English 11 E, Friday, Oct. 29th

Excellent work today!! ALL USSR forms for October are now due. Thank you.

Your costumes looked great. I could see a lot of thesis statements really coming together--you have a plan, proof, and an attitude to prove your points. Well done. Most people finished body para. three in class today.

Homework: Write the conclusion. Follow the guidelines on the green sheet. Edit your essay as best you can using all the checklists in the package.

Bring a typed, double spaced, proofread draft to class Monday for peer editing.
Your draft will be marked. Make sure it is ready to go. There is no time to print it out during class.

Writing 12, Friday, Oct. 29

Wasn't that film about the oldest holocaust survivor amazing?

We read three poems today looking carefully at what we mean by "surprise" in poetry and how to find the exact detail to bring a poem from good to AMAZING. Be sure to pick up the handouts and borrow the notes from a friend.

Finally, we discussed how to submit our poems to a magazine. You need to choose three poems and you need to choose a magazine. Once you do that, you need to buy a large envelope, a small envelope and three stamps. Bring everything, all ready to go, Monday, Nov. 8. Good luck. You can find magazines on the web. Try this link: http://www.magazinescanada.ca/consumer?cat_id=11

Also, check the library. You want to read the magazine and/or their website before submitting to ensure that you like the poetry they publish. Think of it like choosing a new friend.

English 9, Thurs. Oct. 28

Excellent work today.

Bring your body paragraph to class, Friday. Make sure it's double spaced.
I'll return your introductions in class tomorrow.
We'll write body paragraph 2 in class. This weekend, write body paragraph 3. Monday, we'll write the conclusion in class and Tuesday, bring a typed, proofread copy to class (double spaced) for peer editing.

I'll also show you how to set up the title page.

English 11 E, Thurs. Oct. 28

I'll return your edited introductions Friday. Be sure to complete body paragraph 1 and 2 for tomorrow. We'll work on number 3 and the conclusion in class tomorrow.

Bring a double spaced draft of your essay for peer editing on Monday.

Writing 12, Thursday, Oct. 28

One more week until your manuscripts are due. Be sure to read and re-read the criteria. Do not get caught. What do they say in Law 12? Ignorance of the law is no excuse.
Thanks for your poems today. Wonderful.
We start fiction on Monday.

English 9, Wed. Oct. 27

Great job on creating the introductions today. Good copy tomorrow. Make sure you fill in the check-list on the green sheet when you proofread.

English 11E, Wed. Oct. 27

Today, we learned how to turn the quotation log into an essay. This lesson is one of our crucial lessons. I'm sorry if you missed it.

However, if you were away today and do not understand the instructions below, be sure to call a friend. You must have your essay introduction ready to submit Thursday for editing purposes. You can get ideas from the English website www.claremont-school.ca/english as well.

Re-read the quotations in your log and your responses looking for quotes which connect. Divide the quotes into three categories (topics). Highlight the quotes so it's easy to see which quotes fit which category. Name each topic/colour with a word or a phrase. For example: loss of innocence, confronting the truth, irony etc.

Next: Distill all of your responses into a good body paragraph topic sentence (thesis) i.e. a sentence which summarizes the main point of all your hard work. This sentence needs to be in formal English. It will become the topic sentence to a body paragraph in your essay. A good place to look for examples is in the green-coloured package sample essay we used for our short story essays.

Repeat this process for all three colours.

Now, take the three sentences and combine them into one, clear sentnece.

This sentence will be the thesis to your essay because it grew organically from your research, which means you will easily be able to prove it.

A thesis needs to be provocative.
It needs to answer the question, so what? Why should we care?
Your thesis is based on your research and your inferences; therefore, it is your opinion, your synthesis of your topic--your ah-ha moment! No one has to agree with you BUT you must be able to prove it. Think of the thesis like a debate topic.

Write the 6 to 7 sentence introduction to the essay. Double space it. Follow the literary must-haves list while you edit and submit it to me tomorrow.

Essay is due Tuesday. Follow the guidelines in the green package and you will do well.

English 9, Tues. Oct. 26th

You all worked well in the lab today. Quotation log is due Wednesday. Bring three coloured markers or highliters to class. We'll be turning the log into an essay in class, Wednesday.

As you edit your log tonight, check the criteria sheet. Ensure you have met the key points. Check that all the quotations are cited properly.

Make sure you have an epiphany (an ah-ha moment) in every response. Answer the question so what? What does the quotation reveal about your topic?

