English 12

Wednesday Today we are continuing to bring a little Ernest into your life. "WHEN he writes very well about love, loss, tenderness or fear, Hemingway works with the assumption that he must cause the reader to share the unstated emotion. That is responsible writing, a writing that is about the essential transaction between writer and reader. It is about being human in a time of despair. Hemingway made it clear to his readers that a writer who stared into the truths or evasions of the soul and tried to bring back something of what he had seen was a comrade in arms to the warrior or hunter: each was a laborer at his trade who risked his life in the plying of the trade. Hemingway's work demonstrates that the making of art is a matter of life and death, no less. At about the age of 24, I would say, Hemingway started to write about the choice his protagonists must make: either fall prey to the terror of living, and therefore kill themselves, or soldier on with what...

Thursday 1. Finish reading "The Bastard." 2. We are in the computer lab so that you can begin working on the term 4 reading assignment that is available in Office 365/Content library/term 4 reading assignment. Today you should create your blog and begin perusing the lists of essays available in Office 365/Content library/Essays every high school student should read. Wednesday 1. Quick discussion of Term 4 reading assignment. 2. I did not get time last night to make up a grading rubric for the Isfeld Reads - so we will do that likely have to do that next week.  3. Today's meet - what is the definition of "bastard"? Also, who is Patrick deWitt - get a little background on him. 4. During reading - gather animal references? What is going on with them? 5. During reading - short story terms and devices. 6. During reading - Gambling on Predictions. Tuesday "Tikka Tuesday" - and yes you are going to look at pictures of her all week! 1...

Thursday We are in the computer lab today. Here are your tasks: 1. Polish up your non-fiction. Judging begins after the first 20 minutes of class. 2. Complete reading the two remaining short stories for Isfeld Reads 2017 - there will be an easy quiz  Monday on all 5 to ensure you have read each of them. 3. Make sure your group has prepared all the necessary things for Isfeld Read 2017 which will take place on Monday. This is your last class to prepare. You will receive an individual grade for your work with the group. Here are the learning competencies you are to demonstrate: Isfeld Reads 2017 • Respectfully exchange ideas and viewpoints from diverse perspectives to build shared understanding and extend thinking • Recognize and appreciate how various forms, structures, and features of texts reflect a variety of purposes, audiences, and messages • Demonstrate speaking and listening skills in a variety of formal and informal contexts for a range of purposes ...

Thursday 1. To complete our celebration of the poetry of Plath, you are going to write some Flash Fiction and perhaps get published and/or earn $$$! Your task is to pick ONE of the poems we covered in class and write a flash fiction story based on the poem. Your story can be either 53 words long (Prime Number Magazine contest) or 48-52 words (Dribble Flash Fiction contest). 2. Place your story into the collaboration space in Office 365. Identify yourself using only your "nom de plume" which will be: first name: your mother's maiden name; last name: your first pet. For example, my "nom de plume" would be: Ferguson Button. Place a second copy into your Assignment folder; call the page: flash fiction contest. 3. If you want to collaborate with another student, that is fine, just come up with 2 different flash fiction stories. Put both of your noms de plume on the work for the collaboration space AND in the Assignment space.  4. Even if you don't win a pri...

Wednesday Did You know it's Read a Road Map Day!  1.  Stations! and Plath's poems.  Tuesday It's National Sourdough Bread Day! 1. Essay work time. I have Room 100 booked for today. I am unable to get a booking for tomorrow, but it is booked for Thursday and I have laptops booked for Friday's one hour class. 2. Tomorrow we will carry-on with Plath's poetry. Monday 1. Essay update... 2. Mark poetry quiz 3. Poetry of Sylvia Plath + fractal partners. Sylvia Plath  - Trigger Warning -  Plath’s poetry  discusses some very hard things – sex, depression, shame, missing relatives, loss and grief. I want you to make an emotional connections to the poems, but the very last thing I want is for students to have such an emotional reaction that they feel unsafe or re-live trauma. Let me know if you feel you would rather I provide you with some alternate poetry readings. 4. Using TODAY’s MEET - let’s find 10 things about Sylvia Plath tha...