English 8

English 8 Poetry Project
Due:  Friday, January 11th

Your assignment is to choose two of the following options:

1. Be a poem
Write or find a poem

• come to class dressed as that poem
• recite it to the class from memory and with an appropriate level of feeling

2.  Poetry book

Submit a book of your own poetry, with a minimum of five poems.  All work should be well presented in      a book/diary format.

3.  Theme assignment
Select a one word theme (e.g. fear, love, nature, death, war, hope, family, animals) and then find five      poems on that subject (theme).  You may choose a maximum of two songs to include in this particular assignment.  Write approximately 35 words about each poem.  Submit it either as a book or as a poster.

This is for a total of 30 marks.

I will give you rubrics on the first day we return to class.  

English 12

Finish the questions on Act III of Othello.

English 8

Write four questions about adjectives that you think might be included on Thursday's adjective quiz. Also, finish the second section of the poetic devices sheet. Finally, look up Ozymandias. Who was he? Why is he famous?

English 12

Please finish the questions we began in class and read up to line 325 in Act III, scene iii.

English 8

Please complete your paragraphs that state whether you are for or against changing the words tos"'Twas the Night Before Christmas" to omit the references to smoking.  Torrow, we will review your answers to "The Highwayman".

English 8 - a reminder of the Poetry Journal topics assigned so far

Here are the topics:

"Poetry Journal #1":  Tell me about a time when you were greatly disappointed.  What happened?  Why did it happen?  Describe the emotions you experienced.  Did you learn anything from this?

"Poetry Journal #2": 
Choose one of the items listed below and write the story (7-10 sentences) that it might tell.  Personify this item by giving it several human qualities.
a. an ancient fir tree b. an old swingset c. a beach ball
d. Crosby’s hockey stick e. a retired space shuttle f. a guitar

"Poetry Journal #3": 
Once you have written the above story, choose one of the animals listed below.  Then, write the story it might tell about the people in its life (7-10 sentences).
a. a plant-eating slug in a garden b. a pigeon in a city c. a duck in a pond
d. an ant at a picnic e. a spider in a girl’s bedroom f. a moth in a closet

"Poetry Journal #4":
Describe a memory of a fantastic sunny (or snowy) day. Where were you? What were you doing? Who were you with? Include descriptions of sense images from three different senses (6 sentences at least).

English 8 - Questions for "The Highwayman"

Questions on “The Highwayman” by Alfred Noyes

1. Does this poem have a regular rhythm and rhyme scheme?  What kind of poem is it? How do you know this?

2. List 5 words that are repeated.  Why does the poet emphasize these words?

3. Give an example of sight imagery, sound imagery, and touch imagery.

4. Name 4 colours that appear in the story more than once?  Why has the poet

highlighted these colours (State their connotations).

5. How does the speaker describe the highwayman? How does he describe Bess?

How does he describe Tim?  How does he describe the red-coats?

 
6. What is the mood of this poem?  What makes you feel this way?

7. List three metaphors, two similes, two examples of alliteration, an example of

hyperbole and an example of personification.

Spirit Week

Hello everyone,

In case you were wondering, next week is Spirit Week - Monday is Christmas hat day, Tuesday is Santa's helpers day, Wednesday is tacky shirt day, Thursday is red and green day, and Friday is pajama day.

English 12

Complete Handout #7: In Other Words for homework.  Also, read Act III, scene iii up to line 256 for Monday.

English 8

I'll collect your Poetry Journal entries #1-4 on Monday.  I will post the journal topics a little later today.  Also, I'll collect the "I Am From" poem, the three poems you wrote with the "This Is Just To Say" package, the two haikus you wrote for yesterday, PLUS one CONCRETE POEM that you must write this weekend. Your concrete poem does not have to rhyme.

You will have a poetry "quest" (quiz/test) next week.  Begin reviewing your poetry terms.

Finally, please make certain that your answers for "The Highwayman" are complete and ready to hand in on Monday.  Most of you should be almost finished this.

English 8

Complete the sheet on haikus tonight.  Also, finish Poetry Journal #4:  Describe a memory of a fantastic sunny (or snowy) day.  Where were you?  What were you doing?  Who were you with?  Give sense images from three different senses.

English 12

Complete the questions on Act II, scene i of Othello (#3, 7-10).  Also, state the two things we learn in Act II, scene ii.

English 12

This weekend, complete the quotation sheets on Othello, Iago, and Desdamona.  Also, take a look through Act I.  On Monday, I'll give you and some partners (2-3) people 10 min to prepare some dialogue from the play.  Everyone should speak about 5-6 lines with emphasis and feeling.

English 8

Look at the yellow sheets on verbs. From them, come up with four questions that you think I might put in a quiz on verbs.
Also, complete Poetry Journals #1 for Monday and #2 for Tuesday.  The journals are the two paragraphs on the green sheet on personification.  Remember, personification is when a writer or poet gives human qualities to non-human entities.

Journalism

Today, you were given a package of the stories that have been entered into Publisher to date.  Please make sure that you have completed the following notes on each story on the back of each page:

Headline notes - are the headlines and opening sentences catchy/appealing? Suggestions?
Images/photos - do we have good quality photos? Are they well-placed on the page?  Do they have appropriate captions?  Suggestions?
Layout - How does the printed story appear on the page?  Does the layout appeal to readers or dissuade them from reading the story?
Content - Do the stories need extra or fewer details? Are there any factual errors?  Are citations needed?

Please also make grammatical and stylistic edits right on the printed page.
This is Workbook Exercise #16 and it will be marked out of 10 -- 5 marks for completion and 5 marks for thoroughness.

English 12

We will continue reading Othello tomorrow.  Please ensure that you have completed the questions on Act I, scene i.  Also, please have the quiz ready for the start of class tomorrow.

English 8

Tomorrow, we will finish looking at the yellow sheet on verbs.  Then, we will continue with our poetry unit.  So far, in the poetry section of your binder, you should have three items:  an "I Am From" poem, the Poetry Journal #1 entry, and the worksheet on Langston Hughes' poem "Harlem".

English 12

For Thursday, finish the questions on I,i of Othello. Also, make sure you have completed the take home quiz.  If you missed class on Tuesday, see me an pick up copies of the handouts you missed.

English 8

Tomorrow, you will be given a quiz consisting of five words.  You must determine whether or not they are mass or count nouns and then put them in a sentence of your own composition using "fewer" or "less".

Also, please ensure that your verb sheets are complete and that you have finished the "I Am From" poem.

English 12

This weekend, plan out the narrative essay you will write on Monday.  In you essay you can tell me about a particularly painful or frightening or happy or embarrassing experience.  This should be one scene--with a beginning, middle and and end--from the movie of your life that takes place over the space of minutes or hours.  Be sure that you include sensory experiences from at least three different senses, and use at least three examples of figurative language (metaphors, similes, hyperbole, personification, understatement, etc.)  Review your hand out on narrative essays and try to include as many elements as you can (a hook, dialogue, vivid verbs, figurative language, imagery, rhetorical questions, suspense/humour, and an echo). You may bring a planning sheet into class on Monday.

