Class Minutes for Thursday Sept 30th - Lit Devices Quiz and Tattoo Paragraph

1. Prayer

2. Literary Device Quiz
Class will rewrite quiz every class until everyone scores above 80%

3. Review Smiley Face Tricks
 -Repetition
-Starting the sentence with a verb/adverb
-The power of three

4. Time in the computer lab to write a paragraph explaining the symbolism of your tattoo (focus on style)

5. Homework: Read "The Rocking Horse Winner" for next class. Write one question and one comment about the story.

Class Minutes from Tuesday Sept 27 - Rhetorical Devices

1. Prayer

2. Revising "The Lottery" Paragraphs
25 minutes to finish revising "The Lottery" paragraph.  Make sure to indicate (using STAR) how the draft has changed.

3. Rhetorical Devices
Ms Meakes gave out a list with explanations of common rhetorical and persuasive devices. We should keep these as reference throughout the year.

4. Quiet Conversations
We had different questions and statements to respond to, which we passed around, in order to have quiet conversations on important ideas that will appear in our next short story "The Rocking Horse Winner".

5. Homework:  Study for Literary Device Quiz next class
For Tuesday: Read "The Rocking Horse Winner" and write one question and one comment about the story (please try for intelligent, insightful, and literary type questions/comments, not simple plot comprehension questions and comments)

Class Minutes for Friday Sept 24th - Rubrics, Tattoo, STARs Revision

1. Prayer

2. Marking with the Rubric
We used a paragraph from a former student (on symbolism in "The Lottery") to mark together. We used the rubric.

3.Tattoo Assignment
Ms Meakes explained and assigned the tattoo assignment. There were ten minutes to start the planning process. The drawing is due next class. The paragraph will be completed in an upcoming class.

4. STARs revision.
STARs is a way of revising written work. "S" stands for substitute, "T" is take out, "A" is add,  and "R" is rearrange.

5. Revising "The Lottery" paragraphs
Time to start revising "The Lottery" paragraphs based on the STARs and comments given by Ms Meakes,

6. HOMEWORK: complete the image for the tattoo assignment. It should be between 1/2 and 1/3 of a page in size.

Class Minutes for Wednesday September 22nd - Rubrics and :) Style Tricks

1. Prayer

2. Rubric
We discussed the grade 11/12 prose response rubric. Highlights of the discussion were the names for the categories (exemplary, accomplished, developing, beginning, and incomplete/incorrect); the "descriptors" included in each section of the rubric; and how the six writing traits fit into the rubric. 

3. Smiley Face Style Tricks
We spoke about three different ways to "add spice" to our writing.
A. Starting our sentences with a verb/adverb
B. The Power of Three
C. Repetition for Effect

4. Trouble Stories
Using the smiley face style tricks and a "power triplet" we wrote personal compositions about a time that we were in some sort of trouble.

Class Minutes for Monday Sept 20th - "The Lottery" class 4 and 6 Traits

1. Prayer

2. Discussion/ Review of The Lottery film questions

Many people seemed to be disturbed by the film adaptation. In 1-5, most people preferred the short story to the film.  Many people in both classes expressed the opinion that the theme in the film version was different because of the mayor's explanation of the reason for the lottery. The specific reason of prosperity, they argued, means that "tradition without reason" does not apply to the film.

3. Creation of Portfolios

Everyone needs to make a 4-pocket portfolio with the following sections: Writing Log, Personal Compositions, Literary Compositions, and Reference.

4. 6 Traits of Writing

Ms Meakes introduced six qualities that all good writing has. The six qualities are ideas, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, and conventions. Ms Meakes gave a handout with a list of characteristics that fit within those six traits. Students chose one focus characteristic from each trait and identified any characteristics that they did not understand.

5. Ticket Out the Door: six characteristics to work on. 

Patrick Webb Essay Competition

If you're interested in flexing your essay-writing muscles and possibly getting $200 or $300 as a reward, check out this essay competition for students in grade 11 and 12.  If you would like more information, or help with getting started, send me an email (meakes@acrss.org) or see me at school. 

-Ms Meakes

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The Patrick Webb Essay Competition 2010-2011: Students Tackle Life Issues 

The first topic in the Patrick Webb Essay Competition for grades 11-12 secondary students follows from the decisive defeat this year of Bill-384, which would have legalized euthanasia and assisted suicide in Canada . What dangers, the students are asked, might have emerged if the bill had been passed. The second topic for the senior secondary students indicates that a number of legislatures in North America are considering “window on the womb” laws that would requite women thinking about abortion to first witness ultrasound pictures of their unborn babies. What, the students are asked, do you think might be the benefit of such laws? Studies have already suggested that such pictures can cause the mother to bond with the child she is carrying.

THE PATRICK WEBB ESSAY COMPETITION – 2010-11

COMPETITION A

The competition is open to grade 11 or 12 B.C. secondary school students, and is designed to encourage students to recognize the dignity of every human life.

First Prize                                                         $300

Second Prize                                                     $200

 ESSAY TOPICS (600-700 WORDS):  CHOOSE ONE.

Topic 1. Bill 384, which would have legalized euthanasia and assisted suicide in Canada, was defeated in the House of Commons on April 21, 2010 by a vote of 228 to 59. Many people in the country breathed a sigh of relief including many handicapped citizens. What dangers do you think might have emerged if the bill had been passed?

Topic 2. Writing in Time magazine (June 1, 2009), columnist Nancy Gibbs noted that a number of U.S. states were considering enacting “window to the womb” laws that would require women thinking of having abortions to first witness ultrasound pictures of their unborn babies. What do you think might be the benefits of such laws?

 The deadline for essays to be received is December 15, 2010
Further info here

Class Minutes for Thursday Sept 16th - "The Lottery" class 3

1.Prayer

2.In-Class Paragraph Draft (30 minutes)
“Comment on Shirley Jackson’s use of symbols to reveal theme. Your topic sentence must be theme-based.” Focus on style. (Sentence length, word choice, transitions, quotation integration)

3.The Lottery Film Adaptation
Guiding Question: How do literary devices translate to film?
We watched an excerpt from the film focusing on how the director tried to create tone and mood, how he tried to create foreshadowing, how he incorporated symbols, and how he conveyed the theme.

4.Homework: Finish the film worksheet.