November 30

We worked in the library but the computers weren't working. Those people who completed their TPCASTT from yesterday, turned them in. Most people spent time working on them today. The new poem (scary hard) was given out today and you have to do a TPCASTT analysis for Monday. We will do an in-class essay based on this poem on Tuesday. The poetry Final Exam is next Thursday. Start studying now. Check your marks and get caught up!!!!! See you Monday.

November 29

Well after 2 snow days, we finally made it back to school. We spent the period in the library, short periods at that, so we did not get too much done. Everyone is to choose one of the 3 poems on the back of the allstar lyrics page from some time ago. Poems to choose from are, White Flag, My Love and You Learn. Do a TPCASTT type analysis on the poem. Do this in point form only. The other thing to do is go through the online tutorial on making an outline for an essay. The address for the tutorial is:
http://office.microsoft.com/training/training.aspx?AssetID=RC061050921033
Go through this and make a short outline for your TPCASTT paragraph just for practice. We also have an exam coming up. It should be tomorrow but won't be until next week. If we don't get more snow, I'll see you tomorrow.

November 24

We worked on interpreting Shakespeare's Sonnet 23. You had to do the vocabulary, answer the questions and rewrite the sonnet in plain English. Do not worry about rhythm or rhyme. Just get the meaning straight. Include the use of figures of speech in the first quatrain. The rewriting is not just a straight substitution of key words. You must totally rewrite the poem into modern, casual, speech. The rewriting could be done with a partner. Have this finished for Monday. Also your rewritten DIDLS poem, Last Lesson is also due on Monday. Include the original and rubric with the new copy. Have a nice weekend.

November 23

Today we started with a quiz on poetry terms and marked it. Then we read through some notes on sonnets and answered questions. The notes and the questions were turned in before the end of the period. NO homework.

November 22

Today was a bit of a different day. A very short time was given to put together the narrative versions of the Raven. Each group had to then figure out a way to present them that included more than reading. All groups did well and were assessed and self assessed via a rubric. Then we played a noisy review game (that got us in trouble with the secretaries downstairs!) There is a quiz on poetry terms tomorrow. Also your revised Last Lesson Paragraphs should be done by Friday. Catch up on all sorts of other assignments like the poetry anthology, paragraph and symbol, Shalott storyboard, 18 sentences for the Raven, etc.

November 21

Today we searched through the Raven for various examples of poetic devices and figures of speech. We highlighted and labelled them. Then we introduced the PEE chain method for writing and explaining your points about literature. We tried some practice chains. I showed you a poem called Winter Kills and a paragraph using the PEE chains. You will need to be able to do this on your own shortly. Be prepared for the quiz on Thursday. Poetry terms (all of them)

November 20

Today we went over some of the figures of speech in The Lady of Shalott and handed these in. We read the Raven and highlighted negative connotative words. We went over some examples of DIDLS paragraphs and I pointed out some of the features including the PEE chain that I want included in the revised paragraphs. Please make corrections and hand in again on Wednesday. Homework was to do Task 1 on the Raven package. (summarize each stanza in 1 sentence - 18 sentences total) Reminder of Parent Teacher Interviews on Thursday. Quiz on Thursday and redo day too

November 17

We worked on the ballad assignment. Each group had to find figures of speech and poetic devices etc. in the Lady of Shalott. The 8 panel comic version of this was to be handed in today. Also your DIDLS paragraphs were returned with a preliminary mark. Please review and make corrections and hand in again on Monday. Have a nice weekend. Poetry anthologies and Personal symbol/paragraphs are now overdue.

November 16

Today we had a quiz on terms list #8. It was also re-do day but not too many people chose to come in. We listened to the ballad of The Lady of Shalott and started the assignment. Do an 8 panel story board (stick figures are fine) with captions to summarize the story. 8 panels only!!! Be choosy in your selections. Due tomorrow. Also due tomorrow: the personal symbol and the paragraph to explain it. (good and rough copies) The poetry anthology is already overdue!!!!

November 15

Today we made sure definitions were filled in for the terms for list #8. The quiz on these terms is tomorrow. We discussed the poems that we went over in groups and highlighted some of the poetic devices and discussed why they might have been structured the way they were. Structure is a part of meaning in poetry. The way it looks is important and can some times give hints to the meaning. Also look at punctuation, the number of line, whether or not there is punctuation etc. to help uncover the type of poem it might be or what it is about. Make sure your symbol and paragraphs are done for Friday. Please remember to bring your password slips back signed.

November 14

WELCOME TO TERM 2!!

Busy day! Your symbol about yourself was due today and we had some time to work on the accompanying paragraph which explains all the various parts of it. Also, your paragraph explaining the film Cathedral was due but as some people had not seen the film, we watched it again and had some time to work on that too. Most people handed these in. The grammar poetry anthology is due tomorrow and your symbol and paragraph is due on Thursday. Remember the quiz from list 8 on Thursday and it is quiz re-do day.

November 8 & 9

November 8
We went over the flashcards and the terms list for the quiz tomorrow. Make sure you get yours done. The answers are posted on the back wall. Then we did a brief lesson on preposition (49 & 50) and finally wrote some "preposition poems" from the grammar/poetry review sheet.

November 9
We wrote quiz on terms 7 and marked it. Then we discussed symbols and people wrote some criteria for their personal symbol. We also watched Cathedral and students were asked to write about the symbols and what they thought the film meant. This is due Tuesday. Finally, the instructions for the grammar poetry anthology was handed out. You need to be finished the drawing of the symbol for Tuesday and the anthology for Wednesday. Have a nice long weekend. Term 1 ends today!!

November 7

Today we did an in-class essay examing tone of the poem "Last lesson of the afternoon".
Flashcards and terms list 7 are due tomorrow. Quiz on Thursday.

November 6

Today we read over some of the paragraphs describing Tone in the poem Lament. Then we went over another example in pairs on the poem "Did I miss Anything?". We read a few of these out. Tomorrow, students are expected to hand in the revised version of the Lament paragraph and will be given another poem to do a DIDLS analysis on for marks. Tomorrow is the last day for NHI assignments and Thursday for quiz redos. Also Thursday is the quiz on terms list #7.

November 3

We got interim reports. We went over the notes for DIDLS system of figuring out tone in a poem. We tried it out on the worksheet with the Houseman poem My Heart with Rue is Laden. Then I passed out the paragraph template and the poem "Lament". Homework is to complete the tone analysis and paragraph on Lament by Monday. Then finish your flash cards by Wednesday. Look up the definitions for the terms list #7 (given out today) and complete any NHI assignments. The last day for NHI this term is Tuesday and the last day to redo quizzes is next Thursday. Have a nice weekend.

November 1 & 2

November 1
We read the poem "Poetry reading at Westpoint" and discussed whether and why is was a poem. Then we turned to the grammar books and did lesson 20 on the subordinate clause. We started lesson 21 on the adverb/adjective clause but did not finish.

November 2
We started with a quiz on poetry terms and marked it. The next quiz will be next Thursday. It was also quiz re-do day and some people took advantage of that. We read some notes on appreciating poetry and then read 2 poems and discussed the figurative language/themes of each. The poems were Alanis Morrisette's You Learn and All Star by Smashmouth. Homework was to highlight all the figurative language, cliche' slang, etc. in the poem. Work on your flashcards.