Also, in preparation for the Provincial Exam, create a personal timeline listing 5-10 important events in your life to date and 5-10 important or influential people in your life (try to make sure these people are of different ages).

English 8

Review the package on nouns as we will have a quiz on Monday.  The quiz will ask questions very similar to those posed in the package.

Also, please complete "Poetry Journal #1".
Here is the subject:  Tell me about a time when you were greatly disappointed.  What happened?  Why did it happen?  Describe the emotions you experienced.  Did you learn anything from this?

Please write at least 8-10 sentences for your response.

English 8

Review all questions, notes, and handouts to prepare for tomorrow's test on the class novel.

English 12

Tomorrow we will be writing the in-class synthesis essay on All Quiet on the Western Front and Kathryn Bigelow's movie The Hurt Locker.  You may bring one page of planning notes (not your entire essay) to class tomorrow.  I will give you marks for good evidence of planning.

English 12 questions to focus your thoughts

Why was Specialist Eldridge, the youngest member of the bomb disposal team, seeing a doctor? What were the worries he expressed to the doctor?

How did Sgt. William James react when Eldridge started to lose his composure during the desert ambush?

Why does James call his wife but not speak to her.

Why does James decide to deactivate the body bomb rather than detonate the bomb.

What motivates James to take the risks he does?

English 12

On Monday, we will finish watching The Hurt Locker.  The synthesis question which you will answer in class on Tuesday will be as follows:

Although they are set almost a century apart in wars which are vastly different, the two protagonists --Paul Baumer and Sergeant William James -- are affected by war in surprisingly similar ways.  Discuss in a 400-500 word synthesis essay.

Some topics which you might want to cover in your essay are alienation, desensitization, the loss of personal identity, camaraderie, the struggle to maintain humanity.

Look at my next post to see some guiding questions.

English 8

Complete your good copies of your newspaper for Monday.  Review your questions for the test on the novel on Tuesday.

English 12

On Friday, you must hand in the compositions about the most memorable aspects of the class novel.  I will be marking you on the quality of your written expression and the thoughtfulness of your response.

English 8

Tonight, answer the following questions:

1.  Why is the novel that we just finished called The Outsiders?  What is an outsider?  What does it mean to be one?
2.  What was the author's purpose in writing this novel?

I will give you some time in class to work on your newspaper articles tomorrow.  The rough copy of all your work is due on Friday.

Remember, too, to study for the spelling test on Friday.

English 8

Your good copy of the Ponyboy paragraph is due on Monday. Your peer editing sheet must be attached to it.   Also, your poster of two symbols from the story is due on Tuesday.  Part of  the assignment is to include a written explanation of the symbol (just a few sentences). Finally, because this is a poster project, artistic presentation is a must!!
Your spelling words for next Friday are as follows: mileage, moral, morale, murmur, naughty, necessary, neither, nervous, ninetieth, ninth, noticeable, obstacle, opposite, performance, permissible.

English 12

Our last lit circle has been postponed until Monday. Wow me with your investigations and connections.

English 8

Finish the questions on Chapter 12. Remember to write the 3 things you like best about the book.

Also, please write the rough draft of the paragraph explaining how Ponyboy is a dynamic character.

English 12

There will be a quiz on semicolons tomorrow.

Continue working on your literature circle role sheets for Friday.

English 8

Remember to review for the vocabulary test tomorrow.

Finish reading Chapter Seven of The Outsiders. Your words are clammy, gingerly, incredulous, nonchalantly, rarities, roguishly, sagely, stocky, resignedly, defiance, contemptuous, sheepish, premonition, ember, and apprehensive.

On Friday, you will have to hand in one acrostic poem of at least nine lines (or two smaller ones adding up to nine lines) which describes the character of one of the characters in the novel.  Your acrostic must be made up of complete sentences, not individual words or phrases.  You will also have to hand in two extended metaphors like the ones we wrote today in class. You will begin your metaphors like this:  "Ponyboy is lion because..."  You will have to give three qualities of your animal that are shared by your character.

These acrostic poems and extended metaphors (three items in total) must be handed in on Friday, and must be attractively presented so that I may post them in my classroom.

On Friday, too, there will be a spelling test on the words written, on our side whiteboard.  The words are:  incident, incredible, influential, inoculated, inseparable, justice, liquid, lacquer, laughter, largely, launder, laundry, liaison, mattress, maximum

Journalism

Get your stories in. We will start to desktop publish tomorrow.

English 8

Please read Chapter 5 of The Outsiders and do the corresponding questions. I will check your vocabulary words tomorrow - there will be a quiz on Wednesday. On Friday, we will have another spelling test. You should have written the words down today in class. I will add them to this blog later tonight.

English 12

Continue to read the novel and work on the next lit circle.  You must finish Chapter 8 by the end of the week.  Complete the six sentences on semicolons.  We'll have a quiz on semicolons on Thursday.
Read the poem "Base Details" and answer questions #1-4.

Journalism

Your workbooks will be due in on Tuesday.  The exercises are as follows:
1. Vivid verb sentences - The man walked down the street.  The bird landed on the pond.  The player scored a goal. The toddler was upset.
2. Field trip suggestions - your suggestions must include an educational rationale
3. Strengths and weaknesses of the last edition (I have seen everyone's but those belonging to Julian, Harrison, and Kyle)
4. Photo scavenger hunt - 4 photos of school life.  The categories are people, common sights, events and activities, and a free category.
5. Self-evaluation - this will be handed out and completed on Monday

Continue to file your stories.  Second articles should have been filed today.

English 12

Continue to read the novel and work on your lit circle.

English 8

Today in class, seven new vocabulary words were assigned to the eight words we have already reviewed.  The complete list of 15 vocabulary words are: clammy, gingerly, incredulous, nonchalantly, rarities, roguishly, sagely, stocky, resignedly, defiance, contemptuous, sheepish, premonition, ember, and apprehensive. The new words are in bold.  Our next vocabulary quiz will be on Wednesday, November 7.

Today, we also reviewed the questions for Chapter 2 and completed a chart noting the differences between Greasers and Socs.  See me if you were away and need the chart.

For homework this weekend, in addition to working on your new vocabulary words, finish Chapter Three and read Chapter Four.  Finally, answer the questions on Chapter Three.  The questions are as follows:

1. Who offered to take Cheery and Marcia home?  How?
2. What does Cherry think is the difference between the Socs and the Greasers?
3. What did Mickey Mouse mean to Soda?
4. Which characters felt that watching sunsets was important?
5. Why did the blue Mustang scare Johnny so much?
6. Who was Cherry's boyfriend and why was she angry with him?
7. Who finally drove Cherry and Marcia home?
8. Why was Ponyboy afraid to go home?
9. What did Darry do to Ponyboy?  How did Pony react?

English 8

I would love it if you could hand in your scary stories tomorrow so that we can begin to read some of them.  If you don't hand yours in tomorrow, you should know that the due date is Wednesday at the start of class.  Make sure that you have finished your work on The Outsiders.

