Poetry Activity Due Tuesday, December 18

Link to document: Poems by Szymborska (six poems, including "The Kindness of the Blind") The document also includes links to information on the poet and to five more poems.

Blog Activity: Choose one of the poems (one you like for whatever reason). Identify the poem by title in a comment.

Write a short paragraph (150-200 words) that explains why you like the poem chosen. You may comment on poetic elements, on theme, on images or whatever else you notice.

Short Essay Based on "Drivers-Stop Your Engines"

Links to student essays at Writeboard for correction:

Readers, Stop the email rumors (Ken)

Chewing with mouth open (Andrew)

Stop Talking Loudly (Jane)

Neglected Child (Victoria)

Litter, litter everywhere (Margaret)

Coldness, I Feel (Lola)

Don't Take a Risk (Vicky)

People Shouldn't Keep Wild and Exotic Animal As a Pet (Zara)

Cutting Edges (Claudia)

Short Essay Based on "The Baffling Question"

Please post your essays here by Tuesday, December 4 at 6 p.m. Remember to read your fellow students' essays before coming to class on Wednesday.

Copy of the assignment

NEW: See Brad's essay writing processes at Writeboard.com: "A Unique Conversation." I have, so far, done two drafts. Visit the link to see my versions and changes. The password is the same as before.

The Mushroom Necklaces: Published at The Pearson Buzz

Read Margaret's essay, "The Mushroom Necklaces"

The "Naughty" Child: Put Your Examples Here

Post your examples as a comment to this post.

Brad's Comments on Student Theme Statements

Some comments on your themes:

Zara is giving good details but has not translated them into a statement of general truth. Try based on what you learned in class today.

Jane's theme "Nothing is better than the love of a mother." is overstated. You might try, "Often, a mother is able to continue her loving actions even when under stress or after an argument with her children."

For Jane's theme on "family unity" I think that it might be better as "It is often painful to leave a family, though it may be necessary to achieve personal freedom."

For Andrew's theme on "emotions between family members," I'd rephrase it as "Families often stay together, even in the face of extreme stress and arguing."

For Andrew's second theme on "responsibility," I think it might be better to say, "Sometimes, we have to take responsibility for our family members, even when we would rather not."

For Claudia's theme on alcohol, I'd say, "Using alcohol to escape a conflict probably won't work and could even make things worse."

Claudia on mothers might be better as, "Often a mother will absorb the worst abuse from her children in the hopes of understanding them better."

Zhi’s theme, “Everybody has some things that are difficult to be described to others,” is pretty good as it is.

Zhi’s other theme, using ‘Mothers always . . .” is difficult to support as not all mothers do, so it could not be seen as a general truth.

Victoria’s theme, “In arguments people like to talk about their feelings; however they forget to listen about opponent’s feelings,” can be improved by using “often like to talk” and “often forget.” Otherwise, it’s quite true!

Victoria’s other theme, “You shouldn’t get the independence, success, and confidence at the expense of somebody else’s,” is not as successful. Themes provide truths about life; sometimes we may have to do some things at other’s expense. One could say, however, that “To gain independence, success and confidence, we sometimes have to sacrifice something or do things that have a human cost.”

Lola’s theme, “Most of mothers have never give up and do their best to creat a better condition for their kids,” would be better as “Most mothers never give up trying to create a better life for their kids.”

Lola’s other theme, “it was painful and contradictory feeling for people if they want to abandon a struggled family and get free personally,” is better as, “Abandoning your family for the sake of personal freedom often leads to painful and contradictory feelings.”

Keri’s theme, “Retreating a pace sometimes can make our life better,” is good as it is.
Keri’s other theme, “The most greatest thing in the world is the love of a mother,” is overstated a bit and would be better as “The love of a mother overcomes many obstacles and hurts.”

Lastly, Margaret’s theme, “Love for the weakest member brings family together,” is better as, “Often, a family’s love for a weaker member can bring them closer together.”
And, “Escaping from reality doesn’t solve the problems,” can be stated as, “Often, an escape from reality only creates new problems and doesn’t solve old ones.”

Two Questions on "The Glass Menagerie" Due Wednesday, November 21

Verbal irony is used in Tom's last speech of Scene 3. This speech contains elements of humour as well as bitterness. In a paragraph of about 125 words, agree or disagree with this statement.



Give two themes that are suggested in Scene 4. For each theme statement (a single sentence), provide supporting details. Write as a short answer instead of a paragraph.

