Thursday, October 30, 2014

English 12 Block 7

If you would like to complete a rewrite on the "Miss Brill" symbolism paragraph, you may write one on "Just Lather, That's All".  The instructions are as follows:  

Discuss the use of symbolism in "Just Lather, That's All".  Write a well-composed paragraph of about 200 words on the topic.  Include at least two well-integrated, cited quotations.  This paragraph must be handed in at the start of class on Monday.


Week 2 Vocabulary


  1. skullduggery - n underhanded or unscrupulous behaviour
  2. temperate - adj moderate, self-restrained behaviour
  3. tautology - n - needless repetition of an idea
  4. absolutism - n- principles or practice of an arbitrary government 
  5. aberration - n- something that differs from the norm
  6. immiserate - n to make someone miserable
  7. entrepreneurial - adj- taking financial risk in the hopes of profit
  8. protocol - n - a system of rules about correct behaviour; an international agreement
  9. vex - v- to cause annoyance or disturb
  10. obfuscate - v- to render something unclear


Week 1 Vocabulary


  1. eiderdown (noun) - small, soft feathers from the eider duck; a quilted bed cover, duvet, counterpane
  2. disheveled (adj) - hanging in disorder; messy appearance
  3. ambiguous (adj) - open to more than one interpretation
  4. iota (noun) - a tiny amount
  5. androgynous (adj) - displaying both male and female characteristics
  6. gruntled (adj) - to be pleased with something/someone
  7. loquacious (adj) - talkative
  8. amicable (adj) - good-natured or friendly
  9. fulminate (verb) - to loudly attack or denounce somebody; express vehement protest
  10. transpire (verb) - occur; happen

English 12 Block 4


Week 2 Vocabulary

  1. blandishments - n - flattery
  2. hoi polloi - n - the common people (negative connotations) 
  3. beleaguered - adj - to put in a different situation
  4. wraith - n - a ghost/apparition
  5. frisson - n - a passing sensation of excitement
  6. pro bono - n/adj - professional work undertaken voluntarily for no pay
  7. calumny - n - spoiling someone's reputation by spreading lies
  8. vex - v - to annoy 
  9. papaphobia - n - fear of the Pope
  10. mendacious - adj - being false; having a deceitful character 


Week 1 Vocabulary



  1. mobocracy - noun- lawless rule of public affairs by the mob or populace 
  2. glibly - adv - insincerely/shallowly speaking on a subject 
  3. elude - verb - to avoid or escape in a cunning way
  4. benevolent - adj - well meaning and kindly 
  5. haphazard - adj - careless; lacking in organization; unplanned 
  6. malevolent - adj - evil 
  7. zephyr - noun - a gentle wind 
  8. cataclysm - noun - a destructive, large scale--even apocalyptic--violent event 
  9. admonish - verb - to reprimand or scold 
  10. mundane - adj - bland, boring, monotonous, run of the mill, ordinary

Socials 10

Complete your brochures for November 3rd.

English 8

Write a journal entry about your Hallowe'en night.  It does not have to be true, but you must include some sensory details.  Tell me what you see, hear, touch, taste, and smell as part of your descriptions.

Here is a description of a hot summer's day that uses sensory descriptions:

The smell of burning rubber, car smoke, and overused clutches bit the back of my nose as the sun beat down on us that summer's day in the city.  Sticky sweat ran in little rivulets down my neck and collected bits of the airborne grit that clouded around us. The heat was affecting others too, for the air rang with the honking of horns and shouts of frustrated drivers.  Suddenly, my sister grabbed my hand and yanked me into a shady side street.  There I saw the most beautiful sight one could imagine:  two children standing in front of a homemade lemonade stand!  Our coins clinked musically as we tossed them into the glass payment jar. Soon the cold, sweet-tart liquid was sliding down our parched throats.  Did it really matter that each glass had cost four dollars?  It was highway robbery, and those children were sharks--but we felt renewed!

English 10

Make sure the rough copies of your comparison and contrast paragraphs are ready for Friday.

