Lit. 12: Monday, Feb. 28

We studied three sonnets in class today and filled the board and our notebooks with notes. Be sure to borrow notes from a friend and read each sonnet several times. We are focussing on Renaissance attitudes to love and the conventions of the sonnet.

I collected the Renaissance notes.
Keep reading your novels.

English 9, Monday, Feb. 28

I collected the Feb. USSR forms and reviewed the criteria.
We did the vocab. test on words 1-24.
We edited the first 250 words of our stories.
Homework: Read, study, learn the purple handout: how to punctuate dialogue. There are strict rules. You must follow them.
On your quiz practice page, write out four lines of dialogue, punctuated correctly.
Practice using all the different variations for dialogue until you feel confident.

We'll work on our stories tomorrow in class.
Be sure to study your vocabulary nightly and continue to read your USSR book.

English 9, Friday, Feb. 25

We added words, 23 and 24 to our list: imminent and compelling.

Big test Monday on 1 to 24.

We practiced creative writing and I assigned the short story which is due Monday, March 7. See below for ideas and the criteria. Monday: Bring the first 250 words of your short story to class, typed and double spaced.

MONDAY IS FEB. 28TH. THE LAST DAY OF THE MONTH MEANS:
It's time to submit your USSR forms to demonstrate all of the books you have read for USSR this month. We won't be continuing with 750 words.com during class for March but you are welcome to continue it at home as it is such good practice and a lovely way to express your feelings in a private forum.

Call your homework buddy to find out the creative writing prompts that we did today.
Here is the short story handout:

English 9 Short Story Writing Assignment

Due Date:___________Mon. March 7. ___________

Criteria

1. Length—900 to 1500 words, typed, titled, double spaced
2. Style—literary, similar to the stories studied in class
3. Character—dynamic protagonist that encounters a conflict
4. Elements—setting, description, dialogue all contribute to theme
5. Theme—show us something you have felt or wondered about the world
6. Detail—show don’t tell as much as possible, be unique, keep it real
7. Conflict—needs to be a problem that is somehow resolved (think of stories we read this year. What was the conflict? How did the story end?).
8. Style—proofread and proofread and proofread. It must be error free. Explore a style that suits the topic—short choppy sentences, fragments or long, intellectual phrasings. Point of view is key. Who is telling the story? Why?
9. Show Don’t Tell—be sure to have your characters doing and saying things. Let your reader infer. Don’t tell us everything.
10. Dialogue—you must have characters speaking. Remember: new paragraph for each new speaker.

Use your own ideas or one from the list below:

1.       Start the story with You don’t have to be good all the time. End the story with, The geese never returned to that lake and come to think of it, neither did I.

2.       Write a story about a piano teacher that really wants to be a flight attendant.

3.       Use a road trip as the setting. Take two characters heading somewhere but don’t let them get there. Each stop on the way symbolizes something about the relationship. Could be two friends, a married couple, a mother/daughter, father/son etc.

4.       Make your character a child. Have the child experience Sunday school with a family from across the street since the child’s parents don’t go to church. Explore the family, the church, the car ride etc. as symbols for whatever discoveries you make. 

5.       Make your character a child who lives on a cul-de-sac. Have a few kids meet to plan an adventure. Make one kid stand out. The narrator suspects something is wrong but is too young to figure it out but you hint at the problem throughout.

6.      Try a story that’s completely written in the second person. It will be weird. It could be funny. Ex., You start the new job tomorrow. The job that will last the rest of your life. You will have an office, maybe. A sign on the outside of the door with your name on it, Frank or Hilda, Mary Lou. (Eerie, isn’t it?).

7.       Set the story in another time period (past or future) or in another culture yet make the conflict be something readers today would be interested in—an arranged marriage, emigrating to a new country, dealing with economic hardship, fear of technology.

8.       Start with the line: Yvonne’s dog never knew what hit him. End with The summer really started that winter when we finally cried.