English 12

Keep reading All Quiet on the Western Front and working on your lit circle sheet.  We will answer the questions to Chapter One tomorrow.

Journalism

The photo assignment which was due on Wednesday is now due next Monday, November 5th.  You will hand in four photos - one on each of the following three topics:  Sutherland people, Sutherland events, and common Sutherland sights.  The fourth photo will be of anything you wish (so long as it concerns the Sutherland community or your life as an adolescent).

Continue working on your stories.
Ellie - shoe drive
Julian - music performance/a small blurb about Bantam soccer/changes to curling story
Natasha - know your slang/Mr. N interview/advice column with Delainie
Delainie - best winter/comfort foods/advice with Natasha
Isaac - horoscope
Lydia - announcements/family story
Katie - updates to swim team story/driving adventures/modern war/photos of Halloween events
Kyle - driving adventures/Nutella??

Everyone should have their second story filed by Friday, November 2nd.

If you have not yet filed something, you are behind.

Journalism

All students must post a story by the end of today.  Also, all students must take 2-3 pictures of school life and post them to the blog by Wednesday.  This is a workbook exercise that may end up in material for our next issue.  Remember, the photos must be of people being active (not sitting, standing, or simply smiling).  When you post the pictures, you must give the verb that names that action your subject is performing.  Good photos should tell a story.
In addition, your pictures of people should be relatively close up (unless you are submitting a sports photo where more action needs to be shown).  Think of the photos we looked at today in class.  Very few pictures showed people from head to foot.

English 8

Short story projects and poems are due on Monday.  The scary stories are due on Wednesday (so that we can read them aloud in class.  However, you may hand your stories in early so that we can read some of them on Tuesday as well.  Finally, please complete Chapter One of The Outsiders.

English 12

You should be working on you synthesis essay, which is due on Monday. Please also answer the questions on Chapter One of All Quiet on the Western Front.  Remember, you should be reading 20 pages a day.  Our first literature circle will be next Friday.  You will have to have read pages 19 -99 and have completed the role sheets by then.

English 12

You should be working on you synthesis essay, which is due on Monday.  Tonight, make sure you read "In the Trenches".  We will discuss the questions that follow the reading tomorrow in class.

English 8

Tomorrow, the compare/contrast paragraphs are due.  You should also be working on you short story project, which is due on Monday.  Remember there are two parts - the poem and the larger project.
Finally, read the three short story excerpts in the handout you received on Monday.  Answer question #1 after the story "A Light in the Black".  Also, be prepared to explain which of the three excerpts you found to be the most horrifying.

On Thursday, you will begin writing your scary story in class.  Come prepared to write!

Journalism

Everyone has an assignment for this week.  Everyone should have at least one story filed by Friday.

English 8

For homework tonight, read over the first page of the handout on horror stories.
Also, polish your compare/contrast paragraphs on "The Sweater" and "The Golden Pants".  The good copies are due this Thursday.
Finally, you should be steadily working on your projects that are due on Monday, October 29. Remember, you must write a poem about one of the stories we read.  Be sure that your large project (the cake/video/poster/story rewrite) is under control before the end of the week.

English 12

Complete the 8 sentences on semicolons.  Also, begin working on your take-home synthesis essay.  It is due first thing on Monday, October 29th.

English 12

Today in class, students were given a story they'd never seen before.  They had to answer some questions and then write a multi-paragraph composition on it.

Tomorrow, please have your Venn diagram completed listing the similarities and differences in the role of optimism in "Circus in Town" and "Happyness for Sale".  We will use this to begin discussion on how to write a syntheses essay (which you will need to do for the provincial exam).

English 8

We'll have a spelling test tomorrow on the words we discussed last week.  The words are gnawed, gorgeous, governor, guarantee, hurriedly, hygiene, hysterical, illegal, immediately, and  implement.

Please bring your compare/contrast paragraphs to school tomorrow for peer editing.

Finally, please make sure you have made notes on the two stories you read in class today ("The Spider Shouter" and "The Ghost in the Well").  The notes were to write down all the elements that make these tales horror stories.

English 8

Tonight, complete the rough copy of the compare/contrast paragraph on "The Golden Pants" and "The Sweater".
The unit test on short stories will be on Monday.  We will actually have our next spelling test on Tuesday (only on the ten words we discussed today in class).

English 12

The Short Story Unit Test is tomorrow.  Good luck to you.  Remember to complete the Venn Diagram on "Circus in Town" and "Happyness for Sale" for homework this weekend.

English 8

I will not be able to post marks tomorrow as the provincial computer system for marks is being glitchy and will not let me enter certain marks.  I will have someone fix this at the school tomorrow or Thursday (depending on our computer-whiz's availability) so that I can give you your marks to date as soon as possible.

Remember to study you spelling words for Friday.

Finally, the short story unit test will be on Monday.  Know your short story terms (see your notes and today's handout).  The only terms on the list that I will not require you to know for the test are mood and tone.  The stories we studied were "The Monkey's Paw", "A Secret for Two", "Leiningen and the Ants", "The Dog of Pompeii", "The Golden Pants", and "The Sweater".  We will have one more story tomorrow.

Make sure you know the characters, the plot outline, the conflicts, and the settings of each of the stories.

English 12

Finish your Short Story Review Sheet for tomorrow.  Also, Wednesday is your last chance to ask anything about short stories before the test.  If you have questions, ask them tomorrow.

Journalism

Natasha is this issue's formatter.  She needs your news articles as soon as possible.  The articles on the Terry  Fox Run, Pitch In Sutherland, Best Buddies Program, the sports teams/profiles, and the school announcements are particularly pressing.

Journalism

Everyone knows what he or she has to do.  We are in good shape so far, but  please post your articles as soon as possible to expedite next week's publishing process.

English 8

We will have a spelling test on Thursday, so learn these words: gnawed, gorgeous, governor, guarantee, hurriedly, hygiene, hysterical, illegal, immediately, implement, incident, incredible, influential, inoculated, and inseparable. 

 If you want to get one bonus mark, choose any five of the 15 words and look up their origins on www.etymonline.com.  Write those words and their origins on a piece of paper and then write one more sentence explaining which word origin you find the most interesting (ex. "I find ___________ to have the most interesting origin because __________.").

Tonight, write down the moral of both "The Golden Pants" and "The Sweater".  Then, try to write down one theme statement for each story.  You might say that "The Golden Pants" is about forgiveness or confidence, so choose one of those terms to build your theme statement.  You will begin the theme statement by saying something like this: "Sometimes people..." or "Children often...".  The could be said to be "Sweater" about keeping one's temper or gratitude or fitting in with the group.  Take one of these three concepts and try to write a theme statement that begins with "Sometimes (or often or frequently) people (or children)...."  Theme statements are hard, but try your best.

English 12

Complete the Short Story Review sheets by Wednesday.
Remember, we will have a quiz on commas tomorrow (so review those rules).

