English 12

 Greetings Englishers!

We're getting into some of the big work of English 12. We're going to start off taking a close look at Edgar Allan Poe. Indeed, you've probably red The Tell-Tale Heart back when you were younger. Now, we're going to read "Masque of the Red Death". There's a copy of the story in the TEXT section.

This will be our first DEJ.

ELL3 Article Questions

1. What is a "lowrider"?
2. What is the purpose of the gathering described in the text?
3. What was the reason for the 36-year ban on lowriders cruising in San Jose?
4. How did the lowriding community feel about the cruising ban?
5. How did the lowrider culture originate?
6. Why did Mexican Americans create lowriders?
7. What role did lowriders play in the Mexican American community?
8. How did the lowrider culture spread throughout California?
9. Why is lowrider culture important to David Polanco?

After that, write an extended response (1 paragraph is ok) for the following:

• Thinking about the reason lowriders were banned, was this an effective way to solve the real problem in San Jose? Was there a better solution to solve this problem?

ELL3

 Questions about our news article!

1. What are some of the good things people are using chat GPT for?
2. What kind of nefarious things people are using chat GPT for?
3. What are some of the cybersecurity concerns regarding chat GPT?
4. Your Opinion: How will AI like chat GPT change the world?
5. Does new technology like this make some education unimportant?

ELL3

 Greetings all!

Here's a link to the article you should read today. Below is our work:

1. Summarize in 4 sentences or less.
2. How cold did it get in Finland?
3. How are people in Oulu surviving the cold while biking?
4. How has this city made it possible for so many people to use their bike? (there's more than one way!)
5. Would you ride a bike in a place this cold? What would convince you do ride a bike in weather like this?

English 10

 These are the topics we'll work with today:

1. Should public schools have dress codes? (Dress codes might have certain length requirements for skirts/dresses, as an example)
2. Should the death penalty be used to punish violent criminals?
3. Should corporations be allowed to advertise in schools?
4. Should music with explicit lyrics be allowed at school dances?

GLA 10 Prep

 Here's the link you'll need for the practice exam.

Here are some student examples with their scores.

Use the structure of POINT EXAMPLE EXPLAIN - as you write body paragraphs for your argumentative composition. Check out this paragraph:

English 10: Creative Writing

Considering theme in creative writing is central to putting together a good story. Here's what we've covered - effective criteria for creative writing:

1. The author and narrator are not the same person.
2. Plan the conflict. PvSociety and PvS works wonderfully in the first person. PvP is easier in the third person.
3. Show, don't tell: describe the experience of the story with the narrator's experiences in mind. Someone who has struggled their whole life to eat is going to see the world very differently than someone who has never struggled. Show your audience what kind of person your narrator is. Doing this accomplishes setting and character.
4. Plan the scope. These are short stories, not novels. Over the course of the narrative, keep major events down to a minimum. Many short narratives take place entirely on the front steps, or at a diner, or a bus stop. It takes some very careful writing and planning to have multiple locations while keeping the story brief.
5. Punctuate your dialogue properly. Make dialogue meaningful and impactful. Avoid shallow conversations unless you intend your audience to interpret the conversation as superficial.
6. Use theme to shape every other element of fiction. Theme is the big one - the lesson or message of the story. Planning a theme ahead of time will allow you make the conflicts important. Other elements like symbol and plot can all be informed by theme. 

On Speaking...

 

ELL 1/2 Topic Presentations

 Hello ELL level 1/2 students!

For the presentation, you must find a partner. Please choose an animal. You will present about this animal and teach the class. You can choose any animal you like. Please do your own writing. Don't copy from other websites. You can use computers to make a PowerPoint to show us and teach us about the animal. You should speak for 3-5 minutes. You and your partner should speak.

1. Teach us about the place where the animal lives (habitat)
2. Is this animal common?
3. Teach us about what kind of things the animal eats.
4. Teach us some other interesting things about this animal.
5. Show us some pictures!

ELL3 Current Events

Here's our current event project for ELL3 social studies:

1. Make a pair with one other person.
2. Find a newspaper article. Check these websites - they are all reliable, but some of them will have more difficult English than others.
1. cbc.ca
2. https://www.nytimes.com/ca/    < - this one is tough
3. cnbc.com
4. https://www.ctvnews.ca/
5. https://globalnews.ca/
3. Read the article together.
4. Create a short presentation - 3-5 minutes. You can use a computer to make a PowerPoint or Google Slide. Tell us:
1. An article summary. Give us the key details so we can understand the news.
2. Is there more background about this problem or news?
3. Who is it about, who does it affect? How does it affect them?
4. Why is this news important?
5. What can we do with the knowledge this news offers?