9.       Place your story at a baseball or hockey event. Have two characters in the stands who don’t get along, a dad/son, a boss/employee, two rookies, etc. As you describe the game and use dialogue, show but don’t tell what’s really going on between them. 

10.   Start the story with a theft. Don’t let us know what was stolen, by whom or why until right near the end. Write it from the point of view of the victims or two crows on a branch outside the door.

11.   Write a story about a character from one culture having to deal with another culture. Maybe in a family setting, the Croatian grandma moves in or the character goes to another country to visit family for the summer holidays. Use a lot of concrete detail to make it seem exotic. Have fun with dialogue, here.

12.   Write a story with a protagonist that you do not like but somehow you have to make the reader like him or her. A parolee, a bully, a mean girl, a coach, etc.

Lit 12, Friday, Feb. 25

We read our novels for the entire hour today.
Ensure that you read at least 60 pages for Monday.
Renaissance notes due Monday.

Thurs. March 3 is the regional slam poetry finals at Reynolds. We need a big fan base.
Let me know if you can come as we have 10 advance tickets to sell.

Next week: sonnets!

English 9, Thurs. Feb. 24

I collected the decorated Found Poems on the story, "The Sea Devil" by Arthur Gordon.

We read the story, "The Veldt" by Ray Bradbury, page 101. If you do not have your book at home, google it, as you may find a copy on line.

Homework: finish reading the story. Post-it note a minium of THREE passages that you like. Be able to explain why you chose them and why you would want to imitate Bradbury's style in your creative writing.

Friday: We start creative writing. You begin writing a short story this weekend. Bring the first page, TYPED, and double spaced to class Monday.

I'll be handing out a criteria sheet Friday.

Lit 12, Thurs. Feb. 24

We took notes and notes and notes! If you were absent, make detailed notes on The Renaissance, pages 127 to 140. We also made notes on the origins of the sonnet, pages 152-153.
Finally, we made notes on writer, Sir Thomas Wyatt and we started taking notes on his sonnet,
"Whoso List to Hunt".

Notes on the Renaissance are due Monday. I've updated the marks. Ask to see them tomorrow.

Friday: novel study. Bring your novels and post-it notes. There may be a test. Make sure you've read at least the first third and you are eagerly post-it noting passages related to your theme.

English 9, Wed. Feb. 23

Due to the snow and so few students present, we did not do anything new. I collected the poems from the block 2 students. Bring your poems to class tomorrow.
Read at least 15 pages of your USSR book today and complete the 750words.com at home.
Study your vocabulary list. We'll have our test Monday.

Lit 12, Wed. Feb. 23

I've marked all the unit 0ne exams. The multiple choice section was done well. Average mark: 27/30! Wow. The essays, however, need work. I suggest you review the materials I gave you last Thursday. It's time to learn how to write a literary essay immediately. We start the Renaissance period. I think we'll start Hamlet tomorrow in order to get it completed before March break.

You'll love it. You need to make notes on The Renaissance which starts on page 127. Due Friday.

English 9, Tues. Feb. 22

Excellent work today. Good USSR and 750words.com
We added two new words: inarticulate and indulgently. We practiced words 15 to 20. Practice your words, daily. Test: Monday.

We completed our draft found poems on the story, "The Sea Devil".

Homework: decorate the poems. Due Wed. Feb. 23.

Li. 12 Tues. Feb. 22

Unit I Final Test.

Homework: Read at least 20 pages of your novel. Be prepared to work with your group, Friday.

English 9, Mon. Feb. 21

We did two more words today: pliant and exhilaration.
I returned last week's test on "Penny in the Dust" and we added corrections to our charts in our folders.

I explained how to write a found poem. We read "The Sea Devil" by Arthur Gordon,page 32.
We post-it noted key phrases to use in our poems on the topic: what does this story reveal about its attitude toward nature.
Tomorrow, we'll write the poems in class and decorate them.
Decorated poems are due Wed. Feb. 23. No lates accepted. Make sure you are ready.