Also, we will have a unit test on short stories on Thursday.  On the test, there will be 25 questions about the terms you need to know.  There will also be a short answer section on quotations from the various stories.  You will have to give the significance within the story of each quote.  Don't worry, the quotes will all be important ones that we have discussed in class.  Finally, the last section will require that you provide SHORT paragraph answers to certain questions (these will be questions on the big ideas in the unit: plot, character, symbol, irony, point of view, and theme).

Wear pink on Monday

To take a stand against bullying and remember Amanda Todd, wear something pink to school on Monday. One of my students emailed me and asked me to spread the word. I'll be in pink. Will you?

Journalism

Everyone knows what he or she needs to complete this weekend.  On Monday, Julian will use my computer and the class projector to show you how to use the formatting program.  Remember, the more we complete now, the faster we can assemble the paper. So keep writing and posting!

English 12

This weekend, complete the Comma Review Sheet, and fill in the first two or three rows of the Short Story Review Sheet.
Also, read "Happyness for Sale" (the misspelling is intentional) and complete the questions that follow the story.

English 8

Please complete this journal assignment for homework:

Tell me about your favourite article of clothing and about the least favourite thing you have ever been forced to wear.

 Remember to start reviewing your short story terms as we are nearing the end of this unit.

Next week's spelling words (for Thursday) are gnawed, gorgeous, governor, guarantee, hurriedly, hygiene, hysterical, illegal, immediately, implement, incident, incredible, influential, inoculated, inseparable.

This week's spelling bonus mark assignment will not be to put all these words into a story.  The assignment will be different.  Ask me about it in class.

Journalism

Everyone should file something by the end of tomorrow.

English 8

Polish your good copy of the news article tonight, and study for the spelling test tomorrow.

Also, write your three sentences about our short stories' themes tonight.

English 12

As we will be having a short story unit test next week, keep studying your terms.

Tonight, finish reading "Circus in Town" and answer the questions.  Then, write down three of Jenny's personality traits which allow her to cope with her difficult life circumstances.  For each trait, provide one example AND one quotation from the text.

Finally, this is just a reminder of the quiz on commas on Monday.

English 8

Write your rough copies of your Pompeii news articles tonight.  We will peer edit them tomorrow.  Keep studying for your spelling quiz on Friday.

Journalism

Here are the assignments that you have said you will complete by Friday:

Hengameh - create two pie charts from the answers of our technology poll.  Find three interview subjects for Hallowe'en memories.
Katie - article on the swim club and create a poll (with Lydia)  to distribute to the class.
Julian - Terry Fox Run story.  Possible story on the curling team.
Natasha - Photos for photo essay of the SJ hike (plus a sentence or two introducing the photo essay).  Post the Grade 8 story.
Kyle - interview with Brodie by the end of the week.
Isaac - opinion article.
Harrison - Pitch In Sutherland article.
Lydia - type out and post short story.  Work with Katie to develop the survey
Delainie - BBs program.
Ellie - spookify your horrorscope.
 
Next week the following articles will be filed:
Hengameh - 3 interviews about Hallowe'en memories
Katie - Hallowe'en-like traditions from around the world (with Natasha??).  Article (with Lydia) based on the poll
Julian - curling team story
Natasha -costumes and advice column
Kyle - the history of Hallowe'en/possible Ft Night reveiw??
Isaac - Hallowe'en recipes
Harrison - lockout story, Hallowe'en recipes??
Lydia - Article with Katie based on the poll
Delainie - Sports overview/ Ft Night reveiw??
Ellie - article on the visiting writer

If you think that you will be unable to file a particular story in time for the deadline, please see me ASAP.

English 12

Work on the questions on "The Destructors".  You will have 20 minutes of class time to complete this tomorrow.

English 8

Tonight, complete the news article planning sheet.  You will be writing the rough copy of your story tomorrow.
Your 15 spelling words for the test on Friday are echoes, economy, emergency, envelop, evident, exhibit, facilities, familiar, February, formally, formerly, futile, gauge, generation, and genuine.

Journalism

Keep working on your first stories of the next issue.  Try to have at least one item posted by the end of Tuesday.  Have a happy Thanksgiving!

English 12

Finish reading "The Destructors" in your short story textbooks.  When you are finished, complete questions #3 and #6 for homework.  Make your answers as complete as you can.  Have a happy Thanksgiving!

English 8

Finish reading "The Dog of Pompeii" in your Focus textbooks.  Then complete questions #1-7 for Tuesday. Remember to write in clear, complete sentences.
Have a happy Thanksgiving!

English 12

Tomorrow, I will be collecting your journal entries from the past month.  They are:
1.  Write about a time you misjudged someone based upon appearances, or when someone misjudged you.
2.  Write down your first impressions of the short story "Miss Brill".  What did you find thought-provoking, strange or confusing about it?
3.   Does evil exist?  Explain why you think it does or does not.  If you believe it does exist, explain what makes some people evil.
4.  What was your reaction to the story "The Lottery"?  What did you find thought-provoking, strange or confusing about it?
5.  Explain what similarities there are between Philip Zimbardo's TEDTalk on the Lucifer Effect and Shirley Jackson's story "The Lottery".  The handout that I gave you in class should be a help in remembering Zimbardo's main points.

Also, remember to study for the vocabulary quiz tomorrow. Your vocabulary words (from "The Lottery") for the quiz are profuse, a scold (the noun), interminable, boisterous, recital, petulantly, reprimand, perfunctory, jovial, civic, craned, and lapse.  

Journalism

Your workbook exercises are due in tomorrow.  Please make sure that your reviews have been polished.  Also, remember that the polls are due tomorrow for Hengameh.

English 8

Review the spelling words for tomorrow's test.

English 8

Please come to class with your Leiningen work ready to be handed in (the five questions on the plot, the sketch of the farm and the brainstorming for the paragraphs we wrote).  We will then proceed to the library for your final day of orientation there.

English 12

Continue reviewing the short story handouts in preparation for our unit final.  This final will take place within the next two weeks.  Remember to review your vocabulary words for Friday.

English 12

Complete the sheet on symbolism in "The Lottery" for homework tonight.  Remember to review for the vocabulary quiz on Friday.

English 8

Tomorrow before having our library orientation, we will meet in our classroom and you will hand in the good copy of your "Leiningen is a brave and resourceful man" paragraphs.  You will actually hand in THREE pieces of paper:  the GOOD COPY of your paragraph, the ROUGH COPY that we peer edited today, as well as your PEER EDITING sheet.  I will mark these paragraphs on how well you argue that Leiningen is brave and resourceful. Remember to use specific details from the story, include an engaging first sentence (see the sheet on opening "hook" sentences"), and proofread your work.

Journalism

Ensure your workbook exercises are in order. You will submit them on Friday.

English 8

Remember to bring your Focus texts to class tomorrow. Keep studying for your spelling test on Friday.

English 12

Answer questions #1-6 on "The Lottery" for homework tonight. 
Today in class, students completed Journal #4: What was your reaction to the story "The Lottery"?  What did you find thought-provoking, strange or confusing about it? I will take in your journals on Friday of this week, so ensure that they are all complete.
Your vocabulary words (from "The Lottery") for the quiz on Friday are profuse, a scold (the noun), interminable, boisterous, recital, petulantly, reprimand, perfunctory, jovial, civic, craned, and lapse. 

