English 10

Today in class, I went over the difference between theme and moral.  You can read about this on the past page of the handout entitled "Short Story Terms".  Then, we listened to the short story "The Doll's House" by Katherine Mansfield.  After, we discussed, characters and symbol. 

For homework, I've asked students to do the first two steps in the three-step process of finding theme (You can find this in the "Short Story Terms" handout).  That is, answer these two questions:

       1. In a word or two, what is "The Doll's House" about?
       2.  Then choose one of your words from #1, and answer this question:
   
         What is "The Doll's House saying about _______________?  
         (Choose just one of the words from #1 and write a 1 to 2 sentence response.)

We also worked a little bit on vocabulary because there will be a vocabulary test next week (Thurs) on the 28 vocabulary words.  See my blog for the list.
  
I recommend that you listen to a recording of the story here.

You can find a copy of the story here.

 

Socials 10

Groups have all been assigned presentation dates.  Make sure that anything you want me to photocopy is ready and submitted directly to me the day before your presentation.

English 12, Blocks 4 and 7

For homework, complete the provincial exam stories/poems ("And Summer Is Gone", "The Pigeon, Icarus" and "Crab".  Also, make sure that you have finished all your narrative essays as we will workshop them early next week.

The final choices for essay topics are as follows:

Happiness can be found in unlikely circumstances.

Or

The pursuit of freedom involves change.

Or

Our journey to the future begins in the past.

English 8

In addition to the two diamante poems and the "I Am From" poem, complete the blackout poem this weekend.

Socials 10

We will continue working on the BC history group projects this week.

English 12, Blocks 4 and 7

Make sure you are finished the questions on "Sunflowers" and "Packing for the Future".  The narrative essay topics in the second session were the following:

Certain experiences mark the beginning of maturity.

and

We learn the most from those closest to us.

The topics from the first session were the following:

Each generation has something valuable to offer.

and
Certain objects have symbolic value.

English 8

For homework, complete the diamante poems and the "I Am From" poem.

English 10, Blocks 1 and 2

For homework, read the poem "Richard Cory" and answer the questions.  Continue to study your vocabulary words.

English 10

Today, we read "The Metaphor" by Budge Wilson.  You can find a copy of this story here.

Do the questions on this short story for Monday.  Also, review your vocabulary words, which you can find on the post for Monday, May 11th.

English 8

The good copy of your myths is due on Friday. Make sure you hand it in with your rough copy and your peer editing sheet.

English 12 Blocks 4 and 7

Your vocabulary words are as follows:
THESE ARE GRADE 12 WORDS, NOT GRADE 10 WORDS. GRADE 10s NEED TO GO TO THE GRADE 10 POST.

1. protestations (n): emphatic objections/protests; emphatic declarations that something is or is not true
2. incognito (adj/adv/n): concealing one's true identity; an assumed or false identity
3. blanch (v): to grow pale from shock; to whiten; a method of cooking vegetables
4. gauche (adj): physically clumsy or socially awkward
5. implacable (adj):unable to be calmed/appeased; unstoppable
6. ingratiate (v):to gain someone's favour through flattery
7. esoteric (adj): understood only by a small group with specialized knowledge
8. abjure (v): to reject a belief, claim, or cause
9. deleterious (adj): causing harm or damage
10. usurp (v): take a position of power or importance by force (usually illegally)
11. paradigm (n): a typical example of something; a model
12. vortex (n): a whirling, sucking mass, often of fluid or air; whirlpool, whirlwind
13. alacrity (noun): brisk and cheerful readiness
14. ephemeral (adj): lasting for a very short time
15. antebellum (adj): occurring or existing before a particular war (recently used for before the US Civil War)
16. compunction (n): feelings of guilt or moral scruple after doing something bad; prick of conscience
17. misanthrope (n): a person who dislikes human kind; a person who avoids social interaction
18. impertinent (adj): not showing proper respect
19. ubiquitous (adj): being everywhere at the same time
20. pedantic (adj): dull; unimaginative
21. boudoir (n): a woman's bedroom/private room
22. stupefaction (n): the state of being shocked
23. temerity (n): being confident/unafraid of danger/punishment in a foolish way
24. adjourn (v): to end something for a period of time
25. engender (v): to produce or give rise to
26. tawdry (adj): cheap; gaudy
27. connive (v): to plot or scheme
28. caprice (n): impulse; whim
29. callous (adj): showing an insensitive or cruel disregard for others
30. maladroit (adj): clumsy

English 10, Blocks 1 and 2

Make sure you have completed the readings from the old provincial exam (one on Justin Tootoo and one on kyaking).  Also, review the 28 vocabulary words that your class will be tested on next week.  We will do a review activity in class on Thursday.  The vocabulary words are on the post for Monday, May 11.  You might have to click on "Older Posts" to find it.

Socials 10

On Friday, you will have a "quest" on the Northwest Rebellion, the CPR, the National Policy of 1878.  It will consist of about 25 multiple choice question and a written section.  Make sure that you can explain the National Policy.

English 8

Today, I collected your Windigo assignments.  Your new writing assignment is to write your own myth.  The rough copy is due on Wednesday, May 20th. The good copy will be due Friday, May 22nd.

