A Favourite Popular Song

Post a link to a favourite song (YouTube will have many available) before you come to class. After the link, briefly say why you like the song. Mention a lyric (words) that you prefer. Be sure to identify the performer or band by name.

NOTE: If you would like to share your final draft of the narrative essay with other students, please send a copy in Word format to Brad before class next Wednesday. I can create a special blog post to help you share the results of all your hard work.

Writing a Well Supported Answer

Each pair of students should post four short examples (40 to 50 words maximum) before Friday's class. Two examples should come from "Child, Dead, in the Rose Garden" and two from "Homework." It is not necessary to name the story in your answer. Each example must contain a quotation (or two) but quotations should not take up more than half of any one example.

We will review and correct examples on the screen this Friday.

Show, Don't Tell

Choose from "jealous" or "foolish" or "fearful." Write about 150 words in multiple paragraphs. Use dialogue. Do not use the word (or any variation) in your writing. Post your writing here before next week's class.

NOTE: Remember to bring a copy of "Child, Dead, in the Rose Garden" and "Homework" to class next Wednesday.

Metaphor or Simile

Provide two descriptive sentences using metaphor or simile (that you will use in your narrative essay). We will discuss the effectiveness of each one next Wednesday.

NOTE: Remember to bring a copy of "Child, Dead, in the Rose Garden" and "Homework" to class on Wednesday.

Dash and Parenthesis

Share the sentences from your essay where you use a dash and a parenthesis. Submit the two sentences as a comment here for us to see in class next Wednesday.

Making the Dash Work for You (includes sample writing to illustrate)

Definition and Examples of Parenthesis (about.com)

Uses of Parenthesis (Cliff Notes)

Recommend or Not? Groundhog Day

The assignment is simple (150 to 200 words). Would you or would you not recommend the film, Groundhog Day, to a friend? Give your reasons clearly and please refer to the events and characters in the film in your comment.

Plot Synopsis for Groundhog Day (characters etc. at IMDB.com)

Yale Film Analysis Resource

Click only on the left side links. Don't use the drop down on top left of page. A bit clunky with small photos, but includes a number of good video examples and all is explained simply and clearly.

Yale Film Analysis Resource

Film: A Favourite Scene

Write a short paragraph (150 words) that describes a favourite scene (five minutes or fewer of screen time). Name two techniques the filmmaker has used (how the scene is framed, for example. Are actors shown in closeup or far away?) Why did he or she use the technique in your opinion? It may be to make us laugh (as in the "spinning sign" in Romeo and Juliet) or to create a mood (the empty, ice-bound train we see in The Ice Storm).

If you have a copy of the film, bring it to class next week. If not and you know the URL for YouTube, put it in your answer. We will watch and discuss as many scenes as we can next Wednesday.

DOCUMENT: Examining Mis-en-scene (the basic vocabulary of film)

Something New; Something Interesting; Something Puzzling

Share with us your thoughts on new, interesting and puzzling things you've encountered since we began our study. Write no more than 200 words in a single or multiple paragraphs. Due before class on Friday, November 13.

Favourite Title, Couplet, Image, Actions

As described on your worksheet. Please comment before Friday.

HINT: Use two tabs to make it easier to copy and paste your favourites.

Write a List Poem

Beginning with "Life is the only way", write your own list poem using "A Note" as a model. Your poem must use the same number of words and structure as Szymborska's. Post a copy of your poem to the blog before coming to Wednesday's class. Be prepared to do a recital of your poem (please practice ahead of time!) and give some short remarks on the process you followed and any difficulties you experienced.

Paragraph: "My Experience with Poetry"

Write a 150-word paragraph that refers to your personal experiences with poetry. The experiences do not have to be at school, although they may be if you wish. Be specific please.

Your answers will be read out and discussed at the beginning of class on Wednesday, October 28 so please have your homework done before then.

I will be absent next week. Renuka will be your teacher. She will provide me with an overall mark based on your participation in the two classes.

Comment on Al Gore's Lecture

50 word comment, no longer. See the lecture again.

Narrative Essay (1st Draft; First 2 Paragraphs)

Post the first two paragraphs of your essay to the comment section for this post, please. Bring a full draft, word processed and double spaced, to class on Wednesday, October 14.

Blogging Journal Questions for "Child, Dead, in the Rose Garden"

1. Write about something that surprised you, angered you, delighted you, or evoked any strong reaction as you were reading. Write about anything that stays on your mind after reading.

2. Explore a social or ethical issue raised in the writing. Judge the behaviour of the characters or the views of the author. Are they right or wrong in your opinion?

3. Write about any difficulty or frustration you felt while reading.

Write an answer of no more than 150 words (and no fewer than 100) to one of the questions. Your answer will be a comment to this post. Please provide a word count.

Link to a copy of the story (Word 2003 format) for your use.

A 100-Word Introduction

Introduce yourself to the class in 100 words (no more).

NOTE: remember to accept your confirmation email from Google to activate your membership in the blog. See you on Wednesday!

Something New; Something Interesting; Something Puzzling

This is it! Your last chance to share your ideas with your classmates (and your teacher, of course). As we did earlier in the course, share with us your thoughts on new, interesting and puzzling things you've encountered since we began our study in February. We'll share and discuss your writing at our last class session next Wednesday. Write about 200 words in paragraph form (multiple paragraphs are fine).

Remember that our final tests begin on June 5th and continue on June 10. If you need to write at special times, please email me with your requirements as soon as you know.

A "Mini" Story

Using one of the sentences written in class as your first sentence, write a "mini" story (no more than 200 words at most). Use what you've learned about stories (plot, conflict, theme etc.) to make your story better. We'll share in class on Friday (and, yes, I will be there!).

