Coraline

 Greetings everyone!

Here are the writing items for Coraline:

1. What is the purpose of the Black Cat?
2. What are the conflicts in this story?
3. What does this story teach us about boredom?
4. What does this story teach us about being alone?

Pick ONE question and answer with several paragraphs. Use examples from the movie to explain your answer.

How is Coraline's struggle similar to many other girls?

Many people feel that Coraline is horror. Why do we watch horror movies?

English 10: Editorial

"It's always good news when you're closer to the truth." - Fabiola Gianotti 

This week, we'll be writing an editorial. Before you begin, you'll need to determine the topic of your editorial, and establish some background information - this means research. The easiest editorials will be on topics that are contentious. That is, topics that a controversial or easily have two strongly argued sides will have much more presence, visibility, and content. 

We'll be writing on Wednesday, May 11. For Monday and Tuesday, follow these steps:

1. Decide on a topic. Be careful where you get your information. News websites that are privately sponsored may have political bias behind the choices on their website. What news they publish, what they have to say about it are affected by BIAS. As much as we talk about avoiding bias, it is almost always influences what and how we write. Always get your information from a variety of sources to ensure that you get accurate information. A few examples of fairly reliable news sources: CBC, CNBC (Business), New York Times. There are many more.
2. Research your topic area. Use a variety of sources - not just from one media corporation. Beware - the further from central politics you get on your sources, the more likely it will be that bias will affect the accuracy of the material. Check to see if you can verify your facts with other sources. As you search, keep an eye out for LOADED TERMS as this is an easy way to spot bias. Loaded terms rely on their connotation to influence the audience to think and feel the way the author wants you to think and feel.
3. Find several sources to help you establish your position. The first part of your editorial will be establishing context. Having a solid base on which you will make your opinion is key.

We will have computers to type our editorials. This must be done in class. Do not begin writing outside of class time. I'll check your computers at the beginning and during the activity to ensure academic honesty. For the writing, you may have:

1. A Google doc with citations and sources to establish context. A single point-form note to remind you of this article is OK. Use as many as you think is necessary to establish the context of your editorial.
2. An image or two works wonders on your messaging! Feel free to use the internet to find one, but be sure to cite it, as you should also cite the sources you use.
3. Phones must be away on Wednesday.

Chapter 15

1. How had the men brought Parvana’s Father home?

2. Parvana was crying and clinging to her father. What was she supposed to offer the two men?

3. Father was very ill after being in jail. Mrs. Weera nursed him until he was well enough to travel. What did Father say about Parvana when he was well enough to notice?

4. How did all the women help Father during his recuperation?

5. What were Shauzia’s plans?

6. What did the visitor tell Mrs. Weera about Mazar-e-Sharif?

7. What did Father plan to do?

8. What did Father say when Parvana asked him why the Taliban let him go?

9. Where did Mrs. Weera plan to go? Who was she taking with her?

10. How does Parvana say good-bye to the Window Woman?

11. What does Mrs. Weera show Parvana as they are getting ready to leave? Why does she hide it under her burqa?

12. How does Shauzia leave Afghanistan? What does she give Parvana?

13. Parvana rode a truck with her father to go to find her mother and siblings. As they left Kabul, what did they see?

Chapter 14

1. Parvana is sitting in a dark building after curfew in the rain. She is waiting to go home when it is raining less. She hears a cry, and lights a match from her cigarette tray. She found the woman. She told her she was really a girl. Why didn’t the woman answer?

2. Parvana offered to go home and get Mrs. Weera’s burqa. The woman would not let go of Parvana. After giving the woman some food, what decision did Parvana have to make?

3. How long had Kabul been under curfew? What was it like before that time?

4. What did Parvana think to herself to feel brave and take the woman through the city streets to her home?

5. Mrs. Weera was relieved when they arrived home. She wondered why Parvana had brought the woman without a burqa. What did Mrs. Weera do for the woman?

6. How long did it take before the young woman, Homa, talked? What did they learn from the woman?

7. What did Parvana do after learning the Taliban had captured Mazar-e-Sharif?

8. Who was in Parvana’s apartment late one afternoon?

Chapter 13

1. What news did Parvana hear when she went home?

2. Did Nooria want to get married and move?

3. Was the entire family planning to go to Mazar-e-Sherif for the wedding? Were they planning to take Parvana with them? 

4. Parvana was mad for three days. Finally, mother decided to leave her there, but not because of her behavior. Due to Parvana’s boyish appearance, it would be too difficult to explain to anyone. They couldn’t take the chance. Parvana was scared for the family. What gift did she buy for Nooria?