Thursday, October 23, 2014

English 12

Answer questions #1-6 on "Just Lather, That's All".

English 10

Write up the good copies of your poem paragraphs to have them ready to hand in next class.

English 8

Your Monkey's Paw fliers are due next Thursday, Oct. 30th.  This weekend, look up the synonyms and antonyms for the Monkey's Paw vocabulary.

Socials 10

Keep working on your brochures.  They're due on November 3rd.
On Wednesday, students worked on a question package.  For those of you finishing the questions this weekend, you can find the graphic about precipitation and temperature at the following address:
http://www.bestlibrary.org/files/01_chapter.pdf  .  This address is a scan of the first chapter of a textbook.  You can find the map on page 26, so you'll have to scroll down for it.

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

English 8

Next class, we will discuss what is involved in the flyers you will be creating for "The Monkey's Paw".  Make sure that your Journals 4 and 4.5 are completed for next class.

Socials 10

Keep working on your brochures.  They are due on November 3rd.

English 12, Block 7

After reading "Just Lather That's All", write your thoughts on what motivates Captain Torres to go to this barber for a shave.

Also, your second group of vocabulary words are as follows:


  1. skullduggery - n - underhanded or unscrupulous behaviour
  2. temperate - adj - moderate, self-restrained behaviour
  3. tautology - n - needless repetition of an idea
  4. absolutism - n - principles or practice of an arbitrary government
  5. aberration - n - something that differs from the norm
  6. immiserate - n - to make someone miserable
  7. entrepreneurial - adj - taking financial risk in the hopes of profit
  8. protocol - n - a system of rules about correct behaviour; an international agreement
  9. vex - v - to cause annoyance or disturb
  10. obfuscate - v - to render something unclear

Sunday, October 19, 2014

English 10

Read the poem distributed in class and answer the questions on the sheet.

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Socials 10

Your developing cities brochure is due on Oct. 28th.  You should be amassing as much information on your city as possible.  Look at the Carson website for information on the library and how to use some of its research tools.


This is a website recommended by a librarian friend of mine from my former high school.  The page was originally designed for ESL students, but the sites are not written in low-level English.  Check out this page:


Also, here are some websites which may help you in your search for information:

  • http://www.worldatlas.com/citypops.htm
  • http://www.mapsofworld.com/world-city-maps/
  • http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/cities-and-development
I will add more sites as I find them.  Because Wikipedia articles can be changed by anyone, they are not appropriate as original sources for your project. Do look at Wikipedia to get a general idea of your city, but then try to find other, more official sites.



English 8

For next Monday's class, be sure to do the following:

  1. make sure your Journal #4 is complete (describe what you wish for if a genie granted you three wishes).
  2. complete the six questions on foreshadowing in "The Monkey's Paw".
  3. complete the eight questions on "The Monkey's Paw".
Be sure to answer the questions in complete sentences. 

English 12, Period 4

Remember to bring your vocabulary words for next class.  Also, fill in the planning sheet for the Miss Brill character analysis.  You will be able to bring it to class on Friday for the in-class essay.

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

English 12, Period 7

Remember to bring your vocabulary words for next class.  Also, fill in the planning sheet for the Miss Brill character analysis.  You will be able to bring it to class on Thursday for the in-class essay.

Socials 10

Choose a city in the developing world with which you are not very familiar.  Begin researching it for the brochure that you will be producing over the coming week.

English 8

Make sure that your Journal #4 is complete: If a genie granted you three wishes, what would you wish for.  Explain your answers. Also, make sure you bring a book to read for the first ten minutes of the next class.  Finally, remember to study the 11 plot terms for the quiz on Thursday.

Sunday, October 12, 2014

English 12

Your paragraphs on "Miss Brill" are due next class. The instructions are as follows:
In a well-composed paragraph, using at least two well-integrated and cited quotations, explain how the fox fur is symbolic of Miss Brill.
In addition, be sure to read both sides of the handout entitled "Character and the Short Story".