Mar. 29 - Apr. 1/10: Animal Farm Introduction

Thurs. Apr. 1/10

Review the Animal Farm character comparison chart and watch the Russian Revolution (Part 1) and Animal Farm Synopsis videos.
Russian Revolution (Part 1)
What happened to Nicholas II and the Romanov family?
- National Geographic "Tsar's Family's Death."
- 2008 Russia Today news story.
Animal Farm Synopsis
Orwell didn't include two phases of revolution in his story. This is one example where there isn't a tidy parallel between the book and the real history of the revolution. Animal Farm seems to lump together the Russian Revolution (February 1917) and the rise of the Bolshevik party (October Revolution 1917).
Activity:
- Read the definition of the word "propaganda" (see slideshow).
- Write the definition at the top of a blank piece of paper.
- Search the newspapers / magazines.
- Find one example of propaganda and paste it in the centre of your blank paper.

Wed. Mar. 31/10

Animal Farm by George Orwell is a novella that can be described as a roman à clef (French for "novel with a key"), which is a work describing real-life behind a façade of fiction.
Although Animal Farm is short, it can be read and interpreted on several levels:

A "fairy tale" or "fairy story" can mean any far-fetched story that may feature folkloric characters such as fairies, goblins, elves, trolls, giants, and talking animals, and usually enchantments, often involving a far-fetched sequence of events (Wikipedia).

A fable is a succinct story, in prose or verse, that features animals, plants, inanimate objects, or forces of nature which are anthropomorphized (given human qualities), and that illustrates a moral lesson (a "moral"). Fables can be described as a didactic mode of literature. They frequently have as their central characters animals with the ability to reason and speak (Wikipedia).

In satire, human or individual vices, follies, abuses, or shortcomings are held up to censure by means of ridicule, derision, burlesque, irony, or other methods, ideally with the intent to bring about improvement.Although satire is usually meant to be funny, the purpose of satire is not primarily humour in itself so much as an attack on something of which the author strongly disapproves, using the weapon of wit (Wikipedia).

An allegory is a form of extended metaphor in which objects, persons, and actions in the narrative are equated with meanings that lie outside the narrative itself (Microsoft Encarta).

To appreciate the deeper satirical and allegorical elements within Animal Farm, it is important to have an understanding of the author, George Orwell, and the historical and political dynamics of his time.

View parts 1 -5 of George Orwell's biography and complete the questions (see Assignments & Handouts link):
George Orwell - Part 1
George Orwell - Part 2
George Orwell - Part 3
George Orwell - Part 4
George Orwell - Part 5

Tues. Mar. 30/10

- Blk. E: The library lab is booked today. Use the time to complete term 3 assignments, preview the English 10 provincial exam and/or work on competition entries. You can also look for reading material to sign out for in-class silent reading.
- Blk. H: We'll view a DVD about plagiarism before going to the drama room to watch the acting class production.

Mon. Mar. 29/10

- Open book poetry test today. You can use the pink terminology sheet and the Poet's Craft book.

Mar. 22 - 26: Poetry

Wed. Mar. 24 - Fri. Mar. 26/10 ***Poetry Test /44 (open book) Mon. Mar. 29***

- The J219 computer lab is booked. Continue work on the individual poetry assignment #2.
- Set up a free account on Empressr.com
- Create a multimedia poetry journal on one of the theme sets from the assignment sheet. Your poetry journal should include at least 8 slides. Alternatively, you can complete this assignment on paper or with another multimedia tool.
- When you've completed poetry assignment #2, read Part II – 1 (How Poets Speak); Part II – 2 (How Poems are Shared); and Part II – 3 (The Forms Poems Take) of The Poet's Craft textbook.

Tues. Mar. 23/10 Due Today - Poetry Assignment #1
- Canadian Poet Profile: Leonard Cohen (1934 - )
- Watch Cohen recite the poem Democracy is Coming to the USA
- Compare the mood and tone against the music video of Democracy.
- Then read his poem "Tower of Song." Watch Cohen's speech at his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008.
- Watch the Tower of Song performance (Cohen and U2).
- Cohen was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in January 2010.
- Listen to the CBC interview (TV Clip 7) with Cohen about his poetry and music.
- Use the rest of your class time to write your three poems for the individual poetry assignment #2.

Mon. Mar. 22/10 ***Sun. Mar. 21 was World Poetry Day.***

- The J219 computer lab is booked today. Students will start work on the individual poetry assignment #2.
- Set up a free account on Empressr.com
- Students will create a multimedia poetry journal on one of the theme sets from the assignment sheet. Your poetry journal should include at least 8 slides.
- View the following example:

Mar. 15 - 19: Short Stories & Poetry

Fri. Mar. 19/10

Today, continue work on the poetry unit individual assignment #1.

A poetry slam is a competition at which poets read or recite original work (or, more rarely, that of others). These performances are then judged on a numeric scale by previously selected members of the audience.

Poetry slam. (2010, February 26). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 02:51, March 19, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Poetry_slam&oldid=346584632


View these examples and vote for your favourite:









Thurs. Mar. 18/10

- Introduce the poetry unit.
- Watch an example of poetry slam to understand that poetry is an evolving art form.
- Life and death theme exploration.

• Read Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven and watch the Simpson's version.
• Read one of Louis Riel's final poems.
• Complete the first paragraph on the poetry unit assignment sheet (your response to the three questions on p. 13).
  

Wed. Mar. 17/10

- The J219 computer lab is booked today.
- Start work on the Louis Riel historical poetry assignment. Answers must be in complete sentences.

• On February 17th, 2009 the Canadian Press reported that Louis Riel's final poems had been made public for the first time. Read the story and watch the video to learn more. Complete the questions (under the Assignments and Handouts heading in the right margin).

Tues. Mar. 16/10 Short Stories Test Today (33 marks)

- Short stories quiz in lab today.
- When finished, use your time to complete any overdue assignments ( My Media project, Video paragraph assignment, Internet scams crossword).

Mon. Mar. 15/10 Short Stories Test on Tues. Mar. 16 (33 marks)

- I will be away today.
- Read "Never" by H. E. Bates on p. 120 of Inside Stories II.
- Complete terminology notes using the long sheet handout.