5. Parvana missed her family even though she had more room and more free time. What did she do with some of her time?

Finding Nemo

Over the last two days, we watched Finding Nemo. Think about the journey of this film. Both the father (Marlin) and Nemo travel great distances to find each other again. Was it through hard work that they found each other? Or was it just a lot of really good luck?

Why do you feel this way?

What lesson do you think Andrew Stanton (Director) may be trying to teach us with this film?

Chapter 11

1. Parvana’s family knew something was wrong when she arrived home late and wet. Parvana was planning to show only part of the money to her family, thinking she would save the money for the tray. Why did she cry when asked about her day, and why did she show all of the money?

2. Did Mother want Parvana to continue digging bones? What did Nooria say about it? 

3. At the end of two weeks, when the girls had trays, they could follow the crowd to earn more money. Where did they follow the crowd? What terrible things did they see and learn? 

Chapter 12 

1. Why did Parvana stay at home for a few days?

2. When the bread ran out, did the family members tell Parvana to go back to work?

3. Had Shauzia also stayed at home a few days? What was her secret?

4. Where did Shauzia want to go? Why? How would she get there?

5. What was happening to Shauzia? How was she changing?

6. What would happen to Shauzia’s family if she left?

7. Does Parvana want to go with Shauzia? What does she wish?

8. What secret does Parvana share with Shauzia?

9. What did the secret school teach about? Who was the teacher?

10. The Window Woman continued to toss tiny gifts to Parvana. One afternoon, what did Parvana hear from the house?

Breadwinner

 Questions for Breadwinner Chapter 10

1. What is the new job Parvana and Shauzia have decided to try? They plan to not tell their families, and to save part of the money for something other than food. Why?
2. Parvana had her father’s writing things and blanket with her. Why? Why did she wash her clothes and hair as best she could at the water tap before going home at the end of the day?
3. Why didn’t Parvana go home for lunch, and would her mother be worried when she arrived home late?
4. Why were the girls possibly in danger just having to go to the bathroom?
5. What became the mascot of the girls as they pulled bones out of the earth? What did the girls think about the bones and their job?
6. Did they know what the bone broker did with the bones? 

Breadwinner

 Chapter 8

1.  When Parvana returned home from working in the market, who was moving in?
2. What did Parvana show Mrs. Weera and Mother?
3. What do Parvana and Mrs. Weera use to move Mrs. Weera’s things?
4. What happens when Maryam finally gets to go outside with Parvana after a year inside the room?
5. Why can’t Parvana stay outside very long in the market? Why does she have to go home at noon?
6. After the family realized Parvana could help them go outside, tell about some of the things they did outside.
7. Tell about when Parvana thought she saw her father in the market.
8. What was happening from the window near the market place?
9. Who did she see at the end of chapter eight? 

Breadwinner

 Chapter 7

1. In this chapter, Parvana takes over the job her father used to have. She goes to market, sits on the blanket, and reads and writes for people. She tried to sell a few items, and then she shops for food. She was to say she was Father’s nephew, Kaseem, and not tell Father was in jail. Tell about the Talib who wanted a letter read and Parvana’s feelings about the experience.

Breadwinner Chapter 6

 For today:

1. In this chapter, Mrs. Weera, Mother and Nooria help to turn Parvana into a boy. Describe what they do to make her look like a boy, the story to help, and how Parvana feels about becoming a boy.

Breadwinner Chapter 4 and 5

 Greetings everyone! Here are the questions!

Chapter 4:

1. Describe how Mother and Parvana looked and felt after the long walk to and from the prison.
2. Who had to buy food now?

Chapter 5:

1. Why was Parvana scared to go shopping alone? How were women supposed to shop? Why did the Talib hit Parvana with the stick for shopping? 
2. When Parvana ran away she was clutching bread too tightly, and she ran into someone. Why did the person notice how she was carrying the bread? How did the person help Parvana’s family?
3. Why couldn’t Parvana have a drink of water before it was boiled?

ELL3

 Breadwinner Chapter 3

1. Why did Parvana want a light on in the night?
2. Why did mother decide to go to jail to try to help Father? What was the walk to jail like?
3. Given all that has happened, it seems impossible to reach Parvana’s father. Write a letter as Parvana to her father.

