English 9, Thurs. March 31

Today, I collected the USSR responses from March. Pick up a new form for April. See if you can beat your March score!

I also collected the introduction to your Pigman essay today.

Homework: complete body paragraph 1 and 2. Email them to yourself. Also, email your quote log and your intro so you will have it all in one place.

If you have been away, read yesterday's post so you can follow the steps to an excellent introduction. Be sure to call your homework buddy if you do not understand something on the blog.

If you are absent, you must arrive with all of the work completed.

English 9, Wed. March 30

Missing today's class means you missed an 80 minute lesson on how to turn the quote log into an introduction. You must call your homework buddy for explanations on the steps below.
Step 1: Divide your quotes into categories by highlighting all the quotes that are on the same topic. For example, you may have three quotes about John's relationship with his parents and three on John's enjoyment of the Pigman and three quotes on John's wayward behaviour so you'd colour them appropriately. Read the log slowly and you'll find categories will pop out.

Step 2. Name each colour. Give each category a phrase such as: Lorraine's lack of self confidence, Lorraine's inability to stand up for herself, Lorraine's need for approval etc.

Step 3. Write a topic sentence for each quote log category.

Example: Colour 1(John's parents)- John's wayward behaviour directly reflects his upbringing--he has never learned respect.
Colour 2 (blame) Until John can accept responsibility for his actions, he will never grow into a mature, loving adult.

Colour 3 (support) Due to the support of Mr. Pignati, John learns to love: he is no longer afraid to accept himself.

STEP 4: Turn the three sentences above into one sentence. This sentence becomes your THESIS

In the novel, The Pigman, by Paul Zindel, John, Bathroom Bomber, Conlan learns to repsect himself, despite several negative role models, with the help of a lonely, old man who offers John unconditional love.

STEP 5: Create a hook (a compelling statement, question, quote or definition) to begin your essay. EX. All children need love. Or The Webster's Dictionary defines love as .... Or a quote from the novel or from another source. (ask me for the handout on how to write effective hooks)

STEP 6: Turn your thesis into a much shorter sentence (leave out in the novel, by ...etc) that is more emotional.

HOMEWORK: Turn all the 6 sentences above into a typed, double spaced, formal introduction.
Hook, thesis, colour sentences 1, 2, 3, repeat thesis.

Hand in this introduction at the beginning of tomorrow's class.

Bring your quote log to class tomorrow as we'll be working in the lab on body paragraphs 1 and 2 tomorrow. Come to the classroom first.

Lit 12, Wed. March 30

Hand in the essay plan before the test tomorrow.
Test can begin as early as 8:30 for those of you who enjoy a more relaxed pace.
Good luck with your studies.

English 9, Tuesday, March 29

Today, I collected one quotation and one response from each student. I'm looking for the following criteria:
1. Can you cite correctly? Speech and description?
2. Can you explain the context of the quote?
3. Can you infer? Can you add insight to the character based on his/her actions?
4. Can you make connections to other parts of the novel?
5. Can you support your opinions with proof from the novel?
6. Can you follow directions: i.e., how well do you follow the guidelines, read the samples, follow the tips on the "How to Write an Effective Quote Log" handout?
7. How well do you proofread?
8. Do you use the vocabulary from our list in your response writing?
9. Do you go beyond what is asked?
10. Is your responses engaging and enthusiastic?

Homework: Finish all responses (rough copy) to the quotes you have chosen. Bring the completed quote log to class Wednesday, plus 3 highliters so that we can start to use the quote log to create an essay draft.

YOU MUST BRING A PRINTED VERSION OF THE QUOTE LOG TO CLASS WEDNESDAY.

Lit 12, Tues. March 29

If you missed the intro to John Milton, be sure to read and make notes from the text. Read "On His Blindness" and the first 45 lines of Paradise Lost if you missed yesterday. Also, borrow all of the notes and add your own responses. See yesterday's blog for how to review for the test.

