Mar. 28 - April 1: Animal Farm (novel study)

*** Poetry test Blk F Mon. Mar 28; Blk. G Tues. Mar 29; Blk. E Fri. Apr 1***


Fri. Apr. 1, 2011 Animal Farm online novel
- 25 min. silent reading from Animal Farm  
- Review chapter 3 and 4 questions
- Identify propaganda examples from Animal Farm and advertisements

Classroom:
- Group "propaganda" exercise:
---Review the "Types of Propaganda" handout.
---Take 4 sample ads collected during Thursday's class
---Use Post-It Notes to label the types of propaganda in each ad.
---Report your labels/discussion to the class.

- Complete the propaganda advertisement assignment

Thurs. Mar. 31, 2011
- 25 min. silent reading from Animal Farm
- Review chapter 1 and 2 questions
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.
- Continue reading from chapter 3 - 5.

Wed. Mar. 30, 2011

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.

Tues. Mar. 29, 2011 Animal Farm online novel
- 15 min. of silent reading
- Review the Animal Farm character comparison chart
- Read chapters 1, 2 and 3 of Animal Farm.
- Complete the vocabulary and answers to the chapter questions.


Mon. Mar. 28, 2011
- 15 min. silent reading 

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
 

Mar. 14 - 18: Poetry

*** Open Book Quiz (p. 117 - Glossary / Table of Contents) on Thurs. Mar. 17 (43 marks)***
*** Poetry Assignment #2 (4 blog assignments) Due Fri. Mar. 18 (40 marks)*** 


Fri. Mar. 18/11 - Poetry
- 20 min. of silent reading.
- View the DVD "Avoiding Plagiarism" and/or "The Raven"
- Library time to complete assignments (Poetry assignment #1 and Louis Riel poetry sheet) or sign out books for spring break.
- Remember to email poetry assignment #2 blogging projects by pasting a link to your blog into the email body. Write your full name and block in the subject line of the email.


Thurs. Mar. 17/11 - Poetry
- 20 minutes of silent reading.
- Open-book poetry test (43 marks). You can use your textbook, The Poet's Craft, and one page of notes.
- When you finish, continue to study or read quietly until all students have completed the test.


Wed. Mar. 16/11 - Poetry
- 15 minutes of silent reading.
- Review Part II of The Poet's Craft textbook from p. 117 to the end (including the glossary / index).
- You can bring one page of notes and your textbook to use on the poetry quiz tomorrow.
- Complete poetry assignment #1 (10 marks) and the Louis Riel poetry questions (20 marks).


Tues. Mar. 15/11 - Class 4 of 4 on Poetry Blogging
- Sign into your blog at Blogger.com
- Work on poetry assignment #2 - Class 4 activity.  See an assignment example below:
***Email completed blog with your full name and block in subject line.
***Paste the link to your blog in the body of the email.
- If you finish early, help the United Nations World Food Program feed the world by playing Free Rice.

Nature and Invention

Instructions for Drawing:
- Sign into Google Docs. Select Create New. Select Drawing.
- Click Insert. Select Text box (type or paste poem into text box)
- Add other artistic elements. When finished, click the arrow next to Share. Select Publish to the Web.
- Copy the Embed Code. Paste the code into your blog's Edit HTML view (at the bottom).
- Change the dimensions near the end of the code to w=450 h=400 so it will fit your blog.
- Click Publish Post on your blog. See the sample below:



Mon. Mar. 14/11 - Class 3 of 4 on Poetry Blogging
- Sign into your blog at Blogger.com
- Work on poetry assignment #2 - Class 3 activity.  See an assignment example below:
- If you finish early, help the United Nations World Food Program feed the world by playing Free Rice.