English 11 E, Tues. Oct. 26th

You all worked well in the lab today. Quotation log is due Wednesday. Bring three coloured markers or highliters to class. We'll be turning the log into an essay in class, Wednesday. As you edit your log tonight, check the criteria sheet. Ensure you have met the key points. Check that all the quotations are cited properly.
Make sure you have an epiphany in every response. Answer the question so what? What does the quotation reveal about your topic?

Writing 12, Tues. Oct. 26th

Great work in the computer lab today. Be sure to follow the criteria for the manuscript. Carli and Katherine, be sure to pick up a copy of the criteria.

Wed.: Workshop and Robyn and Eryn present Leonard Cohen.
Thurs: Two new poems are due. Our final day in the computer lab is Thurs. Manuscripts (both electronic and paper versions) are due Nov. 4th. No lates accepted. If you are absent, get someone to drive it to school. The manuscript is worth 50% of term one.

We start fiction next week.

We'll be going to SMU in two weeks. We'll also be getting our poetry ready to send out to magazines.

Writing 12, Thurs. Oct. 21

Wonderful reading in the library today. Well done.

Last day for USSR form responses is Friday, Oct. 29.
Last day for literary event from response for term 1 is Oct. 25.

Manuscripts due Nov. 4th. Find time to edit this weekend.

Two new poems due Thursday.

English 11E, Thurs. Oct. 21

We finished our discussion of the novel today. Filled the board many times with notes.
Next, we began the quotation log. Make sure to email yourself 12 to 15 quotes on your essay topic by Monday. Meet in the computer lab on Monday.

Bring the purple quote log criteria checklists as well. We'll go over the criteria. It is worth 100 marks.

Last day for a literary event response for term 1 is Monday, Oct. 25. Go to the Black Stilt Friday night at 7:30. Get their early as it will be crowded. $3.00 entry fee. Be sure to buy a drink or treat as well to support the owner.

English 9, Thurs. Oct. 21

Good work today. We took a lot of notes on John's epiphanies in chapter 15.

Quotation Log: make sure to email yourself 12 to 15 of the best quotations you can find on your topic. Cite them properly. Meet in the computer lab (centre lab) on Monday.

We will be starting the log then. It will take two days.

All USSR forms for October are due on Friday, Oct. 29th.

Read. Read. Read.

If you have been away, make sure to submit your chart, paragraph, and diary by Monday, too.

English 9, Wed. Oct. 20

We completed vocab. words 19-21. Finish reading the novel tonight.
Quiz on chapter 15 tomorrow.

If you have been away, read yesterday's blog as we did three assignments yesterday.

We also wrote in our diaries today.

English 9, Tuesday, October 19th

BIG SURPRISE PARAGRAPH IN CLASS TODAY! Based on chapters 10, 11, and 12 or more if you have read ahead, discuss the impact (effect) Mr. Pignati is having on John and Lorraine, in a literary paragraph of 250-350 words.

As soon as you see the words, literary paragraph, you know to turn to several sheets in your notebook or on the English website www.claremont-school.ca/english Handouts such as our literary must-haves list, our how to cite sheet, how to incorporate quotes, transition sheet and our vocabulary list. Always a good idea to have a thesaurus handy for synonyms, too.

First, create a WHAT / So What chart (worth 20 marks) On the evidence side (WHAT) have your best five pieces of evidence (Mr. Pignati's behaviour, remarks, etc) that influence these troubled teens. ON the so what side of your chart, write why each piece of evidence is important. What does it reveal? Include at least one quotation from the novel which is cited correctly.

You may start with this hook or use your own

" . . . maybe as simple as Mr. Pignati [is], he [knows] something about love and having fun that other poeple [do] not" (92). YOU WILL HAVE TO CREATE YOUR OWN THESIS. REMEMBER, A THESIS MUST ANSWER THE QUESTION WITH INSIGHT. 

Homework: Read chapters 13 and 14 and write a 100 word informal diary entry from Mr. Pignati's point of view to show how he is feeling about his realtionship with John and Lorraine.

REMEMBER, INFORMAL DOES NOT MEAN INCORRECT. SPELLING, GRAMMAR, DICTION AND SENTENCE VARIETY ARE ALWAYS IMPORTANT.

English 11E, Tuesday, October 19

Today, we worked really hard to complete the Cite test and five questions on the novel.

YOU MUST KNOW HOW TO CITE BY NOW. YOU HAVE ALL THE INFO YOU NEED IN YOUR BINDER. DON'T BE LAZY ABOUT IT AS YOU WILL LOSE MARKS.

Here are the five questions on the novel. Complete them at home and bring them to class. You can do the cite test during USSR tomorrow.

