Narrative Writing

Today we went over the essays from last day.
They were handed back and many were read aloud to students.

My advice:  write a story for the original composition on the provincial exam.  As the days continue, we will continue working on in-class compositions.

No homework was given.

Please plan on writing a final test on Tuesdays with Morrie late next week.

Oct. 29th Updated Marks

Original compositions - essay writing

Today we continued with our review of what to expect for the English 10 final exam in January.
We discussed the importance of the LAST part of the test:  the original compositions.
We discussed the four types of writing: persuasive, descriptive, expository, persuasive.

We read three different essays that I wrote.
We examined and highlighted the marking rubric for the original composition.

Students then read five (5) student essays and marked them according to the rubric.  We then discussed the marking.

Finally, we ended the period with an in class essay.  Students were given the following writing prompt and spent an hour writing:  Our toughest struggles in life can be with ourselves.  This was in-class writing that was handed in at the end of class.

Tuesdays with Morrie questions were due today (pp.100-122).

  (-_-)          
   /( )\                    
    /  \
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ -John Echlin

Weekend update, Tuesdays with Morrie

We began class by discussing the long weekend that included WeDay, Shane Koyczan's performance, Girl Volleball, RSS swim team.

We read our novels quietly.

Students began working on The Sixth Tuesday questions -- pp. 100-122 (these questions were on last day's worksheet).

Oh, and I dressed up in 80's gear and Brayden called me Mr. "Puffeiffer" like a real meanie.

nostalgia, rapport, and Lou Gehrig

Word of the week this week is nostalgia (a feeling where a person longs for the past. Mr. Stevens was overwhelmed with nostalgia when he heard the Beatles song on the radio.)

We also learned what the word rapport means (pronounced RA-POUR -- how you get along with another person Surprisingly, I had a good rapport with my crazy neighbour.)

Students handed in their Blackout Poetry (or Spoken Word poetry).
We worked on questions 1-9 from pp. 80-99 on the Tuesdays With Morrie worksheet (below).

After break we went up to the IT lab and did a bit of a web search on Lou Gehrig. We learned about his farewell speech, and we completed the sheet (below).

Writing tip: "a lot" and the impact of silence

Today we discussed how the words "a lot" are two separate words .  Many students are writing it as a single word, "a lot".  We also discussed how, really, it is a rather informal way to say "much" or "many."  "A lot" then is a property on which you build a house -- it should be a phrase that you avoid in your formal writing.

So, in your formal writing, try using 'many' or 'much' instead of 'a lot'.

We went over some of your answers from last day.
-Rylan Bokis drew green cats, while John Echlin was throwing pens and being awesome.
-We read Tuesdays with Morrie, Tuesdays with Morrie should be read to pg.80 by next class
-The class had 30 minutes to finish the black out spoken word poem and or black out poem
-Class note, we learned that if you take the "o" out of Damon's name it would spell "damn!!!!!!!"

Morrie classwork and poetry

Quiet reading today.
Students should be up to p. 60
Students completed the following handout as well as working on their blackout poetry or spoken word poetry assignment.

TWM, informal writing, poetry assignment

Today students read up to at least p. 30 of Tuesdays with Morrie.  We answered three discussion questions during a walk outside.  We watched the first ten minutes of this video on Youtube which shows Ted Koppel interviewing Morrie Schwarz  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LOdPzZW_aQ&list=PLyWjY9TW3W59J00VyCRD7Pou15J1oJe1e

I read some example of the entrance slip assignments from last day (where students wrote about either friendship, loss, expectations, or role models).  Time was spent discussing the difference between formal, literary writing and more informal, personal writing.

Then students were given a poem assignment:
Either create a Blackout Poem using the old books I have in class OR try to emulate Shane Koyczan's style and write a spoken word poem.

This poem will not be due until next Tuesday.

Here's an example of a Blackout Poem

Pre writing and Tuesdays with Morrie

Today students were given a 15 minute, timed writing assignment.
Also, we discussed what non-fiction writing is and we began our new novel Tuesdays with Morrie. We read to p.13.
Here's the timed writing assignment:

Test has been marked. Grades have been updated!

Finish off My Left Foot movie

Your Sightlines unit test was written last day and today we finished watching the film My Left Foot.  Students also learned that I prefer to eschew the watching of videos in my class.
Updated marks are below.

Interim Report Cards were handed out today!

Students spent the first half of class on the first big test of the year:  the Sightlines 10 test.

The second half was spent watching My Left Foot, the academy award winning film. We watched the first 67 minutes of the film.

I handed back the My Left Foot paragraphs and each student received an interim report card.

Euphemisms and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Students were reminded of their tests on Wednesday.
The paragraph on My Left Foot (discuss Christy's mother) will be due on Wednesday.

We discussed the Civil Rights Movement today and listened to an excerpt from the famous I have a dream speech.

Students had an exit slip assignment:  Has Dr. King's dream come true? Explain.

This is a Test and Test Outline

Today we read the play "This is a Test" and we worked on our paragraphs from last day.  Those paragraphs are due on Monday.

There will be a Sightlines 10 test next long block -- Wednesday, Oct. 7th
There will be 20-30 multiple choice questions. There will also be a section where you have to read a story, answer questions, and write a literary composition.

You will be responsible for knowing the following pieces of writing:
Meditation XVII
I Am a Rock
The Face in the Pool
This is a Test
Self-Portrait
Nonconformist
The Bicycle
Envy
The Ninny
My Body is My Own Business
Warren Pryor
My Left Foot
Dreams
I Have a Dream

You should also be familiar with how to write a literary paragraphs (email from my nephew) and all the new terms and words we've learned (here are just a few): allusion, ambiguity, vanity, metaphor, bigotry, nonconformity, free verse paradox, cliche, synonym, lyric, idiom, taut,  pithy, solitude, thesis, narcissistic, jargon, imagery, vague, juxtaposition, colloquial.

My Left Foot p. 71 - Writing about character AND Test next Wednesday

Students learned today that there will be a test next Wednesday.  It will have 20-30 multiple choice questions.  Also students will have to read a story from Sightlines and either answer questions or write a paragraph.

Today we reviewed our work last day when we read My Body is my Business and talked about bigotry and wearing hijabs. Students last day also learned about cliches and proverbs.

Today we learned about abbreviations and acronyms.

Students received a handout on personality traits and took a few notes on how to write about character. Students had a chance to mark and grade three paragraphs on character.

Then students read "My Left Foot" on p.71 in our textbooks and given the following assignment:
Using what we learned today regarding writing about character, discuss Christy's mother in the story "My Left Foot. " This will be due either Monday or Tuesday of next week.

We will work on this paragraph during part of tomorrow's class.