Writing 12: Fare Thee Well

English 11E : Course options for next year

English 11 -  Writing 12 / English 12 AP Literature and Composition (12 credits - one semester) (for those English 11 or English 11 E students who want to focus on modern stories, plays, essays and novels and who wish to write the AP exam in May. This course is offered second semester only as all students need Literature 12 as a pre-requisite).

                   English 12: similar to English 11 except there is a provincial exam worth 40%.
                     Communications 12: similar to Comm 11 except there is a provincial exam.

Grade 12 English Electives:

                Writing 11 /  12 (creative writing course similar to an art class where you read modern poems and stories and learn to write your own. You create a portfolio of work to demonstrate your knowledge. No tests or exams. For the experienced or inexperienced writer).  
                 Literature 12 : a survey course of the British greats: from dragons and heroic quests to Chaucer, Shakespeare, the Puritans, the Romantics to the moderns and post-moderns (for those who love studying the historical background and for those curious to know where the English language began and how it flourished)
                Journalism 10, 11, 12 : This group creates our school yearbook. You learn to take great photographs, and programs for desktop publishing such as In design, marketable skills. Great for students who are looking for a creative time to their day and who wish to take a leadership role to create a lasting memento for the school.                                                      

English 10: Study for the final exam!!

Be sure to re-read the two mock provincial exams that you have in your notebook. If you were absent today, hand in your Jan. USSR form and your vocabulary notes and take the vocab. test on Monday.

You will perform well on Tuesday if you arrive well rested. Bring water. Dress in layers. You will need to bring a pen and a pencil. You must write in ink!

Arrive by 8:45 Tuesday morning. Return texts and USSR books to the library. If you have any books from my room, please return them to the shelf.

If you have books at home you would like to donate, please bring me the books.

Thanks for a great year.

Options for next year and grade 12

English 10 -- English 11 E / AP Language and Composition (Linear)
                     (for those who love non-fiction, want a more challenging option than English 11 and may wish to study law, psychology, political science, humanities, sociology or criminology)

              -- English 11 (similar in structure and academics to English 10) For those who want a similar experience next year. You found the pace, the rigor, the difficulty met your needs.

            --- Communications 11 (focuses on letter writing, grammar, short creative personal pieces, email and other forms of communication) For those who found English 10 too challenging and would like a slower pace.

Electives: Writing 11 /  12 (creative writing course similar to an art class where you read modern poems and stories and learn to write your own. You create a portfolio of work to demonstrate your knowledge. No tests or exams. For the experienced or inexperienced writer).  
                 Literature 12 : a survey course of the British greats: from dragons and heroic quests to Chaucer, Shakespeare, the Puritans, the Romantics to the moderns and post-moderns (for those who love studying the historical background and for those curious to know where the English language began and how it flourished)
                Journalism 10, 11, 12 : This group creates our school yearbook. You learn to take great photographs, and programs for desktop publishing such as In design, marketable skills. Great for students who are looking for a creative time to their day and who wish to take a leadership role to create a lasting memento for the school. 


English 11 -  English 12 AP Literature and Composition (8 credits - one semester) (for those English 11 or English 11 E students who want to focus on modern stories, plays, essays and novels and who wish to write the AP exam in May. This course is offered second semester only as all students need Literature 12 as a pre-requisite).

                   English 12: similar to English 11 except there is a provincial exam worth 40%.
                     Communications 12: similar to Comm 11 except there is a provincial exam.

Grade 12 English Electives:

                Writing 11 /  12 (creative writing course similar to an art class where you read modern poems and stories and learn to write your own. You create a portfolio of work to demonstrate your knowledge. No tests or exams. For the experienced or inexperienced writer).  
                 Literature 12 : a survey course of the British greats: from dragons and heroic quests to Chaucer, Shakespeare, the Puritans, the Romantics to the moderns and post-moderns (for those who love studying the historical background and for those curious to know where the English language began and how it flourished)
                Journalism 10, 11, 12 : This group creates our school yearbook. You learn to take great photographs, and programs for desktop publishing such as In design, marketable skills. Great for students who are looking for a creative time to their day and who wish to take a leadership role to create a lasting memento for the school.                                                      

English 10: Study for your vocabulary test . . .

Tonight: Check that each word in your Vocabulary notebook has a definition, several synonyms, and a sentence (in formal English) which demonstrates the word's meaning.

Wrong: He acted malevolently at the party.
Correct: He acted malevolently at the party; he threw the cake into the trash.