Today, we added 15 vocabulary words. Get the list from a friend. We also defined the periodic sentence.

Homework: Read and make notes and the last page of the excerpt from Paradise Lost as there will be a quiz on that section tomorrow in class.

Tomorrow we will review for Thursday's test.
Friday, we start Hamlet.

English 9, Mon. March 28

Welcome back. This week we are writing our quotation logs and our literary essays on the novel, The Pigman. Make sure that you choose 12 to 15 quotes and respond to each one in a formal way. Follow the criteria laid out on the How to Write a Quote Log handout (a blue sheet).

Today, we read our USSR books and worked on our quotation logs. Quotation logs must be typed.

Thursday March 31: Reading logs for USSR for March are due. You may inlcude The Pigman as one of the novels read.

Tonight: Ensure that you have all 12 to 15 quotations typed out and respond to at least one. You will be submitting a quote and one response for marking at the end of Tuesday's class.

Lit 12, Monday, March 28

We reviewed the material, forms, themes and literary terms from Unit 2. We started reading Paradise Lost. Be sure to get the notes as you will need them.

We are having a test on Unit 2. Thursday. All of the core material plus the supplemental poems will be examined. Same format as Unit 1: 30 multiple choice questions and a literary essay.

Tonight: Study--sonnet forms, sonnets we read, metaphysical and Cavalier poetry components and the poems that match. Make sure you understand the political and religious divisiveness in England during the 17th century. Study Milton and his belief in divine inspiration and his Puritan ideals.

Be sure to memorize quotations and be able to recognize paradox, parody, metonymy, synechdoche, conceits, invocation, epic similes, and the terms from unit 1.

Make it a habit to review on a nightly basis.

English 9: Friday, March 18

We had our vocabulary quiz on words 1-40. If you were absent, see me when you get back to write the test.

Make sure you have finished The Pigman and have at least 15 key passages post-it noted for your character.
We will start the quote logs and the essays March 28.

We read our USSR books today. You may use The Pigman as part of your March USSR total. Make sure you write a lengthy response on your form.

Use March break to get ahead on your silent reading totals. We went to the library and signed out great books to read over the holiday.

See you when you return.

Lit 12: Fri. March 18

Take notes on author, John Milton. Read his sonnet, "On His Blindness". Make sure you are clear what problem is presented in the octave, name the volta and describe the resolution in the sestet.
Also define, pun, metonymy and find examples in the poem.
Define synecdoche and provide examples.
Also, discuss the significance of the final line.

Have a great break.

Lit. 12, Thurs. March 17

Excellent work in the lab today. Many of you started at 8:30. Well done.
I collected the essays and the quotation logs.

Tomorrow, we'll read Milton's sonnet, "On His Blindness".

English 9, Thurs. May 17

We reviewed for tomorrow's vocab. test. We read chapter 14 aloud and took notes.
Homework: Study for the test. Read the final chapter of the novel. Be sure to post-it note key passages as they will be needed for the essay you will write during the week after spring break.

English 9, Wed. March 16

Excellent work today. We added words 39 and 40 to our list and we did a practice vocab. quiz. Keep practicing at home.

We read chapters 11, 12 in class. Complete chapter 13 at home.
Tomorrow we will finish the novel and study for our vocab. quiz on 1-40. Test Friday.
We'll be reading our USSR books Friday so bring a book you can't put down.

Also, make sure you sign out lots of books from the library to take home over spring break.

March USSR forms are due March 31.

Lit 12, Wed. March 16

Excellent work colour-coding the quotation logs and completing the essay plans and the introduction sheets.

IF YOU WERE AWAY TODAY, YOU NEED TO FILL IN AN ESSAY PLAN AND WRITE THE INTRODUCTION TONGHT. CHECK THE ENGLISH WEBSITE FOR HELP. ACCESS IT VIA CLAREMONT'S WEBSITE.

Meet in the computer lab to write your essay tomorrow. I will open the lab by 8:30.
You may begin early if you wish. You must complete the essay and hand in the quotation log by 10:25.