English 8

Finish the rough draft of the paragraph we worked on today in class.  Explain why Leiningen is a brave and resourceful man and remember to give specific examples from the story.

Your spelling words for next Friday are:  committed, competent, concentrate, conscience, conquer, courtesy, criticism, declare, dependent, descend, dessert, desert, despair, discipline, disease.

English 12

Choose what you think are the three most significant symbols in "Just Lather, That's All" and briefly describe what each symbolizes.  Also, complete Journal #3:  Does evil exist?  Explain why you think it does or does not.  If you believe it does exist, explain what makes some people evil.

Journalism

Remember your field work - Ask six people about their use of technology using the poll sheet I distributed today.  Question #6 is:
How long could you live without your cell phone?
a. I could chuck it away today
b. one hour
c. one day
d. one week or more
e. Never, it's my baby!

Journalism

Your reviews are due in tomorrow.

English 12

Remember our vocabulary quiz tomorrow.  As we are past the half-way mark in our short story unit, you should be reviewing the class handouts on purpose, plot, characterization, symbol and irony, point of view and theme.

English 8

Brainstorm reasons why Leiningen was a brave and resourceful man (at least 5 reasons).  Review for tomorrow's vocabulary quiz.

Journalism

Your reviews will be due on Friday at the end of class.

English 12

Continue reviewing your vocabulary words in preparation for the quiz on Friday.

English 8

Keep studying for Friday's vocabulary quiz.  Please ensure that the plot questions and map of Leiningen's farm are complete.

English 12

Tonight, create a t-chart giving arguments for whether the barber in "Just Lather, That's All" is a hero or a coward for not killing Captain Torres.  You should have a minimum of five points per side.  Try to have quotes to support these points as well.



Keep studying for your vocabulary quiz on Friday.

Journalism

Begin planning the review you will complete for Friday (movie, book, CD, television, or restaurant).  You will have some time in class tomorrow and Thursday for this.

English 8

Tonight, write a good copy of the short text message conversation you wrote in class. Also, write a 6-10 sentence email from an ant at the front of the column of insects to his or her commander, who is stationed in the middle of the swarm.  Report one event that happens on the front lines.  Remember, an email to a superior officer will sound different from a text from one friend to another.  Do not used texting lingo like "btw" or "cu l8er".

In addition, keep studying for your vocabulary quiz on Friday (see the words in yesterday's post).  Make sure you have a neatly drawn and labelled map of Leiningen's farm.  You can refer to the story for a physical description of the property.

Journalism

Tomorrow, we will  have our last read through of the paper before it is put to bed.

Assignments for the week:

Katie:  Zajac Ranch retreat (with photos)
Hengameh: Thursday's Grade 8 welcome party (with photos)
Julian: Terry Fox week (donations at Sutherland) and the run on Friday (with photos)
Isaac:  A list of all fall sports with their various coaches.

English 12

Your vocabulary words for this Friday are the following:  lather, mutilated, feigned, glistening, obliged, excursion, rejuvinate, scarlet, avenger, conscientious, defer, faction, ineradicable, astray, poignant, rogue, and resolute.

Tonight finish questions #2, 3, 4, 5, and 7 on the "Just Lather, That's All" handout which I gave you today.

English 8

Tomorrow, we will have our second spelling quiz. Your words are:
assignment, awkward, available, bankrupt, banquet, behaviour, belief, brilliant, bruise, calculate, celebration, cereal, serial, last circular, kernel, and five other words from last week's list.

 Also, tomorrow, I will collect your fliers for "The Monkey's Paw".

Please answer the questions on plot for "Leiningen and the Ants".  The questions are:
a.  State the inciting incident in this story.  Give the page number and quote the sentence or sentences.
b. List at least three events during the rising action that increase the story's tension.
c. At what point do you think the climax occurs?  Explain your reasoning.
d. What information is the reader given in the falling action?

Finally for tomorrow, answer the second section in the question sheet on "Leiningen and the Ants" that covers setting.  Reread sections of the story and then make a bird's eye view sketch of the physical layout of Leiningen's plantation.

On Friday, you will be quizzed on these ten vocabulary words:  denizens, dementia, placidly, gruesome, maneuver, cataract, aura, fervidly, perilous, and myriad.

Journalism

Please make sure that all your stories and images have been filed by Monday.

English 8

Finish your flyer for the Monkey's Paw on Monday.  Remember, we have a spelling test on Tuesday.  Your new vocabulary words are: denizens, dementia, placidly, gruesome, maneuver, cataract (as it relates to water), aura, fervidly, perilous, and myriad. 

Your spelling words for Monday are:  assignment, awkward, available, bankrupt, banquet, behaviour, belief, brilliant, bruise, calculate, celebration, cereal, serial, circular, kernel, and five words from last week's list (so make sure you have those words to study as well).

English 12

Please read the short story "Just Lather That's All" for homework this weekend.  Also, look up the following vocabulary words as you will be quizzed on them next Friday, Sept. 28th: 
lather, mutilated, feigned, obliged, excursion, rejuvenate, glistening, scarlet, avenger, conscientious, faction, ineradicable, astray, poignant, rogue, resolute, and defer. The final four words are vocabulary words from "Miss Brill".   

English 12

Tonight, make sure that your Character Analysis chart on "Miss Brill" is complete with quotations that have the appropriate page references.  Tomorrow, you will have one hour to write your character analysis and 15 minutes to peer edit another student's essay.

Only class dictionaries will be allowed. You may also bring in your text and the "Miss Brill" chart I returned today (the one with quotations and compare/contrast information between Miss Brill and the other old people visiting the park).  However, I do not think the text or the other chart will be that helpful.  Have your quotations selected to save time.  You will have to hand in your Character Analysis chart with your essay.

English 8

Continue working on your flyer for the Monkey's Paw (due on Tuesday) and studying for your spelling test on Monday.

Journalism

Make sure that all your stories are filed, and that every article has an accompanying image (a photo or original illustration, preferably - but some clip art is acceptable).

English 12

Begin planning for your in-class character analysis.You will have a few minutes (not many) to ask me any questions on "Miss Brill" tomorrow.  Make sure you have at least one proper theme statement for the story as you will need it when planning the essay.

English 8

Your spelling words for next Monday are:  assignment, awkward, available, bankrupt, banquet, behaviour, belief, brilliant, bruise, calculate, celebration, cereal, serial, circular, kernel, and five words from last week's list (so make sure you have those words to study as well).

Also, begin working on your flyer that advertises the evil monkey's paw.  The due date for that project is next Tuesday, Sept. 25th.  Review my handout and make sure you  include all the necessary elements in your flyer.

Journalism

If you have not yet received my invitation to join the school's newspaper blog, please check your junk mail.  If you still cannot find it, please email your articles to me this weekend.  Everyone should have filed something by Monday's class!  Have a great weekend!

English 12

Please complete the two charts on the "Miss Brill" worksheet.  You do not have to answer any of the questions below the charts.  Also, write three sentences, each describing three different and specific behaviours of Miss Brill.  Finally, remember our vocabulary quiz on Monday.