Marks awarded for effort, creativity, proper English and proofreading. Check my quizlet page if you have been absent.

January USSR: I can't wait to see all the books you have read this month. I hope you beat your score.

Romeo and Juliet essays and the quotation logs were collected today. If you were absent, submit them tomorrow or email me for an extension.

I will be in my room on Monday. If you have questions regarding the exam, please bring them in.

Tomorrow: Vocab. test and exam review. Bring the two mock exams you have so and all five of your section C compositions so that we can review how to prepare for that creative writing section.

Writing 12: Last Day . . . .

We will be sending work out electronically tomorrow in the lab so expect me to be saying, "Is this a cheese shop?" 

MANUSCRIPTS MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ELECTRONIC COPY. PLEASE EMAIL THE MANUSCRIPTS, ADDRESS, AND BIO TO AURORA@SHAW.CA TONIGHT.Please put your name in the subject line. Thanks.


Complete the contest entry forms tonight for the BCTELA and for The Claremont Review contests. Good luck. You deserve to win. I love your work. Stay in touch.


I have the lab booked tomorrow so we can print all you need. Meet in class so I can go over these steps and then we'll walk downstairs like ducks in a line.

English 11 E: Exam prep

We'll postpone the cafe until second semester so that we can discuss the exam expectations, review the texts studied this year, and I will answer any questions you may have. We will also sign out the Lit 12 texts so we can start on the first day back.

Tonight: Gather any books that belong to the school and return them. IF YOU BORROWED ANY BOOKS OFF OF MY SHELF, PLEASE RETURN THEM AND WHY NOT ADD A BOOK OR TWO OF YOUR OWN TO THE SHELF. YOU CAN WRITE A NOTE INSIDE IT TO ENCOURAGE OTHER READERS.

You picked up two handouts today. The first one outlines the exam format and includes a student essay which you can use as a model for practicing writing one between now and Wednesday.

The second handout you need to complete tonight.

Using your notebook, write in the name of each author, story, play or novel studied during class. Do not include USSR texts or poems or essays.

Bring the completed sheet to class.

ALSO BRING YOUR MONEY AND/OR THE POEMS AND ENTRY FORMS FOR OUR TWO CONTESTS TOMORROW. REMIND ME TO SHOW YOU A COPY OF AERIE INTERNATIONAL. IT'S REALLY GOOD. SEND ONE POEM ELECTRONICALLY TO AERIE OR TO POLYPHONY H.S.

English 10: Essay and Quotation Log due tomorrow

Today, we worked for the entire class on our essays.

Tomorrow: Vocabulary review for Friday's test. Text book return. You will have half the class to edit your essays and print them and submit the essay and the quotation log.

REMEMBER TO CREATE A PROPER COVER PAGE FOR YOUR ESSAY.

GIVE IT A TITLE:

Angry Views of Love in Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

• Italicize the title of the play
• Centre your title in the middle of your page 

In the far left bottom corner put the following information:

Name (first and last)
Ms. Stenson
Date
English 10

BE SURE TO SPEND TIME EDITING YOUR ESSAY. USE THE HANDOUTS FROM THE LAST ESSAY WE DID, PLUS YOUR LITERARY MUST-HAVES LIST.

Check for verb tense, verb variety, sentence variety, integration of quotations.

Friday: SUBMIT YOUR VOCABULARY NOTEBOOKS. SUBMIT YOUR JANUARY USSR FORMS. 

Writing 12: Postcard story due . . .

I'm looking forward to seeing postcards from all of you. Pick a style that you like and doublespace your piece before printing it.

OVERDUE: FICTION REPORTS AND THE 2ND LITERARY EVENT RESPONSES.

We are in the lab tomorrow. Please meet there. You will have time to edit and print stories for the contests Thursday and Friday.

Manuscripts due Friday: PLEASE ARRIVE WITH THE MANUSCRIPTS READY TO HAND IN. WRITE ON THE TOP OF THE STORY THAT YOU WANT ME TO SUBMIT TO THE CLAREMONT REVIEW'S SPRING ISSUE (I.E. THE ONE NOT GOING TO THE CONTEST SO I CAN MAKE A COPY OF IT).

Cover Page: Give your fiction manuscript a title. Include a new bio, your complete address, your email, and telephone. BE SURE TO EMAIL ME A COPY OF YOUR MANUSCRIPT.

Include the two stories you have written and at least one postcard story.