English 10

 Find 3 articles from the link below that are shown as false. For each one, write:

1. Why was this news item popularized?
2. How does it attempt to escalate or de-escalate the war in Ukraine?
3. How was it proven false, or miscaptioned?

Here's the link:

https://www.snopes.com/collections/rumors-russia-attack-collection/

ELL3

 Breadwinner Questions. Once we finish Chapter 1 and 2, please do the following questions!

1. Chapter 1 introduces us to the world of The Breadwinner. What kind of life does Parvana live?
2. What kind of place does Parvana's family live in?
3. What disability does Parvana's father have?
4. What happened at the end of chapter 2 that changed Parvana's family?
5. Why did this happen?
6. Predict what kinds of new problems will this create for the family.
7. Who is Hossain, and what happened to him?

The Veldt

Greetings ELL3! Here's our work for The Veldt:

1. How have advancements in technology affected the kids? The parents? The family as a whole?
2. Why do you think the story was originally called “the World the Children Made”?
3. What explanations can you give for the father’s wallet and the mother’s scarf being in the nursery? What does this suggest about the events that follow?
4. How does Bradbury create and maintain suspense? Give examples from the story.
5. Where is the irony in this story? What kind of irony is it? What is a satire?

THE VELDT

A Bolt of White Cloth

 Greetings, English 10!

Today, we're reading "A Bolt of White Cloth" by Leon Rooke. Plenty of symbolism and characterization await us within. First, some personal response questions.

1. How would you define "innocence"?
2. Is the way people perceive you more important than the way you are?
3. Are trust and honour no longer valued in today's society? What about love?

The Cask of Amontillado

 Once we read this story in class, we'll begin some questions and quotes. 

1. What are some examples of irony in "The Cask of Amontillado"? (Any kind of citation)
2. Why did Montresor seek revenge of Fortunato? (Integration)
3. What weakness does Fortunato possess that Montresor plans to take advantage of? (Integration)
4. What is Fortunato's state when Montresor meets him? What is he wearing? How does he act? (Integration)
5. Where does Montresor lure Fortunato? (Integration)
6. Describe the setting in "The Cask of Amontillado." Why is the setting important in creating tension?
7. Is Montresor's coat of arms symbolically appropriate for his character? Explain.
8. In the first paragraph of the story, Montresor explains his requirements for a satisfactory revenge. Do you think his revenge meets these requirements? Explain. 

November 30 - Breadwinner

 Breadwinner final writing response. Today we're finishing with The Breadwinner. Here are your final writing prompts - please provide full and complete responses:

1. Predict. What will happen next to Parvana and her father? Think about where they are headed and what we might expect to see there. Use your knowledge of the novel to write an informed prediction. 1 paragraph
2. Movie. In what ways did the film differ than the novel? Explain in as much detail as possible. 1 paragraph.
3. How has Parvana changed over the course of the novel?

Chapter 15

1. How had the men brought Parvana’s Father home? 
2. Parvana was crying and clinging to her father. What was she supposed to offer the two men? 
3. Father was very ill after being in jail. Mrs. Weera nursed him until he was well enough to travel. What did Father say about Parvana when he was well enough to notice? 
4. How did all the women help Father during his recuperation?
5. What were Shauzia’s plans?
6. What did the visitor tell Mrs. Weera about Mazar-e-Sharif?
7. What did Father plan to do?
8. What did Father say when Parvana asked him why the Taliban let him go?
9. Where did Mrs. Weera plan to go? Who was she taking with her?
10. How does Parvana say good-bye to the Window Woman?
11. What does Mrs. Weera show Parvana as they are getting ready to leave? Why does she hide it under her burqa?
12. How does Shauzia leave Afghanistan? What does she give Parvana?
13. Parvana rode a truck with her father to go to find her mother and siblings. As they left Kabul, what did they see?

Chapter 14

1. Parvana offered to go home and get Mrs. Weera’s burqa. The woman would not let go of Parvana. After giving the woman some food, what decision did Parvana have to make?
2. How long had Kabul been under curfew? What was it like before that time?
3. What did Parvana think to herself to feel brave and take the woman through the city streets to her home?
4. Mrs. Weera was relieved when they arrived home. She wondered why Parvana had brought the woman without a burqa. What did Mrs. Weera do for the woman?
5. How long did it take before the young woman, Homa, talked? What did they learn from the woman?
6. What did Parvana do after learning the Taliban had captured Mazar-e-Sharif?
7. Who was in Parvana’s apartment late one afternoon?