Submit the essay plan as well.

Thank you.

Friday: We start Milton and we discuss Pepys so make sure you have read his journal entries.

Lit 12, Tues. March 15

We worked the entire block on completing our quotation logs which are due tomorrow. Bring three hiliters to class tomorrow to prepare for your essay outline and to write your essay introduction.

Essay in the lab: Thursday.

You must arrive tomorrow with your quote log in order to write the test Thursday.

English 9, Tuesday, March 15

We had a test on chapters 1 to 9 today.

Choose one of the thesis statements below and write a (300 word min.) literary paragraph.

1. John is a product of his environment; his insolent attidtude protects him against an adult world he does not respect, in the novel, The Pigman, by Paul Zindel.

Or

2. Lorraine is a product of her environment; her lack of confidence and defiant behaviours directly reflect her mother's negative influences.

Write this paragraph as well as you can. Use your notes, your novel, your charts.
If you do not do well on this paragraph, it is probably time to invest in a tutor and/or come in for extra help sessions because we have been practicing this style of writing now for six weeks. This is your fourth literar yparagraph. You've done two on the story, "The Father," and one on the story, "Penny in the Dust".

I'm looking for your ability to prove your thesis with evidence from the text, use your literary must-haves, integrate quotations well and cite properly. I'm also looking for your ability to use transition statements and to conclude well.

To get a 5 or 6, you must also have insight into your character based on your reading.

To plan, start with a chart:

on the what side--BRAINSTORM-- all of the parents' negative behaviours (actions and words)

on the so what side -- BRAINSTORM-- how your character reacts or is affected by these harsh realities

Also,

read chapter 10 and post it note three key passages.

Vocabulary test Friday--be sure to study.

English 9, Mon. March 14

I collected the brains--they are lovely: symbolic, honest, striking! Well done.

If you haven't yet submitted your story to the BCTELA fiction contest, please do so immediately.

Also, check the new marks and make sure there are no errors or omissions. Report cards will be sent out soon after spring break.

We read chapters 8 and 9 of the novel, The Pigman, and continued post-it noting key actions, expressions, thoughts of our key characters.

Tuesday: In-class paragraph writing. You will answer a question based on chapters 1 to 9 in a formal literary paragraph. Be sure to study all the handouts tonight and your vocabulary list.
We added words 37 and 38 today: to incriminate and to liberate.

Vocabulary test: Friday. Study. IT will be on words 1 to 44.

Keep up the good work.

Lit 12, Monday, March 14

Quote Logs due Wed. Bring them Tues. as you'll have some time to work on them. Wednesday, we'll be working with them all block and then Thursday you write the essay and submit the quote log.

Today, we completed notes on John Donne's "A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning." We also read Donne's Holy Sonnet 6, "Death, Be Not Proud." Be sure to get the notes on these two poems as they are both on the core and they represent the genre called Metaphysical poetry.

We were then introduced to Samuel Pepys diary (1660). This piece of journalism is a realistic slice of late Renaissance 17th century life. It's also on your core list.
Read it carefully and make notes on each paragraph. Look for what the document reveals about this time period in history. Be prepared to support your opinions with evidence from the text.

Tuesday: We start Milton. You may wish to get a head start on the epic poem, Paradise Lost and the sonnet, "On His Blindness".

After spring break, we start Hamlet.

English 9, Friday, March 11

We read our USSR books--we're half way through March (almost) so you should be meeting your reading goals. You may need to do some extra reading this weekend.

We added the following vocabulary words:

35. vicariously (adverb) experienced or enjoyed second hand by imagining one's own participation in the experiences of another
      vicarious (adjective) 
Synonyms: second-hand, indirectly, secondary, surrogate, empathically
Sentence: 
36. interrogate (verb)
interrogation (noun)
Synonyms: to question, to quiz, to interview
Sentence:

I collected the stories for the contest. You'll need a cover sheet if you were away. Ask me.

