English 10

Answer questions 1, 2, 3, and 5 on the short story "The Possibility of Evil" for tomorrow.  In addition, explain the symbolism of the roses in this story.

English 11

Tomorrow, you will be writing an in-class essay.  It is open book, and you should bring your planning sheet with the cited quotations that you will be using.

English 10, Period 2

Tomorrow, there will be a short quiz on apostrophes.  Also, today in class, we read part of the short story "The Possibility of Evil".  Please do not read any further than p.214, where Miss Strangeworth speaks to the town librarian.  Write down your first impressions of Miss Strangeworth; try to come up with five - six things readers learn about her.

English 10, Period 4

Tomorrow, there will be a short quiz on apostrophes.  Today in class, we read the short story "The Possibility of Evil".  If you missed class, please read no further than page 216.

English 11

The in-class composition is on Wednesday.  Make sure you have filled in your planning sheet; we'll discuss the essay tomorrow in class.

A short quiz on apostrophes is scheduled for Thursday.

English 11

Please fill in the planning chart for the "A Handful of Dates" character analysis assignment; it is due Monday.  In addition, complete the sheet on apostrophes and begin to learn these vocabulary words:

1. prescient (adj):  foresight; having or showing knowledge of the future
2. flinch (v):  make a quick, nervous movement of the face or body as an instinctive reaction to surprise or fear
3. perpetuate (v):  to make something continue indefinitely
4. trudge (v): to walk slowly with heavy steps because of exhaustion or difficult conditions/terrain
5. plunge (v): to immerse in water
6. condescending (adj): having or showing feelings of patronizing superiority; haughty
7. hullabaloo (n): a commotion/fuss; a noisy, chaotic situation
8. compel (v): to force or pressure someone to do something; to make something happen by means of force or pressure
9. abstain (v): to restrain oneself from doing or enjoying something; to formally withdraw from the voting process
10. render** (v):  to give or deliver (the jury rendered its verdict); to cause to become/to make (his selfishness rendered us speachless); to represent in art (the image of the sailboat was well rendered); to melt down fat; to cover a wall with plaster

**For our purposes, we will use the first two definitions of render (give or make).

English 10--Period 4

For homework, look at the class vocabulary list we created yesterday, choose four words, and for each word do the following:  find a different form of the word, write either the original or the new form of the word in a sentence, and find at least one related word (look for a word that has a similar root).  Please look at the Period 2 blog entry to see an example of this.

Here is the Period 4 class vocabulary list: (noun=n; adjective=adj; adverb=adv; verb=v)

1. luminescent (adj)
2. elusive (adj)
3. corrosive (adj)
4. cleave (v)
5. gregarious (adj)
6. whirligig (n)
7. azure (adj)
8. invalid (n/adj/v): noun--a person made weak or disabled through injury or illness; adj--something which is untrue/something which is not valid;v--to disable/remove from service
9. opulent (adj)
10. disgruntled (adj)

(For the word invalid, learn the fist definition.)

In addition to this, please write down two truths and a lie about yourself that we can play in class at some point over the course of the semester.

English 10--Period 2

For homework, look at the class vocabulary list we created yesterday, choose four words, and for each word do the following:  find a different form of the word, write either the original or the new form of the word in a sentence, and find at least one related word (look for a word that has a similar root).  Here is the example that I gave the class:

Original word:
Misanthrope (noun):  a hater of mankind; one who avoids human society

Different form of the word:
Misanthropic (adjective)

Used in a sentence:
The misanthropic old man detested all his neighbours.

Related word(s):
Misogyny: hatred or contempt of the female sex
Misandry: hatred or contempt of the male sex

Here is the class vocabulary list: (noun=n; adjective=adj; adverb=adv; verb=v)

1. misanthrope (n)
2. melancholy (n)
3. prepossessing (adj)
4. patriotism (n)
5. taut (adj)
6. fervor (n)
7. rheumy (adj)
8. amenable (adj)
9. archaic (adj)
10. acquiescence (n)

In addition to this, please write down two truths and a lie about yourself that we can play in class at some point over the course of the semester.

English 11

Today, students worked together to answer a number of questions on the short story "A Handful of Dates".  In addition, they handed in their paragraphs on "Gentlemen, Your Verdict".

Tomorrow, students need to bring in five good, academic vocabulary words and their definitions that they have found this week.  Tomorrow, we will make a class vocab list from these words.  Appropriate words are ones that can be found in a standard dictionary, not words with definitions coming from Urban Dictionary.  The aim of this exercise is to expand your academic vocabulary.

English 10

Today, we went over the different elements in the short story "The Inheritor" and did some vocabulary review.

Tomorrow, students need to bring in five good, academic vocabulary words and their definitions that they have found this week.  Tomorrow, we will make a class vocab list from these words.  Appropriate words are ones that can be found in a standard dictionary, not words with definitions coming from Urban Dictionary.  The aim of this exercise is to expand your academic vocabulary.

