of detail to explain how Mrs. Baroda feels towards Gouvernail. What portrait of her character comes to us from all these details? Name and explain one of her traits that you recognize from her thoughts or feelings.

Question Two for "A Respectable Woman"

Could the story “A Respectable Woman” be successfully told in another point of view? Why or why not? Give detailed reasons and refer to the story in your answer.

Question One for "The Doll's House"

In “The Doll’s House,” Katherine Mansfield’s narrator comments frequently. Find one of the narrator’s comments and discuss what effect it has on how we feel about the story.

Question Two for "The Doll's House"

If Kezia were to narrate the story, “The Doll’s House,” (either through a limited omniscient or first person point of view), how might the story change? Would this change be positive or negative in your opinion?

Question One for "Cat in the Rain"

In the story, “Cat in the Rain,” rewrite the scene where George tells his wife to “shut up,” but tell it, instead, from his point of view (limited omniscient).

Question Two for "Cat in the Rain"

How would the story, “Cat in the Rain,” change if it were told by the American wife in the first person point of view? Give an example of one part of the story where she, herself, might present the facts in a different way.

Wednesday, March 7, 2007

"The Doll's House": Questions or Comments?

If you have any questions or comments, please put them in the comments section of this post.

Friday, March 2, 2007

Indirect Description of a Character Trait (HOMEWORK)

Helen tells me there was some confusion about this assignment. Follow the bulleted list below and all will be well! *Check my sample at the first comment below.

  • Write 100 words (and no more than 125 maximum)
  • Your description should make a reader think to him or herself that your writing brings to life the descriptive adjective you have chosen, clearly and without question.
  • Your description must include dialogue (words of a character spoken aloud).
  • You must not use the adjective anywhere in your description.

Your adjectives: courageous, determined, intelligent, mysterious, secretive, sly. Post your writing as a comment to this posting, please. See you next Wednesday to begin work on a new short story.

Thursday, February 22, 2007

General Instructions for Questions on "Cat in the Rain"

First, be sure to log in to the blog! Answer the question by clicking on the "comments" link. Put your answer into the text box. It is a good idea to use your word processor to avoid errors in grammar and spelling and then copy and paste into the box.

Answers should be a maximum of 50 words. Quote the story directly (but no more than 10 words total) in your answer. Include the words from the story inside your own sentences. Note that some questions are more "difficult" than others, so my marking will be adjusted to reflect your effort.

Because there is a great deal of comment online on the story, be aware that any plagiary will result in a mark of zero on this assignment and a report to the PALC principal.

"Cat in the Rain" Question on Character

Identify one personality trait of the protagonist. Give evidence to support your answer.

"Cat in the Rain" Question on Repetition

Hemingway uses repetition effectively in his story. Find one example of a repetition (including the number of times something is repeated) and give a brief explanation for why you think Hemingway includes this repetition.

"Cat in the Rain" Question on Conflict

What is the key (most important) conflict in the story? Why do you think so?

"Cat in the Rain" Question on Character

One can compare the hotelkeeper with the husband. Compare the two men in one way and suggest a reason for Hemingway to include this comparison.

"Cat in the Rain" Question on Atmosphere

Hemingway creates a strong atmosphere in the story. Give an example of one way he creates atmosphere and suggest one reason why he has created it for “Cat in the Rain.”

"Cat in the Rain" Question on Theme

One of the key questions of theme is “Do characters have control over their lives?” Answer this question for the American wife. What does Hemingway suggest about her control and what can be stated about people (women) in general from this?

Thursday, February 15, 2007

Signing in to the Blog; Copies of Class Essays

Go to Blogger and be sure to use your full email address as your "username" and the same password as you used to create your account. Do not use your display name to log in as this will not work.

Copy of English 12 Essay: Becoming a Successful Student

Copy of English 11 Essay: To Be a Successful Student

Sunday, February 11, 2007

About Marking and Rewrites

Student marks for in-class work are recorded based on your work handed in at the end of class. These marks will not be changed and apply towards your 25% score for in-class evaluation.

Rewrites of in-class work are given a mark as out-of-class work and will count towards the 20% given for out-of-class evaluation. You may improve your score by doing a good job on your rewrites; however, the best idea is to do a better job in class.

If an in-class assignment is missed, the student will be given an out-of-class score on that assignment when handed in. Be sure to attend class regularly to avoid this situation! Many missed classes will lower your overall mark.

If you must miss a test or in-class essay, notify me in advance of the test day. Students may not write on the same topics as other students in the class if a test is missed. Missed tests and essays are made up in the lab as time permits.

Friday, February 9, 2007

About Essays

Click on the comments link to tell us about your essay experiences. What gives you trouble? Any solutions?

For your reading pleasure, a number of sample essays from the PALC collection.

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Welcome to English 12 Students

****

Welcome to the brand new English 12 student blog. Read the year-long archive of the now-retired PALC English Students Blog to see what blogging is like.

Check out the student profiles at the PALC Writing 12 Blog; just click on a name to read more about that student.

Your assignment for English 12: a short, 25-word description of yourself. Also, think about your favourite movies, books, TV shows, activities and the like.

We'll have class time in our first week to work on our profiles and to critique them as well.

It should be an exciting term! See you in class.