Feb. 25 - Mar. 1: Short Stories

This is Freedom to Read Week !
Homework: Complete this information survey (6 marks)  if you haven't yet.

Fri. Mar. 1
**25 min. for silent reading and completion of short story terminology notes for:
--- Harrison Bergeron --- Ashes For the Wind --- The Tell-Tale Heart
**We will view the documentary The Mystery of Edgar Allan Poe.


Thurs. Feb.. 28 - The Tell-Tale Heart
- Today we're reading the classic gothic horror, The Tell-Tale Heart, by Edgar Allan Poe.


 Wed. Feb. 27 - Ashes For the Wind
- Use the first 25 min. to complete terminology notes for "Harrison Bergeron."
- Read "Ashes for the Wind" and complete terminology notes according to the long sheet instructions.
"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.
Current news connection: Canadian mining companies in Colombia 2013 article.
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. 


Tues. Feb. 26 - Harrison Bergeron
- 25 min. for crossword puzzle work, paragraph writing, and silent reading. 
- 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?
- Vonnegut offers eight rules of short story writing.

1. Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted.
2. Give the reader at least one character he or she can root for.
3. Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water.
4. Every sentence must do one of two things — reveal character or advance the action.
5. Start as close to the end as possible.
6. Be a sadist. No matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to them — in order that the reader may see what they are made of.
7. Write to please just one person. If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia.
8. Give your readers as much information as possible as soon as possible. To heck with suspense. Readers should have such complete understanding of what is going on, where and why, that they could finish the story themselves, should cockroaches eat the last few pages.

Mon. Feb. 25 - Finish media studies assignments today.
- Mrs. Hopkins is absent today.
- You will be completing your media studies assignments, paragraphs, crosswords or silent reading for 30 min.
- View the media advertising DVD Massaging the Message and video Smoke Screen.

Feb. 18 - 22: Media Studies

DUE Mon. Feb. 18: Tale of Two Media project
Homework: Complete this information survey (6 marks) 

Thurs. Feb. 21 - Fri. Feb. 22, 2013
- 20 min. of silent reading or assignment completion
- Review terms: copyright, copyleft, public domain.
- View the NFB Documentary RIP: A Remix Manifesto
- Also available on YouTube.

Wed. Feb. 20, 2013
- 20 min. for silent reading, crossword completion or paragraph writing.
- alone or in a group no larger than 4 people, find newspaper or magazine product advertisements (4).  Cut them out and attach to a sheet of paper with your name(s).
- Using these ads, complete the 8 mark Ad Worksheet #1
- Complete the 2 mark bonus homework assignment Ad Bonus #1 on the back (total 10 marks).

Tues. Feb. 19, 2013
- 20 min. for silent reading, slide worksheet and crossword completion.
We'll be going to the library to:
- Read the Social Smarts booklet (graphic novel style).
- In a group of 1 to 4 students, write a list of 10 evaluative or comprehension style questions to accompany the booklet.
- After the questions have been listed on one paper, create a list of ten possible responses to your questions.
10 Questions and Answers DUE THIS CLASS

Mon. Feb. 18, 2013
- 20 min. reading or crossword puzzle work using the reference booklet.
- Killing Us Software 3 (video in class) looks at the portrayal of women in advertising.
- Discussion of film. Start your next paragraph today. See the following paragraph suggestion:
- Do you agree or disagree with Jean Kilbourne’s analysis of the portrayal of women in advertising?

Feb. 12 - 14: Media Studies

DUE Mon. Feb. 18: Tale of Two Media project
Homework: Complete this information survey (6 marks) 

Thurs. Feb. 14, 2013
- Continue work on A Tale of Two Media project
- View some example slides
- The project template can be selected and imported into your Google Docs account.
- Decide which two popular culture characters (human or cartoon) will be the stars of your side-by-side story of old and new media. Do a Google Images search to make sure you can find enough images of your characters.
- Come up with slide content ideas and sketch / write them on your planning sheet. (10 marks)
** If you don't have access to Google Docs, set up a GMail account .

Wed. Feb. 13, 2013 - Media Scams
- Video: Media literacy
- Start work on the Scams to Avoid crossword puzzle. Use the Scams to Avoid booklet to find the answers.

Tues. Feb. 12, 2013
- Continue work on A Tale of Two Media project
- View some example slides
- The project template can be selected and imported into your Google Docs account.
- Decide which two popular culture characters (human or cartoon) will be the stars of your side-by-side story of old and new media. Do a Google Images search to make sure you can find enough images of your characters.
- Come up with slide content ideas and sketch / write them on your planning sheet. (10 marks)
** If you don't have access to Google Docs, set up a GMail account .