Friday, June 16, 2011

Today, we worked further on functional writing in order to prepare you for your written final exam on Monday. You will write this exam during class time. You will then write your multiple choice comprehension exam on Thursday, June 23, at 1:00 p.m., in room 103 (our regular class).

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Today, we finished working on the comma rules. Tomorrow and Friday, we will be working on the written portions you will need to understand for the final. Be here if you want to do well.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Today, we examined comma usage rules and did exercises. I am doing this to help you improve in the areas where there are concerns so you will do better on your finals.

Monday, June 13, 2011

Today, we did some activities to ensure you know possessives. I then added the task of including adjectives into your sentences. These are areas that you need to improve on for your exam.

Friday, June 10, 2011

Today, you were given two possessives exercises to complete as well as a reading with questions (grammar related). These were all due today.

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Today, you worked on understanding how to use possessives properly. You also had to successfully complete three small assignments to show understanding.

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Today we discussed the final. We seem to be split on doing a visual response or a speech/letter. I am thinking that I might give you one of each on that day (June 20) and allow you to make your decision then. We will confirm this tomorrow.

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Today, I introduced modern drama to you. In doing this, we discussed the Industrial Revolution and the changes in society that led to changes in the theatre (contrasting this period to Shakespearean drama). I then introduced the play A Thousand Clowns. If you were not here, the handout is in your portfolio and the book is on my desk.

Monday, June 6, 2011

Today, we went over how to write a literary essay, which you will write tomorrow (on Pink Floyd's The Wall).

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Today, you wrote your poetry unit exam.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Today, you did a grammar worksheet in order to ensure you understand the terms needed for your poetry unit exam tomorrow. You were also given a poetry reading to analyze and complete in preparation.

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Today, we finished watching The Wall. Tomorrow, we will discuss it and find some direction for you in preparation for your essay on Thursday.

Monday, May 30, 2011

Today, we started watching The Wall. We will finish watching it tomorrow.

Friday, May 27, 2010

Today, you were given a poem to analyze. This was to be completed and then shown to me. I then gave you questions to answer. Everything from the poetry unit which is outstanding also needs to be to me for Monday.

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Today, we analyzed the last two songs for this unit "Outside the Wall", and "Isn't this Where we Came In?" These were due at the end of class.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Today, we marked all of the poems we have done up to this point and handed in.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Today, was a catch-up day for the poems due after the weekend. In addition, you read the poem "The Trial" which had to be analyzed and summarized fully for the end of class.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Today, we discussed the poems "Comfortably Numb" and "The Show Must Go One". These were handed in for marks.
I then gave you the following poems to analyze for Tuesday as well as class time to do so:
"In the Flesh", "Waiting for the Worms", and "Stop".

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Today, you were given the poems "Comfortably Numb" and "The Show Must go On" to read and analyze. These will be taken in for marks at the beginning of class tomorrow.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Today, we analyzed the poem "Nobody Home" and listened to it. For tonight, you are to analyze "Vera", and "Bring the Boys Back Home". These are to be handed in at the beginning of class tomorrow.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Today, I gave you the poems "Another Brick in the Wall Part 3", "Goodbye Cruel World", "Hey You", and "Is there Anybody out There?". You analyzed each one which we then discussed. We still need to analyze "Is There Anybody Out There?" and listen to "Hey You".

Friday, May 13, 2011

Today, we analyzed and listened to “One of My Turns” and “Don’t Leave Me Now”. There’s no homework this weekend.

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Today, we read, analyzed and watched clips on the following poems: "What Shall We do Now", and "Young Lust". You can find these on line. I then handed out the poems "One of My Turns", and "Don't Leave Me Now". These are to be analyzed for tomorrow.

Wednesday, March 11, 2011

Today, I finished introducing the play Hamlet. I gave an overview of the play on the board. If you were not here, please photocopy this from another student and get an explanation.

Tuesday, May 10. 2011

Today, we analyzed the poems "Another Brick in the Wall Part 2", "Mother", and "When the Tigers Broke Free Part 2". I didn't analyze the last one with you. This is now homework for tomorrow.