We read chapters 6 and 7 of The Pigman novel. Look for passages that demonstrate the influence of adults on the teens. Positive? Negative? Neutral? Teen reactions?

Post-it note three passages per chapter on your chosen character: John or Lorraine.

Homework: complete your BRAIN collages. I'm looking forward to seeing what you create.

Lit 12, Friday, March 11

Today: I collected the 17th century paragraph and we had ample time to work on the quotation logs, which are due Wednesday. Focus on completing the quote log this weekend. Be sure to follow the criteria and re-read the sample I gave you to ensure you are on the right track.

Wednesday we will turn the log into an essay outline. We'll turn the outline into an introductory paragraph so you'll be ready to write your essay in the computer lab on Thurs.

This week we will complete the Renaissance poetry, Donne and (Lucky you-- MILTON!)

Lit. 12, Thurs. March 10

What a way to start the morning: 20 minutes with your favourite book. Tuesdays and Thursdays are popular. Tomorrow, you must be finished your novel. You will be working on the quotation log in class tomorrow.

Paragraphs are due tomorrow. I'm really looking forward to your analysis of the impact of the political climate on cavalier poetry. Good luck.

We covered four more cavalier poems today: two by Lovelace and two by Suckling.

We also took notes on John Donne and metaphysical poetry. We began to read and take notes on "A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning". Be sure to read and make notes on all the poems and to check that your notes are complete by borrowing notes from a peer.

Quotation Logs are due: Wed. March 16. You must have it here in order to be eligible to write the essay in the computer lab on Thur. March 17.

English 9, Thurs. March 10

Can't wait to see what you do with John and Lorraine's brain. Make sure to follow all the criteria.
The brains will be due Monday, March 14.

Friday: A clean, edited (perfect) copy of your story for the BCTELA writing contest. DO NOT put your name on it. DO NOT staple it. Put a paper clip on the left hand corner.

BRING: your address and postal code and a current email address to class for the cover sheet that we will attach to your story

English 9, Wed. March 9

I absolutely loved your stories! Block 2 students received their edited stories today. Block 4 will get them back tomorrow. We have a contest to enter, Friday.

Make all the changes needed to your story. Print out a new copy BUT WITHOUT YOUR NAME ON IT. Friday, I will give you a cover sheet to complete. You will need to know your full address, including postal code and an email address which you check regularly.

Next, we made corrections to our stories on our charts.
We made a gigantic chart on the character John or Lorraine and a thesis statement for each character.
Tomorrow, we'll design our verbal-visual essays or brain collages. (Be sure to call your homework buddies if you were away today).
Bring scissors, glue, pencil crayons, bits and pieces of material to decorate your collage, pictures, etc.

Homework: Block 2-edit your stories and bring supplies.
                    Block 4: think about how you will prove your thesis in pictures and words and bring  supplies to class tomorrow.

Lit 12, Wed. March 9

We have a paragraph due Friday. Be sure to get the question from a friend and all the notes from the three poems studied today: Marlowe, Raleigh, Marvell.

English 9, Tuesday, March 8

The results on the vocabulary tests today show that you are taking responsibility for your own learning. Well done!

We read our USSR books, completed and marked the vocabulary tests.
I collected the short story draft and the good copy. Can't wait to read them.

We read chapters 4 and 5 of The Pigman and if you have chosen your character, John or Lorraine, for your essay topic, you may start to just collect post-it notes on that character. If you have not yet chosen, continue to post-it note 3 per chapter, 3 on John and then 3 on Lorraine.
Thanks.

Lit 12, Tues. March 8

I love your enthusiasm for all things literary. Thank you for your incredible efforts.

We read our novels for the first 20 minutes.

We took notes on the Jacobean period in England and the impacts the civil strife had on literature in the 17th century.

We introduced Cavalier poetry and read and took notes on Herrik's poem from the core list.
We also introduced the concept of pastoral poetry and took notes on the lives of Christopher Marlowe and Sir Walter Raleigh.