Lit 12, Feb. 21 Monday

Big test tomorrow on UNIT 1. If you are absent tomorrow, your parents must email me to explain the absence. Only legitimate absences will excuse a student from writing the test tomorrow.
Study. Good luck.
Unit 2 starts Wed.

English 9, Thursday, Feb. 17

English Test:

If you were away today, write a literary paragraph of 300 words on the topic below. Submit your chart and the paragraph Monday. Follow your literary must-haves list, how to cite, transitions sheets, etc. Be sure to proofread to doublespace your work.

Discuss what the penny means to the father and to the son in Ernest Buckler's story, "Penny in the Dust". Marks awarded for correct paragraph format, logical development, ability to use and explain evidence from the story and your writing style (sentence variety, proper vocabulary, clarity and flow).
No vocabulary test Monday.
HOMEWORK: READ AT LEAST 50-100 PAGES OF YOUR USSR BOOK. Deadline is Feb. 28th. For an A, you need to have read three decent books and responded well in your notebook, plus added them to Shelfari.

English 9, Wed. Feb. 16

Whenever you are away, make sure you read your USSR book for at least 15 minutes and write on 750words.com for at least 15 minutes.

Today: I checked the homework: min. 6 post-its labelling quotes which reveal what the penny means to Pete and his father

Next we created two What?  / So What? charts. One for the father and one for the son.
Homework: Bring a good copy of the two charts to class. Tomorrow, we'll be writing a paragraph on the story, "Penny in the Dust". If you arrive without a chart, you will not be permitted to write the paragraph. Not a situation you want to be in.

Criteria for the charts:
In each chart make sure you have 1 quote, cited correctly and two paraphrases from the story on each what side

Three bullets (inferences) for each quote, and paraphrases (that's 9 all together) for each chart.

Marks awarded for going beyond the obvious. Being able to explain the language, tone, symbols of the quotes. Be able to make connections to other parts of the story to prove/justify your opinions.

A FANTASTIC chart translates into a FANTASTIC paragraph.
Good luck. If you were absent, contact your homework buddy to get the first parts of the chart.
NO VOCABULARY WORK THIS WEEK SO NO TEST ON MONDAY.

Lit. 12 Wed. Feb. 16 and 17

Wed: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight--Was that really three boards full of notes? Good job.
We read the medieval romance and took notes.
We checked off all of the literary terms that will be on Tuesday's test.
I returned the irony paragraphs and the Beowulf projects.

Thurs: Novel Presentations: Each group member chose a different passage to present. The presenter spent 15 minutes making notes on the quote under the following categories: tone, language, significance, connections to tother events in the novel and ended with a sentence or two which explains how the quote exemplifies your theme. They handed in the notes at the end of class and took notes on all the presentations. Be sure to borrow notes from a partner and hand me your notes, Monday.
I handed out a practice test and practice essay topics. You need to do the test and the essay this weekend. Here are the essay topics: Choose one. Write a 600 to 700 word essays. I also handed out exemplars for the essay and a package of literary terms to help study for Tuesday's test.

1. Characters' actions often speak louder than their words.
2. The literature studied this year is often didactic in nature.
3. Colourful characters make Medieval Literature memorable but also teach valuable moral lessons.
4. Pathetic fallacy is a key method of creating mood.
5. Medieval literature is most often elegiac in tone to reflect the instability of the time period in which it was written.

 Tonight: Read your novel. Post-it note the key passages that apply to your theme.
Tomorrow: Arrive ready to discuss the passages and continue taking notes in the method we started last week.

Thursday night: Complete the practice unit one test for Monday. Complete your Chaucer projects. Read your novel!! Try to finish it quickly and then you can go back and re-read, which is always the best way to discuss a book, after you have read it completely.

Monday: Arrive ready to peer-edit your practice test essay. We'll correct the rest of the test Monday as well. We'll review the criteria for the essay and the provincial rubrics.

English 9, Tues. Feb. 15

Great work today! If you were absent, be sure to contact your homework buddy for a thorough explanation of the chart we created today and the re-write we did for the father paragraph.