Friday: TIME TO ORGANIZE ALL THE CONTEST ENTRIES. 

Submit:
1. A story for The Claremont Review contest (no name on the story) attached to your entry form.
2. A story for the BCTELA contest (no name on the story) attached to your entry form. 1500 words or less
3.  You may decide where to send the postcard--Aerie International or Polyphony H.S.

English 11E: Composition Tomorrow

The poetry test is one composition. You will be asked to read and make notes on two poems and then write a compare/contrast multi-paragraph composition which demonstrates your knowledge of poetry and your ability to write formally, following our literary must-haves.

Marks awarded for insight, content, organization, and style.

Be sure to comment on the poems' structure and literary techniques as needed.

Study the poems we read during the unit, the strategies you use to understand a poem, and the use of the TICK chart for accessing theme.

Friday: Poetry Cafe: Your final poetry mark is based on a piece of writing you will do during class (How has poetry affected me?) and your oral reading of two of your poems from your manuscript.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO SUBMIT THE CONTEST ENTRIES AND BRING THE MONEY.

If you have been absent, go on-line to submit your entries to Polyphony H.S. or to Aerie International.

Study for tomorrow's composition by using the examples below and the edited composition on the two poems about education. 

Sample Compare and Contrast Composition

Introductions: Be clear. Be specific.

Good Example:

Richard Lemm’s two poems about war, “An Israeli Soldier Finds His Brother” and “A Palestinian Watches His House Burn” demonstrate how war is meaningless and devastating; yet, state that war will continue as long as there is suffering. Lemm suggests that war feeds upon itself. In the first poem, the soldier realizes that he is exactly the same as a Palestinian yet is powerless to make any change occur. In the second poem, a Palestinian victim, enraged by his suffering, ironically wants to retaliate. “Suffering has made you strong.” Both poems admit that war cannot be stopped.

Poor example:

These two poems speak passionately on opposite points of views. “An Israeli Soldier Finds His Brother” by Richard Lemm is a poem filled with sadness and compassion for the circumstances of their conflict. In contrast, “A Palestinian Watches His House Burn”, also by Richard Lemm, has an angry tone, revenge in mind. Both poems are expressed visually and emotionally; however, they are at opposite ends of the spectrum.

Body paragraphs: Be specific. Stay on topic. Cite correctly. Paraphrase as well to support your opinions.

Good example:

In contrast, the character in “A Palestinian Watches His House Burn” is much more hardened towards war. He is the victim in this conflict and as such hates his enemy for his horrible predicament. He envies the strength of the Israelis: “Great suffering has made you strong” but sees the enemy as inferior and reprimands them for their hypocrisy: “you, above all, should understand / how thin the veil disguising murder.” However, the last line of the poem demonstrates that the persona feels no compassion, like the soldier in the first poem does: this man feels only revenge: “fierce like you. I shall return.” The Palestinian’s harsh words and conversational style emphasize his bitterness. He addresses the Israelis in the poem which makes the poem even more vindictive. Although this man is a victim, he ironically has learned from his oppressors that oppression breeds oppression. He vows to return and fight thus perpetuating the war and denouncing any chance of reconciliation.

Conclusions: Be specific. Refer back to your main points. End with a bang. Use your most passionate words. Think about your sentence variety and punctuation here, particularly the colon: think of the colon like a drum roll to introduce the next phrase.

Good example:

The two themes of these poems contradict each other. In ‘An Israeli Soldier Finds His Brother”, the underlying idea is that what is lost does not have to be lost forever: “ hand in hand we could reach / inside each other”. However, the persona in “A Palestinian Watches His House Burn” refuses reconciliation. He wants only revenge, which ironically he has learned from the Jewish example: persecution breeds persecution. “Again there is war.”

Poor example:

The differences in attitudes towards war are clearly demonstrated through each poem’s individual character. The tone of the poems also gives the reader insight into who the victim and the victor are. Each poem views war in a different way.

English 10: Romeo and Juliet essays

Today, we spent the entire period writing the essays. Tomorrow, we only have a period booked in the lab so meet there at the beginning of class, please.

Thursday is your day to edit, revise, use synonyms, change the sentence variety, ensure that you have proven the thesis, integrate quotations, etc.

So . . . . determine how much time you need to spend at home tonight and tomorrow night in order to complete the first draft?

Essays and quotation logs due at the end of Thursday's class. I will be collecting your Romeo and Juliet texts Thursday as well. If you borrowed one of my No Fear Shakespeare duotangs, please return it. Thanks.