Tonight: Get those novels finished so you can start on the quotation log. Don't get yourself in the situation of having no time to complete the logs.

English 9, March 4

We copy edited our short stories. Make sure that you staple the good copy (double spaced) to the draft and hand in Tuesday.

Tuesday is our big vocabulary test on words 1 - 32. You must study so that you can do well on Tuesday.

Read chapters 2 and 3 from The Pigman. Add three new post-its for each chapter. Chapter two should focus on Lorraine and chapter 3 on John.

USSR books--You have three days to read. Lucky you! Have a good weekend.

Lit 12, Friday, March 4

DEADLINES: Finish your novel by Friday, March 11. Complete the quotation log by Wed. March 16th. In order to be able to write the in-class essay, you must attend Wed. March 16 in order to review essay format and to write your thesis. We'll write the essay March. 17 (THURS) in the computer lab.

Today: We got to hear Hanna, Claire, Adrian and Katherine recite their poems. Thank you! Thanks for all the support from the Lit class at the slam poetry championships last night.

We read and took notes on the remaining three sonnets: 29, 30 and 73.
I returned the marked paragraphs and charts from sonnet 18. Those students who did not do well, have an opportunity to re-do the paragraph this weekend and re-submit Tuesday.

Homework: Read the novel and post-it note key passages. Start on the quote log as soon as you finish reading the novel.

English 9, Thurs. March 3

We added the next two vocabulary words: defiant and wayward. We read for 15 minutes in block 2. Block 4 students had an assembly.

I checked the homework. Your story should be at least 500 words in length.
Write another 250 words tonight.

For those students who have completed a first draft, ensure that you are in the process of revising.

We read chapter one of the novel, The Pigman.
Homework: Short story writing. Complete the reading of chapter one and post-it three passages which you feel reveal something important about John.

Lit. 12, Thurs. March 3

We read our novels for twenty minutes. Make sure you are half way through your novel at this point and that you have several post-its per chapter which highlight your theme.

We wrote our paragraphs on Sonnet 18.

Tonight: Read your novel. Always review terms, poems, and Renaissance notes.

Wed. March 2, English 9

We edited our short stories using the following criteria:
1. 6 marks for having the first 250 words in class, double spaced and edited
2. 6 marks for having a lot of specific detail
3. 6 marks for appealing to all five senses in your descriptions
4. 6 marks for "showing" and not "telling" what your character is like
5. 6 marks for using dialogue creatively--show don't tell what a character is like by the way he/she speaks
If you were absent today, mark your draft using the above criteria. Show me tomorrow.

HOMEWORK: Using all of our criteria, write the next 250 words of your story. If you've already surpassed 500 words, lucky you. You have more time to edit, revise, rethink your story. Bring your best edited version to class tomorrow for peer editing.

Vocabulary: 27 and 28. Big test Tues. March 8.
USSR: Keep reading! Some of you read 8 books in February. Well done. Try to read widely. Not just graphic novels.
Good work today.

Lit 12, Wed. March 2

We reviewed literary paragraph writing--the conventions, the expectations, how to get a 5 or a 6.

We worked for 45 minutes on the handout (copied below) on Sonnet 18, page 167. (some of the formatting may have been lost when I pasted it here).

Tonight, read your novel! Let's get these novels finished so we can start our essays.

IMPROVING LITERARY PARAGRAPH WRITING

• LEARN THIS GENRE : THERE ARE CONVENTIONS AND IT CAN BE A POWERFUL WAY TO EXPRESS YOURSELF.

Sonnet 18 “Shall I Compare Thee To A Summer’s Day”

In a formal, literary paragraph of at least 300 words, discuss the attitude toward love revealed in this poem. Marks awarded for insight (epiphanies/analysis), format (3pieces of evidence clearly explained and well-integrated quotes) and style (sentence variety, transitions, strong verbs, clear expression).