IF YOU DID NOT FINISH YOUR FATHER PARAGRAPH RE-WRITE, BE SURE TO FINISH IT TOMORROW IN CLASS. It must be in your folder in order for me to re-mark it.

Tonight, re-read the story, "Penny in the Dust," by Ernest Buckler. Place 6 post-its on the passages which you believe reveal the most about the father / son relationship. We want to ascertain what the penny means to the father and what the penny means to the son. Be sure to read between the lines.

Lit 12 Tues, Feb. 15

Lit 12 is definitely getting me out of bed in the morning. You are a fabulous group.
I've marked your irony paragraphs and you are all doing a much better job of following the literary "must-haves" list. Well done.

Today,
We read our novels for 20 min. preparing for our group discussions, Thursday.
We wrote the irony para. in 35 minutes and we took notes on the ballad and read and discussed
"Bonny Barbara Allan". Read the poem. Take notes on page 105 and borrow the notes from class.
Start studying for the unit test, particularly all the literary terms we have done so far.
Tonight: Read your novel. You want to have a big section to discuss for Thursday's class.

Tomorrow: we start Sir Gawain. SOOOOOOOo good!!

English 9, Mon. Feb. 14

Happy Valentine's Day!
We read for 15 min. and wrote for 15 min. Next, we completed our Mon. vocab. quiz. This week we tackled # 1-16! Keep studying.

We are now reading the story, "Penny in the Dust," by Ernest Buckler. Discuss what the dusty penny means to the father and to the son. Tomorrow, we'll create two what? / so what? charts to explore our answers. For now, post-it note, everything you can find in the story about the penny and what it symbolizes. We'll be writing a paragraph on this story, soon.


Tomorrow, we'll be revising our father paragraphs on the story, "The Father."

Finish reading and post-it noting the story for Tues. Come ready to share your ideas about what the penny means and what the dust means.

Also: SHELFARI--make sure you have added your current books to your shelf and go to my shelfari page and join our group.

Lit 12, Mon. Feb. 14

Happy Valentine's Day!
If you were absent today, ask me for the two handouts 1. quiz on Chaucer 2. Chaucer projects outline which are due Mon. Feb. 21

Unit 1 Test Outline
Date. Tues. Feb. 22--Know all the items on the core reading list plus The Seafarer.
Know all the literary devices we've explored so far.
Format: 30 multiple choice questions /30 1 essay / 48 6 X 8

Today:
We took notes on "The Pardoner's Tale". Next we reviewed the three types of irony.
Read "The Pardoner's Tale". Post-it note at least five strong examples of irony.
Be prepared to explain the significance of all of this irony in a paragraph tomorrow in class.
Look for what the irony may reveal about the Parson (although he's not a character in the tale, the fact that a greedy man tells a tale about the evils of greed is ironic and reveals a lot about this man.

You'll need a good thesis.
For example:
Placing one's faith in wealth contradicts religious beliefs. By using irony in "The Pardoner's Tale," Chaucer provides comic relief, reaffirms moral values, and criticizes the Pardoner.

English 9, Fri. Feb. 11

Today we handed in our good copy and draft copy of the literary paragraphs on the story, "The Father," by Hugh Garner. I also returned the marked vocab. quizzes.
Next, we visited the library and Ms. Ippen gave us a presentation on the Shelfari electronic resource for keeping track of books we have read and want to read. http://www.shelfari.com/ Visit the site and log in. Start to add books and create a personal profile. Check the privacy settings so that only Claremont students can read your pages. Looking forward to seeing all the books that you have read.

HOMEWORK: Study all the words from 1 - 16. Quiz on Monday. Study the errors on the last quiz so that you don't make the same mistakes.

Lit 12, Friday, Feb. 11

Thanks for the fabulous Beowulf projects. Really wonderful work.

This weekend, please focus on your novel. Your group decided on how many pages to have read by Thursday. Remember to post-it note key passages as you read. Read in order to anticipate and interpret the theme. Next group time will be Thursday. Short week next week.