Monday, May 9, 2011

Today, we analyzed and listened to the following poems: "The Happiest Days of Our Lives", and "Another Brick in the Wall Part 2". You were then given the poem "Another Brick in the Wall Part 2" to analyze for homework. We will discuss this one tomorrow.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Today, we discussed the poem “When the Tigers Broke Free part 1”
It is important to make sure you have an understanding of the context of this narrative now so the rest of the lyrics makes sense.
We then listened to (and watched) “When the Tigers Broke Free part 1”
We then discussed and listened to “In the Flesh?”
I then handed out the poem “The Thin Ice” to analyze
We then discussed it as a class and then listened to “The Thin Ice”

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Today, I hand out envelopes with figurative language examples inside (representing similes, metaphors, onomatopoeias, double-negatives, and irony). You then formed pairs and worked through these, putting them in piles (I then checked them for accuracy).
Using “Jamie” as a guide on the overhead, we then analyzed “When the Tigers Broke Free” as a class (if you weren't here, use the "how to read poetry book you received yesterday).
I then handed out the poem “In the Flesh?” for the students to analyze on their own. We will discuss this one tomorrow.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Today I
· Introduced the purpose of poetry (appeal to the senses)
· Handed out the sheet “English 20-2 Poetic terminology”
· Discussed the terms
· Handed out the sheet “How to read a poem”
· Discussed, indicating that they will learn more about this tomorrow
· Handed out the sheet “An Introduction to The Wall”
· Discussed

Monday, May 2, 2011

Today, you wrote your comprehension exam for the novel unit.

Friday, April 29, 2011

Today, class was cancelled due to an assembly.

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Today, you wrote your in class critical/analytical essay on the novel Of Mice and Men.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Today, you wrote your Of Mice and Men exam. Keep in mind that your essay exam is going to happen in class tomorrow.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Today, you were to work on "post reading activities" on the novel Of Mice and Men. These are to be typed on the computer in preparation for the exams they are having (novel and vocabulary exam on Wednesday; novel essay exam on Thursday, and a Comprehension reading exam on Monday).

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Today we worked on essay writing. This essay (on personal connections) is due on Tuesday.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Today we worked on essay writing.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Today, we went over the body of a critical analytical essay (referring to text). the notes are pasted below. You then had to write out the body paragraphs for your essay.

Body Paragraph One

· Main point One
· Put in evidence that will support main point one
· Put in commentary showing how evidence supported main point one

Body Paragraph Two

· Main point Two
· Put in evidence that will support main point two
· Put in commentary showing how evidence supported main point two

Body Paragraph Three

· Main point three
· Put in evidence that will support main point three
· Put in commentary showing how evidence supported main point three

Monday, April 18, 2011

Today, we carried on with the introductory paragraph repairs from last week. Basically, you should have completed a good introductory paragraph answering the question "How important are personal connections in a person's life?" These will then lead into tighter body paragraphs which we will work on tomorrow.

Friday, April 15, 2011

Today I provided you with notes on how to successfully lay out an essay as well as how to save properly. I have inserted the notes below. How to Fix Your Essay · * Your paper needs to be in Times New Roman, 12 point font · · Make sure you have a header on the right side that includes your first and last name, class, and date – that is all (no title or page numbers in it). ASK IF YOU DON’T KNOW HOW!!!! · Make sure you have page numbers inserted on the bottom right of the page. · Create a title using the key words from the question (not the title of the text you will use for evidence) · Make sure your title is centred and bolded (not in a larger font). Also, make sure all key words are capitalized (words over two letters). · Make sure that your paper is double spaced but with no extra spaces between the paragraphs. · Make sure that your paragraphs are indented. Introduction · Do you have an attention getter that is tied to the topic (NOT the text you will be using)? These are two sentences at a minimum (can be a quote explained, a little known fact, an anecdote, a definition, an opinion you plan to challenge). · Do you have a sentence that introduces the text including the author’s name, genre, title properly attributed, and overview of work as a whole? · Do you have three sentences that summarize the evidence as it will be used to prove your thesis? · Do you have a thesis (an arguable opinion about the topic that you will attempt to prove using the evidence)?