English 8

Please ensure that your plot diagram and foreshadowing worksheets are complete and in your binder for or next class.  Also, study your vocabulary words for our quiz on Monday (wholesomeness, amiably, hospitable, presumptuous, enthralled, apathy, liability, oppressive, reverberated, and compensation).  Finally, write a paragraph describing your first few days in high school.  Some ideas to consider before you begin writing:  your first impressions or things you have found hard to get used to.  You might also want to consider the different sights, smells, sounds, tastes or tactile experiences (what you have physically felt) at your new school

Journalism

I'll be inviting you tonight to the class blog. You can begin posting your articles once you receive my email.

English 12

We will have a vocabulary quiz on Monday. Be sure to review the word meanings. We will continue studying "Miss Brill" tomorrow.

English 8

Remember tomorrow's spelling test. Also, please complete questions #1-7 on the short story "The Monkey's Paw".

Journalism

We will spend some class time completing the workbook exercise we started today. Then, you will have class time to work on your stories.

English 12

We had our first journal entry today. The subject was, "Tell about a time when you misjudged someone based upon appearances or someone misjudged you."

Please plot the elements of the short story "Salvation" on the plot diagram handout. You will have ten minutes of class time to discuss your answers.

Remember your vocabulary quiz on Monday.

English 8

Take a few minutes to think about the story we began today and jot down what will be special about the monkey's paw. Remember, the story opens on a stormy night. A family, consisting of two older parents and their son, are in their living room. The father, a risk taker, is playing chess with the son. Then, a visitor calls. This man begins to tell strange tales of his travels. Eventually, the subject of the monkey's paw arises. The visitor at first states that he does not want to discuss this magical item.

You will have a spelling test on Friday and a vocabulary quiz on Monday. Your vocabulary words are the ones on the sheet that we marked today in class: wholesomeness, aimiably, hospitable, presumptuous, enthralled, apathy, liability, oppressive, reverberated, compensation.

Journalism

Have your plan of action ready for your articles. Know your interview subjects, set up a time to conduct the interviews, write down your questions, and have a rough idea of what image will accompany your article.

English 12

Look at Monday's blog post for the vocabulary words (quiz on Monday). Also, read the handout on plot and characterisation. Bolded words are terms you are responsible for knowing.

English 8

Complete the vocabulary sheet and the evaluation form for the poster. Remember the spelling test on Friday.

Journalism

Tomorrow I would like to see your plan of action for your stories.

If you need to interview a specific person, make sure you note:

1. Names of interview subjects

2. Times of interviews

3. Questions you will ask

4. The kind of image you would like to put with your article (Sutherland student kicking soccer ball/illustration of a clock and bell/etc)

If you are going to write a story where you must ask random interview subjects questions, make sure you note:

1. Questions you will ask

2. The time you will conduct your interviews (lunch on Wednesday/after school today/etc.)

3. The kind(s) of image(s) you envision accompanying your story.

If you are writing another kind of article, plan what you want to say and plan your image(s).

Note: I do not expect all of your planning to be completed by tomorrow, but it should be finished by Wednesday.

Everyone should have one article ready by Friday. I will give you the class blog information tomorrow.

Finally, please bring your cameras to school tomorrow in order to snap the crazy hair styles. Friday, too, should provide good photo opportunities as it will be beach day.

English 8

You will present your posters first thing tomorrow. The questions on "The Path Through The Cemetery" will be due in two days' time: Wednesday. Continue studying for your spelling test on Friday.

English 12

After reading the short story "Identities", respond to the following:

1. What surprised you about this story?

2. Would you recommend this story to a friend? Why or why not?

3. If you were an editor at a publishing house, how might you change this story?

4. In a few sentences, explain how a stranger might identify you. What judgements might he or she make based on appearances?

Next Monday, you will have a vocabulary quiz. Your words are: layman (n), sadist (n), infamy (n), macabre (adj) , dissuade (v), garrulous (adj) , impetuous (adj), meander (v), labyrinth (n), superficial (adj), sheath (n & v), pockmarked (adj), degenerate (n & v), recriminations (n), accentuate (v), psychopath (n), sociopath (n).

Journalism

On Monday, you should come to class with ideas for a hard news story and a feature article that you would like to write. Also, bring your ideas for filler material.

English 12

Please finish the questions on the short story "Two In One". Also, read pages 1-3 in the textbook.

English 8

Please bring your poster-making supplies on Monday.

I will check your binders for the dividers at the start of class.

Remember to file the notes and worksheets on plot in your short story section, and file spelling and vocabulary words in the section on grammar and usage. We will have our first spelling test next Friday. Your words are: absentee, absorption, accelerate, accompanying, achievement, actually, advisable, already, aloud, allowed, although, ambitious, appearance, approach, and arrival.

Journalism

Tomorrow we will continue brainstorming the elements of an engaging newspaper. Also, we will begin planning our first edition.

English 12

Remember to have the five dividers labelled and in your binders for Monday.

Tonight, consider this question: how would reading only romance novels affect a person?

English 8

Remember to bring your supplies for making your fairy tale posters. Also, on Monday I will be giving you a mark out of five for having five dividers in your binder. Please label them as follows: short stories, novel, poetry, writing, grammar/usage.

Journalism

Please complete the Student Survey sheet. Also, have your two truths and a lie ready for Friday. I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts about the direction you want to take our paper. Welcome to Journalism.

English 8

Please complete the Student Survey sheet for homework tonight.

I enjoyed meeting you all today, and look forward to a terrific semester.

English 12

Welcome to class. Please ensure that your binders have five divisions: short stories, novel, poetry, writing, and grammar/usage. I will give you a mark out of five on Monday for a well ordered binder. Also, remember to complete the Student Survey sheet for homework tonight.

English 11

Tomorrow, you will be writing a five-part persuasive essay. Your task is to either persuade me to continue using Life of Pi as the class novel or dissuade me from ever using this novel again. Remember, a persuasive composition is very similar to the regular five paragraph expository essay. You still must have three reasons to support your thesis, and these reasons must be supported with strong, logical evidence. However, you can be more emphatic and passionate in your statements. You also have more leeway to use literary and figurative devices to champion your position. Finally, in the conclusion you must include a call to action and encourage your reader to DO something.

Tomorrow, you may bring any handouts I have given you in class, an English to English dictionary, and rough notes (to be attached to your final copy). Experience writing essays in a timed, classroom situation is a very important component of this exercise. Please do not bring a completed essay to class tomorrow morning in the hopes that you can simply rewrite it as a good copy.

Lisa sent me this very moving video clip of albatrosses on the island of Midway in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. I know that some of you investigated the Great Pacific Garbage Patch or Great Pacific Garbage Gyre when you were doing your investigations for Life of Pi. This enormous, swirling mass of human garbage is wrecking havoc on our planet. The video clip tells a chilling story about the effects of this terrible case of pollution on the albatrosses of Midway Island. You should definitely take a look at this four minute video. These birds are, I fear, our "canaries in the coal mine".