Final Deadline

 As a reminder - today is the final deadline for semester 1 work. Students who have not given me their missing work will be getting a zero for that assignment this term. This will have a profound impact on  your marks.

Harrison Bergeron today! 

#1-#4. Equality.

 

Wrapping up Animal Farm

 Greetings English 10 - here are a few items:

1. Reread "The Psychology of Dictators" - this text is key in order for you to answer the essay question on Friday. With 80 minutes, you won't have time to read the entire thing during class. Look through the reading for evidence that explains what a dictator is.
2. Bring your chapter package on Monday next week. We should focus exclusively on the essay for Friday.

When you come in on Friday, put your bags at the front of the room or on the couch. You should only have your green sheet essay guide, pink rubric, "Psychology of Dictators," and Animal Farm.

More Animal Farm!

 Greetings English 10!

Today your allegory handout is due. We'll be moving on to chapter 7 and 8 - and our first extended response. There are two. At least one paragraph for each:

1. How has ignorance played a role in allowing the pigs' rise to power?
2. What indications are there of the pigs' corruption?

Also, your creative project is coming up this week. Friday, October 28 is the due date. Essay next week!

Animal Farm - Ch. 6

Chapter 6

1. Find an example of satire in Chapter 6, and explain how it uses irony.
2. What kind of behaviour are the pigs doing that makes them appear more human?
3. Which of the seven commandments are being broken?
4. What did squealer say to protect the pigs?
5. Who does Napoleon blame for the disaster at the end of chapter 6? Why doesn't he tell the obvious truth?

English 10: Animal Farm

 Chapter 3 – 5 questions

1. Where did the milk and apples go?
2. How does Squealer persuade the animals to support the pigs? Provide evidence.
3. What conflicts have we seen so far in Animal Farm? Provide examples, as well.
4. How does Benjamin the donkey feel about the revolution? Provide evidence.
5. Did the two animals who got the Animal Hero First Class decoration deserve it?
6. Why did the animals feel their harvest was especially delicious?
7. Why did Mollie leave? Could people like Mollie contribute to a revolution like the one in Animal Farm?
8. How did Snowball earn support from the animals?
9. How did Napoleon earn support from the animals?
10. Why didn’t boxer reject Napoleon after he took over the farm?

English 10

Chapter 2

1. At one point in Chapter 2, Moses describes Sugarcandy Mountain as a place where animals may go when they die. Since this book is an allegory – what is the true story Orwell may be referring to with the character “Moses” and his stories of Sugarcandy Mountain? 
2. What do the animals with Mr. Jones’ farming equipment and tools immediately after the rebellion? How might this change the way animals take care of the farm after Mr. Jones is gone? 
3. What do you suppose happened to the milk at the end of chapter 2? How does this break the rules suggested by Old Major’s speech in chapter 1? 
4. Why are the animals so eager to do a big, successful harvest at the end of chapter 2?

Animal Farm Chapter 1

 Animal Farm Chapter 1

1. List the animals that enter the barn for Old Major’s speech.
2. If we were to connect each type of animal to a different kind of person in society, what kind of personalities do you think Orwell is describing? Describe the kinds of people represented by the following animals from Chapter 1: 
1. Boxer 
2. Pigs 
3. Mollie 
4. The Cat 
5. The Rats 

Scarlet Ibis

 Here's our work for Scarlet Ibis by James Hurst.

1. Find as many examples of foreshadowing as you can 😁
2. Characterizing the narrator is a little tricky. He/She does amazing things for Doodle - but often recognizes their own pride and cruelty. Describe the narrator in as much detail as possible.

Our big question. This should be a multi-paragraph response.

• Should the narrator be blamed for Doodle's death? Keep in mind both sides to this argument:
• He pushed Doodle, knowing he likely had a heart condition.
• He taught Doodle how to live freely. 

The Lady or the Tiger: English

Here's a classic dilemma - the lady or the tiger? The short story is in the big orange book in the room. The meaning of this question becomes apparent as you read the story.

Work in groups, and brainstorm some evidence to this big question: was it the lady, or the tiger? There is no certain answer, but there are some strong hints within.

With this evidence, fill in the two column chart on the board - one side LADY - the other side TIGER. Consider the kind of relationship the man has with his lady friend. Consider the nature of the King and his family. There may be conflict or consensus on this - every class is different. Good luck!