Resources for Writing Comparison Contrast Well

A Lesson in Contrasts: Writing Comparison Contrast (includes sample paragraph)

Working with Comparison Contrast (includes example paragraph outline, comparison sentence structures and a teacher written sample paragraph)

Is that a Comparison or a Contrast? (includes a different example outline, comparison sentence structures)

Learning to Write with "March of the Penguins" (includes a sample comparison paragraph from teacher, Rick)

The World: Changed Forever? (Worksheet based on 9/11 attacks with a sample, teacher written, comparison paragraph)

Showing a Trait of a Character

Post an excerpt (max 75 words) demonstrating the trait "nervous". Please make sure that you show the trait rather than tell it. Try to include other elements of fiction if you can.

Blog Homework for Wall-E

To see the film again at YouTube try starting with Wall-E and Eve Talks (for other scenes see the "related videos" box on the right; you may not be able find all of it, however).


Identify one technique (from our handout) used in the film. Briefly explain why the technique is used. (no more than 100 words or so; be sure to make it easy for us to know exactly where in the film it occurs)


What is your personal reaction to what you have seen today? Write a paragraph to explain your feelings. (up to 250 words; no more, please!)

Yale Film Analysis Resource

Click only on the left side links. Don't use the drop down on top left of page. A bit clunky with small photos, but includes a number of good video examples and all is explained simply and clearly. Use it to find a match with techniques you see on Friday.

Yale Film Analysis Resource

"Don't Get Fooled Again!" Learning Persuasion

Remember to write your ideas in a way that someone who has never seen the video can understand and be persuaded. I will provide a sample before Sunday night.

Affluenza Homework and Video Links

Answer one of the following questions in paragraph form:

1. How do you feel towards the program and why do you feel this way?

2. Does the program confront or confirm your personal beliefs? Explain.

3. Write about something important you learned from the program.

4. What stayed in your mind after the program was over? Why do you think that happened?

5. What made the program effective (or ineffective) in your opinion?

Here are the links to Affluenza and the Barry Schwartz videos.

Affluenza: Part One; Part Two; Part Three; Part Four; Part Five; Part Six

Barry Schwartz: The Real Crisis? We Stopped Being Wise

Report on Advertising During a Favourite Show

You do not need to say something about every advertisement! See if you can provide a general sense of the messages and what they convey to you. Is there a connection between the commercials and the show itself? Enjoy the show!

Substances as Stress Relievers: Deconstructing Advertisements (full handout, in colour, of today's advertisement; includes alcohol, cigarettes and candy)

Sample taken from "Adopting the dim-sum strategy"

Example sentence using both semicolon and colon:

"They've clearly read those studies about children and second languages: Children lose their ability to learn a language fully and perfectly by age 4; more languages equates with higher intelligence."

In this sample, the colon is used to introduce. Specifically, the colon tells us that we will read the details of "those studies about children and second languages" after. The semicolon here separates the two related ideas that are found in the studies.

Here is my sentence using the same structure:

Students, clearly, need to learn more about punctuation to be successful writers: Most of them have had little practice; more chances to practice makes for a better result.

Note that Fiona Lam (and her editor, Moira Dann) have bent the rules somewhat. Normally, you are not advised to have a full clause following a colon. In this case (and for practice) I've imitated as best I can the orginal structure. Students, of course, need not select such a complex example!

The Semicolon: Rita, Frank, Wahzma, Jane

Put your examples here. Each student makes one comment before next Wednesday's class.

Parentheses: Qin, Najlaa, Suzie

Put your examples here. Each student makes one comment before next Wednesday's class.

The Colon: Zarmina, Linda, Molly, Sherry

Put your examples here. Each student makes one comment before next Wednesday's class.

The Dash: Taruna, Maryann, Maria, Snow

Put your examples here. Each student makes one comment before next Wednesday's class.

Resources on Using Quotation

You need help, clearly, with this complex skill. Practice does work, but it takes time. You will be required to quote from three different pieces of writing in next Wednesday's in-class essay. One way to prepare yourself is to examine your favourite pieces and look for good quotes to use to support various ideas. Think of conflicts and settings and characters when you do, even for the non-fiction pieces. Literary writing is reflected in good writing.

Academic Writing: A Guide (guide to integrating quotes on various topics, including simile and hyperbole, the guide includes a sample short story along with student examples with suggestions for improvement).

Five Rules for Using Quotations (a page and a half of just the essentials; includes how to use quotes when writing dialogue)

Don't forget to check out the "Punctuation Tree"

Sample Student Essay with Edits and Comments

Hope your in class writing went well for you today. I very much enjoyed reading your posts for the "Something New or Interesting" topic. Well done!

Here's the essay: Learning English

See you next Wednesday. Enjoy your extra day off and no-homework weekend!

Something New or Interesting

Write a short paragraph that describes something new or interesting you have learned in this class. Write no more than 150 words in a single paragraph, please.

Introducing Ourselves: Short Essay

Post your essay here before next Wednesday's class. Please also bring a copy on paper to class that day.

Return Baggage: Short Answer (125 words)

Post your homework here as a comment. Please also bring a paper copy of your writing to class next Wednesday.

NOTE: It is acceptable to respond to the poem with feelings rather than meanings if you wish. By that I mean respond to something specific Szymborska suggests with your emotional response, for example.

Homework: List Poem

Submit your list poem as a comment to this post before coming to class next Wednesday.

Remember to prepare yourself to read the poem to the class. Practice your pacing and pronounciation!

Paragraph on a Trip Taken (in the "Angell" style)

Post your paragraph here before class this Friday. This is the last assignment for the blog. Thanks for your participation here this term; I will review all your contributions when deciding on your final marks.