I'm reading at Planet Earth Poetry, Fri. Feb. 18 (our pro-d day) at 7:30 at the Moka House, 1633 Hillside Ave. Would love to see you there. Bring a poem to read at the open mic.

Next week: The Pardoner's Tale, Bonny Barbara Allen and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
Unit test will be during the week after next. Study every night.

English 9, Thurs. Feb. 10

Thanks to all for completing the 250-350 word first draft of the paragraph on Hugh Garner's story, "The Father".
Today, we reviewed how to expand our ideas and turn our charts into a literary paragraph.
1. Be sure to memorize your literary must-haves list.
2. Choose your top three pieces of evidence. Be sure (before you begin to write) that you know how each piece of evidence will prove your thesis.

Start with your thesis.
Next, introduce your first piece of evidence and explain how it proves your thesis. This step usually requires 3 sentences; although, it could require more. Be sure you explain and expand each point.

The father does not understand his son's needs and makes excuses for not spending time with the child. For example when the father thinks, "A twelve year old boy does not want to spend time with his father: (Garner 43), it is clear that this man makes assumptions without checking his facts. Instead of reaching out to his son and taking an interest in his son's activities, this careless caregiver remains on the couch sipping another drink.

Before introducing the next point, you must add a transition. You may use the examples on the handout or create your own. A transition links each piece of evidence.

The father also believes that he is a good father. However, on the night of the Scout banquet, he discovers that he knows very little about his son. Mr. Purcell's cannot name his son's baseball team, . . .


Tonight, using what you learned today, your how to cite and incorporate quotes handouts, your literary must-haves list and your best vocabulary words, create a good copy. Double spaced.
Due tomorrow.

Tomorrow, after USSR, we'll be going to the library to learn how to keep track of our USSR books electronically.

Lit. 12, Thurs. Feb. 10

USSR-We read our novels for 20 minutes, anxiously seeking and post-it noting key passages to bring to class tomorrow for our group discussions. Be prepared to say what the passages you have highlighted reveal about your topic (theme).

In-class paragraph writing assignment

In a literary paragraph (follow the literary must-haves list) of 300 words, discuss how the religious figures in Chaucer's "The Prologue" deviate from what is traditionally expected of them.

First, create a planning sheet (for marks)

Choose three characters: nun, monk, friar are most applicable:

One one side of the chart find evidence to reveal what is expected of them and on the other side

How they deviate from these expectations.

Next, write the paragraph. We had a little less than an hour to create the chart and write the paragraph. If you were absent today, be sure to have your paragraph ready to submit.
Double space!

Friday, Feb. 11--Beowulf project is due.

English 9, Blocks 2 and 4

We added two more words to our list: bauble and conviction.

Good thesis statement creations today. Here are some of the notes:

Wed. Feb 9

A good thesis statement:

·        Includes the author and title

·        MUST answer the question you have created to make the paragraph

·        Offers information and your opinion (insight)

·        Need to think outside the box, beyond the obvious: connect what you already know from your life to the topic you are writing about

·        Should grab the reader’s attention

·        Debatable, maybe controversial: you can have an argument with it

·        Concise (not wordy)

You can practice writing your thesis statement by rewording Ms. Stenson’s sentence:

In the story, “The Father,” by Hugh Garner, Mr. Purcell acts irresponsibly because he misunderstands his role as a father: he believes his son will love him despite his neglectful, shameful actions

HOMEWORK:

Write a 250-350 word literary paragraph which answers the question: What motivates the father to act the way he does. Use your thesis statement. Double space. Use black or blue ink or type the paragraph. Follow the literary must-haves list. Use your handout: How to cite and how to incorporate quotes sheet.

For sample paragraphs, visit: www.claremont-school.ca/english and look for literary paragraph samples

Practicing at home means being prepared to work in class.

Lit 12 Wed. Feb. 9

I collected the notes on the Middle Ages. We almost finished "The Prologue". We read to the end of the description of The Pardoner. Finish reading the prologue and make notes. Be prepared to discuss them in class. Tomorrow, we have USSR so bring your novels. Be prepared to discuss a key passage with a small group on Friday.