Vocabulary review is Wednesday. Test Friday. Please submit your completed vocabulary journals on Friday.

Exam day: Tues. Jan. 29th at 9 a.m. in the big gym.

Wr 12: Fiction Report Number 3 due Wednesday

I look forward to reading your fiction reports which are due tomorrow.

Tonight: Edit your stories. Decide where you want to send your stories for publication. See previous blog posts for options.

If you missed class today, plan to stay in at lunch tomorrow to catch up. We read our USSR texts and then we read 10 postcard stories from previous Claremont reviews. See the list on yesterday's blog. You need to read these stories. We also wrote two post card beginnings today and we'll do two more tomorrow so that could give you four postcard stories to add to your manuscript. YAY.

Thursday: We are in the lab and Friday.

English 11E: Friggin' Amazing!

Do you like the colloquial tone of today's topic?

I am still reeling from today's presentations. They reflect passion, insight, enthusiasm, intelligence, resonance--there is hope for the future. If you can do this type of analysis---now, you will breeze through AP Lit next year and have a nice seat waiting for you in second year university. La La La

Tonight: Be prepared to present tomorrow. Write your paragraph response to Richard Lemm's poem, "A Palestinian Watches His House Burn".

Friday: Jan. USSR forms are due. We will be having a poetry cafe on Friday. Sign up to bring food to share. Breakfast theme--croissants, fruit, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, bacon, tofu, whatever you love to eat. You will be marked on how well you read your poems aloud. Prepare to read two each. If your poems are short, read three.

We'll also be signing out the Literature 12 texts as well.
There is room in Lit 12 next semester so if you have a friend or two who would enjoy the class, encourage them to take it and then next year, they can join us in AP Lit. and get credit for English 12 (for free) since Lit 12 and AP Lit cover the learning outcomes for English 12, all you need to do for English 12 is write the exam, June 2014.

English 10: Bring the completed quotation log to class

Today, we added words 61 to 64 and we read for 15 minutes. January USSR forms are due on Friday.

Everyone worked extremely earnestly to complete all ten paragraphs.
Tonight: Complete the paragraphs and colour-code the quotation log.

Arrive tomorrow with a sentence that represents each colour.

For example:

Red: Love cannot flourish in a society which values hatred; Romeo and Juliet's demise symbolizes that where hatred dominates, love is smothered.

Blue: Hatred is not questioned and therefore those who love hatred disrespect society's rules resulting in a city based on bloodshed.

Yellow: Hatred and love spring from irrational and uncontrollable passion; both passions must be controlled or chaos results.

Tuesday: We will type the entire essay in class as an in-class essay. You will have 80 minutes to complete it. Study your Mockingbird essay and handouts so you feel prepared.

Thursday: You will edit the essay in the computer lab and submit it for marks.

Writing 12: Check the deadlines . . . breathe!

Wed: Third fiction report is due.
Friday: Last day for second literary event response. I'm reading with poet, John Barton, editor of The Malahat Review, at Serious Coffee (near Beacon Hill Park) 230 Cook St. tonight. Come down to listen. Read at the open mic. $3.00 cover.

Fiction manuscript is due Friday. (Submit your two stories and as many post card stories as you complete this week. Post card stories are optional but helpful for contests and magazine submissions).

Contest entries and magazine submissions for fiction:

The Claremont Review Contest: Choose a story, take your name off of it. Make sure there are no typos or awkward sentences. Attach it to a contest entry form.

BCTELA: Print out a copy of the same story as above (if it is 1500 words or less) attach it to a contest entry form.

Magazine Submissions: If you have three more stories, you may submit to all three below. If you have only one story left, choose which magazine you would like to submit to.

Claremont Review spring issue: Paper clip a different story than the one submitted to the C.R. contest (put your name on it) to a cover letter and a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

Aerie International: (They seem to like shorter pieces) Follow the guidelines on their website. Since you have already sent them a photo, there is probably no need to send another.

Polyphony H.S. (Be prepared for a lot of feedback. Remember, it's feedback. They are not criticizing. It could be useful in the long run.

Tues and Wed. this week, we will be writing post card stories and playing with our imaginations and our attitudes and maybe a dead crow or seagull or two.
(oops, sorry, just looked out the window and got distracted)

Thurs. and Friday, I have booked the centre lab so you can edit and print your stories for the manuscript and for the contest.

