Tues. Oct. 31, 2017: Canadian Issues Exam Reflection

Today, your essays were returned to you and you were given questions to help you assess the results. If you were not here, the essay and the questions are in your portfolio for you to complete.

Mon. Oct. 30, 2017: Reading Play: Girl Who Loved Her Horses

Today, we read the first few pages (scene one and two) of the play "Girl Who Loved Her Horses." We finished at the bottom of column one on page 102. If you were not here, come and grab this from your portfolio and read before the next class.

Fri. Oct. 27, 2017: "Monkeyshines" Discusison

Today, the students and I read/reviewed the excerpt from Monkeyshines. We then examined the answers to the questions using process of elimination. We will begin our major reading on Monday.

Thurs.Oct. 26, 2017: Discussion of "Seeds"

Today, we discussed the answers to the drama excerpt "Seeds." Tomorrow, we will discuss the excerpt from "Monkeyshines."

Wed. Oct. 25, 2017: Seeds and Monkeyshines

Today, students continued working in their groups to read and discuss answers for the reading from yesterday and another givne today. We will discuss these by the end of class tomorrow.

Tues. Oct. 24, 2017: Characterization of Characters and Excerpt Reading

Today, we discussed the importance of characterization when reading a drama (direct and indirect). I gave you a handout on STEAL to help with this and characterization terms that you had to read, highlighting the terms you know and assessing whether the term is positive or negative. I then put you in groups and gave you a reading from Seeds to read out loud. After this, you were given questions to answer as a group using process of elimination.

Mon. Oct. 23, 2017: Introduction to Drama and Canadian Literature

Today, I showed you a Powerpoint on Drama and Canadian Literature to introduce our next unit.

Fri. Oct. 20, 2017: Fixed MIndset

Today, we discussed what it means to have a fixed mindset. The terms discussed were as follows:

Suspended Disbelief
Reality of situations beyond this above context
Fixed Mindset
Creation of a "Harold"

If you were not here, see if more more info.

Thurs. Oct. 19, 2017: Unit Test Reflection

Today, students were given back their unit exams and completed a reflection activity. If a student was not here, the student will have to come in and do this at lunch, as the exams are secured.

Wed. Oct. 18, 2017: Unit Test

Today, you wrote your Heroes unit test (multiple choice). If you were not here, you need to see me to arrange to write the alternative.

Thurs. Oct. 19, 2017: Unit Exam Reflection

Today, you were given your recent Unit Exam back in order to reflect upon it. There were a number of questions to address as part of this activity. This is NOT an activity you can do at home, as you test is secured. If you were not here, make arrangements with me to do this at lunch or during a spare.

Tues. Oct. 17, 2017: Test Prep.

Today, we discussed the test (multiple choice) that you will write tomorrow. I handed out a test prep sheet and showed a Powerpoint on the process of elimination. I will paste these below. Do not miss the test as you will then have to write an alternative.

Process of elimination Powerpoint

Test Preparation for Unit One

Tues. Oct. 10 - Fri. Oct. 13, 2017: Research Paper

On Tuesday, the students got back in their groups to discuss the critiques they were bringing to the table and then to arrive at a question each person in the group will answer for an essay (independent of others but using ONLY the critiques supplied). I am pasting the groups, questions and assignment expectations below. This paper is due on Friday, but I will allow you to get in in on Tuesday (before class: no more class time will be given to it).
Next Tuesday, we will discuss process of elimination on comprehension tests and then On Wednesday, you will write it.

ELA A 30

Major Issue Essay

In this unit, we have examined a number of articles describing how Canada has arrived at where they are today. You were then given the assignment of reading sixteen articles as a group and creating that many text critiques. If you did this job right, you divided the workload into four each and then discussed them. I then had you come up with a question those in your group would like to answer (on their own in the form of a research paper and using the critiques shared). Here is the breakdown by group. If you were not here, you are still obligated to write your essay on the question provided by your group. Further, you can only use the text critiques shared and MUST use three

Group One: Khalia Shortt. Taylor Harkness, Tanis Waskahat, Mathew Chuckrey:

            Essay Question: Why is it important for Canadians to recognize historically and

                                       currently both the glorious and the scandalous aspects of Canadian

                                        life?

Group Two: Mathieu Alexander, James Merasty, Maycie Bear, Cassidy Derocher:

            Essay Question: Why is it important for Canadians to recognize historically and

                                       currently both the glorious and the scandalous aspects of Canadian

                                        life?

Group Three: Erika Lai, Mikayla Daniels, Felicity McCallum:

            Essay Question: What perspectives have been dominant or privileged in Canada?

                                       Why?

Group Four: Cody Trimble, Daryl Malana, Kane Stileborn, Madison Strelezki:

            Essay Question: What societal issues concern Canadians?

Group Five: Cody Barden, Aiden Pearson, Ace Pascual, Brittaney Greedus:

            Essay Question: How have societal issues changed over the course of our

                                    nationhood?

Group Six: Tayler Hansen, Kari Derocher, Chelas Gardipy, Dylan Murray:

            Essay Question: What contributions have Canadian individuals made to the

                                    character of the Canadian community and/or global community?

Write a response in which you must

• Use at least THREE of the submitted critiques from your group which were submitted on the due date as your research to answer your question.

Answer your question independently of the others in your group (this is NOT a group essay!!!)

• support your point of view using your understanding of the issue from the readings

• Organize your response

• Proofread your response

Mechanics Editing Checklist

1.      No Spelling errors

2.      No capitalization errors

3.      No sentence fragments or comma splices (watch sentences that start with “that,” “because,” “and,” “but,” “which,” “who.”

4.      Subject verb agreement

5.      Comma usage

6.      Run on sentences

7.      Strong verb usage/word choices

Style Editing Checklist

1.      No contractions

2.      No possessive errors (the children’s bikes…=correct)

3.      No personal pronouns (I, we, me, us, you, our, your)

4.      No questions

5.      No “it” or “this” usage: use the noun and/or describe in more detail – what is the “it” or “this”?

6.      No clichés “Stands up to,” “looks down on,” “sucks,” “settle.”

7.      Write your essay in the present tense = verbs end in “s” – tense shifts are a serious error.

8.      Pronoun referencing: when you are talking about more than one character in the same paragraph and they are of the same gender, use the name and not the pronouns he/him or she/her

Continued

9.      Use of who/that – pronoun referencing – “who” refers back to a person – check your usages of “that”: are you referring to a person or a thing? Use “who” if it is a person your are referring to.

10.  Ensure that your essay has word variety: have a thesaurus open when you are typing, and have a transition word list open when you are typing (page 116 in Fit to Print).

Format

1.      First page entries

2.      Work Cited page

Tues. Oct. 3 - Fri. Oct 6, 2017: Cooperative Group Work Continued

Today, students were given another package of twenty readings. I informed them that they have a choice; read sixteen of these on their own and create sixteen text critiques on their own after actively reading these, or divide up the work amongst four and then create the critiques and discuss to share. They chose this option.
Today, they divided up the readings and started reading their choices actively.
I have informed students that all due assignments (the text critiques) need to be in by the end of the day or the student(s) will have to arrange to do an alternative.

Mon. Oct. 2, 2017: Essay Reflection

Today, your essays were returned. You then did an activity with it to evaluate what comments were made. If you were not here, the essay and the questions are in your portfolio.