Feb. 28 - Mar. 4: Short Stories

*** Short Story Unit Test on Tues. Mar. 8 (33 marks)***

Fri. Mar. 4/11 - Bring ear buds or headphones for Monday's lab class
- Silent reading 15 minutes
- Select a story to read from the remaining short stories on the blue study guide.
- Complete the terminology notes for this story
- Blk. E: final paragraph - Why Media Matters


Thurs. Mar. 3/11 - Forgiveness in Families
- "Forgiveness in Families" was written by Canadian author Alice Munro (see Still Perfecting Her Craft). Munro is considered one of the world's best short story writers.
- Munro won the prestigious Man Booker Prize in 2009. It is the biggest international award for short story writing.
- Read the story on p. 93 and complete notes on the terms from the blue handout.


Wed. Mar. 2/11- North End Faust
Today, we're reading "North End Faust" by Ed Kleiman
The title of the short story "North End Faust" contains a double allusion. These two allusions relate to the main character's place of residence in Winnipeg and to his faustian behavior as a university psychology professor. See the definition of faustian.




Tues. Mar. 1/11 - God Is Not A Fish Inspector
- You'll also be reading "God is Not a Fish Inspector" (Inside Stories II p. 42)
- Read the story and complete the terminology notes according to the long sheet instructions.
- Blk. G: final paragraph - Why Media Matters


Mon. Feb. 28/11 - House
- You'll be reading "House" (Inside Stories II p. 20), a story written by Jane Rule.
- Read the story and complete terminology notes according to the long sheet instructions.  
- Block F: final paragraph - Why Media Matters

Feb. 21-24: Paragraph Review, Short Stories, Freedom to Read

***A Tale of Two Media project (47 marks) Due Thurs., Feb. 24***

Thurs. Feb. 24/11- Freedom To Read Week Activity

***New Contest - Why Media Matters (Deadline May 1/11)

Review the Fundamental Freedoms (section 2) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms:

Fundamental Freedoms

2. Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms:

a) freedom of conscience and religion;

b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication;

c) freedom of peaceful assembly; and

d) freedom of association.

Freedom of the press is an important cornerstone of a democracy. In some societies, information access is much more restrictive than it is in Canada.

1. Find out where Canada currently ranks on the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index. Where did Canada rank in 2002?
2. Review 2010 Attacks on the Press
3. Review statistics on journalists killed

View the following videos:
Report on the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index


Learn about the most dangerous country for journalists.


Internet censorship in China


Blogging and its impact on traditional news media


Wed. Feb. 23/11 - Ashes For the Wind

"Ashes for the Wind" was written by Colombian journalist and author Hernando Téllez. Although Téllez wrote this story around 1945, the problems of Colombia's internally displaced persons (IDPs) persist today.

This Refugees International YouTube clip, produced in 2008, outlines the scope of the IDP problem in Colombia.

An April 2008 news agency report provides another view on Colombia's IDP crisis.
In 2009, LinkTV produced a documentary, Stories That Kill, about the state of journalism and freedom of expression in Colombia. 
- Blk. F: course selection during this class


Tues. Feb. 22/11 - Harrison Bergeron
- Read Harrison Bergeron (see stories link). Complete terminology notes according to the long sheet instructions.
Harrison Bergeron was written by American author Kurt Vonnegut. In this YouTube clip, Vonnegut offers advice for short story writers. After reading "Harrison Bergeron," do you think that Vonnegut has followed his own advice?
- Blk. F: attending performance in JP gym during this class.


Mon. Feb. 21/11

- 20 min. silent reading.
- Read and review the information on paragraph writing on pages 41-46 of Process and Practice.
- Do the topic sentence and paragraph structure exercises on pages 47 - 52.