English 10, Blocks 1 and 2

Complete the questions on "Lamb to the Slaughter" by Roald Dahl.  You can find a copy of the story here.  Make sure that you are reviewing the short story vocabulary words:

1. desolation (noun): devastation; barrenness               
2. refuge (n): safety  
3. exquisite (adj): special beauty; intense feeling of either pleasure or pain 
4. divert (v): change direction; redirect attention                                    
5. perversion (n): make a change from what is natural to what is unnatural/abnormal 
6. indomitable (adj): unbeatable  
7. inimical (adj): harmful; hostile; unfriendly 
8. lacerated (adj): savagely cut or sliced; torn 
9. obliquely (adv): indirectly, coming at an angle and not straight on                  
10. ochre (adj): yellowish orange colour 
11. trussed (adj):  tied tightly; bound up to prevent movement  
12. propinquity (n):  proximity; the state of being close or near to another  
13. audacity (noun): boldness; gall  
14. deputed (verb): to be given responsibility for something  
15. derision (n): ridicule; scorn  
16. dissemble (v): to lie  
17. dissimulation (n): the act of lying; being deceitful 
18. pitch (noun/adjective): tar; black 
19. tattoo (n): rhythmic rapping  
20. vex (v): to irritate

These are the NEW/CORRECTED words to be added to this vocabulary list:

1. punctually (adv):  on time; not late
2. bewildered (adj): confused
3. congeal (verb): to clot; to solidify; to coagulate
4. trifle (noun):  an item of little value or importance
5. luxuriate (verb):  to enjoy a self-indulgent delight
6. well (verb):  (of a liquid) to rise to the surface and spill; (of an emotion) to become more intense
7. hysterically (adv):  laughing or crying intensely for a prolonged period of time
8. exasperated (adj):  irritated intensely; infuriated

English 12, Block 7

You will be writing your in-class expository essay on "Twelve Angry Men" on Tuesday.  You can bring in the quotations you will be using on a separate piece of paper.  Make sure to include the page citations.  You may bring in between 3 and 6 quotes.

The essay questions are as follows:

1.     ‘Twelve Angry Men depicts the way in which economic, social and cultural factors can have a significant impact on the process of justice.’ Discuss, making reference to each of the three factors.

2.     “Somebody saw the kid stab his father. What more do we need?” Twelve Angry Men explores the values of facts and the fallibility of human memory.’ Discuss three instances in the play in which facts prove to be important and memory proves to be unsound.

3.     “I have always thought that in this country a man was entitled to have unpopular opinions…” It is the seemingly minor characters that have a significant impact upon this case.’ Discuss three of the minor characters and describe their influence on the jury.

4.     The play Twelve Angry Men takes place almost exclusively in one setting – the jury room. What are the limitations caused by this single setting, and what techniques does the writer use to overcome such limitations? In one paragraph, explore the limitations of this setting, and in the following two paragraphs, the playwright’s techniques.

5.     Twelve Angry Men is a play about twelve men whose names we never know sitting in a bare room discussing the fate of someone we never see.  It seems to break all the rules about what makes a good play, yet it succeeds.’ Discuss, making references to three major ways the play manages to succeed.

6.     How does Twelve Angry Men show that prejudice can obscure the truth? Explore three instances of prejudice in the play.

English 8

Your Windigo police reports are due on Tuesday.

Socials 10

Use the text (pages 186-191) to fill in the blank in the handout I gave you on Friday.  If you missed class, find me on Monday for a copy of the handout.

English 10, Blocks 1 and 2

Complete the questions for "The Telltale Heart".  You can find a pdf of the story here.
You can find a link to Matthew Gray Gubler's 14 minute reading of the story here.

Here are a list of the vocabulary words to date, you should be reviewing them as you will be having a vocabulary test sometime in the next few weeks:

1. desolation (noun): devastation; barrenness              
2. refuge (n): safety
3. exquisite (adj): special beauty; intense feeling of either pleasure or pain
4. divert (v): change direction; redirect attention                                  
5. perversion (n): make a change from what is natural to what is unnatural/abnormal
6. indomitable (adj): unbeatable
7. inimical (adj): harmful; hostile; unfriendly
8. lacerated (adj): savagely cut or sliced; torn
9. obliquely (adv): indirectly, coming at an angle and not straight on                 
10. ochre (adj): yellowish orange colour
11. trussed (adj):  tied tightly; bound up to prevent movement
12. propinquity (n):  proximity; the state of being close or near to another
13. audacity (noun): boldness; gall
14. deputed (verb): to be given responsibility for something
15. derision (n): ridicule; scorn
16. dissemble (v): to lie
17. dissimulation (n): the act of lying; being deceitful
18. pitch (noun/adjective): tar; black
19. tattoo (n): rhythmic rapping
20. vex (v): to irritate

We did discuss other vocabulary words during class, but these (and the ones from the next story) are the ones that you will be responsible for knowing.

English 12, Block 4

Your first 15 vocabulary words are as follows:

1. protestations (n): emphatic objections/protests; emphatic declarations that something is or is not true
2. incognito (adj/adv/n): concealing one's true identity; an assumed or false identity
3. blanch (v): to grow pale from shock; to whiten; a method of cooking vegetables
4. gauche (adj): physically clumsy or socially awkward
5. implacable (adj):unable to be calmed/appeased; unstoppable
6. ingratiate (v):to gain someone's favour through flattery
7. esoteric (adj): understood only by a small group with specialized knowledge
8. abjure (v): to reject a belief, claim, or cause
9. deleterious (adj): causing harm or damage
10. usurp (v): take a position of power or importance by force (usually illegally)
11. paradigm (n): a typical example of something; a model
12. vortex (n): a whirling, sucking mass, often of fluid or air; whirlpool, whirlwind
13. alacrity (noun): brisk and cheerful readiness
14. ephemeral (adj): lasting for a very short time
15. antebellum (adj): occurring or existing before a particular war (recently used for before the US Civil War)

Socials 10

There will be a test on the Northwest Rebellion and the CPR next Thursday, May 14th.

English 8

Your Windigo reports are due on Tuesday, May 12th.