My Experience

This assignment should be written clearly and use standard language conventions, grammar and paragraphs. The style of this essay is personal, you may use an informal, conversational style and your essay will be directed to your teacher. Be as specific as possible, coherent and use examples to tell about your experience with English:

Paragraph #1

What has your experience been like in taking English? Do you enjoy the subject? Which subjects do you most enjoy in school? Which subjects are your least favorite or do you struggle with in terms of achievement? Do you believe English is the “same” as other subjects in the way you are marked? Explain your answer using specific experiences from your life.

Paragraph #2

What did you achieve in the previous grade before entering this course? Were you satisfied with this performance? Explain why you believe you achieved this standing? What were some of the things that you did that had this affect on your grade/final outcome? Try as much to use examples of what you did to perform, and if your instructor was a factor, explain what that person did in influencing your performance. What parts of the previous course did you find enjoyable? Which parts were not enjoyable to you? Explain why you felt/think that way.

Paragraph #3

What are your intentions for your performance in this course? What kinds of things do you believe you will need to do to achieve this goal? What are some factors that may contribute to your performance, or outside commitments that may be an issue for you? What kinds of things would you like to see from your instructor to help you achieve this standing ? What kinds of things would you like the instructor to avoid with you ? Be specific. What are your not “too distant” plans for the future after completing the course? (college, work, university or something else?)

Paragraph #4
What are some interesting things about you ? Do you have any animals, hobbies, or favorite things you like to do? Who are some of your friends? What makes them people that you like to be with? What kinds of activities do you and your friends like to do? How much do your friends influence your performance in school.. positively or negatively from your point of view? Explain your answer.

Paragraph #5
Try to describe your personality. Use examples about how your personality changes in different circumstances. Examples might include whether you are very active, physical, shy, nervous, outgoing… and perhaps when you are best able to demonstrate those personality traits—with my family, friends, in school, or other environment. Is there anything else you can think of that an instructor should know about you?


This writing assignment should be considered as a very good opportunity for you to share your goals with the instructor for this course. Your writing will be assessed for clarity, coherence, specific detail and reflection.

The writing will be “Leveled” to give you an idea of areas where you will want to focus your attention in the course.

"Small Inspiration"

Just as I did when I read "Learning to Skate... Again," describe 4 visualizations you make when you read "Small Inspiration."

I suggest you pause at 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 and 4/4's of the way through the essay. What picture is in your head or what connection can you make at each of these points?

Remember, the unit we are studying is called "It takes Courage." Why is this reading selection there?

"Not Ever Again" Vocabulary

Tousled


Mallard


Gingerly


Frolicking

Blog About Courage

On your blogs, write about courage. This could be based on your personal experience or you could make up a story about courage.

Be sure to check your work over and to use the spellcheck feature. Your entry should be a minimum of 2 paragraphs.

Sentence Combining

Connecting Words:

and but or if......then where when +ing

as also who that which

Sample:

Substitute Teacher

The students enjoyed Mrs. Fletcher, the substitute teacher from England. Her teaching involved language games and writing contests. The room was filled with the laughter of students who were competing for prizes. Mrs. Fletcher also enjoyed the students, wanting to return to teach them again.

Graphic Novels

Please respond to the following 2 questions on your blog. Answer as fully and with as much detail as possible.

1) What is your opinion of The Twilight Zone? Explain why this either would or would not be a good graphic novel to use for other grade nine classes.

2) How is reading a graphic novel different than reading a short story? What strategies do you have to use as a reader in order to understand it fully? (Make a list)

"Save the Moon for Kerdy Dickus"

pov - point of view -the perspective from which a story is told

first person point of view -a story in which the narrator relates events using 'I'

third person point of view -a story in which the narrator relates events using 'he/she/it/they'

Terms:

omniscient -all knowing

limited narration - story telling in which the narrator has incomplete or faulty knowledge. A narrator may be limited by age, experience or development.

present progressive narration - story telling using present verb tense (go, see, do)

retrospective narration - narration that "looks back," i.e., uses past verb tense (went, saw, did)

unreliable narration - story telling in which is innaccurate or misleading. This can be deliberate or accidental on the part of the narrator.

reflector character - a character whose consciousness the narrator "dips into"

(Answer all questions in full sentences, using proper punctuation and capital letters where appropriate)

Questions:

1) Describe the narration in "Save the Moon for Kerdy Dickus." Is it first person or third person? Is it retrospective or present progressive? Is the narrator limited or omniscient?

2) What different elements in the story would lead the Stranger to believe he had been abducted by aliens?

3) Why do you think the story was told from Ky's friend's perspective? Why might the author choose not to have Ky tell the story?

*Go to your Settings-->Permissions tab and Add ewcwriter@live.ca as an author

*email ewcwriter@live.ca and ask to be added to the class blog.

Please work on your "my experience" essay when finished!

Welcome

This space will be primarily devoted to supporting the ongoing discussions we will be having about the course literature, themes, assignments and anything else. By all means, ask questions and score oral participation marks by exercising your voice here.

In order to be able to post comments, simply email ewcwriter@live.ca and ask to be added to the Period 2 English blog. Be sure to include your full name in the email, if it's not apparent in your email address. I will also need to know you need to be added to the Per. 2 blog so I don't add you to the Per. 1 or Per. 3 blog by mistake.

I look forward to working with you all.

CP