Something New; Something Memorable

Write two paragraphs, one for each topic, one for "something new" and one for "something memorable." You may mention multiple examples or expand on one example. Your paragraphs should be a minimum of 150 words and maximum of 200 words for each topic.

Be specific and detailed in your writing. Use your best sentences and proofread carefully. Work is due before class time on Wednesday, January 15. Post here and bring a copy, properly formatted, to class to hand in that day. Thank you everyone.

My comments will follow yours and will be posted before the end of next week.

Practice Provincial Exams

Transcript of J. K. Rowling's Harvard Commencement Speech

Example Memoir: "Finding Beauty"

I've included yellow highlighter on my short sentences and id'd two long sentences. You can find my strong verbs and repetitions on your own.

Best of luck everyone. I look forward to reading your work over the holidays. Oops! I gave myself homework for the holidays . . . 

"Finding Beauty"

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%.

Class Tips for Writing a Poem

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

My Experience with Poetry

Write a 50-word paragraph that refers to your personal experiences with poetry. The experiences do not have to be at school, although they may be if you wish. Be specific please. Post your work and remember to bring your printed work to class along with a printed copy of your chosen poem.

To help you find a poem, here are three online sources of quality poetry. Remember that you will need to defend the poem's quality in group work that day, so be sure to choose well.

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)

Louis C.K. Hates Cell Phones

Responding to "Wag the Dog"

Write about a favourite scene in the movie. Post your response here as a comment. (Maximum 250 words; minimum 150 words) Make a critical comment, modeling your answer on Ebert's writing. Be specific in your description and be clear on whether you think the scene was (or was not) effective. What were the filmmakers trying to say in the scene?

Script (by David Mamet) for the film, Wag the Dog.

Bring your writing to class, word processed, next Wednesday.

Also, please view this video of the "wag the dog" technique being used on the public in 1990 (first Gulf War). 

Congress Testimony of Nayirah (Read the description below the video before you watch.) Note your reaction to this information and bring to class, but do not post it at the blog.

Thesis topics from both classes

Sample 725-Word Essay for Persuasive Essay assignment

What Persuades Us? Responding to TED Lectures and The New York Times Article

Here's a useful definition of persuasion from a psychological perspective:  

According to Perloff (2003), persuasion can be defined as "...a symbolic process in which communicators try to convince other people to change their attitudes or behaviors regarding an issue through the transmission of a message in an atmosphere of free choice."

So, given a"free choice," what have you found most persuasive in the two lectures (Connected, but alone? and Why privacy matters) and one reading, "Growing Up Digital, Wired for Distraction"? Refer to each lecture and to the reading in your answer. 

Write no more than 200 to 250 words. It is likely easiest to refer to the lectures and reading in separate short paragraphs. If you remain unconvinced by their ideas, please try to persuade us by providing an argument against the ideas. Be sure to say why you find something persuasive (or why not). I will provide a sample this weekend. 

Bring all your writing, word processed and double spaced, to class next Wednesday.

Paragraph Answer for "Gold Boy, Emerald Girl"

Write an answer that is based on information found on the page you have been assigned. Try, as best you can, to connect what happens on that page to events that occur either before or after in the story. Use at least one literary term (setting, conflict, plot, irony etc.) in your answer. Quote the story at least once, but no more than 20 words, maximum, for all quotes. Identify the page number, please, as a heading before your paragraph. See my model answer for more ideas on what to do.

Write between 150 and 200 words. Bring your word processed work to class on Wednesday.

Online copy of the story for quoting.