English 11

This may be of interest to some of you: the provincial government will fund Grade 11 next year.

Tonight, complete the final role sheets for Life of Pi. Remember that you do not have to do the investigation section. Do, however, make mental note of three reasons why I should select this as a class novel for any future Grade 11 students.

Also, your final vocabulary words for Grade 11 are: dappled, burrow (v), egregious, multitude, vagaries, corrode (v), contradict, euphoria, extrapolate (v), pliable, sinister, ostensibly, botch (v), ramifications, pertaining to, and dearth. The quiz will be next Monday.

Finally, as for the rest of the week...

Tuesday - lit circle #5

Wednesday - you will persuade me in writing to either continue using Life of Pi as a class novel or stop using it in favour of another book. You will have about one hour to write your argument. We will also do a little poetry.

Thursday - poetry and the poetry "quest"

Friday - final exam (one poem & a paragraph plus a story & a multi-paragraph composition...and a few multiple choice questions on each reading)

English 11

Tonight, review the vocabulary words. Also, complete the questions on "I Wandered Lonely As A Cloud".

English 11

Tonight, make sure you have reviewed the vocabulary words and read "Happyness for Sale".  Here is the link to the poem "High Flight".  Please watch this and finish the questions on the poem for tomorrow.

English 11

Tonight, go over this week's vocabulary. We will complete "The Highwayman" questions tomorrow, look at some new poems, and review the article "Happyness for Sale".

English 11

Our fourth lit circle will be tomorrow. Your vocabulary words for the week are:

prissy (adj) p.216

to be famished (v) p.216

civility (n) p.219

to fray (v) p.219

hallucination (n) p.221 

apprenticeship (n) p.229

vestiges (n) p.237

arduous (adj) p.241

behemoths (n) p.254

heinous (adj) p.254)

envy (n) p.254

looming (adj) p.261 (from the verb to loom)

juggernaut (n) p.261

lustre (n) p.264

eviscerated (adj) p. 283 (from the verb to eviscerate)

English 11

Tomorrow will be the in-class narrative composition.  You may bring an English to English dictionary to class.  You may also bring the handout on sensory words and one page of rough notes (not your entire essay) to which you may refer.  You will have to submit the one page of rough notes with your completed composition.

Here is the recording of the ballad "The Highwayman" by Loreena McKennitt.  Alfed Noyes' poem lends itself so well to the music because of its regular rhyme scheme and rhythm:

You may wish to refer to the poem as you listen to the music.

English 11

Tomorrow, we will have a vocabulary quiz. In addition, we will write our narrative compositions on Monday. Your assigned topic is as follows:

Write a narrative essay (300-500 words) about one scene from your life which takes place over the course of a few minutes or a few hours. It can be either thrilling or frightening or painful or joyful. Try to employ as many narrative techniques as possible (see handout for a list of these techniques). You must definitely include images appealing to at least three different senses and at least one figurative device.

English 11

Tonight, finish the semicolon sheet. We will continue with narrative compositions tomorrow.

English 11

Our third lit circle is tomorrow.  After the break, you will have some time to complete the questions on the narrative composition that we read in class.  Your vocabulary words for the week are: sustenance, deliberation, agitated, insouciant, lithesome, ponderous, attrition, panorama, morale, delusion, outwit, counterintuitive, mayhem, recoil (v), heed, and robust.

English 11

Continue to work on your literature circle role sheets. Other than that, have a great weekend. You've earned it.

English 11

Hello!

Tomorrow's short story test will consist of...

True/false questions, matching terms to definitions, fill in the blanks, short answers, five quotations, and one paragraph question (you will be given four choices , of which you will select one). Know the terms we covered in class, and be familiar with the information we reviewed on the large white sheets.

English 11

Continue reviewing the short story terms and the yellow sheets in preparation for the tests on Thursday and Friday. You can begin filling in the large white short story review sheet tonight. We will be working on that in class tomorrow.

English 11

Please continue with "Life of Pi"; our next lit circle is on Tuesday. On Wednesday, we'll be reviewing the short stories we've been studying. Thursday, you will receive a story that you have never seen before. You will be asked to answer a few multiple choice questions on it and write a multi paragraph composition (okay, an essay)! On Friday, we will have our short story final (know terms and aspects of our class stories such as character, conflict, symbolism, irony, point of view, escape/interpretive elements, plot, and theme-whew).

I hope you enjoy the long weekend.

English 11

Continue reading our class novel. Tomorrow, you will be submitting your group answers on our latest short story (questions 1-5, you will have some class time-10 minutes or so-to complete them). Also, tomorrow we will be discussing possible symbols found in the story, so put your thinking caps on tonight!

English 11

Our first lit circle is tomorrow. 

We'll have this week's vocabulary quiz on Thursday. Today we read our fourth class story, and worked on questions 1-5 on the related question sheet.

Finally, here is the video on irony I mentioned in class today: 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-x-ZiViwzM

English 11

My apologies for posting this on Sunday. This entry was in draft mode all weekend, although I wrote it on Friday before I left school. Thanks to Lisa for informing me of this.

For homework this weekend, please complete the sentence combining exercise entitled "Street Scene".

Our first literature circle is scheduled for next Tuesday, so please keep working on that.

Also, next week's vocabulary words are:

glistening, ineradicable, scarlet, lather, mutilate, covert, faction, obliged, astray, conscientious, excursion, rejuvenate, avenger, askew, feigned, and subversive.

English 11

Tomorrow we will have the vocabulary quiz and the comma quiz. Keep reading the class novel.

English 11

Begin reading Life of Pi.  Your first literary circle (covering pages 3-70) will be on Tuesday, May 15th. Also, tomorrow, there will be a short quiz on short story terms (just review the yellow sheets entitled "Purpose and the Short Story", "Plot and the Short Story" and "Character and the Short Story".

On Friday, we'll have a vocabulary quiz and a brief comma quiz.

English 11

Please read "Hills Like White Elephants" tonight, and complete the sheet entitled "More Comma Fun".

There will be no short story term quiz tomorrow, but there will be one on Thursday.

Finally, please complete your "Two Truths and a Lie" statements.

English 11

Tomorrow is the in-class composition. Your vocabulary words for the week are:

junction

absinthe

splatter

slop

swirling

lyric

linger

leisurely

locust

cicada

ceaseless

insistent

wane (v)

wax (v)

unbidden

penalty

peculiar

splurge

startle

futile

English 11

Choose either Charlotte or Miss Hancock from "The Metaphor" and fill in the character analysis sheet. If you have questions about this, we'll discuss them on Monday.

Also, on Thursday after class I noticed that one of the school dictionaries was missing. Could students please check their bags to see if they mistakenly brought it home?  Thank you and enjoy your weekend!

English 11

Vocabulary quiz tomorrow! Next week (on Tuesday or Wednesday), we will probably have a little quiz on short story terms. Therefore, keep reviewing those yellow sheets.

English 11

Review the yellow short story sheets and ensure you know the vocabulary words for Thursday's quiz. Please also complete "Ashtray" to in the sentence combining package.