Friday: Beowulf projects.
Review: heroic couplets, iambic pentametre, satire, wit, irony, understatement, sarcasm, oxymoron, frame tale, know all the pilgrims from the Core list, plus the doctor.

English 9, Block 2 and 4, Feb. 8

Notes from today's lesson will appear below thanks to our wonderful EA, Christine Gaudet.

We did the What Did You Do In School Survey today in block 2. We also read for 15 minutes and wrote on 750words.com for 15 minutes. We added words, 11 and 12 to our list: conspiratorially (conspiratorial, to conspire, conspiracy) and paroxysm.

Homework: Use all 12 vocabulary words in a good sentence.
                      Write a strong thesis statement for the question below.

Write a thesis statement for this question on the story "The Father," by Hugh Garner: Discuss the reasons that motivate the father to neglect his son. A good thesis statement answers the question and provides the reader with the knowledge of what the paragraph will be about. See below for a good example.
Compare your thesis statement to the one below. Revise your thesis to ensure that it answers the question well.

Tuesday, Feb. 8

How to brainstorm a thesis statement:

Question: What motivates Mr. Purcell to act the way he does?

              Discuss the reasons for his actions.

3 best pieces of evidence:

·        Intimidated by other fathers

·        Preoccupied by work and recovering from work

·        Thinks a 12 year old boy wants to be left alone

·        Strange shame between them

·        He knows he is not a good father BUT does not want to admit it

·        Gets drunk on a night that is important to his son: shows he is selfish and neglectful

·        Other dads know more about his son than he does—shows he is left out—his son no longer wants his dad to be involved in his life

Example thesis statement (topic sentence):

In the story, “The Father,” by Hugh Garner, Mr. Purcell acts irresponsibly because he misunderstands his role as a father: he believes his son will love him unconditionally despite his neglectful, shameful actions.

*What will this paragraph prove?*

Re-read the thesis above. What do you expect the paragraph to explore and explain?

• the father's neglectful actions
• how he misunderstands his role
• his expectations for fatherhood
• how he realizes he must face the fact that he is not a good father

Learn to write strong thesis statements. Strong thesis statements REALLY make paragraph writing easy!!
WHY? Write an answer in your agenda book. Show me tomorrow.

Literature 12, Tues. Feb. 8

We read our novels for the first 20 minutes and vowed to arrive on Friday with several passages chosen for discussion of the first third of the book. Focus on the theme you've chosen from the handout.

Notes on the Middle Ages due Wed.
Beowulf project is due Friday.

We took notes on Chaucer, page 53. We also added notes and stylistic characteristics.

We read and discussed the beginning of the prologue of The Canterbury Tales, the knight, squire, nun and monk.

Homework: Read the Chaucer we missed, finish the notes due tomorrow. Read 30 pages of your novel.

English 9 Blocks 2 and 4 Mon. Feb. 7

750words.com wasn't working this morning so we wrote in Word, counted the number of words and emailed it to ourselves. Don't know if you can copy and paste it into 750 words.com or not. You may wish to contact the web director.

We had our first vocabulary quiz on words 1-8. Quizzes every Monday. Next week we'll test words 1-16 and add 8 new words each week.

Lit. 12. Mon. Feb. 7

I collected the Beowulf paragraphs and drafts. Projects due Friday.

We took background notes on the Anglo-Saxon poem, "The Seafarer" and then read it and made notes. Be sure to get the notes from a partner. Below are the Beowulf review notes. Make a reference card for each work on the core list so you can study while on the bus, during commericals at the dinner table etc.

We made notes on historical context of the Middle Ages. Read and make notes on pages 43 to 54. I will collect the notes Wednesday. Tomorrow, we start Chaucer. Yay!