YOUR MANTRA THIS WEEK? PROOFREAD! PROOFREAD! PROOFREAD!

Tomorrow: We'll be reading a variety of postcard students from Naming the Baby, a collection from the first 30 Claremont Review magazines.

Dizzy 109
Mill Bay Ferry 22
Suzuki in the Sky 23
Decomposition 4
God and Me 219
June 208
Tallroom Pantsing 190
Mainstream and Upstream 136
Weak Sundays 84
Let's Just Spin 83
Symptoms 70
These United Nations 64
Strawberry Jam 49 

English 11E: Bring $25.00 plus prepare your poem for presentation

Today I collected the manuscripts, the BCTELA entry, The Claremont Review entry, and we sent electronic copies to Polyphony HS or to Aerie. If you were absent today, bring copies of your poems for these contests. More details on Friday's blog.

Group Poetry Presentations
It Is Dangerous to Read Newspapers Olivia and Jessie
The Child Who Walks Backwards Rachael, Keira, Amanda, Stephanie
Adulterated Jessica Holly Kayla Jake
An Israeli Soldier Finds His Brother Emi Helen Connor
A Palestinian Watches His House Burn Isaias Steve Motria Emma

How Do Poets Shed Light on the Dark Side of the World?

Discuss: point of view, tone, theme, literary techniques, sound techniques, structure,

Create a TICK chart to ensure you at the them accurate.
Be sure to answer the question above in your presentation.

THURSDAY: COMPARE/CONTRAST COMPOSITION TEST
FRIDAY: EXAM PREPARATION 

English 10: Quotations for quote log due Monday

If you were absent today, be sure to read all of Act 5 and when you return on Monday, borrow the notes from a friend and make a copy of them. Your understanding of Act 5 is crucial for understanding the play.

Next week, we will be writing the Romeo and Juliet essay, finishing up our vocabulary and preparing you for the vocabulary test, Jan. 25th and I'll answer any questions you may have about the provincial exam. Remember, there are a lot of provincial exams on-line so feel free to practice.

Homework: Bring an electronic copy of your best 10 quotations (cited correctly) that you think will work well for your essay. We'll write our quote logs during class on Monday.

Topics: Choose one.

1. How love is viewed in the play.
2. How hate is viewed in the play.
3. How love and hate are juxtaposed in the play.

Writing 12: Post card stories

If you were absent today, ask me to loan you the package I read to the class. We had a riot. Picasso had his blue period. Grade 12s have their BELLIGERENT period and we are entering that stage now. Please, please practice your belligerent walk before Monday as you may be judged.

Computer Lab Monday.

This weekend, re-read short story one which you submitted in December before the break. Now is your chance to revise and conquer, okay, just revise....

Bring an electronic copy to class so that you can work on it Monday.

Tuesday, we'll write post card stories.

Wed. and Thurs. it's time to put the final touches on the manuscript.

Friday, the manuscript is due and we say adieu!!

LAST DAY FOR LITERARY EVENT RESPONSES, FRI. JAN. 25TH.
I'm doing a reading with John Barton at Serious Coffee in Fairfield. Monday, Jan 21, at 7 p.m. I'd love you to read at the open mic. Please come if you can.
You can read a lovely, timely belligerent poem, yes? We'll be pleased.

What does Curious George have to be curious about?

If you were away today, this image will not make sense which is why I never miss class!

English 11E: poetry manuscripts due Monday

If you were absent today, be sure to follow our criteria sheet when editing your poems. Hand in your four best poems. You do not have to have a pantoum and a glosa but read the criteria, I am looking for attempts at form. Submit the good copies and the edited drafts and the check-list I handed out today. Your cover page needs a title, i.e. what would you want your book of poetry to be called?

Also due Monday: Contest entries.

Bring 2 poems for the BCTELA contest. Print them out. Do not put your name on the poems.

Bring 1 to 3 poems for The Claremont Review contest and a cheque, made out to The Claremont Review for $25.00. DO NOT PUT YOUR NAME ON THE POEMS. You have a chance to win $2000.00 in prizes, plus you get a one year subscription to the magazine so your entry supports and values student writing. If you cannot bring the money, Monday, still bring the poems. YOU MAY ALSO ATTACH YOUR SHORT STORY FOR THE SAME COST.

Bring 1 poem to be submitted electronically to Polyphony HS Magazine or to Aerie International. This poem cannot be the same ones you send to The Claremont Review.

You will complete your contest entry forms in class on Monday and attach your poems.