English 11

You will have a vocabulary quiz on Thursday. Your words are: flamboyant, zeal, fluke, bewitched, acrid, amass, arsenal, hygienic, fetid, soothe, blatant, sacrilegious, acne, blasé, unequivocal, and hysterical. Start reviewing the terms on the yellow short story sheets, too please.

English 11

Today we read half of the short story, "The Metaphor". We will continue reading it on Monday. Please complete the next two sentence combining exercises, "Hamburger" and "Table". Have a great weekend!

English 11

Remember the vocabulary quiz tomorrow. Also, please have your paragraph ready to share with others. Students will peer edit their paragraphs, and then have a short amount of time to make corrections before handing in their work.

The assignment asks you to take a stand. State whether you think the main character in "The Inheritor" is a hero or a fool. You may use your own words, but do structure your paragraph as follows:

1. Introduce the title, author and genre of piece of work you are discussing. Also state your argument (The main character in Frank Robert's short story, "The Inheritor" is a hero/fool when he successfully saves a ewe from a dingo.)

2. State what your opponents might argue (Some people might think he is a fool/hero because...)

3. Counter your opponents' arguments with your own (However, this man is incredibly heroic/foolish because...)

4. Use at least one quote from the story, but make sure that quote is not your final sentence. (Never give anyone else the last word when you are making an argument!)

English 11

Study your vocabulary words for the quiz on Friday. Also, remember that we will have a little quiz on capitalisation tomorrow. Please answer the question found at the end of today's capitalisation worksheet, "Why do you think Frank Roberts wants to highlight the third teaching of the Beatitudes?"

Finally, please complete the sentence combining exercise entitled, "Coffee".

English 11

Your vocabulary words for the quiz on Friday are: desolation (n) , refuge (n), vernacular (n), divert (v), vicious (adj), indomitable (adj), disengage (v), debris (n), menace (n), gradual (adj), writhed (v), blundered (v), gaunt (adj), demented (adj), gnarled (adj), and nudged (v).

For my vocabulary quizzes, there will be a fill in the blank section as well as a section where students must write a few sentences, each containing a vocabulary word.

English 11

Sorry for the late post.  Your only homework is to do the vocabulary words assigned in class today.  Those who missed class today will be able to catch up in class tomorrow.

English 11

Please complete the questions on the short story that we read today in class. Do not worry if you find questions #6 & #7 difficult, just try your best. Have a restful weekend.

English 11

Hello and welcome to class! I'm looking forward to sharing my love of English and getting to know all of you in the coming weeks.

Tonight, please finish the green student survey sheet.

English 11/12

Hello everyone,
Please ensure that your group has submitted a copy of the poem you will be presenting so that I may make a photocopy package for the class on Monday morning.  So far I have copies of poems from Maryam's group, Aresteh's group, Shadan's group, Echo's group, Sham's group, and Casey and Stephanie. 
Thanks and have a great weekend!

English 11/12

Tomorrow, your synthesis papers are due.  Also, the poetry "quest" is scheduled for tomorrow.  Review your yellow short story sheets and poetry terms for the final on Thursday.

English 11/12

Begin reviewing literary and poetic terms for the final on Thursday. The synthesis composition on Water for Elephants and "Prelude to Jumping in the River" is due on Wednesday. Our last lit circle is Tuesday. Have a happy long weekend!

English 11/12

Tomorrow will be the synthesis composition.  You may bring some notes to class, but not a full rough copy.  English to English paper dictionaries are acceptable.  You will have from 9:00 to 10:30 to write the essay.  After break, we will discuss "The Pigeon, Icarus" and the weekend writing assignment on the novel.

English 11/12

Here is the general idea of how the last few days of the term will unfold...
Wednesday - poetry and some time to plan your synthesis composition
Thursday - synthesis composition and poetry
Long weekend - writing assignment on Water for Elephants
Tuesday - last literature circle, writing assignment due, vocabulary make up quiz after class (I will not go over these words during class time; so if you have questions about them, ask me before Tuesday.)
Your words are 
somber, enmity, interminable, hiatus, ebullience, dilate, myriad, torrid, susurration, oppressive, inscrutable, vicissitudes, tacit, tirade, taboo, and  sinewy
Wednesday - poetry "quest", review for final exam
Thursday - Provincial Exam and final exam
Friday - final exam for those who wrote the Provincial Exam, others will work on a poetry presentation
Monday - poetry presentations
Tuesday - last day of classes

For those of you who need a copy of tonight's poetry assignment, here it is.  Only the multiple choice questions have been assigned.

Summer in the Yakima Valley
by Ruth Roach Pierson

By day I loved
the farmhouse on the hill
the dust haze the pickup raised
plying the dirt roads
the orchard trees in even 5
rows down the slopes
and out in all directions
the sigh of apricots
Santa Rosa plums, Bing
and Queen Anne cherries 10
ripening in the dry heat
the long-short snick snick
of the sprinklers’ jerky rotation
hum and hiss of a low-flying
spray plane 15

In over-the-knees rubber boots
my cousin and I stomped
the uneven ground    careful
of cow pies and Canadian thistles
plucked alfalfa shoots 20
to stick between our teeth
swaggered like cowboys
to the edge of the irrigation ditch
and stripped to swim in its muddied water
giddy on the danger of going too near 25
the whirlpool pull
of the main pipe’s undertow

But after dark
in the attic room
in that house on the top of the hill 30
he always fell asleep first,
my cousin, leaving me
to listen alone
to the sounds of the night
the valley now as alien 35
as the other side of the moon—

a coyote’s hungry cry
the twist and scrape of tumbleweed
like a wind-tossed tangle of bones
over clay-dry earth 40
a jackrabbit caught
in the beam from a jeep’s headlight
Exiled in the moon-engorged room
I lay prey to the sick
ache, the hunger for home 45
as nightmare shadows slid
across the floor, loomed
on the wall over my head

and everywhere the eerie
whine of the wind aprowl 50
in the Yakima Valley by night—
weedy, persistent, atonal 52


1. Which device is employed in line 3, “the dust haze the pickup raised”?

a. assonance
b. alliteration
c. dissonance
d. onomatopoeia

2. Lines 5-11 suggest that the farm is

a. suffering
b. abundant
c. profitable
d. uncontrolled

3. Which literary device is contained in “swaggered like cowboys”? (line 22)

a. simile
b. metaphor
c. hyperbole
d. understatement

4. The speaker and the cousin are described as “giddy” (line 25) which implies that they are

a. lazy
b. eager
c. scared
d. excited

5. In line 26, “the whirlpool pull” contains an example of

a. oxymoron
b. metonymy
c. consonance
d. internal rhyme

6. Lines 43-48 imply that the speaker feels

a. angry
b. indignant
c. distressed
d. disappointed

7. In the context of the entire poem, which word best describes the speaker’s overall attitude toward the Yakima Valley?

a. resentful
b. apathetic
c. appreciative
d. contradictory

8. This poem could best be classified as a

a. lyric
b. ballad
c. sonnet
d. monologue

The paragraph question asks students to discuss contrast in the poem.