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Today we watched the latter version of the film Of Mice and Men. We then discussed the differences between this version, the novel and the other film version. The students then had to write out (in their journals) which one they liked the best out of the three: my reading it, the first version or this last one and provide reasons and commentary to support this.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Today, we watched a different version of the novel Of Mice and Men (starring Robert Blake).

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Today, we watched the rest of the feature film Of Mice and Men (John Malkovich). Students then answered the following question: How important are personal connections in a person's life? They had to make a stand and then support this with examples from either the movie or the book (or both).

Monday, April 11, 2011

Today,we watched the first part of the feature film Of Mice and Men (starring John Malkovich).

Friday, April 1, 2011

Today, we finished reading the novel Of Mice and Men. You then worked on the reading questions so you could hand them in before the break. Have a great break!

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Today, we read up to chapter 6 of the novel Of Mice and Men. Be sure to answer your reading questions for this.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Today, We read more of "Of Mice and Men" (up to the bottom of page 60). You then ansered the questions up to this point.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Today, we read up to page 28 of the novel Of Mice and Men. You are also to define the following words and answer your reading questions which I handed out yesterday: Mottled, recumbant, imperiously, dejectedly, scuffed, molified, pugnacious, morosely,

Monday, March 28, 2011

Today, I introduced the novel unit (Of Mice and Men). We discussed the Great Depression, the conditions of people in the U.S. and Canada, and the impact this had on the society. I also handed out reading questions for the novel. We came to the consensus that I would read it to the class as much as possible to help with consistency. If you don't feel you are a strong reader, it is best not to miss these classes.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Today, you wrote your Short Story comprehension exam (m.c.). I then instructed you to go to the library and take out the novel Of Mice and Men.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Today, you wrote a literary response essay for the short story unit. Remember that you write the comprehension exam (m.C.) for this unit tomorrow.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Today we discussed your in class essay (which you will write tomorrow). To do this well, you must be familiar with some of the short stories we have studied this unit (there are seven). Look back over the blogger to find out which ones. Also, you will need to be prepared to write your multiple choice exam for the short story unit on Thursday. If you are not going to be here, you will need to write it at an alternate time. This needs to be arranged with me.

Pasted here are some of the notes from today's class:
Literary Exploration Essay

You will be given a reading to read (in this case, from H.M.S. Ulysses - THIS WILL NOT BE THE TOPIC TOMORROW!)

Answer the Question (in this case, it is as follows):

What is your opinion of the idea that the dangers we face may lie beyond our understanding?

You must use a character from the short stories we’ve studied!!!!! (you can use more than one).

You must form an opinion to answer the question and then prove it using examples from the short story(s).


dangers characters face beyond understanding:

· “Jack, Jack Attack”: Babysitting (superhuman baby!)
· Quitters Inc.”: Quit smoking (serious punishments)
· “Troller”: Make money (danger of losing his life!)
· “For the Birds”: Sit on line by himself (big bird!!)

Monday, March 21, 2011

Today, we watched a film version of Harrison Bergeron. I also stressed that you have an in-class written exam (essay) on Wednesday, and your multiple choice unit exams for this unit (short stories) on Thursday. Be sure to reread the stories we have studied and study your terminology.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Today, you read the short story "Harrison Bergeron". I then gave you questions to answer. If you weren't here, the reading can be found on-line.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Today, we discussed how to write a literary response. This will be expanded upon tomorrow.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Today, you actively read the short story "The Troller" and then answered some questions. These are due tomorrow.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Today, you handed in your answers for the questions on the short story "Quitter's Inc." We then watched a film rendition of it. There were other quesitons you had to answer. These were due in-class. If you were not here, come and see me and I will give you the questions and you can watch the film (we will have to do this at lunch).

Monday, March 14, 2011

Today you were given the questions for the short story reading "Quitter's Inc." These are to be handed in by the end of class. I have posted them here for those who were absent; however, they will only be here for the duration of this week so copy and paste them.