Feb. 14 - 18: Media Advertising

*** Gender Bender Self-Eval. (10 marks) Due Wed. Feb. 16 ***
***First person narrative paragraph (6 marks) Due. Thurs. Feb. 17***
*** Scams To Avoid crossword (10 marks) Due Fri. Feb. 18***

Fri. Feb. 18 / 11
- 20 min. silent reading
- Complete scams crossword puzzle and hand it in today (and other overdue work).
- View: Marketplace: Raging Bull and Media Literacy

Thurs. Feb. 17/11

• We're in the new K-Library computer lab today.
• The assignment is a creative paragraph writing/video captioning assignment.
• Topic sentence idea: Winning a trip to _____________ was an amazing / unforgettable / disappointing experience.
• STEP 1: select a video (35 seconds or longer) from :
• Wikimedia Commons (Video Collection)
• WGBH Video Sandbox (Video Collection)
• Al Jazeera Creative Commons (Video Collection)
• Copy or save the video file (with extension such as .ogg) to your desktop. Upload the video to DotSub.com and caption the video with a paragraph (6 - 10 sentences long).
• STEP 2: write a creative paragraph using your version of the topic sentence above. If you have used your own DotSub.com account, email your completed video paragraph (completion mark  /6)

Wed. Feb. 16/11 - Advertising Media
- 15 min. silent reading
- Work alone/with partner/or in a small group to develop one or more marketing concepts (ideas) to sell one product to the gender not typically targeted. See product examples:

• Sample Female products: diet beverage, detergent, air freshener, body lotion.
• Sample Male products: beer, tools, fishing gear, motorcycle.

- Select one of these products (or your own idea) and list marketing concepts, sketches, and / or a logo that could help market this product to the opposite gender. Consider new media options in your discussions. Collect your rough ideas on a large piece of blank paper.
- You will complete a self-evaluation on your creative process worth 10 completion marks.

Tues. Feb. 15/11 - Advertising Media
- 15 min. silent reading
- Learn about QR (quick response) advertising codes.




- Here are several examples of how social media is influencing product marketing strategies:
1. This 2010 Pepsi ad promotes the Pepsi Refresh Project, which is putting millions of dollars into community projects instead of television advertising.

2. Samsung produced a series of Vancouver 2010 viral ads like this one.

3. Steve Nash produced popular viral ads for Nike and Vitamin Water. Ads like these are getting a lot of buzz in the marketing media.



- Write on one paragraph topic:

• Do you agree with Jean Kilbourne's critique of gender representation in the media? Defend your position.
• Which health, safety, or other issue do you think is the most important public service announcement (PSA) topic for teens today? Give reasons.
• Which ad strategy works best on teen consumers?

- continue completion of the booklet "Scams to Avoid" and the crossword puzzle. (10 mark completion assignment)

Mon. Feb. 14/11 - Advertising Media
- 20 minutes of silent reading
- Killing Us Software 3 (video in class) looks at the portrayal of women in advertising.
- Discussion of film. Review advertising techniques handout.
- Select one paragraph topic:

• Do you agree with Jean Kilbourne's critique of gender representation in the media? Defend your position.
• Which health, safety, or other issue do you think is the most important public service announcement (PSA) topic for teens today? Give reasons.
• Which ad strategy works best on teen consumers?

- Continue work on your crossword puzzle

Feb. 7 - 11: Media Literacy / Participatory Culture

Thurs. Feb. 10 - Fri. Feb. 11, 2011
- K-library old lab is booked.
- Continue A Tale of Two Media project
- If you haven't got one, set up a Google Docs account.
- The project template can be selected into your Google Docs account.
- Try a Creative Commons image search.

Wed. Feb. 9, 2011
- 20 min. silent reading
In-class paragraph writing topics (select one):
- Discuss one paradoxical aspect of digital technology.
- Compare / Contrast satire and parody.
- Explain the concept of net neutrality.
When you've finished your paragraph, start work on the Scams to Avoid crossword puzzle. Use the Scams to Avoid booklet to find the answers.


Tues. Feb. 8, 2011
- 20 min. silent reading The Digital Privacy Paradox.
- review terms: satire, parody, paradox, net neutrality

See examples:



Video on Net Neutrality


Mon. Feb. 7, 2011


- K-library old lab is booked.
- Continue A Tale of Two Media project
- If you haven't got one, set up a Google Docs account.
- The project template can be selected into your Google Docs account.
- Try a Creative Commons image search.