Next week, we will be studying poems and writing a compare/contrast composition. We will also have a poetry test and I'll be handing out the Literature 12 texts and we'll be picking seminar topics.

IT'S JUST ALL SO MUCH FUN.

English 10: Finish reading Act 3, Scene 4

If you were absent today, complete the next four vocabulary words. We are on 60. now, benevolence. Test on 1 - 60 Friday. All words are on Quizlet so go onto your site and copy my words onto yours or add to your list on your own.

Also, I will be collecting the exercise books with all 75 vocabulary words. Ensure that your list is up to date, has all the sentences proofread for full marks.

Final vocabulary test is Friday, Jan. 25.

We read most of Act 3 today and took notes. If you were absent, be sure to get the notes from a friend and read the scenes on your own. Post-it note key passages which you plan to use in your essay on love and hate juxtapositions.

Tonight: Study for the vocabulary test. Finish reading Act 3, Scene 3. Notice Juliet's predicament at the end of this act. Tomorrow we will be discussing dramatic irony and foreshadowing. Arrive prepared.

English 11E: Did she say write a pan-what?

Pantoum, draft, typed due tomorrow!! It can be a version of the exercise with the photo which you wrote during class today or a brand spanking new pantoum.

Be sure to check our criteria list so that you are revising to a certain degree before you hand it in to me.

Tomorrow, we will introduce and practice the glosa. If you have revised drafts of the two poems you have written so far, you are welcome to submit them for more editing.

Wr 12: Workshop tomorrow, bring 2 copies

Workshop Groups

1. Marc, Terra, Evann,
2. Courtney, Victoria, Shannon
3. Frankie, Jesse, Marissa, Britney
4. Justin, Joel, Christina
5. Erika, Aubrey, Antony
6. Gillian, Gurpreet, Jacqueline
7. Chelsea, Sara, Alyx, Whitney

It's best if the author reads his/her story aloud to the group as they follow along so you can hear how the author thinks it should be read. You will need to watch your time, of course. Judge by the length of each story. If you can't read the entire story aloud, read the first three pages.

You did an excellent job of editing last time so I expect tomorrow's workshop to really catch any problems.

Look for endings as they are pesky.
Look for dull sentences as they are tedious.
Look for surprise. Does the story keep you hooked? How?
Cut unneccessary dialogue, adjectives and adverbs.
Ensure the title adds to the story--allusion, pun, or image often work.
Ensure there are no proofreading problems, particularly with paragraphing and quotation marks.

Good luck.

Submit a good copy, double spaced Friday and I'll return them to you on Monday.

Friday we begin postcard stories and dramatic monologues so our final days of Writing 12 will send you off into the world with a journal filled with ideas and ways to continue writing long after this course completes.

English 10: Act 2: Paragraphs on Act 1 Due TUES.

Today, we read for 15 minutes. I recorded the number of pages read. Be sure to read at home. We added the next four words to our list for vocabulary. We finished at the word amble, number 53. Be sure to catch up.

Paragraph on love is due tomorrow. See Friday's blog for complete details.

Today: We read Act 2 on our own. Get the notes from a friend.
Make a heading for each scene. Under each heading, cite a quotation about love or hate. Minimum one per scene. If the scene is important, you may wish to record several quotes and / or post-it note them so you can find them for your quotation log.

Writing 12: Two copies of your story for workshop due Thursday

We did USSR today (next fiction report is due the last day of classes). Make sure to find time to read outside of class in order to get the book read in time. If you are not loving the book, ask me for a new one as our library is filled with the best short stories on the planet!!

We were in the computer lab today so we had all class to leisurely write. Life is good at Claremont!

PS

Soon, the 11s will be registering for courses for next year. If you have enjoyed Writing 12, please spread the word. Grade 10s can sign up for the course in their grade 11 year as well so they don't have to wait until grade 12. Some students (who love to write) take the course two years in a row!! Now that is love.

Thanks.

English 11: Poetry Contest poem due . . . +

Today I collected and edited the poems written about animals, objects, etc. Tonight, do a second edit of the poems (follow the criteria and my suggestions on the first draft) so that you feel the poem is ready to send to the League of Canadian Poets National Poetry Contest. This contest has $350, $250, and $200, prizes for first, second and third. We have to send the poems electronically so make sure you have an electronic copy that you can access during class tomorrow.

REMEMBER THAT WE ARE IN THE COMPUTER LAB UNTIL FRIDAY.

