English 8

Today, we went over the vocabulary and completed question #8 on the question sheet for "The Monkey's Paw".  Students were then given a crossword for Tuesday's spelling words.  Please complete it for Monday.
Finally, students were also told to create a flyer advertising the monkey's paw.  This flyer needs to include typical messages found in advertisements about why buyers would want this item.  Look at flyers in newspapers this weekend for ideas.  Also, the flyer needs to include a disclaimer about the possible consequences of the paw (Think about ads seen on television advertising different medicines and the warnings tacked on about the meds in the final few seconds). Finally, the flyers also need to be visually pleasing in order to attract prospective buyers.  This ad is due on Wednesday, February 19th.

English 10

Today, we completed question #11 on the "Tell-tale Heart" question sheet.  Then, we discussed how the story had both escapist and interpretive elements.  Finally, we looked at the two most salient symbols: the evil eye (blind, horrible, empty) and the beating heart (loud, insistent, tormenting).  They eye represents the evil "I" of the narrator who is horrible, empty of compassion and blind to the evil within himself.  The heart represents his guilt which is also loud, insistent and tormenting.

The first person point of view is very important to this story.  The narrator's personality is expressed through diction and syntax.  Look up these two words if you do not know them and find an example of each from the story which expresses the narrator's personality.

English 12

Complete your paragraph tonight on "Miss Brill" and hand it in tomorrow.  The topic was as follows:

Explain, in proper paragraph form, how the fox fur is symbolic of Miss Brill.  Use at least one quote in your answer to support your argument.

English 10

Finish your paragraphs tonight and hand them in tomorrow.  The topics were either...

In proper paragraph form, describe the character of the protagonist in Frank Roberts' short story, "The Inheritor".  Use at least one quote to support your answer.

or...

Explain, in proper paragraph form, why Frank Roberts uses allusions in his short story, "The Inheritor".  Use at least one quote to support your answer.

English 8

Tonight, finish the second page of the noun handout.  There is one mistake on the handout. Can you find it?
Also, without reading ahead, make a prediction about what Mr.White will do with the monkey's paw.

English 12

Please finish side one of the sheet on "Miss Brill". Remember to start collecting your vocabulary words for Friday.

English 10

You have no homework tonight.

English 8

Your spelling words for this week are as follows:
1.  although
2. ambitious
3. appearance
4. approach
5. arrival
6. assignment
7. available
8. awkward
9. bankrupt
10. banquet

English 12

Today, we read "Miss Brill" on page 57.  Please answer questions #3, 6 and 7 for homework.  Please make sure your binder has five labelled dividers for Tuesday.  Have a good weekend.

English 10

Today in class, we discussed "The Inheritor" and answered questions #1,2, 3, and 5 on page 41 of the text. Also, students were asked to a) state the conflicts in the story; b) explain and give a quote telling about what influenced the man to protect the ewe; and c) explain why the pilot reacted to the man the way he did.

For homework, students were asked to write down what certain story elements could represent.  For example, the man could be a symbol for all humans who must "come down from the trees and be master on the ground".  What could the sheep, the dingo and the setting represent?  Furthermore, students were asked to explain the significance of an assigned quotation from the book.  Here are the quotations and their corresponding page numbers:

1. "inland life...is a longer war." (page 35) - For people in the row furthest from the windows
2. "...the crows...were restless but not afraid of the dingo.  He was a good provider...[but] when the man appeared...the crows left the tree and wheeled continuously..." (page 36) - For people in the 2nd row
3. "The essential habits of dingos were not in his experience..." (page 36) - 3rd row
4. "Soon their island would be so small that he and the dingo would be at one another's throats. That image needed correcting." (page 37) - 4th row
5. Actually this is quote #6 on the sheet, but my computer will not let me fiddle with the numbers..."Now the man knew where he deserved to be, with the sheep." (page 38) - 5th row, by the windows

Remember to have your five dividers on Tuesday.  Have a good weekend.

English 8

This weekend, you have the choice of doing one of two assignments for the poem "The Griesly Wife".  Either write your own ballad or draw 5-6 scenes from the "The Griesly Wife" with one line from the poem per image.  If you choose to write the ballad, make sure it is a story with a conflict and a climax.  In addition, make sure it has a rhyme to it (aabb ccdd.../ abcb/ abab/ etc.) Also, it should consist of five stanzas that are four lines long.  That means you will write 20 lines of poetry and no less. If you should have any questions about this, feel free to email me (my address is on the yellow course outline sheet which should be at the front of your binder).

On Tuesday, we will have our first spelling test, and I will be checking that your binders have five labelled dividers (Short Story, Novel, Grammar/Writing, Poetry, Myths).  Have a good long weekend.

English 12

Finish reading "Identities".  Consider what elements are interpretive and what are escapist.  Also, be ready to discuss tomorrow what you think the author's purpose was in writing this.

English 10

Tonight, write down your response to whether you agree or disagree with the man's decision to save the ewe in "The Inheritor".

English 8

Tonight, finish the spelling crossword.

English 12

Finish reading "Two In One" tonight.

English 10

We reviewed plot elements today.  Jot down the plot elements in the short video we viewed in class.  In addition, define the following terms:

1. obliquely
2. propinquity
3. inimical
4. indomitable
5. fleece
6. perversion
7. trussed

You should already have definitions for the following:

1. divert (verb) - to change direction
2. refuge (noun) - a place of safety
3. lacerated (verb) - torn to shreds (usually skin)
4. ochre (noun) - a dark, earthy yellow colour (this colour can also tend towards a reddish yellow hue)

English 8

Your word of the day is chortle -- to chuckle and snort at the same time.
Remember to review your spelling words.  We will continue looking at plot elements tomorrow.

English 12

Welcome to English 12!

On Tuesday, February 11, I will give you marks for organizing your binder with the following five labels:

1. Short Stories
2. Novel
3. Writing and Grammar
4. Shakespeare
5. Poetry

Your binders must be properly labeled before class begins to receive full marks.

English 10

Welcome to English 10!

If you have not already completed the journal topic (Tell me about a person who you admire.  Explain why he or she is a role model for you.) or the orange Student Information Sheet, please do so tonight.  I will collect them tomorrow.

On Tuesday, February 11, I will give you marks for organizing your binder with the following five labels:

1. Short Stories
2. Novel
3. Writing and Grammar
4. Shakespeare
5. Poetry

Your binders must be properly labeled before class begins to receive full marks.

English 8

Welcome to English 8!

Your word of the day is "sporange".  Yes, there is a word that rhymes with orange!
Also, you will have a spelling test on Tuesday, February 11 on the following words:

1. absentee
2. absorption
3. accelerate
4. accompanying
5. achievement
6. actually
7. advisable
8. already
9. aloud
10. allowed

In addition, I will assign marks for binder organization on Tuesday, February 11.  Your binder should have 5 dividers with the following labels:

1. Short Stories
2. Novel
3. Writing/Grammar
4. Poetry
5. Myths

To get the full marks, your dividers must be labeled before you come to class.