English 10

After reading "The Inheritor", I assigned questions 1 and 2 from the textbook and questions 1, 4, 5, and 6 from the handout.  I'll do a homework check tomorrow.

Also, you should be keeping an eye open for new good, academic words.  You need to bring five new words and their definitions to class on Friday.

English 11

On Thursday, your paragraph on "Gentlemen, Your Verdict" is due.  Make sure you use at least one or two quotations in your composition.

Also, you should be keeping an eye open for new good, academic words.  You need to bring five new words and their definitions to class on Friday.

English 10

Today in class, students wrote their responses to the quotations.  Homework is just to write definitions for the vocabulary on the flip side of the plot diagram sheet.  Do not worry about the material on the plot side of the handout as we will discuss that in class on Monday.  For anyone who was not present in class today, the vocabulary words are as follows:

1. desolation (noun)
2. refuge (noun)
3. rear (verb)
4. divert (verb)
5. perversion (noun)
6. indomitable (adjective)
7. inimical (adjective)
8. lacerated (verb)
9. ochre (adjective)
10. fleece (noun)
11. vernacular (noun)
12. obliquely (adverb)
13. exquisite (adjective)
14. trussed (verb)
15. propinquity (noun)

Have a good weekend.

English 11

Today in class, students wrote their responses to a quotation.  During the assembly, some students remained in class where they worked on the vocabulary for the short story that we will begin on Monday.  

I did not assign these words to those who were at the assembly because their classmates will teach them these words next day.  If you have not received the list but are itching to know the words, they are as follows:

1.    proverbial (adjective):  

2.    ghastly (adjective): 

3.    clatter (noun):

4.    fathoms (noun):

5.    shuddered (verb):

6.    bow (noun): 

7.    initial (adjective):

8.    impetus (noun):

9.    stern (noun):

10.  bewilderment (noun): 

11.  tender (noun):  a smaller support vessel that might follow a larger ship or submarine for ferrying crew/supplies

Have a happy weekend.

English 12

Now that you have finished the novel, write an expository paragraph on how Holden has changed over the course of the novel (from Chapters 2-25 to the final chapter).

English 10

Please finish the review sheet on capitalization.

English 10

Make sure you have finished the novel.  The four questions I assigned on Wednesday are due on Tuesday.  If you still need to complete the response to "I Lost My Talk", here is the poem:

Now that you have read Chapters 11-15, respond to the poem below about your feelings regarding Saul and his introduction to Saint Jerome’s Indian School. Use any background knowledge you have from class discussion to add detail and depth to your response.  You may respond with a paragraph, a poem, or a hand-drawn image of your own creation.

“I Lost My Talk” by Rita Joe

I lost my talk.

The talk that you took away.

When I was a little girl

At Shubenacadie school.

You snatched it away:

I speak like you

I think like you

I create like you

The scrambled ballad, about my word.

Two ways I talk

Both ways I say,

Your way is more powerful.

So gently I offer my hand and ask,

Let me find my talk

So I can teach you about me.

English 12

Read Chapter 25 and do the questions for  Tuesday.  Use this weekend to rewrite the "Little Shirley Beans" academic paragraph.

The prompt for the response is as follows:

Based upon your understanding of Holden Caulfield and Catcher in the Rye,  why is this piece of fan fiction a particularly effective imagining of the song "Little Shirley Beans" that so captured Holden's attention?  Be sure to comment on the music and lyrics.

English 12

Read Chapter 24 and make sure the questions for the preceding chapters are complete as there will be a homework check.

English 10--all blocks

Students need to finish reading the book by Friday.  The questions I assigned yesterday will be due on Tuesday.  They are as follows:

Answer the following questions with good evidence and quotes.  

1. Explain what hockey means to young Saul in Chapters 20 – 34.
2. In Chapter 21, what does Saul mean that “the biggest crime [to take place at the residential school was]…making [the children] complicit?
3.  In Chapter 32, how would fighting have made Saul “give up his vision of the game”, and why was it so important for him not to give in to those pressuring him to fight?
4. How do the abuse, hockey, and drinking all fit together in Saul’s life?

 Here are your 10 vocabulary words for Week Two:

ossify (v):  turn into bone/boney tissue; harden

namby pamby (adj or n): lacking strength, energy or courage; a person lacking these traits

juxtapose  (v):  place two very different items close together for a contrasting effect

pragmatic (adj): dealing with issues/events in a sensible, realistic and practical way

condone   (v):  to approve something (usually with reluctance); to allow behaviour to

continue (usually the behaviour or actions are offensive)

wraith  (n):  ghost 

vain (adj): excessively proud; conceited

brevity (n): shortness of time/duration; the quality of expressing much in a few words

dapper  (adj): neat and trim in appearance (esp. for a man)

schadenfreude (n): satisfaction or pleasure felt at someone else’s misfortune