Part D: For each question below, respond in a few strong sentences. Brainstorm your responses before you start writing as I’m looking for insight here. Also, support your inferences/opinions with evidence from the text and cite correctly. You may refer to your notes and/or your novel for references and ideas. Each question is worth 6 marks.

1. Discuss how the following quote: “Piggy was so full of delight and expanding liberty in Jack’s departure, so full of pride in his contribution to the good of society, that he helped to fetch wood” (142) reveals Piggy’s naivety toward the thesis that innate evil must be recognized. 
2. Why is it important that Piggy “placed [the conch] in Ralph’s hands . . .” (156)?
3. Piggy and Ralph join in the “demented dance” (167) because they feel more secure. Discuss the symbolism of this gesture.
4. Re-read pages 168-170. Explain why Simon is personified as the beast and why at the point of Simon’s death, the dead pilot also falls into the sea.
5. Simon’s murder is described as without words and “…no movements but the tearing of teeth and claws" (169). Explain.

Writing 12, Tuesday, October 19

Refer to yesterday's blog. Good work in the computer lab today. Be rigorous now with your editing.
Editing means never having to say you are sorry.

Please review it's and its. Many of you are using the possessive form incorrectly. Writers have to know the rules so they can BREAK them.

English 9, Monday, Oct. 18

We had our vocab. quiz on words 1-18 today.

Any students who rewrote the compare/contrast para. submitted them today.

We wrote in our diaries for 10 minutes.

Next, we played a game. All students had to create two on-the-line questions and two between-th-lines questions. We reviewed chapters 1-9. Read chapters 10, 11, and 12 tonight. Look for the effects of Mr. Pignati on John and Lorraine.

English 11E: Monday, Oct. 18

We completed the vocab. quiz on 1-20. Ask for the quiz tomorrow.

Last day to submit stories for a re-mark is tomorrow, Tues. Oct. 19

Last day to submit a story for publication is Thursday, Oct. 21.

Quiz Tues. on How to cite and on the symbolism in chapters 8 and 9. We took notes on both chapters today but have not yet discussed Simon's death.

We'll finish the book in the next two days and begin work on our essays. Start thinking of  a good topic.

Writing 12, Monday, Oct. 18

We had soooooooooooo much fun with the Flip Dictionary today and learned a technique called anaphora. Be sure to ask for the handouts from me. Get the prompts from a friend. Make up the missed time at lunch tomorrow.

THIS WEEK: Get to a literary event. Make sure you have submitted all your forms. Plus USSR forms due Oct. 29th.

Tues--Computer Lab time to edit and write. Bring all your work, notes, ideas to the centre lab. No USSR Tuesday.

Wed: Workshop plus an author presentation by Nicole and Tara.
Wed: Six poets to U. Vic

Thurs: Thanks to the six volunteers who will meet early in the library to set up. Two poems also due Thursday. This week Adrian is the MC and Eryn, Cia, Jordan, Christiana, Becky, Mitch and Robyn M. are reading. Good luck.

English 9, Friday, Oct. 15

Lots of students signed out new USSR books today for the weekend. Johannes finished a book in two days! Congrats. Colton asked for a longer USSR period today so we added five minutes. Several students completed the novel, The Pigman, as well. You may count this novel for USSR if you complete a response form.

Today, we discussed the role of Mr. Pignati in the lives of John and Lorraine.

English 11 E, Friday, Oct. 15

Wasn't Geena's story fabulous? Thank you, Geena. You read it perfectly.
Today we reviewed vocabulary1-19. Quiz Monday.

We discussed some key points in chapters six and seven. Be sure to borrow the notes or make your own notes on the changes in the boys (the playfight with Robert, Simon's not believing in the beast, Jack wanting to hunt and kill it) and the symbol of the dead pilot who is described as an ape with its head between its knees.

Next, we read chapters 8 and 9. Two deliciously exciting chapters. We'll discuss them on Monday. Read chapter 9 slowly as it is filled with symbolism.

Be prepared for the vocab. quiz.
Have a good weekend.

Writing 12: Friday, Oct. 15

Wasn't Jay Ruzesky wonderful?? If you missed today, be sure to attend a literary event outside the school asap. When submitting the response for it, write on the top TO REPLACE THE JAY RUZESKY READING. Thanks.

This weekend. Start thinking about the things Jay was talking about. He said you are ultimately the final judge. Is this a poem you would like to show the world? Is this poem ready for the world? Where are you holding yourself back? What do you need to do to ignite your imagination? What poets are you reading these days? What feedback are you getting from me? From your workshop group? What do you love about your poetry?

Due Monday: a glosa to share and a poem for workshop. You may submit the glosa to your workshop, too.
Have a great weekend.

