Wed. Sept. 27, - Fri. Sept 29, 2017: Writing Class: Text Critiques

Today, you were given time to work on your three text critiques These will be due at the end of class on Friday, along with the active readings you have done on five essays.

Tues. Sept. 26, 2017: Text Critiques

Today, you started creating the three text critiques that are based on the five readings you chose to actively read over the weekend. You were given twenty choices, told to actively read five, and then will chose three to create text critiques on. I will give you today, tomorrow and Thursday for sure to work on these. It is important that you see me during the process of the first one so that I can catch errors early before they have become part of your pattern.

Fri. Sept. 22, 2017: Initial Novel Study Activity

This activity will help students understand and organize for this term activity. It is due on Tuesday. I have linked it below. If you got the old one from me, please transfer the information and use this one. It makes more sense!

Initial Novel Study Activity

Thurs. Sept. 21, 2017: Text Critique Discussion and Readings Presented

Today, I discussed how to create a text critique and why they are a valuable study tool. I have pasted the link to the sheet below. I then handed out a booklet of twenty readings relating to Canada in its first fifty years as a Dominion.
I also explained to the students how to Google sources to help then with common writing problems. I generally will Google by word and then Powerpoint (apostrophe s Powerpoint) and then I will also Google exercises. These two things together can really help a student overcome a writing problem.
Student are to pick five and read them actively for Tuesday.
Please bring your novels and headphones to class tomorrow!

How to Write a Text Critique

Wed. Sept. 20, 2017: Essay Revision

Today, I discussed plagiarism with the students. Their essays were then returned to them with minor comments in order to allow for further revision. I am giving the students until Friday to revise as I expect many will have to read the resources they have been provided in order to improve. This will not be an in-class activity.

Tues. Sept. 19, 2017: Essay Completion/MLA Citation Handout

Today, you were given time to complete your essays. These are to be handed in my the end of the day. If you are not here, these can be emailed to me at :
dawn.benoit@nwsd.ca

I also handed out the MLA Citation booklet that might be a bit easier to understand than Fit to Print. Be sure to read it actively.

"MLA Citation" booklet

Mon. Sept. 18, 2017: Essay Writing Continued

The class spent time working on their essays. The essays are due at the end of the day tomorrow.

Fri. Sept. 15, 2017: Writing Class/MLA Layout Discussion

Today, students worked on their essays. I spent some time ensuring that  the class knew how to layout their papers according to MLA Citation. The things you have to do are as follows:

Create a folder and name is ELA A 30
Create a document and put it in the folder. Call the document Essay One

On that page do the following:
Right click then click on "paragraph"
In "paragraph, ensure that the spacing before and after are both at zero
Change the lines from "multiple" to double-spacing and then save

Now, go to "Insert"
Go to "Page Number"
Click on "upper"
then click on number 3
Now, Type in your last name and a space before the number and click out of the header and save.

Now, put your first and last name on the first line of typing space
On the second line, put Ms. D. Benoit
On the third line, put the class designation (ELA A30)
On the last line, put the date (e.g., 14 December 2001)

Thurs. Sept. 14, 2017: Writing Class

Yesterday, you chose the essay question you will be researching and writing about. Today, I explained how to create an "ELA A30" folder (which is where ALL of the assignments that you want marked for this class MUST be). I also handed out a sheet entitled "How to integrate quotations." I have pasted the link below. This is to be actively read for tomorrow's class.

Integrating Quotations into Sentences

Wed. Sept. 13, 2017: Essay Assignment (Research-Based)

Today, students worked in groups to determine what questions they would like as options to write their first essay. The choices we came up with are pasted below:

·         How does Canada’s physical landscape influence Canadians relationships and interactions with self and each other? (II)

·         Why is it important for Canadians to recognize historically and currently both the glorious and the scandalous aspects of Canadian life? (IIII)

·         What contributions have Canadian individuals made to the character of the Canadian community and/or global community? (IIII)

This will be a five paragraph minimum essay in which the studuents will utilize the notes they took watching the three episodes of "The World Without Canada" and the Internet for further research (they need to research at least three of the situations they will discuss and then cite them in-text and in a citation works page).

The assignment must be typed  and is due on Tuesday, September 19.

Students also went to the library and picked up the text Fit to Print.

Tues. Sept. 12, 2017: Independent Novel Study Information and Other Relevant Handouts

Today, I handed out the information you will need to do your independent novels study as well as a sheet suggesting a number of novels. You are to have your novel in class for next Monday.

I also handed out the following sheets (which we discussed)
"Literary Devices (MOSES)"
"16 Common Errors"

These are important to study and memorize to ensure that you KNOW them.

Mon. Sept. 11, 2017: World without Canada: Episode Three

Today, we viewed the third part of A World Without Canada: Season One, Episode 3.

If you were not here, it can be viewed on You Tube.

Students were then instructed to go into their course outline and determine what questions they might be able to answer after viewing this season. We will discuss this tomorrow.

Fri. Sept. 8, 2017: The World Without Canada: Episode 1: Reading "Innovations"

Today, we viewed The World Without Canada: Episode 1. While viewing, students were to take notes on "What good Canadians bring to the world.
After viewing, I discussed how few of the references (with the exception of the Jolly Jumper) show connections to Indigenous people. I the handed out the reading "Innovations" with artwork by Elliott Doxtater. This article explains the inventions that we can thank our First Nations for gifting on to the rest of us. Please have it actively read for Monday. Unfortunately, due to copyright, I cannot paste it here. Be sure to come into my class in the morning when you get here and take it out of your portfolio.
If you were not here for the video, google it and then pick the YouTube option to view.

Thurs. Sept. 7, 2017: Viewing and Note-taking

Today, students viewed the presentation The World Without Canada: Season 1, Episode 2.
They were to write down notes to answer the following question: What positive things has Canada or has Canada done that helps the world?"
If you were not here, you can google this and find the video in YouTube. be sure to select the correct episode.

Wed. Sept. 6, 2017

Today, students were placed in groups of three and each table was given a placemat with a topic relating to Canada on it:
Good things we are known for
How we view other provinces
Geography of Canada
People in Canada
Lousy history of Canada
Things we need to be concerned about moving forward
Stereotypes about Canada

Students then moved regularly to add their ideas to each mat.

We then determined that there are some that are more interesting.

We then posted these for further discussion