            Beowulf Checklist

• Know why the title is italicized
• Know the definition of epic poem
• Identify the elements in Beowulf that make it an epic poem
• Explain which aspects of the poem reflect Anglo-Saxon culture
• Find Christian allusions and explain their significance
• Find pagan references and explain their significance
• Know the key components: alliteration, caesura, simile, kennings, 4 beats to each line
• Find examples of fate and explain the Anglo-Saxon attitude to fate
• Explain and find examples of the heroic tradition: loyalty to king, courtesy and respect, courage/valour/bravery, generous leader
• Explain Anglo-Saxon rituals: boast, protocol, taunt,
• Define scop and the significance of its role
• Complete the reading check page 29
• Find examples of the supernatural and explain their significance
• Explain which aspects of Anglo-Saxon society and literature are still a part of our society and literature
• Identify key characters: Beowulf, Grendel, Danes, Geats, Unferth, Hrothgar, Welthow, Brecca, Higlac, Wulfgar, settings: Herot and Grendel’s boggy lair, plot, conflict, theme
• Be able to recognize key passages of Beowulf and explain their significance
• Memorize the literary must-haves list
• Practice using elevated diction in your note-taking and paragraph writing (pithy: (concise, to-the-point descriptions)
• Garner your favourite list of strong verbs: depict, represent, illustrate, portray, emphasize, reveal, demonstrate, illuminate, elucidate, exemplify, reiterate, typify
• Review how to cite. Read the handout. Follow MLA style sheet.

Key Literary Terms

1. Epic poem
2. Heroic tradition (loyalty to leader, generous leader, courage/valour/bravery, courtesy/respect, fate—acceptance/awareness of death) “Fate will unwind as it must!” (Beowulf  211).
3. enjambement
4. caesura
5. kennings
6. understatement
7. irony
8. pathetic fallacy
9. aphorism
10. alliteration
11. imagery
12. point of view (1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, omniscient, limited omniscient, dramatic)
13. allusion
14. foreshadowing

Vocabulary

1. stoic, stoicism
2. altruistic, altruism
3. fatalist, fatalistic, fatalism

Key Quotes: Find 3-5 key lines that you can memorize to use on tests.

English 9 blocks 2 and 4, Friday, Feb. 4

Whenever you are absent, be sure to read at least 15 pages of your USSR book and write on 750words.com for 15 minutes.  We generally do vocabulary Mon-Thurs. two words per day so look on the vocabulary sheet and follow along. When you return to school, borrow your homework buddy's notes.

We did words 7 and 8 today: amiable and burlesque. All of these words are found in the story, "The Father," by Hugh Garner.

Homework check: The what/so what chart.

Practice quiz: Using your blue how-to-cite sheet (available on the English website www.claremont-school.ca/english) cite the following quotations correctly. Use your practice quiz page for all quizzes.

1. "No," he said to himself. "No, it's your fault." page 53
2.  . . .  he wondered if he would ever be able to draw close to his son again. page 53

Vocabulary Test Monday. Know all 8 words, synonyms, parts of speech and how to use the word correctly in a sentence.

Lit 12 Fri. Feb. 4

We edited our literary paragraphs and marked them out of 18. 6 for content, 6 for style, 6 for format.
You must have someone edit your paragraph and you must edit someone's paragraph. Contact someone in the class for assistance. Marks for how well you write and how well you edit.
Good copy stapled to the edited draft due Monday.

Due Fri. Feb. 11
Choose one of the topics below or create one of your own. Pass the idea by me first.

BEOWULF CREATIVE ASSIGNMENTS

DUE DATE: _______________________________________________

1. Write a series of poems entitled, “You Bring out the _________ in Me” Substitute the blank with Beowulf, Grendel, Hrothgar, Kennings, Caesura, Heroic Traditions, Epic Poem, Alliteration, Christian, Pagan, 4 Accented Beats, Funeral Pyre etc. Have fun. Minimum: seven poems.
2. Write an original episode for Beowulf. Create some new foe for him. Try to follow the Anglo-Saxon style.
3. Write a resume for Beowulf. Include name, origin, height, experience, skills, goals, position applied for, cover letter, reference letters etc.
4. Research medieval foods on the internet and/or in the library and re-enact the feast at Herot. Include invitations, decorations, recipes, seating protocol, serving protocol.
5. Write a scene from Grendel’s point of view. Look closely at his motivations, his lineage, his blatant evil, his disconnection and banishment from God. How does he feel? How does he cope? What are his living arrangements like?
6. Design a poster advertising positions for heroes. Include all the characteristics one would need. Experience, education required, proof of loyalty, altruism, honour, valour, no fear of death, etc.