Question on "The Glass Menagerie" Due Friday, November 16

The play has unusual qualities, with Tom, for example, addressing the audience directly. What is your personal reaction to Tennessee Williams' choice of narration?

Answer in a short, 100 word paragraph.

Student Answers for Editing at Writeboard

Lola's Answers


Margaret's Answers


Zara's Answers


Ken's Answers


Keri's Answers


Andrew's Answers


Jane's Answers


Victoria's Answers


Claudia's Answers

Vicky's Answers


Zhi's Answers


Tamu's Answers

Student Descriptive Essay Published at The Pearson Buzz

Cleaning the Well (November 10, 2007)
by Valentina

Well-described and edited story about the simple but hard work of cleaning a well. Reading this, you will enjoy a festive ritual as if you were there.

Question for "The Glass Menagerie" Due November 13 (midnight!)

Scene Two of the play introduces us to the blue roses and the glass menagerie.

Explain your own, personal, response to these two important symbols in a paragraph of about 150 words. Most of your writing should give specific details that give an opinion of, for example, the effect the symbols have on your thinking. There is no need to explain the symbolism in detail.

Please bring your answers to this question and the previous one as well, word processed and double spaced, to class on Wednesday.

Enjoy your long weekend!

Question for "The Glass Menagerie"

Please respond to the question as a comment to this post.

In the play "The Glass Menagerie," which character do you identify with [feel close to and understand]? Which character do you identify with the least?

Write in paragraph form in 125 to 150 words. Please finish your homework by midnight on Tuesday, November 6.

Late Homework: Please Hand In

Students who had no printed copy of last Friday's homework need to hand it in or it will not be marked. Hand in the 17th or 24th (at the latest).

Link to Word Copy of Story

"The Possibility of Evil"

Read about the Kuwaiti Incubator Baby story at the Christian Science Monitor.

Evil: A Real Possibility (Teacher Paragraph)

Last year, I wrote a first reaction paragraph to the story. Read it here.

Lola's Group for October 17 Work

Post answers here for questions chosen for "The Possibility of Evil." Group members: Claudia, Zahra and Andrew.

Zhi's Group for October 17 Work

Post answers here for questions chosen for "The Possibility of Evil." Group members: Jane and Keri.

Margaret's Group for October 17 Work

Post answers here for questions chosen for "The Possibility of Evil." Group members: Ken, Vicky and Tamu.

Something to Think About

Some questions to think about for Friday afternoon's class:

• Will society ever eliminate evil? Why or why not?
  
  Some people are quick to condemn others for their actions. Why do you think this is true?

Answers for Literary Terms Questions on "The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse"

Put your answers here as a comment. Have all work done by Friday. Give me a printed copy of your answer at the beginning of the class on Friday.

Field Trip for The Glass Menagerie

The play will be at The Stanley Theatre on Granville Street. We'll meet at our usual class time (noon) and take the bus and skytrain to the theatre. Here's a link to directions and parking.

The play begins at 2 p.m. and will be a little over two hours in length. After the play, students return home by transit.

Cost for the play is 17 dollars. A text is provided to students for 13 dollars.

Questions for the Story "The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse"

Read the guide.
On one side are the definitions and details about each term. Make sure that you know the terms and note the ones that are not so familiar.

Each term has its own page of questions. Look at the questions for each of the terms and choose 4 (each student chooses 4) from different terms (one from setting; one from theme etc.) that could be answered by anyone who reads the story, “The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse.”

Put your list of four questions as a comment to this post. Enjoy your long weekend!

Vika should buy a copy of "The Glass Menagerie" from a teacher in the lab to read on the plane! If you see her on Tuesday, please remind her . . .

Zhi's Group for October 3

Each student in the group is responsible for posting one short example. Group members are Jane and Keri.

Margaret's Group for October 3

Each student in the group is responsible for posting one short example. Group members are Sue, Tamu and Andrew.

Vika's Group Work for October 3

Each student in the group is responsible for posting one short example. Group members are Lola, Claudia and Dunia.

Link to the Story

The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse

Zhi's Group: Question 1

Post here.

Andrew's Group: Question 3

Post here.

Claudia's Group: Question 4

Post here.

Tamu's Group: Question 2

Post here.

Friday's Test on "The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse"

Here are the details:

You write three paragraphs of 125 to 150 words.

Five topic choices.