English 20-2
“Quitter’s Inc.” Questions

INSTRUCTIONS: Using the computer, answer each of these questions fully.

1. What is the name of the main character?

2. Who are the members of his family?

3. Based on the story as a whole, what type of person is his wife? Provide examples to back this.

4. Who suggested that the main character attend “Quitter’s Inc.?

5. When it comes to smoking, what is different about when this story takes place and Canada today?

6. Who is the person who will oversee the main character’s smoking cessation program?

7. Based on the story as a whole, what type of person is the smoking cessation man? Provide examples to back this.

8. What is the success rate of this smoking cessation program?

9. What will happen if the main character lights up? Explain the steps from first time through.

10. As steps leading to a climax of the conflict, describe the moments when the main character thinks of lighting up. What stops him?

11. In addition to not smoking, what else does this program monitor?

12. What happens if a person doesn’t meet the goals of the other item being monitored?

13. What does the word “Pragmatist” mean? Why is this word mentioned so many times in the story?

14. Why did this program get set up? Who funds it?

15. When does the program expect the main character to pay his bill? Why do they do it this way?

16. How might this story end if he wanted a divorce from his wife?

17. What is the theme of this story (what are we to have learned)?

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Today, we read the short story "Quitters' Inc.". I didn't assign any work. Have a great weekend (If you weren't here, you can actually find this one on-line: it was written by Stephen Kind... just Google search for it).

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Today, you were given time to catch up on due assignments. Those who were finished worked on defininf terminology which I have pasted below. All of the definitions can be found in your Passages textbook.

Racist language
Rhetorical question
Sexist language
Simile
Stereotype
Style
Suspense
Symbol
Theme
Thesis
TonePassive voice:
1. Active voice:
2. Allusion:
3. Bias:
4. Cliché:
5. Personification
6. Colloquialism:
7. Connotation:
8. Denotation:
9. Diction:
10. Figurative
11. Language:
12. Hyperbole:
13. Idiom:
14. Imagery
15. Satire
16. Metaphor
17. Narration
18. Narrator
19. Onomatopoeia
20. Oxymoron

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Today, you were given some instructions about how to read short stories. I have posted them below.
You were then given an excerpt from "Goin to Town" to read using these instructions. Once you showed this to me, you were given questions to answer (in your portfolio with a copy of the excerpt if you weren't here). Finally, you were given a small number of multiple choice questions to answer (also in your portfolio if you were absent).

Friday, March 4, 2011

Today, you were given 17 words of terminology that you need to know for this unit. You were to define them and hand them in. You were then to read the short story "The Visitor" in Passages 11 (p. 117).

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Today, I introduced the short story unit. We discussed some of the common terms and the plotline. We then watched some Pixar shorts to get the hang of the plotine.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Today, you wrote your unit exam. If you were not here, you need to make arrangements to do it.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Today, you wrote your first Persuasive writing in context essay. If you were not here, you will need to make this up on your own time.
I also handed out a sheet explaining what must be done to do well on this type of writing (these exams are to be no longer than 50 minutes so you had lots of time).
Keep in mind that you write the test for this unit (short answer, Multiple choice, matching) tomorrow.

Monday, February 28, 2011

Today, you worked on memorizing the terms you will need to know in order to do well on your unit exam on Wednesday. Tomorrow is the written part of the unit exam. It will be one that you will either have to write a speech or letter to. You will be given a question, as well as a number of perspectives, then you will have to develop your own opinion and support it with evidence provide or what you know from personal experience.