Tonight--Planet Earth Poetry at the Black STilt. 7:30. Get there early if you want to sign up for open mic.
Monday Night: Pen in Hand Readings at Serious Coffee in Fairfield on Cook St. Same rules apply here.

English 9, Thurs. Oct. 14

Excellent work today. The paragraphs comparing John to Lorraine were superb. Good job peer editors! You are all working on difficult tasks in your writing and your hard work is paying off.

We're half way through October so make sure you have submitted USSR forms.

Today, we read chapters 6 and 7 and made notes on the adults' negative behaviours and
their impact on John and Lorraine.

Have a good night.

We need to get back at our vocabulary studies, too. Keep working on them. Study when you can.

English 11 E, Thurs. Oct. 14

We took notes on the Beast from Air chapter and read the next two chapters. Brad read his story aloud. I collected the submissions to BCTELA and The Claremont Review. Several students
submitted their stories to Aerie Magazine. Good luck.

No one has tried Polyphony, yet, why?

Homework: finish the reading. Study the vocabulary. Vocab. quiz postponed until Monday.

Writing 12, Thurs. Oct. 14

Today, we wrote a sestina!! Google sestina or call a friend to find out about this complicated form.
Jay Ruzesky tomorrow.
Next week will be a busy one!

Manuscripts due Nov. 4th.

English 9, Wed.Oct. 13

Thanks for having your drafts ready for editing.

Tomorrow, submit the good copy, the draft, your editing summary sheet, and your evaluation sheet.
Be SURE to follow the literary must-have list.

We didn't have time to write in our diaries or to discuss chapters four and five.

Keep reading those USSR books and filling in the forms.

English 11 E, Wed. Oct. 13th

Today, we reviewed how to publish your story. You may double submit to BCTELA and any other contest or magazine.  You must complete this task this evening unless your story is being revised. Revisions due next Tues. Publishing date for you is next Thurs. Oct. 21.

We heard Rachel W.'s story today, called Harold. Fabulous. Thanks, Rachel.

We discussed the changes in the four main boys in chapter 4 and wrote a thesis statement for each one.
Homework is to read chapter five and arrive in class knowing what the beast from water is.

Wed. Oct. 13, Writing 12

We workshopped today. Great job! Next, we visited http://www.fallenprincesses.com/ and had a look at some really unique paintings. Next, we introduced the Spanish form poem--the glosa--and tried to write one. Bring a glosa to class Monday. Plus a new poem for your workshop group.

Thursday--it's the sestina.

Friday--Jay Ruzesky will be in class.

English 9, Tues. Oct. 14

On Friday, we completed a VENN diagram comparing and contrasting John and Lorraine. We created a thesis statement for the two teens:

Both John and Lorraine exhibit rebellious tendencies; however, John uses his defiance to get attention from his parents; whereas, Lorraine acts conspiratorially in order to fit in.

Today, Tuesday, we will write a paragraph, using evidence from the text and inferences to expand upon the evidence to prove that statement.

When we finish, we'll read chapters five and six and post-it note key parts which reveal parents acting negatively. We'll also post-it note passages which begin to reveal Mr. Pignati's character.

Bring a rough draft of the paragraph to class for editing tomorrow. Keep studying your vocabulary.
Quiz coming soon.

English 11 E, Tues. Oct. 12/10

Today, we reviewed the guidelines to publishing your stories. You need to have your story submitted to me or directly to the magazine by Thurs. Oct. 14th. Bring me a print out of your electronic confirmation of submission in the case of Polyphony or Aerie magazines.

Re-writes of stories due Tues. Oct. 19th.

Today, we discussed key pieces of evidence for Simon in chapter 3. We decided that Simon is dubious, saint-like, prophetic, sanctified, independent, refined, has a latent goodness, and delicate. Make sure you get the notes if you were away today. We also said that Simon is the only one to recognize and not deny evil on the island.

Read chapter 4. Post-it note changes in the boys' behaviour. Keep thinking about a topic for your literary essay.

Writing 12, October 12, 2010

Thanks to Christiana, Carolyn and Robyn M. for the delightful presentation on Florence McNeil's poetry.
Tonight, edit the poems for workshop. Your current motto: NO MORE MR. OR MS. NICE GUY!!

Follow our criteria list.

It's Oct. 12th, which means you are three weeks away to your TBA Manuscript deadline--worth 50% of the term!! You will be given a manuscript criteria sheet and deadline soon. In the mean time, begin editing and assembling your best 10 or more poems!! The more poems you write, the more opportunities you will have to publish them and to enter contests. Lots of money to be won!!

You may submit re-edited poems to me for more editing. Please write: PLEASE EDIT on the top of the poem.