You may enter two poems in this contest

Details on how to enter are below:

Contest Entry Guidelines

Tonight: Write a poem imitating the Rachel Rose poem. A poem about a work of art or a photograph or an artist's process or the subjects of art or write a poem similar to the Patrick Lane poem, "Brothers" or the Elizabeth Larribee poem, "Havoc" where images are repeated in surprising ways and there is an allusion to art or photography.

Type up this poem and submit it to me tomorrow for editing.
If you need more time, let me know.

English 10: Literary Paragraphs Due . . .

Choose one of the following topics and create the best literary paragraph yet! Double space. 300 to 500 words. Marks awarded for style (diction, sentence structure, organization, integrating quotations and citing properly) and for insight (your opinions, inferences, symbols, interesting connections) and your knowledge of the literary paragraph must-haves.

1. Based on Act 1 of Romeo and Juliet, discuss the attitudes toward love. (What is revealed? Love is blind. Love is not needed. Love equals pain. Love dominates one's thoughts).
2. Discuss attitudes toward hatred. (Hatred is a form of identity (feud). Hatred is a passion. Hatred leads to irrational acts. Hatred is tolerated.
3. Discuss the ways love and hatred are juxtaposed and suggest a reason for the use of juxtaposition in the play. Love and hatred are equally irrational. Love and hatred are two passions which control man's fate. Love and hatred should not be tolerated. Love and hatred are both fairy tales which add drama to people's lives.

Have fun. Use your notes, your handouts, your wisdom and show what you know.

If you need an extra day, you may submit Tuesday. Organize your time.

Wr 12: Story number 2!!! Due Friday . . .

We'll workshop your stories on Thursday so bring two copies of your story to class for your workshop group.

Everyone should have a new short story book now. Make sure you LOVE it. If you do not, let's find you one you will LOVE. I gave away at least 100 post-it notes today. That's a lot of post-it notes.

Everyone worked really well today--you could hear a pin drop in here. I'm feeling self-conscious typing.

Have a great weekend writing.

English 11: Writing Poetry

I collected the compositions on the two poems about education.

I handed out a criteria sheet for your poetry manuscript which is due Jan. 21 (a Monday). Be sure to get a copy on Monday.

We read a poem by Lorna Crozier "Summerfallow" and a poem by Patrick Lane, "The Macaroni Song" and circled what we found "surprising" or "unexpected" in each poem since when we write poems, surprising our readers is the goal. Not a Hollywood surprise where a killer arrives to stab the protagonist but a simple surprise such as lying down in a field in the middle of a poem about a field.

You can probably find these poems on line.

We read two poems by Carla Funk and two student poems as models for this weekend's homework. Write a poem about an animal, insect, city, or object. Your job is to make us see it in a new way due to the effectiveness of your description. Focus on the techniques we have been discussing all week.

If you need more examples, search the poems on www.poetryfoundation.org.

Here's the link:
Find poems . . . .

Next week we are in the computer lab from Monday to Thursday as Ms. Marshall needs our room. Meet in the centre lab on Monday.

English 10: Romeo and Juliet

If you are absent today, you can read the play on line. We completed Act 1, scenes 1 and 2 today. Be sure to get the notes from a friend when you return and check yesterday's blog to copy out any new terms.

Be able to discuss the purpose and tone of the opening scene. What are the attitudes toward love and hate that have been revealed so far? Why does the play begin with the feud and a brawl? What do we learn about the feud?

What emotional state is Romeo in at the beginning of scene 2? Why? What is his attitude toward the brawl? Why is that important?

Post-it note key comparisons (juxtapositions) between love and hate so that you will be able to create a fantastic quotation log and write an essay. 

English 11: Composition on the two poems due . . .

If you were absent today, you may submit your composition to me the day after you return. Be sure to borrow the notes regarding prepping for a compare/contrast composition and how to write an introduction.

Sample:

Both poems suggest that education systems must be questioned; however in the poem, "Social Studies Report" by Patricia Young, the apathetic tone depicts a world that does not care to change. Whereas, in Maria Gillan's poem, "Public School No. 18, Patterson, New Jersey," the persona's angry response to the repressive nature of education suggest not only that the system is not serving its citizens but it is depriving the immigrant children their humanity. Both narrative styles reveal a story about schools which denigrates society.

State the major similarity. State a major difference in each poem.

Ensure that the composition comprises of an introduction and conclusion and as many body paragraphs as you need to write an insightful response. Follow our literary-must-haves. Cite correctly. Integrate quotations clearly.