Friday, February 25, 2011

Today, we viewed the commercials students had analyzed for their major assignment for this unit. Keep in mind that you start exams for this unit next week.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Today was a catchup day. Tomorrow you will be able to show the commercial you chose in your earlier major assignment. If you weren't here, look at your marks, see what you are missing, and get them in.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Today you read the article "How Marketers Target Kids". You were then given questions to answer, which were to be done by the end of class.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Today, I discussed late assignments with the class. These all need to be in ASAP in order to keep your marks up (look back on Bloger to see what we have done).
I then handed out the reading "Marketing to Young Children" and the questions. These are due for tomorrow.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Today, you wrote a quiz on terminology words from your reading yesterday. You then were given the article "Marketing to Teens and Tweens" which you were to read actively (highlighting main points, highlighting then defining key words, highlighting possible thesis). When finished, you were given questions to answer fully (flipping the question into the beginning of an answer: ie: What did Bob Like = Bob likes...). These are due on Tuesday.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Today you were given the reading "Advertising: It's Everywhere" to read. Once finished, you were given questions to answer. These questions needed to be answered FULLY (meaning flipping the question into a statement and putting that on your page. I also wanted this typed using the computers in the room (ICT outcomes).
After this, you were to work on your definitions and any words present in the readings as you will have a quiz on this tomorrow. If you were not here, the readings and questions are in your portfolio. Come in in the morning to retrieve them (study the reading's terms as well as general terms).

Monday, February 14, 2010

Today, you worked on locating a commercial you liked, pasting that address on a word page, and then answering the questions that I gave you fully (flipping the question into the beginning of the statement). These are due for Wednesday. I have posted the questions below for those who were absent.

Commercials

1. What is the product being sold?
2. What is the name of the company selling it?
3. What is happening in the commercial (summarize it)?
4. Who is the target audience for this commercial? Explain why you think this group you’ve chosen is the target audience.
5. Does the ad use any gimmicks to sell their product? If so, what are they?
6. Does the ad use any weasel words to sell their product? If so, what are they?
7. Does the ad use any unfinished comparisons to sell their product? If so, what are they?
8. Does the ad give a “new” or “improved” claim to sell their product? If so, what is it?
9. Does the ad use sound or auditory appeal to sell their product? What is it (jingles, songs that might be of interest to a certain audience, etc).
10. Which of the following advertising appeals is the ad using?

Complimenting the consumer
Testimonials
The bandwagon appeal
The snob/glamour appeal
The plain folks appeal
Sex appeal
Health, safety, and security appeal
Humour appeal

Friday, February 11, 2011

Today I handed out a sheet of terms for you to define. We then watched videos relating to advertising techniques and subliminal messages. If you weren't here, define the terms below and search on UTube for videos that have this topic.

Define the following advertising terms:

target audience
sound or auditory appeal
brand name
gimmicks
advertising claims
weasel words
unfinished comparisons
the "new and improved" claim
complementing the consumer
testimonials
the bandwagon appeal
the snob/glamour appeal
the plain folks appeal
sex appeal
health, safety, and security appeal
humour appeal

virtual advertising

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Today, I presented more notes on types of advertising appeals. If you were not here, they will be in your portfolio.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Today, you worked further on the activity we started yesterday. Students will present them tomorrow.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Today, we discussed stream of consciousness writing and journaling
and then you wrote your first journal.
After this, I handed out a sheet for you to do in which you located commercials (online) that demonstrated the appeals and weasel words we have studied. This could be done individually or in pairs. Ihave put a copy of this assignment in your portfolio.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Today, you read silently for 20 minutes in order to determine how many pages you can read in that period of time.
I then presented some notes on ways advertizers hook viewers into purchasing their products. If you weren't here, these will be in your portfolio.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Today, we watched a clip from Friends and discussed who the audience might be, as well as what product placement is and what we found in it. I then handed out a sheet relating to the viewing of Saturday Night Life yesterday. You had to calculate the number of commercial segments there were, the average number of commercials per segment, and then group the commercials you saw into categories. You then had to determine the type of viewer the marketers think watch this show.
If you were not here, you need to do this activity watching an hour long show at home.
This is due on Monday.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Today, we watched a television show and recorded what was being sold (wrote downt the commercial products). This will help to lead us into the first essay.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Today, We discussed the ways to ensure that a question is fully answered (this included an exercise). I then showed a couple of commercials which we discussed (Old Spice and parody of Axe). From here, I introduced this unit which will include learning about commercials and media as well as writing arguments.
Finally, I handed out and went over a sheet of terms that they will need to understand to study media.