People and Places

Before Two Portraits of My Mother

I love the beautiful young girl of this

portrait, my mother, painted years ago

when her forehead was white, and there was no

shadow in the dazzling Venetian glass

of her gaze. But this other likeness shows

the deep trenches across her forehead’s white

marble. The rose poem of her youth that

her marriage sang is far behind. Here is

my sadness: I compare these portraits, one

of a joy-radiant brow, the other care-

heavy: sunrise—and the thick coming on

of night. And yet how strange my ways appear,

for when I look at these faded lips my heart

smiles, but at the smiling girl my tears start.

By

Émile Nelligan (1879-1941)

Born in Montreal

Mar. 7 - 11: Short Stories / Poetry

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

*** Interim Reports distributed on Fri. Mar. 11***
*** Poetry Assignment #1 and questions on the Louis Riel story due Fri. Mar. 11***

*** Parent-Student-Teacher interviews on Tues. Mar. 15***

Fri. Mar. 11/11 - Class 2 of 4 on Poetry Blogging
- Sign into your blog at Blogger.com
- Work on poetry assignment #2 - Class 2 activity.  See an assignment example below:

                                         War and Hope                                             

I Hate That Drum's Discordant Sound

by John Scott

Outwitted

by Edward Markam

Although John Scott's poem "I Hate That Drum's Discordant Sound" certainly contains a relevant message about the turmoil and devastation that is brought about by war, Edward Markham's poem "Outwitted" has greater relevance to the lives of most people in the world today. "Outwitted" is a short poem with a simple message. The poem's theme of "love thy neighbour" has relevance to many kinds of relationships such as families, friendships and the workplace. Sometimes family members do not get along, and it can take months or years for them to resolve issues that have caused a "falling out." Similarly, friendships may be disrupted and later be repaired as a result of one or both parties' efforts to re-connect. Finally, workplace relationships can be restored through the efforts of a caring mediator. Even though "Outwitted" is a very brief poem, its universal theme has widespread relevance for many people around the world.

Thurs. Mar. 10/11 - Class 1 of 4 on Poetry Blogging
- In the computer lab, set up your blog at Blogger.com (sign in with your Google Docs username and password. Do not make a new account). You can customize your blog's privacy and comment moderation settings through your Blogger Dashboard "settings" and "comments" tabs.
- Work on poetry assignment #2 - Class 1 activity. See an assignment example below:

Love and Loneliness

All you need is love.
John Lennon and Paul McCartney

Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty.

Mother Teresa

Love and Loneliness

(a poem with borrowed lines)

Love and loneliness are two sides of that coin called emotion

(Of course there are others such as jealousy and devotion)

Love is a sailboat on calm blue seas

With sunny skies and a warm soft breeze.

I love thee with a love I seem to lose. *

Could it really be the end of this cruise?

Now loneliness is a submarine that hardly surfaces for air

It is a child, homeless man or woman with an outcast stare.

My false friends leave me here to die alone **

Where is that coin? All I have is a stone.

In life we spin the coin:

Love - we win; 

Loneliness - we lose.

*   Line borrowed from "Sonnet 43: How Do I Love Thee" by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

** Line borrowed from "Wabanaki Song" translated by Charles G. Leland

 
Wed. Mar. 9/11 - Poetry
- 15 min. silent reading
- Start the individual Poetry Assignment #1 using The Poet's Craft textbook.
- Also, complete yesterday's assignment on the Louis Riel article questions. See Tuesday's post for links.
***Both assignments due on Fri. Mar. 11th***


Tues. Mar. 8/11 - Short Story Unit Quiz
- 15 min. silent reading
- Short Story Unit Quiz (33 marks) *** allowed hand-written term notes only
- 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).

Mon. Mar. 7/11 - Short Story quiz review

- Review the Interactive Short Story Unit to prepare for the quiz (Tues.) Be sure to cover the elements/components of the short story and terminology.
- Use the same web site to listen to and read "Never" by H. E. Bates on p. 120 of Inside Stories II.

- Complete terminology notes using the long sheet handout.
- Review the slide show below. 

**Bring your story notes on Tuesday to support your paragraph writing.

Short Story Elements Fjc

View more presentations from Schoodic.

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.