Double space. This version is an opportunity for you to explore the style and to take risks. We will do another one next week for marks.

Wr 12: New story due Friday, Jan 18 . . . Enjoy!

Stories can come from anywhere--a word, a line, a memory, a Flip Dictionary, a National Geographic photograph. Keep your imagination fed by writing with several sources on your desk. A book of poetry, chocolate, art books, architecture books, magazines, literary magazines, your poetry manuscript . . . .
Listen to a Ted Talk or let your mind drift over interesting videos ---the guy who danced his way around the world or the guys who photographed a couch in front of international monuments such as the Taj Mahal or The Eiffel Tower. Use your imagination as a focal point this time around. I mentioned Bill Stenson's story about the divorce where the husband builds himself a house in the tree across the street and watches his marriage dissolve, his wife and her lover come and go . . . it sounds preposterous in real life but in fiction, with the right declarative details, you can make it work.
Google: Ted Talk, Jill Taylor to listen to an incredible story about a neuroanatomy scientist who has a stroke and is able to watch herself have a stroke as she knows what is going on . . . and the epiphanies she draws from that experience. 


Start with a line

The first thing you need to know about Jo is . . . . (We did this one in class today and I threw out the following words: bumper cars, beret Jocelyn's dad, fortune cookie, garage band, robin's egg, leprechaun, Atticus Finch, and then we finished with Really, the only thing you need to know about Jo is . . .
Use Jo or Joe.

The thing about cancer is . . .

The thing about living here is . . .

The thing about taxidermy is . . . .

And then you are off. Once I get the first image in a line, I've got a motif. Once I have a motif, I have resonance and with resonance I have character and with character, I have action.

We spoke about trying a space montage approach for this story. Shrinking or eliminating time. Think of films such as Love Actually, The Red Violin, Valentine's Day, Orozco's story, "Orientation". You remove the necessity of plot and replace it with intensity in description and action.

Stories to read for space montage ideas: Frankie's, Whitney's, Courtney's, Jesse's, Christina's, Terra's,  Shan's, or Gill's. 

English 10: Romeo and Juliet: your brain on Shakespeare

If you were absent today, visit the Learning Commons to sign our a copy of the play and make notes or get notes on all of the following terms/ideas:

Review:
blank verse
iambic pentameter
quatrain
couplet
irrational
rational
How to cite quotations from a play.
Shakespearean sonnet elements
Purpose of each act
juxtaposition of love and hatred in the play
We'll be writing essays on love/hatred comparisons.

 Why / how / when does he juxtapose love and hatred throughout the play?

I read aloud an article about the similarities in the brain's circuitry regarding love and hate. Fascinating. Why do we read Shakespeare? He knew about the brain's circuitry 400 years before this scientific discovery was made.

Similarities between love and hate

Reading Shakespeare:
Reading Shakespeare has a dramatic effect on the brain

This is your brain on Shakespeare:
How To Think Like Shakespeare

Writing 12: Micheal Chabon novel, Wonder Boys

We finished watching the film. I collected the new fiction reports and the number of post-it notes. If you haven't started your third collection of stories, yet, do pick one up from the library or ask me for a suggestion. Ask your peers for suggestions as well.

Today we wrote a short piece using two Chabon lines:

Opening: Sometimes people just really need to be rescued.
End line: He probably calls everybody Vernon.

English 11E: Poetry

We finished the poems in the package. Be sure to get the notes you missed.
We did a TICK chart and thesis for the Gillan poem, page 1. Finish the chart/thesis tonight.

We'll be writing a compare/contrast composition on the two poems' attitudes toward education during tomorrow's class as part of our exam prep.

Re-read the poems in the package. Which style do you prefer? Why?
We'll be using these poems (and more) to write our own poems.

Deadline for the next poetry contest is Jan. 15th.

English 11E: Poetry Unit Has Begun

If you were absent today, be sure to collect the poetry package from me and to get the notes from today's class from a friend. I collected the USSR Dec. forms today.

Wr 12: The Wonder Boys Micheal Chabon

Yes, it's true. It's true. A movie. Who knew writing could be this much fun?
Tonight: Complete your 2nd Fiction Report. I'm really looking forward to reading them. Due Wed. Jan. 9

English 10: December USSR forms due

We have almost finished watching the Romeo and Juliet film. Be ready to learn!
Also, set a USSR goal for January. How many books can you read?