Quotations required (minimum one; no more than 15 words total)

English-only dictionary is allowed.

All papers handed in by 2:30

Bring a copy of the story with you to class.

Missed Homework from First Week

In order to be fair to everyone, I've decided that I will "forgive" one assignment this term. If you did not do the first blog homework, you are forgiven! What it means is that I will enter no mark and will not count it towards the final evaluation.

Every student can do this once a term. Those of you who have not missed an assignment can save your "forgiven" assignment for a time when you are busy. This applies only to individual assignments and not to group assignments, however.

Final Draft of "Blackberry Picking at Jericho"

Blackberry Picking at Jericho


Every summer I gather blackberries, make delicious jam then, best of all, slice cheese onto bread and slather them in jam made from berries picked only a few hours before.

My wife and I go—usually in late August, but this year on the 8th of September—and pick as many berries as our pinpricked hands can stand. Blackberries are armoured with prickles and thorns, so I always have many scratches on my arms and legs.

“You want to go to Jericho?” I suggest, meaning Jericho Park, one of Vancouver’s finest, a park that includes a large patch of wild blackberries on its northern edge.

We drive across the city, remarking on the highly overgrown boulevards up and down King Edward Avenue. Vancouver looks shabbier than usual. It’s late summer, grasses brown, wasps a bother at picnics, the crisp chill in the air heralding autumn breezes still to come. Parking is easy along Fourth Avenue since we’re not heading to the beach. Instead, we march into the woods.

On the way, we see a family walking home, buckets empty. We continue. Under the forest canopy it is wet from Monday’s rain. I begin to fear that the berries will be moldy or nonexistent.

The blackberries have had a hard year. Half their normal height, standing barely a meter above the ground, the plants hide the best berries under dark green leaves, their glowing purple like the garnets on the fingers of a king. Most years, I’m teetering like some crazy leaning tower of Pisa, standing too high on my aluminum ladder, reaching for the plumpest berry, all the while raked by thorns and, nastiest of all, by tiny prickles nearest to where each purple black berry grows.

We start picking. The traffic noise is distant; a fall wind swirls through the poplars. My hands turn purple as more berries fill the plastic yogurt container hung round my neck. I eat one, maybe two. The berries are too few this year to waste; besides, I want to make jam or maybe even a pie, the best pie of summer, the blackberry, topped with a dollop of whipping cream.

But there are not enough for pie, even after one hour of picking, the hot late summer sun burning the backs of our necks, our t-shirts sticking to our backs. Jam will do, emerging from our freezer on some dreary, mist-filled February day, bringing back memories of this afternoon. We make two batches, taking turns stirring stirring stirring the bowls of berries. Loaded into jars, we have 13, the unlucky one half eaten in a day.

Picking blackberries in summer, gathering them together, then stirring them in a bowl of freezer jam for a few minutes, the smell of ripe berries wafting up, mixed with the apple-sweet smell of the pectin, is a favourite summer ritual, one I hope to continue as long as I am able.

—Draft Four (484 words) See a document that shows my final changes here.

all classmates of English 11 are welcome to visit my blog

http://fishinthesky666.blogspot.com/

Questions/Comments/Problems for Essays

This is where you can ask for any help you might need as you work on your final draft for the essay. Use the comments link below the message. Be sure that your question is of general interest; otherwise, use my email to correspond with me directly.

Tickets to "The Glass Menagerie"

I have purchased group tickets (15 tickets) to the 2 p.m., October 31, performance of "The Glass Menagerie" for an incredibly low price of $17.00 each (normal student rate is $39). The play is downtown Vancouver and will be a field trip for the class. I hope everyone can come; let me know asap, so I can make tickets available to the Grade 12 English class if anyone wants to join us.

Homework Activity for "Summer Rituals" Due by 8 p.m. Tuesday Night

Think of a summer ritual (remember the definition given in my first post) and respond to these questions from your handout.

What summer ritual do you participate in? Why do you repeat this ritual? What purpose does it hold for you? For others whom you know? For society in general? What value does your ritual demonstrate? Use concrete examples in the same manner as Ray Bradbury. Write no more than 125 words in paragraph form.

Save your answer as a comment to this message. See the link below. Be sure to login first!

Copy of "Summer Rituals" and Place for Questions

Here's a copy of the reading by Ray Bradbury, "Summer Rituals."

If you have questions or comments to make, use the comment link under this post. This is not a homework assignment, but will count towards my extra marks for participation (awarded before your final mark is calculated).

