February 28

Today we had the last connections project presentation.  After this I showed some video "how to" clips and we looked at some examples of the video trailers from last semester.   I went over the requirements of the project and you had a few minutes to begin to discuss with your groups what you would like to do.  We will be spending most of the week on this project.

February 25

Today we wrote the first review quiz for the short story unit.  I also handed out the Harrison Bergeron assigment which is to design a new handicap for the handicapper general and draw it.  This is due on Monday.  Have a nice weekend.

February 23

Today we read the story Harrison Bergeron and began a discussion on the questions.  We will finish this on Friday.  The Thursday quiz will also be on Friday since so many of you will be writing the math contest test.  Please make sure you bring your books!

Log in to your account and play the review game.  Send me an email of your winning page.  (Send to the school!)

Harrison Bergeron Review
http://www.quia.com/rr/787868.html

February 22

Today we finished reading The Portable Phonograph.  I put the class into groups to discuss the theme and to try to come up with an appropriate theme statement.  I gave out an assignment which is due tomorrow.  Please make sure you have chosen your 5 items, given an explanation and provided a picture.  Make sure you look into one of the 'works' preserved by the Dr. and explained why you think it represents the 'soul of man'.  This work sheet is in the handouts folder of my short story page (Honours).   This week's quiz will be on Friday due to the math contest.

February 21

Today we saw 2 more connections projects and there is still one more to go.  We discussed the story The Possibility of Evil and then started talking about The Portable Phonograph.  We also watched a video on video techniuques and made some notes.  More of this tomorrow.

February 17

Today we wrote the quiz for terms list #5 and marked it.  Then we did a bit of self evaluation on the Connections project in the form or an in-class essay.  Please read the story The Possibility of Evil for Monday.  I also collected the Blue Boots essays and did not get very many of them.  Please get them in by Monday.  Have a nice weekend.

February 16

Today we had our connections presentations.  They were  all different and they were all very good.  We will have the last couple tomorrow after the quiz on terms (list 5).  Remember that your essay on Blue Boots is due tomorrow as well.

Bonus:   Log into your Quia account and find the game shown below.  Play the game and send me a screenshot of your winning page.    I will give you a bonus point to put on your quiz.

Terms Review #5

February 15

Today we were supposed to start presentations on the connections but only 1 group was ready so we spent a little time getting the definitions to terms list #5 and then carried on with our dystopian/utoptian protagonists.  We watched clips from Brazil, Logan's Run and the Matrix and you had to fill in the clips sheet on the back of your notes.  I also asked you to read the story All the Troubles of the World and answer the question:  How is this a dystopian story?
Tomorrow we will have the presentations.  Thursday will be the quiz on terms list #5 and your essays on Blue Boots vs. Tell Tale Heart are due (good and rough copies)

February 14

Happy Valentine's Day

We spent the period in the library preparing for the connections project presentations which start tomorrow  Please have your definitions for terms list #5 done for tomorrow as well.  Remember that your essays, Blue Boots vs. Tell Tale Heart, good and rough copies are due on Thursday.  Quiz this Thursday is on list #5.

February 11

Today we started part 2 of the short story unit in the Science Fiction genre.  We will be looking at some stories that present dystopian views of life.  We watched the Apple 1984 ad and filled in some sheets about dystopian protagonists and I gave out notes on dystopia/utopia.  Your connections projects are due on Tuesday.  We have the library booked for Monday but it is a 5 period day so the periods are shorter.  You must do some work on this over the weekend.  Please also remember that your Blue Boots vs Tell Tale Heart essay is due on Thursday next week, good and rough copies.  There is a quiz on Thursday on terms list #3 and 5.  Get the definitions done by Tuesday.
Have a nice weekend.

February 10

Today we did a quiz on terms (list #4) and marked it and I handed out the terms list for next week's quiz.  You need to get the definitions down by Monday.  The rest of the period was spent working on the connnections project.  Do not expect any more class time.  We will move on to the next genre of the short story unit (Science Fiction) tomorrow.  Be prepared to do quite a lot of this on your own.


Honours Bonus Challenge:

Identify the man in the picture.   Hint he invented an English word which he derived from Greek.  An anagram of this word is  OAT I UP.  Leave your answer as a comment for 1 bonus point.  This must be done before Friday at 3:00 pm.

February 9

Well done on the comments so far!  Keep it up!  Today we had some very entertaining Prezi presentations despite some fairly typical lack of cooperation from the computer.  The last few can be done tomorrow.  You got into your groups for your connections project and have hopefully come up with an idea or at least figured out what it is you are supposed to do!  Watch the video again if you are unsure.  I have uploaded it here.  Reminder that there is a quiz on terms (list 4) tomorrow.  You can have some class time to work on the projects.  We will begin to see presentations on Tuesday.  By the way, I think I would like to have the essays on TTH and BB done by next Thursday, Feb 17.

February 8

Today we continued work in the library.  You need to hand in the library orientation project tomorrow and be ready to present your Prezi in class tomorrow.  I would like the scavenger hunts by the end of the week, please, and remember to do the quiz.  You need to log into your Quia account to do it for credit.  We will have time to work on the connections project tomorrow.  Quiz on Thursday on the terms list from last week.  Also I do not have many rough copies of the Blue Boots vs. Tell Tale Heart essays yet.  Get them in tomorrow too, please.

February 7

How did your day in the library go?  You will need to finish the scavenger hunt, the library orientation and the prezi project tomorrow.  You can begin your connections project tomorrow if you have time.

February 4

Today we spent time discussing #13 and The Book ( a bit).  I assigned you to reread all the material we have read so far and to read the gothic notes and the story North End Faust.  We watched 1/2 of a show called connections.  If you are interested, the link to the end is below.  We will be starting our first project on Monday.  Remember, keep thinking about what science and history could possibly have to do with gothic literature.

Have a nice weekend.
P.S. Leave a comment about James Burke's ideas and receive a nice bonus point to spend later in the term.

February 3

Today I handed out some notes on Faust, a story by M. R. James called #13 and a story by H.P.Lovecraft called The Book.  Please read all this stuff before tomorrow.  You also need to be working on your writing comparing the The Blue Boots lady to the Tell Tale Heart Guy.  It would be good if you had a rough copy done for tomorrow.