Saying "Farewell" at the Blog (Extra Credit of 5%; Optional Assignment)

Say goodbye in any way that feels right to you. Write no more than 200 words. Use one or more paragraphs as you wish. Poems are fine, also!

 Remember that these will be the last words published at the blog, which will remain online as a tribute to the hard work of many students past and present at the Pearson ALC. Please finish your work no later than Monday, June 13 if you wish me to include it in your final mark. I will add your score out of 5 to my spreadsheet result. You can expect my final comment there as well before June 17.

Writing a List Poem based on "A Note"

Beginning with "Life is the only way," write your own list poem using "A Note" as a model. Your poem must use the same (with minor variations) number of words and structure as Szymborska's. Use what you learned this week to compose a stronger poem.

Try to find a rhythm to the words you choose (note the number of syllables as well as the number of words). Be careful to punctuate exactly the same way and be aware of how the poet has used punctuation to divide and compare ideas. Post a copy of your poem to the blog before coming to Wednesday's class.

Be prepared to do a recital of your poem (please practice ahead of time!) and speak for one to two minutes on the process you followed and any difficulties you experienced.  Marks will be assigned as follows: quality of poem—50%; recital—25%; remarks on process—25%. Marks will be entered as a Unit Test, so do your best!

NOTE: Check your formatting carefully after copy and pasting your poem. You'll need to add spacing. Try to have your poem look exactly the same as the original handout if you can!

Choosing a Favourite Poem

To help you find a poem, here are three online sources of quality poetry. You must find a poem from one of these three sources. Remember that we will work with the poem in group work that day, so be sure to choose well and remember your classmates as an audience. Remember to print a copy to bring to class that day.

Poems at Slate.com (each poem is read by the poet; a good way to decide if you like the way it sounds)

Canadian Poetry Online (from the University of Toronto library; a list of poets that links to poems from each one)

Poetry Daily Archive (alphabetical archive of poems by title; here you can look for an interesting title and see if you can find a poem you like)

NOTE: If you are graduating this term (completed all courses required), please let me know. Teachers can help you figure out if you qualify. Please consider coming to our graduation ceremonies on June 22 since you will be able to see me in a pin stripe suit!

A Favourite Moment (or scene) in Charlie Chaplin's "City Lights"

Discuss your favourite moment/scene in the part of the film assigned to you with a check mark. 

You can find most of the film (in pieces; no full version exists, although you might find an almost complete version if you look) at YouTube if you need to re-watch. Use at least one literary term (setting, character, conflict, irony etc.). 

Write between 150 and 200 words in a standard paragraph. Please print your work before class on Wednesday.

A Persuasive RSAnimate

View two or three examples of RSAnimates and then choose the one you find most persuasive.

In a paragraph, explain why you find it persuasive (in a way, persuade us that we should also watch it!). Post your paragraph here (150 to 200 words) before coming to class.

Be sure to bring your work to class, word processed, next Friday.

Remember, also, to complete your paragraph based on Sherry Turkle's TED lecture.

Homework for the Story, "Literally"

Answer based on the topic assigned to you on your worksheet. Open the document on literary terms and review the questions for the topic (e.g. for conflict, you may answer this question: "List the personal qualities (character or personality) of the protagonist and antagonists." Your note taking here can help you to show how conflicts show us these personal qualities. Concentrate on your page range but remember to comment a little on the whole story.

Please identify which question you are answering first, before your paragraph. A good answer will range from 150 to 200 words and use one or two short quotations. It will be easier if you relate your answer to the overall "gist" of the story (how the element you discuss fits within the story in other words).

Homework for the Story, "Katania"

Using the questions you received with your first short story (on the reverse of the sheet) or the “Guide to Literary Terms,” write an answer based on the page range given to you at class on Friday. You may comment on more than one example (e.g. for setting you could refer to both the physical setting and the social environment) that occurs on those pages. Remember to have one overall topic that is more general than your content, so we know how you plan to answer. Write about 200 words in a single paragraph. Quote at least twice and work to integrate your quotations into your own sentences. Try to show how your page range relates to something that happens either before or after it in the story.

Making a Pitch for a Narrative Essay

Write a short (100 to 150 word) pitch for your narrative essay idea. Why would we be interested in the person you chose? What makes this person interesting? What influence have they had on you that is interesting to others?

Please bring a copy of your pitch to class on Wednesday, March 30, word processed and printed.