What's Good Got to Do With It?

1) Catch me up. What did I miss?

2) What is good? What is right? What is wrong? How do you know? - A stand up demonstration.

 3)What is it like living in a world that preaches good, but exemplifies wrong? Let`s look at what`s in the headlines right now. Robocalls, the cop with the drunk driving charge, the teacher`s contract, anonymous hackers, rich educated people more likely to cheat, and so much more in the world of celebrity worship... and all the ordinary stuff of your world that is so not cool. How does this relate to our novel?

 4) Emails needed - I`m going to invite you into the elevens.

 5) Reading - what pages?

 6) Time to work. Uh huh. Work. How`s them journals flying?

Osama Movie Notes

Wow.
That was a difficult film to watch... Remember to hand-in your reflection notes and paragraph. Imagine/contemplate how very different you would be if you had lost life's lottery and been born in Afghanistan.

The Kite Runner Begins

Afghanistan? What the? Where the?

1) Silent Reading

2) We are going to begin reading The Kite Runner on Wednesday, so let's begin thinking about where we are going.

• Afghanistan? What does the word, the country make you think of? What do you already know?
• Photo Analysis Assignment, due Wednesday - some of the photos are here, others will be available in class. 

3) Library - time to work on essay or photo analysis. |
(Essay due Tuesday, Photo Assignment due Wednesday)

Movie on Monday/Tuesday!

Commas and Comparisons

1) Silent Reading

2) News - Nicole's Breakup tweet got favourited by CBCBooks! She may be in the running...

3) Comma Usage - handout

4) Four Stories - let's compare the protagonists. What were their characteristics? What were their motivations? What were their epiphanies?

A&P -
The Ninny -
Identities -
Best Minds -

Compare and contrast the main characters

in two of the stories that we have read.

• Plan with an outline first.
• Develop a powerful thesis statement
• Find three or four quotes (minimum) to use as support.  

Sign up for two stories and a focus.
What does a compare and contrast look like?

Today - catchy opening, thesis statement - get em done. Looking for quotes...

Valentine's Day - Boo Hoo!?

1) My love is like a red, red rose... Blah! Sob, sob. Let's break up, instead.

   Are you up for The Break Up Tweet Challenge?

Write a 126 character break up line. Let's write them all on the board. I'll submit the top ones. If you win, you can wrestle me for the ipod.

2) Back to Google Story - questions together.

and... how are the poems coming?

3) Comparing and Contrasting - begin essay planning....

Here is a link that will summarize much of what I will say in class. http://www.nvcc.edu/home/ataormina/eng256/support/litcompare.htm

Quiz and The Best Minds

1) Quiz


2) Last Story! "The Best Minds of my Generation Were Destroyed by Google."

3) Pre-Reading Group Work - in groups of 2-4 people, pick 10 words that collectively sum up what your generation is all about. Every group must write those 10 words on the board.

Discuss - What trends do you notice? What does this say about your perceptions of your generation?

Genre, Science Fiction - introduce these two terms

4) Read the story (or listen - there is a link to a student reading) (TOC - please print copies)

5) Discussion Questions

• What is your first reaction to this fictional vision of LA in 14 years? Does it seem plausible that this could be us when you are 30? 
• What is the deal with the title? Does anyone know what famous and controversial poem the line is taken from? (Get out your smart phones!) Why would the author pick this title? 
• Why pick on Google?
• The protagonist - how would you describe him?
• What does he want? (Or, what does he share in common with Sammy of "A&P"?)
• What is the climax of this story? Why? How is it like the climax in "The Ninny"?
• What themes can we derive from our reading of this story?

6) Write your answers down. 

7) Also, time to work on poem.

Rough Draft Poem - Due Tuesday

Answers to these Q's - Monday

Where I'm From

1) Questions and group work for "The Ninny."

• Discuss and then submit.

2) Let's take a little step back today - we've been considering stories, and contexts of stories, and writing about stories... but we have not paid attention to the most relevant story of all - YOURS.

• Where do you come from - discussion.

3) Where do you Come From Poem.

• Handout

I come from the steps of Lakehead University, a child of children...

Assignment: Where are you from?                                                              12 marks

Write your own version of this poem.

·         Be detailed, descriptive and evocative.

·         Include a new title (it does not have to include your name).

·         Be descriptive.

·         Evoke the senses – make me see, taste, smell, feel, hear…


Tomorrow: Quiz on terms introduced so far... and last story!

Tuesday - Teacher Away

(Hi all! I'm having trouble with my voice. I am seeing a specialist on Friday - in the meanwhile, I am to rest it a little bit - so teaching is a challenge. Please be patient as we figure it out.)

1) A and P response due.

2) Reviewing Irony:
A literary device whereby the appearance of things differs from reality, whether in terms of meaning, situation, or action. That is, it is ironical when there is a difference between what is spoken and what is meant (verbal irony), what is thought about a situation and what is actually the case (situational irony), or what is intended by actions and what is their actual outcome (dramatic irony).



Next Story: Identities (TOC - please print, copy and distribute)
(Read Aloud)

Discussion Questions:  Setting plays an important part in creating atmosphere in the story Identities.   What is ironic about the ending of this story? Discuss, making specific references to the story.



Assignment: Write a 8 - 12 sentence paragraph answering one of the above questions.

Elements of Fiction and More A&P

1) Silent Reading

2) Elements of Fiction Notes - yup, notes.

3) Discussion Questions - A & P

4) First Writing Assignment - Describe Sammy - have a detailed thesis statement and use at least 4 short supporting quotes. Minimum 250 words.