Quality of submissions count. Good questions are welcome.

Welcome New Students!

This is your blog. It provides a fun and interesting way for us to meet the Ministry of Education requirement that we "employ a variety of effective processes and strategies, including the use of electronic technology, to generate, gather, and organize information and ideas."

This week, we will examine our rituals, with an emphasis on the ones associated with summer. We will write a 500-word descriptive essay on one of our summer rituals as the final evaluation in the unit. Remember the meaning of a ritual: "a customarily repeated act that expresses a system of values." This "system of values" is what we refer to as a culture.

On Saturday, I will post questions for us to answer about rituals in our lives. Your work here will be marked out of ten and count as an out-of-class mark. This work will help us all to generate good ideas for our essays.

Next week, I'll introduce the essay topic in class and show "Blackberries at Jericho," my sample essay, (first and second draft) to the class. My third (and fourth, not yet written) drafts will be published later in the week and over the weekend.

This year's Writing 12 class will participate in the exercise and, with their help, will publish a few of the best student essays at their online newspaper, The Pearson Buzz.

Group One Answers (RuthZ, Tien, Michelle, Lien)

Put your answers here (as comments) before the start of Friday's class.

Group Two Answers for Poetry (Phoebe, Jenny, Young In)

Put your answers here (as comments) before the start of Friday's class.

Group Three Answers for Poetry (Emilia, Valentina, Kaisa, Jie)

Put your answers here (as comments) before the start of Friday's class.

Group 1 Answers (Phoebe, Emilia, Kaisa and Ruth)

Put your answers as comments to this post. Identify the question by Scene and Question number only. No need to rewrite.

Group 2 Answers (Jie, Tatyana, Tien and Young In

Put your answers as comments to this post. Identify the question by Scene and Question number only. No need to rewrite.

Group 3 Answers (Michelle, Valentina, Jenny and Lien)

Put your answers as comments to this post. Identify the question by Scene and Question number only. No need to rewrite.

Tatyana's Piece Published at The Pearson Buzz

View her work at The Pearson Buzz. Note that Writing 12 students have edited your piece. See if you can spot the changes! More student writing to come from English 11. . .

Activity for The Glass Menagerie (Due Tuesday, May 8)

Amanda does not want to believe that Laura has no chance of having a "gentleman caller."

In your opinion, does Amanda want the callers for Laura or does she want them to remind her of her own youth? Use examples from the play in your answer.

Write about 100 to 150 words.

Activity for The Glass Menagerie (Due Tuesday Night)

In the play, which character do you most identify with (feel close to and understand)? Which character do you identify with the least? Write about 100 words to explain why.

Articles for The Pearson Buzz (REVISIONS)

Please post your revised and final versions for The Pearson Buzz at this post.

Articles for The Pearson Buzz (200 words)

Please submit your articles to The Pearson Buzz at this post. Remember to spell check your work before submitting (type in Word and then "paste" into the comments). Please supply a word count and do not exceed the 200-word limit.

Note: There are five new articles at the "Buzz" today if you'd like some inspiration!

Instructions for Questions on Point of View

Please respond to two (2) of the following questions. You must answer at least one of the questions for “The Singing Silence.” Otherwise, choose a question that interests you! Most responses should need no more than 50 to 75 words or so. Be concise and make reference to the story by quotation when appropriate.

Question One for "The Singing Silence"

The story, “The Singing Silence,” while told by a first person narrator, is not told entirely in this way. What part of the story is told in a different way? Why did the author choose this way in your opinion?

Question Two for "The Singing Silence"

The narrator of “The Singing Silence” says, “At Cala Pujol it is easy to forget,” and then goes on to describe the beauty of the place, ending with, “In peace, one forgets.” How might the narrator’s feelings affect how he responds to the story of Vicente’s search for the amphora?

Question One for "The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse"

In “The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse” the narrator is Aram, who tells the story as a memory from his childhood. Imagine that Mourad is telling the story in the same way. How might he tell it differently? Write a short paragraph. Be specific!

Question Two for "The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse"

If we could know the thoughts of the character Uncle Khosrove in “The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse,” what would they be? Write out one example of what he might be thinking to himself when he speaks.

Question One for "Cat in the Rain"

In the story, “Cat in the Rain,” rewrite the scene where George tells his wife to “shut up,” but tell it, instead, from his point of view (limited omniscient).