English 9, Friday, October 8

Good job with the charts you completed on John's character. Today, we'll complete one for Lorraine and we'll continue studying our vocabulary words, 14-18.

This weekend, no homework, except, see if you can complete a book for USSR and hand in a yellow form, Tuesday.

Your diary covers should be completed now and you should have read and post-it noted the first three chapters of our novel, The Pigman.

English 11E, Friday, October 8

We are now completely finished the short story unit, well, almost.

The next step is to try to get those wonderful stories published. Stay tuned for ways to do that.

We've read and discussed and post-it noted all of the key symbols in the first three chapters.
We also need to keep going with the new vocabulary words.

Writing 12, October 8

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wow, what a week we have had. Two amazing writers, one Icelandic, one Irish, an fabulous presentation on e.e. cummings' work, outstanding introduction to the ghazal and the pantoum, plus 100% workshop preparedness. I'm thrilled and your poems this week reflect that hard work.

This weekend: READ READ READ.  It's the one area some of you are neglecting. YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE! Also, if you finish a book this weekend, complete the form.

LAST DAY FOR LITERARY EVENT RESPONSES FOR TERM 1: October 25, a Monday.
Patrick Lane's book launch--Friday, Oct. 22 at 7:30 at The Black Stilt coffee house. $3.00.

Workshop poem due Tuesday. Two poems due Thursday.

TUESDAY NIGHT: You will be busy editing your workshop poems. If you've been absent, we have NEW workshop groups and a new seating plan.

All the best experimenting with form in your writing this weekend. RISK READ RISK READ
SOUNDS LIKE  A GOOD PLAN, STAN.
WHY, THANK YOU.
xx

English 9, Tuesday, Oct. 5

Thanks to all of the students who returned their signed progress reports. All reports due by Wed. Oct. 6th.

Tomorrow, we're going to go to the library to decorate our diary covers and to become more familiar with our library. Bring scissors, glue, photos, pictures, stickers, etc. anything that will help you create a distinguished cover. You wrote a lot today. Some students completing over 150 words in five minutes. Well done.

Tonight. Keep reading the novel, The Pigman. Our goal is to complete the first three chapters for tomorrow.
We also started a chart of evidence and inferences for our two main characters, John and Lorraine. Ask your homework buddy for more details.

Great work today.
If you were absent today, take your short story book to the library and exchange it for a copy of The Pigman.
Thanks. Have a great night.

English 11E, Tuesday, Oct. 5

I absolutely adore your enthusiasm. I've never seen a class react to positively to a new novel before. Thank you. You are a joy to teach.

We took notes on Golding and defined allegory today. We took a few notes on Ralph and Piggy but mostly we practiced reading with intention. Look for passages which you feel are allegorical in nature and post-it note them. You will need this information when you choose an essay topic.

You're going to love this book. There are so many twists and turns.

Homework. Complete the first 29 pages to the end of chapter 1. Be sure to post-it note at least 10 key passages.

Writing 12, October 5

Wasn't Jerry Beirne articulate? I learned a lot. Hope you did, too.
Thanks for the David Arnason responses.
Look forward to your responses to Jerry.
Also, complete your workshopping poems tonight. Edit. Edit. Edit.

Tomorrow, we'll also have time to work on the poems that are due Thursday so bring all you've got to class tomorrow.
Thursday, ee cummings presentation. Yay!
Listen for Hanna on CBC radio. Wed. at 4:50. CBC radio one Victoria is 90.5 I believe.

English 9, Friday, Oct.1

Great work on the short story test yesterday. Class average rose from 58% to 77% in one week.

Today, we did a self-assessment for conduct, work habits, and the three aspects of literary paragraph writing: content, structure and style. You have accomplished a lot in our first month of English 9. I was very impressed yesterday as your conduct, despite the excitement of Spartan day, was exemplary.

Please, return these assessments signed by your parent or guardian by Monday.

This weekend, get a good start on your October USSR books.

Next week we start the novel, The Pigman, by Paul Zindel.

Have a good weekend.

English 11E, Friday, Oct. 1

Thanks for editing your essays so carefully as it means that your next essay will be that much better!

Please doublespace the short stories due Monday.

You did really well on your vocabulary quiz today--you are in the propinquity of excellence. Yay.

Have a good weekend.

Writing 12, Friday, Oct. 1

Wonderful poems this week! Wow.

Monday--Workshop poems are due.
Workshop Wednesday as usual.

If you have attended a literary event, you must submit the response the next day.
We have two writers next week which means you will need to hand in a response on Tuesday and on Wednesday.

Two new poems due Thursday!

Have a great weekend.