 Have a good weekend.

English 9, Blocks 2 and 4, Thurs. Feb. 3

Both classes were wonderful today.

You arrive on time and get to work immediately.

Today: We read for 15 minutes and wrote our journals for 15 minutes. We added words 5 and 6 to our lists: contempt and mollify. We had a quiz on all 6 words. Real quiz will be Monday.

 Every Monday we'll have a vocab. quiz.

We learned how to cite and I handed out a guide to how to cite.

We created a what/so what chart to examine the father's motivations in Hugh Garner's story, "The Father". Be sure to call your homework buddy to discuss the above.

Get started on your LITERACY PROJECTS.

Lit 12 Thurs. Feb. 3

We did it!! Finished Bewulf, wrote a 10 question quiz on "Unferth's Taunt". Discussed the poem's relevance for us today. Reviewed literary must-haves and how to cite.

Tonight: 300 to 400 literary parag. Choose question 1 or 2 below.
1. Discuss the Anglo-Saxon elements in the poem.
2. Compare and contrast Beowulf and Grendel.

The purpose of this writing assignment is to review and practice your literary writing.
Remember to plan: What? / So What? charts work beautifully.
Remember to answer the question in your topic sentence/thesis.
Hooks are only useful if they actually do the job so be wary. No hook is better than a weak hook in literary writing at this level.

Bring a copy, double spaced to class for editing. Good copy is due Monday.

English 9, block 4, Wed. Feb. 2

Excellent work today!! Thanks for arriving on time with all of your materials.
750 words. com is going well and five people have already finished USSR books!!

Tonight: finish reading "The Father" in your text. Post-it note 5 key passages/quotes which you think reveal the father's motivations (explanations for his actions). Why does he do what he does?

Arrive in class prepared to discuss your choices.

We also did vocab. words 3 and 4 today, revulsion and vehemently. Study your vocabulary daily.
Bonus for using these words in your written work.

English 9, Bl. 2, Wed. Feb. 2

Excellent work today!! Thanks for arriving on time with all of your materials.
750 words. com is going well and two people have already finished USSR books.

Tonight: finish reading "The Father" in your text. Post-it note 5 key passages/quotes which you think reveal the father's motivations (explanations for his actions).

Arrive in class prepared to discuss your choices.

We also did vocab. words 3 and 4 today, revulsion and vehemently. Study your vocabulary daily.
Bonus for using these words in your written work.

Lit 12 Wed. Feb. 2

We reviewed the key notes from the Anglo-Saxon period and read two sections of Beowulf outloud.

Be sure to know
kennings
boast
the taunt
protocols and loyalties
characteristics of Beowulf
characteristics and purposes of the Christian and pagan references
Terms:
pathetic fallacy
understatement
caesura
enjambement
know the key characters and Beowulf's motivations
Read "Unferth's Taunt" page 19

English 9, Block 4, Feb. 1, Tues.

Good job on 750 words.com and reading your USSR books.
Study your vocabulary words and finish up your journals on 750 words.
Read at least 15 more pages in your USSR book.

BRING YOUR LITERARY PROJECT PLAN TO CLASS. /25 MARKS.
PLAN SOMETHING FUN!

English 9, Feb. 1

You could finish your 750 words if you have time. It's building your writing fluency.
Review your vocabulary words.
Read at least 15 pages tonight.

Literature 12, Tues. Feb. 1

Good job, today.

Anglo-Saxon era: Review your notes.
Terms: heroic tradition, elegy, epic poem,
Vocabulary: stoic, stoicism, scop

Read Beowulf for fun!   We'll be reading it closely over the next few days but being prepared can really take the edge off your anxiety levels.