Friday, October 29, 2010

Class Minutes for Friday October 29th

1. Prayer

2. Literary Device Quiz
The students wrote the original literary device quiz for the final time. The score that they achieve on this quiz will be the one that is entered in their gradebook.

3. "The Painted Door": Film Study
We finished viewing "The Painted Door" and discussed the differences between the film and the text. In both the film and the text, the setting is very important. The students realized that the storm is a symbol for Anne's struggle. In addition, the storm/blizzard creates the situation in which Anne and Steven are temped and able to commit adultery. Finally, vast, empty prairie with the small isolated cabin is symbolic of Anne's loneliness and emotional isolation.

4. Writing Log: Symbolism in the Lottery
Ms Meakes returned the paragraph on Symbolism in "The Lottery". Students filled out their writing logs for this writing piece.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Class Minutes for Wednesday October 27th

1. Prayer

2. "The Painted Door" Reading Quiz
-If you missed this, please see Ms Meakes to make it up

3. Anticipation Guide Agree/Disagree Discussion
Students lined up around the room according to the degree to which they agreed or disagreed with statements on the anticipation guide. The class discussed their opinions. Importantly, it is both okay and important to listen to other points of view and to constantly re-evaluate opinions.

4. "The Painted Door" Film
Students watched the film and contrasted it with the short story. This will be discussed next day.

Monday, October 25, 2010

Class Minutes for Wednesday October 20th and Monday October 25th.

Due to the grade 11 mass on October 21st, we've had a bit of mixed up scheduling in English 11.  Blocks 1-3 and 1-5 did the same tasks/classes, but in opposite order.  Here are the two classes for Wednesday and Monday.

Class A
1. Prayer

2. Publish PC
Students used the library computers to polish their draft PC's. Taking into account the comments from their peers and their goal setting during the writing log process, the students typed and edited their PC's to hand in for marks.

Class B
1. Prayer

2. Review of Literary Device Terms
Ms. Meakes reviewed some of the more difficult terms on the quiz.

3. Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers
Smartboard presentation on modifiers, how to identify dangling and misplaced modifiers, and how to fix the grammatical errors.

4. Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers Task
Students corrected and illustrated dangling and misplaced modifiers in order to demonstrate their understanding of this grammar error.

5. Anticipation Guide for "The Painted Door".
Students completed anticipation guide before reading the short story.

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Homework: (to complete for Wednesday October 17th)
1. Finish the dangling/misplaced modifier activity if you missed this class.
 2. Read "The Painted Door" and complete the anticipation guide.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

MISSING CLASS ON WED OCT 20th

**This note only applies to those students who are missing English 11 in period 1-3 on Wednesday October 20th. **

In order to catch up with the rest of the class, and to be prepared for class next week, please do the following.

A. Go to the moodle page
B. Download the Explanation of Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers Powerpoint, the Misplaced Modifiers Explanation and the Misplaced Modifiers activity. View the powerpoint, read the notes, and then complete the activity described in the "activity" word document. Please note that you only need to do one sentence.
C. If you are confused, see Ms Meakes or send her an email.
D. On the moodle page, download "The Painted Door" Pre-reading guide.  Complete the guide.
E. Read "The Painted Door" for Wednesday's class.

On Monday, we will go to the library to finish the PC's. Please be prepared to work!

Monday, October 18, 2010

Class Minutes for Monday October 18th - PC Draft

1. Prayer

2. Personal Composition
50 minutes to write a first draft. Prompt based on the silent conversations had before reading "The Rocking Horse Winner".

3. Peer-Editing
10-15 minutes to read a peer's work and highlight a rubric based on their draft. Students will have an opportunity to edit based on the feedback and publish on Wednesday (1-5) or Monday (1-3).

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Class Minutes for Thursday October 14th - Personal Composition.

1. Prayer

2. Literary Device Quiz

** note: We did the following in different orders depending on the block. However, all the content is the same.**

3. Sources for A PC

The students ranked a list of possible sources of information for a PC from most important to least important. We then had a class discussion about which sources were more persuasive than others. Some key ideas are that anything specific is going to be better than a generalized account. In addition, classic literature, unique personal experiences, and current events are good examples while tv shows and other references to pop-culture are not.  The pop-culture references do not have any clout (good reputation) behind them, so they do not add any intelligence or authority to the writer's persona.

4. PC Thesis statements

Ms Meakes demonstrated the process of moving from a prompt to creating a thesis statement. Key ideas were to focus in on an arguable claim, to put the claim in your own words, and to add developmental points (supporting information).

5. PC Outline

While reading through the provided outline, we added a few notes. They were as follows: the introductory paragraph needs a general statement in addition to the thesis.  The concluding paragraph should have two sentences, one summarizing each body paragraph, followed by the concluding statement.  Each student should choose two or more rhetorical devices to incorporate into their writing. These can include any from the list that Ms Meakes gave out and/or repetition for effect and the power of three.

6. Trouble Stories - Independent Corrections, Spelling Demons, and Writing Log

Based on feedback from Ms Meakes, students filled out their independent corrections and spelling demons for their trouble stories assignment.  After completing corrections, the students received their feedback (based on the style section of the rubric) and filled out their writing log.

7. Homework: fill out the PC outline so that you are ready to write your PC next class.  You may choose any of the prompts from the silent conversations list. (Posted on Moodle) If you need help, email Ms Meakes or see her Friday after school.

Class Minutes For Tuesday October 12th.

1. Prayer

2. Literary Device Quiz

3. Rhetorical Device Search
In pairs, students used their list of rhetorical devices to find and identify examples of devices in editorials from The New Yorker. They shared their findings with another pair.

4. Text to World Organizer
Using three quiet conversation promts of their choice, students filled out the text to world organizer in order to help them come up with ideas for their PC.

5. Format of A PC
Information from notes given last day.

6. Homework:   Finish the text to world graphic organizer, change the three chosen prompts into theme statements.


Thursday, October 7, 2010

Class Minutes for Thursday October 7th - "The Rocking Horse Winner" Class 2

1. Prayer

2. Literary Device Quiz - attempt #3

3. 1 Question, 1 Comment Discussion
In groups, the students shared their questions and comments about "The Rocking Horse Winner". They responded to the questions/comments and then did a self-evaluation of their speaking and listening skills. 

4. "The Rocking Horse Winner" and the Oedipus Complex

Ms Meakes gave a short explanation of the Oedipus myth and Freud's concept of the the Oedipus Complex. Students did a think-pair-share answering "does the Oedipus myth relate to "The Rocking Horse Winner"? How?"

5. Personal Composition
Students were given a package explaining personal writing and personal compositions. The first page and the "focus" section were explained.

No homework from today's class.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Class Minutes for Tuesday Oct 5th - "The Rocking Horse Winner"

1. Prayer

2. Literary Device Quiz # 2

3. Focus Questions

-Students chose one or two questions from the list of four and wrote answers. Class discussion of answers.

4. "The Rocking Horse Winner" as a Fairy Tale
A list of fairy tale characteristics, divided into characters, plot, major ideas, and language, was given. In groups, students compare "The Rocking Horse Winner" to a fairy tale and contribute to class notes on the board.