Be sure to follow our LITERARY MUST-HAVES LIST and the MLA STYLE SHEET.

Filling in the blanks below will help organize your thoughts.

Thesis: attitude toward love (include the author and “title”) _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1a. Love demands/needs/exists when . . .  etc 

(your opinion here)

___________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1b. evidence for that opinion ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________(make sure you cite it properly. Check your how to cite sheets)

1c. connect this evidence to your thesis (elaborate or explain it—this is where you add your epiphany, you flesh out your opinion until you feel it’s clearly understood) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

TRANSITION (a key word or phrase indicating to the reader that you are moving on to your next point)

2a. love also ___________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2b. evidence ___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2c. explanation (tie to your thesis) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

TRANSITION (a key word or phrase indicating to the reader that you are moving on to your next point)

3. Finally, love also (this should be your strongest point)  ___________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3b. evidence (cited properly or paraphrased well) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3c. explain your point, elaborate, synthesize, Build to a climax here. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Conclude: Re-read the sentences above—do they prove your thesis? If not, change your thesis. If yes, repeat your thesis here but in a more emotionally-charged fashion. Diction is key here. No need to repeat the author or title in the conclusion. No need to say IN CONCLUSION. You may need two sentences to achieve a dramatic finale.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

English 9, Tues. March 1

Excellent work today. We exchanged our short story texts for a novel, The Pigman. If you were absent today, take your short story to the library and ask Mrs. Peacock or Mrs. Ippen to sign out the new book to you. Please do so before you come to class. Thanks.

We reviewed two of our creative writing techniques and added a third. Be sure to call your homework buddies if the notes below do not make any sense.

HOMEWORK: REWRITE/REVISE/START OVER IF NEED BE the first 250 words of your short story. Ensure that you include all three techniques. Remember, you will be submitting this story to the BCTELA writing contest so you want it to be your best. I will mark this first section based on your ability to
1. Add specific detail
2. Make an effort to appeal to the five senses
3. Show but don't tell i.e. let your reader infer what you mean. Don't say Lily is happy. Show Lily's happiness through actions, dialogue, descriptions of the room she is in, what she's wearing, what song is playing in her ipod, what she is eating, what she dreamt last night, what book she is wearing, etc.
4. Dialogue that reveals the character's true motivations without directly saying it
Example:
    "Hi."
    "Have you seen my black hoodie?"
    "Mom is home, you know."
    "I think I left it at Susan's. I'd better be going."
Notice what the dialogue reveals about the second speaker.

Example 2:
"Ain't nobody leaving."
"Mr. Smith. I do beseech you. I must call my lawyer immediately."
"You hear what I said, Delayney? Nobody move."

A little dialogue goes a long way. More is less. Intervene with description, thoughts, dreams, sounds etc.

STUDY YOUR VOCABULARY WORDS. WE ADDED 25 AND 26 TODAY. BIG TEST, TUES. MARCH 8. SHORT STORY IS DUE TUES. MARCH 8. MAXIMUM 1500 WORDS.

Lit 12, Tues. March 1

We finished the three sonnets on the core list: 130 "My mistresses eyes are nothing like the son"
116 "Let not the marriage of true minds" and sonnet 29 "When in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes".

Tomorrow, you'll have a sight passage assignment, which means you will need to read the sonnet and answer a question in a literary paragraph. You have the advantage of knowing that it will be one of the sonnets on pages 166 to 168., i.e. one of the three sonnets not on the core list. Feel free to read and study them tonight. You will not be allowed to use your notes though.

Study the literary must-haves list, how to cite, how to introduce each quote and discuss its significance.

We'll be sure to study the other two sonnets as well.

DON'T FORGET TO COME TO THE SLAM POETRY EVENT THIS THURS. AT REYNOLDS. THE EVENT SELLS OUT SO TO ENSURE A SEAT, GET THERE BY 6:15. $5.00.
CLAIRE, ADRIAN, CAROLYN, KATHERINE AND HANNA APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT.