Jeffrey Renn showed us today what is possible when it comes to reciting poetry.
You can google authors aloud, recitation ideas, etc to really improve the way you read your poems.
Try taping yourself doing the reading you are planning for the English classes, including the introductions. Talk about poetry. About listening. About what is going on in the poem. What you were trying to accomplish etc
Listen to the tape. Are the ends of your sentences hard to hear, do you end too quickly and start into the next poem too quickly, etc.
Thursday, I'll have you each present one poem to the class and I will be marking you.
Criteria:
1. Strong introduction
2. Pacing, eye contact, awareness of audience, voice modulations, articulations
3. Poem choice. Choose poems that will entertain or keep the audience's attention.
4. Body language, breathing, audibility, enthusiasm
5. The poem is read for meaning. Your voice makes sense with what the poem is saying. You don't rise up at the end of lines for no reason at all other than nerves.
FEEL YOUR NERVES. TAKE TIME TO CALM YOURSELF BEFORE YOU BEGIN.
Friday, November 29, 2013
English 10: Study for your vocabulary test . . .
Use the words in sentences. Look them up on google to see how they are used.
Figure out some images to connect to the words.
For example:
contention (sounds like the word tension) When we have an "argument" there is stress (tension) so a contention is a problem. A contentious issue is an issue about a problem. For example, those kids who do not like the hat rule have a contention to discuss with the principal.
ominous (has the word omen in it)
complacent (has the word place in it... people who don't want to change their ideas, don't want to "Move" or change places. They are satisfied with their "place" in the world.
Be creative. Have fun.
We will read Act 5 after the test.
This weekend is a great time to get a lot of reading done for USSR. You only need three books for an A. Let's get reading. Antonia and Abby gave you a lot of suggestions. Put books on your Xmas gift wish lists!!
Figure out some images to connect to the words.
For example:
contention (sounds like the word tension) When we have an "argument" there is stress (tension) so a contention is a problem. A contentious issue is an issue about a problem. For example, those kids who do not like the hat rule have a contention to discuss with the principal.
ominous (has the word omen in it)
complacent (has the word place in it... people who don't want to change their ideas, don't want to "Move" or change places. They are satisfied with their "place" in the world.
Be creative. Have fun.
We will read Act 5 after the test.
This weekend is a great time to get a lot of reading done for USSR. You only need three books for an A. Let's get reading. Antonia and Abby gave you a lot of suggestions. Put books on your Xmas gift wish lists!!
Thursday, November 28, 2013
English 12: Prepare for Friday's poetry re-test . . .
For the multiple choice section, be sure to know the following words and literary devices:
arduous
consonance
alliteration
onomatopoiea
paradox
allusion
hyperbole
metaphor
indifferent
ballad
sonnet
free verse
blank verse
To prepare for the paragraph section: Review.
1. Literary para. must-haves.
2. The template for a literary paragraph.
3. Re-read previous paragraphs. Where do you consistently lose marks?
4. Study your vocabulary list. Use accurate vocabulary and sentence variety. Use strong verbs.
5. Re-read the how-to-integrate quotes sheet. Make sure you use a lot of short quotations and integrate them well into the text. Change verb tenses in the original text to fit with your present tense paragraph.
6. Re-read all the work we did DURING the poetry unit. How do you read a poem? What is literal? What is figurative (metaphorical). What words are repeated. Where are the line breaks? What does the title imply? Etc.
7. It's grade 12. It's an exam. The literal answer will be in the poem somewhere. Find it!!
PREPARE SO YOU KNOW YOU ARE DOING YOUR BEST!
arduous
consonance
alliteration
onomatopoiea
paradox
allusion
hyperbole
metaphor
indifferent
ballad
sonnet
free verse
blank verse
To prepare for the paragraph section: Review.
1. Literary para. must-haves.
2. The template for a literary paragraph.
3. Re-read previous paragraphs. Where do you consistently lose marks?
4. Study your vocabulary list. Use accurate vocabulary and sentence variety. Use strong verbs.
5. Re-read the how-to-integrate quotes sheet. Make sure you use a lot of short quotations and integrate them well into the text. Change verb tenses in the original text to fit with your present tense paragraph.
6. Re-read all the work we did DURING the poetry unit. How do you read a poem? What is literal? What is figurative (metaphorical). What words are repeated. Where are the line breaks? What does the title imply? Etc.
7. It's grade 12. It's an exam. The literal answer will be in the poem somewhere. Find it!!
PREPARE SO YOU KNOW YOU ARE DOING YOUR BEST!
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
English 12: Miss Moyes is here Thursday . . . Don't miss class!!
Today: Read yesterday's blog so that you understand why we practice and how to benefit from feedback.
I read aloud Hanna's and Brandon's re-writes of the poetry section of the exam, the paragraph on the poem, "Ordinary Day".
We discussed what you need to have in the paragraph to succeed:
1. a strong thesis which answers the question and is repeated throughout
2. formal, accurate diction (word choice)
3. insightful use of quotations that flow well in the paragraph
On an English 12 exam, FIRST look for literal examples to answer the question (The poem states that the day was "an unexpected gift") but some of you missed that line and misinterpreted the poem. Consequently, you cannot pass the section. Look for repeated words. She repeats murmur and grace. She repeats light. Look for who is speaking and where they are--a mother, at home, in the "dead of winter".
Because a poem is so short, read it several times.
Practice what you have been taught. Start with who, what, where, when, why. If you can answer these questions first, you will be able to understand the poem at the literal level and THEN you can look for other clues such as repeated words, similes, juxtapositions, or irony, etc.
Today: We read three short chapters (only 20 pages) Chapters 10, 11, and 12.
As you read them, post-it note Holden's attitudes toward girls and his experiences with girls.
Next, create a what / so what chart with your best three quotations. YOU MUST HAVE A QUOTE FROM EACH CHAPTER. Add at least 9 points under the so what column.
Finally, turn the chart into a fantastic, insightful thesis statement such as
Holden's attitude toward women reveal that he respects women; however, he is torn between his sexual drives and the way other men treat women as he hates to see women objectified because he does not want to see himself as someone who uses women for his own sexual gratification.
I read aloud Hanna's and Brandon's re-writes of the poetry section of the exam, the paragraph on the poem, "Ordinary Day".
We discussed what you need to have in the paragraph to succeed:
1. a strong thesis which answers the question and is repeated throughout
2. formal, accurate diction (word choice)
3. insightful use of quotations that flow well in the paragraph
On an English 12 exam, FIRST look for literal examples to answer the question (The poem states that the day was "an unexpected gift") but some of you missed that line and misinterpreted the poem. Consequently, you cannot pass the section. Look for repeated words. She repeats murmur and grace. She repeats light. Look for who is speaking and where they are--a mother, at home, in the "dead of winter".
Because a poem is so short, read it several times.
Practice what you have been taught. Start with who, what, where, when, why. If you can answer these questions first, you will be able to understand the poem at the literal level and THEN you can look for other clues such as repeated words, similes, juxtapositions, or irony, etc.
Today: We read three short chapters (only 20 pages) Chapters 10, 11, and 12.
As you read them, post-it note Holden's attitudes toward girls and his experiences with girls.
Next, create a what / so what chart with your best three quotations. YOU MUST HAVE A QUOTE FROM EACH CHAPTER. Add at least 9 points under the so what column.
Finally, turn the chart into a fantastic, insightful thesis statement such as
Holden's attitude toward women reveal that he respects women; however, he is torn between his sexual drives and the way other men treat women as he hates to see women objectified because he does not want to see himself as someone who uses women for his own sexual gratification.
Writing 12: Belfry Tomorrow and Oral Reading: Bring two poems
MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE CONTACTED THE TEACHER TO WHOM YOU WILL PRESENT AND THAT YOU AND YOUR PARTNERS ARE WELL PREPARED. We have all sat through disaster presentations and slept with our eyes open. Don't be THE disaster. Preparation is your ally.
Tomorrow we will prepare.
Due Thursday: The first two pages (edited judiciously) of the story you plan to submit, Monday, Dec. 16th!!
Review your criteria sheet. Know what I'm looking for!!
Belfry Theatre:
Belfry Theatre Trip Tomorrow: Be downstairs in front of the office by 12:05. Find me to check in BEFORE boarding the bus. Do not bring a hat, cell phone or pack into the theatre. They do have a snackbar there so you can buy a cookie or gummies or tea or juice. NO talking during the performance. You may eat lunch on the bus but DO NOT leave a mess. You can leave your belongings on the bus while we are in the theatre.
We will be back by 3:28 to catch your rides home.
You should dress up a little to go to the theatre.
Be on your best SPARTAN behaviour please. Respect our volunteers.
Tomorrow we will prepare.
Due Thursday: The first two pages (edited judiciously) of the story you plan to submit, Monday, Dec. 16th!!
Review your criteria sheet. Know what I'm looking for!!
Belfry Theatre:
Belfry Theatre Trip Tomorrow: Be downstairs in front of the office by 12:05. Find me to check in BEFORE boarding the bus. Do not bring a hat, cell phone or pack into the theatre. They do have a snackbar there so you can buy a cookie or gummies or tea or juice. NO talking during the performance. You may eat lunch on the bus but DO NOT leave a mess. You can leave your belongings on the bus while we are in the theatre.
We will be back by 3:28 to catch your rides home.
You should dress up a little to go to the theatre.
Be on your best SPARTAN behaviour please. Respect our volunteers.
English 10: Love Letter from Juliet to Romeo . . .
If you were absent today, we added two new vocabulary words to our list: oblique and tedious.
Belfry Theatre Trip Tomorrow: Be downstairs in front of the office by 12:05. Find me to check in BEFORE boarding the bus. Do not bring a hat, cell phone or pack into the theatre. They do have a snackbar there so you can buy a cookie or gummies or tea or juice. NO talking during the performance. You may eat lunch on the bus but DO NOT leave a mess. You can leave your belongings on the bus while we are in the theatre.
We will be back by 3:28 to catch your rides home.
You should dress up a little to go to the theatre.
Be on your best SPARTAN behaviour please. Respect our volunteers.
There is no intermission for this play. Please use the restroom before the play begins.
We read Act 4, Scenes 1, 2, and 3 today.
Assignment: Write a love letter from Juliet to Romeo that he would receive if the Friar's potion happened to KILL her!!
This letter needs to proclaim her love for Romeo.
Marks awarded for:
Belfry Theatre Trip Tomorrow: Be downstairs in front of the office by 12:05. Find me to check in BEFORE boarding the bus. Do not bring a hat, cell phone or pack into the theatre. They do have a snackbar there so you can buy a cookie or gummies or tea or juice. NO talking during the performance. You may eat lunch on the bus but DO NOT leave a mess. You can leave your belongings on the bus while we are in the theatre.
We will be back by 3:28 to catch your rides home.
You should dress up a little to go to the theatre.
Be on your best SPARTAN behaviour please. Respect our volunteers.
There is no intermission for this play. Please use the restroom before the play begins.
We read Act 4, Scenes 1, 2, and 3 today.
Assignment: Write a love letter from Juliet to Romeo that he would receive if the Friar's potion happened to KILL her!!
This letter needs to proclaim her love for Romeo.
Marks awarded for:
- insight into Juliet's ideas of love
- Use three quotes from the play (no need to cite). Be sure to integrate these words as Juliet's words in your letter.
- Make it lovey-dovey!! This is Juliet after all.
- Make sure we learn something about love from your letter.
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
English 12: Catching up on missed work and . . . .
Learning from Practice:
When an athlete has a bad game, he or she, doesn't simply try to pretend it never happened. They analyze tapes. They hire specific coaches for each task:
putting, driving, short game, mental game etc.
Those who keep making the same mistakes but keep expecting to do well, are the definition of INSANITY!!
Those who look closely at their errors, figure out what skill they need to learn, find the person or the resources and the time to practice that skill, improve.
That is the definition of success. We learn by trying new things.
We learn by putting in effort.
What are you waiting for?
Tonight, look over all of your previous pieces of writing. What do you need to learn? How will you learn it? The exam is two months away.
You have eight weeks. You will have three hours to earn 40% of your mark. If you go into the exam with 64% or less and you fail the exam, you fail the course.
I repeat: YOU FAIL THE COURSE.
You will have to repeat the entire course, which may be the appropriate response. If you have been doing very little in English classes for four years, you will never improve your skills. You won't know what you are reading, what your doctor is telling you, how to help your child with homework, how to create a solution to problems not yet imagined.
THE WORLD IS IN YOUR HANDS. PICK IT UP. MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
When an athlete has a bad game, he or she, doesn't simply try to pretend it never happened. They analyze tapes. They hire specific coaches for each task:
putting, driving, short game, mental game etc.
Those who keep making the same mistakes but keep expecting to do well, are the definition of INSANITY!!
Those who look closely at their errors, figure out what skill they need to learn, find the person or the resources and the time to practice that skill, improve.
That is the definition of success. We learn by trying new things.
We learn by putting in effort.
What are you waiting for?
Tonight, look over all of your previous pieces of writing. What do you need to learn? How will you learn it? The exam is two months away.
You have eight weeks. You will have three hours to earn 40% of your mark. If you go into the exam with 64% or less and you fail the exam, you fail the course.
I repeat: YOU FAIL THE COURSE.
You will have to repeat the entire course, which may be the appropriate response. If you have been doing very little in English classes for four years, you will never improve your skills. You won't know what you are reading, what your doctor is telling you, how to help your child with homework, how to create a solution to problems not yet imagined.
THE WORLD IS IN YOUR HANDS. PICK IT UP. MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
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