Question Two for "Cat in the Rain"

How would the story, “Cat in the Rain,” change if it were told by the American wife in the first person point of view? Give an example of one part of the story where she, herself, might present the facts in a different way.

"The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse": Questions or Comments?

If you have a comment or a question, put them in the comment section of this post.

Indirect Description of a Character Trait (HOMEWORK)

Helen tells me there was some confusion about this assignment. Follow the bulleted list below and all will be well! *Check my sample at the first comment below.

• Write 100 words (and no more than 125 maximum)
• Your description should make a reader think to him or herself that your writing brings to life the descriptive adjective you have chosen, clearly and without question.
• Your description must include dialogue (words of a character spoken aloud).
• You must not use the adjective anywhere in your description.

Your adjectives: clumsy, easygoing, lonely, loving, humorous. Post your writing as a comment to this posting, please. See you next Wednesday to begin work on a new short story.

General Instructions for Questions on "Cat in the Rain"

First, be sure to log in to the blog! Answer the question by clicking on the "comments" link. Put your answer into the text box. It is a good idea to use your word processor to avoid errors in grammar and spelling and then copy and paste into the box.

Answers should be a maximum of 50 words. Quote the story directly (but no more than 10 words total) in your answer. Include the words from the story inside your own sentences. Note that some questions are more "difficult" than others, so my marking will be adjusted to reflect your effort.

Because there is a great deal of comment online on the story, be aware that any plagiary will result in a mark of zero on this assignment and a report to the PALC principal.

"Cat in the Rain" Question on Character

Identify one personality trait of the protagonist. Give evidence to support your answer.

"Cat in the Rain" Question on Repetition

Hemingway uses repetition effectively in his story. Find one example of a repetition (including the number of times something is repeated) and give a brief explanation for why you think Hemingway includes this repetition.

"Cat in the Rain" Question on Conflict

What is the key (most important) conflict in the story? Why do you think so?

"Cat in the Rain" Question on Character

One can compare the hotelkeeper with the husband. Compare the two men in one way and suggest a reason for Hemingway to include this comparison.

"Cat in the Rain" Question on Atmosphere

Hemingway creates a strong atmosphere in the story. Give an example of one way he creates atmosphere and suggest one reason why he has created it for “Cat in the Rain.”

"Cat in the Rain" Question on Theme

One of the key questions of theme is “Do characters have control over their lives?” Answer this question for the American wife. What does Hemingway suggest about her control and what can be stated about people (women) in general from this?

Signing in to the Blog; Copies of Class Essays

Go to Blogger and be sure to use your full email address as your "username" and the same password as you used to create your account. Do not use your display name to log in as this will not work.

Copy of English 12 Essay: Becoming a Successful Student

Copy of English 11 Essay: To Be a Successful Student

About Rewrites and Marking

Student marks for in-class work are recorded based on your work handed in at the end of class. These marks will not be changed and apply towards your 25% score for in-class evaluation.

Rewrites of in-class work are given a mark as out-of-class work and will count towards the 20% given for out-of-class evaluation. You may improve your score by doing a good job on your rewrites; however, the best idea is to do a better job in class.

If an in-class assignment is missed, the student will be given an out-of-class score on that assignment when handed in. Be sure to attend class regularly to avoid this situation! Many missed classes will lower your overall mark.

If you must miss a test or in-class essay, notify me in advance of the test day. Students may not write on the same topics as other students in the class if a test is missed. Missed tests and essays are made up in the lab as time permits.

About Essays

Click on the comments link to tell us about your essay experiences. What gives you trouble? Any solutions?

For your reading pleasure, a number of sample essays from the PALC collection.

To see "paragraph hooks" in action, read the essay "Why a Dog?"

Off Topic Paragraphs

I've marked your paragraphs and quite a few were "off topic," so I couldn't give them a mark. You'll have a chance to rewrite, so not to worry. However, take a close look at the worksheet and try to figure out how you got the wrong idea!

Welcome to English 11 Students

Welcome to the brand new English 11 student blog. Read the year-long archive of the now-retired PALC English Students Blog to see what blogging is like.

Check out the student profiles at the PALC Writing 12 Blog; just click on a name to read more about that student.

Your assignment for English 11: a short, 25-word description of yourself. Also, think about your favourite movies, books, TV shows, activities and the like.We'll have class time in our first week to work on our profiles and to critique them as well.

It should be an exciting term! See you in class.