Novel Study Posts Due November 20th

Over the next four weeks all grade 9's will be doing a novel study of their choice. Over the course of this time we will have a series of six discussion sessions as follows:

• Novel Discussion 1 (read 1/6 of your book): November, 16th
• Novel Discussion 2 (read 2/6 of your book): November, 19th
• Novel Discussion 3 (read 1/2 of your book): November, 26th
• Novel Discussion 4 (read 2/3 of your book): November, 29th
• Novel Discussion 5 (read 5/6 of your book): December, 10th
• Novel Discussion 6 (read final 1/6 of your book): November, 16th

Before the discussion session begins you are asked to create a 150-200 word response to either post on Edmodo or in the google doc your group is working within. These posts are due for the beginning of the discussion session and will be considered late if they come in after this. 

These posts should be either an interpretative, antidotal, or an editorial type response mirroring the work we did before the novel study began. See your Edmodo group for specific questions or themes to consider.    

Assessment will be based on the originality of the insights you bring to your response and your ability to support your insights with direct quotes from the novel or other research.  For a full 8/8 you must find genuine insights and support your ideas with quotes from the text or other sources. An undeveloped post with no supporting details will receive a 4/8. Work on taking on one idea or insight rather than engaging a series of insights. 

Write three reading reflections: due Tuesday Nov. 13th

In this assignment, you will be choosing 3 of the 6 poems, short stories, and short films to write a response concentrating on themes. You must turn in one Analytical, one Opinion (Editorial), and one Anecdotal response. Please turn them all in on one document. You should also be choosing at least 2 different types of media. For example, at least one poem and one short story. Each response should be at least 350-500 words.

Please use the discussion questions below to help guide your responses:

What themes about life and the human condition does the film, short story, or poem explore?
What message is the author trying to communicate?
What language, phrases, metaphors does the author adopt to convey this message?
What connections can you make to experiences from your own life or other books and movies you have read or seen?
What do you think about the author's message? What is your position on this?
What supporting details can you bring in to back up your position? 

• Explanation and example of what an Analytical, Editorial, and Anecdotal response should sound/look like (Part 1, 2, 3):
  Part 1
  Part 2
  Part 3

  Exemplars:

  Interpretive:
  Evocative, powerful, but also depressing, The Boy Who Wanted to be a Lion, by Alois Di Leo, explores issues of identity and isolation. Although difficult to discern, the film's primary message points to the impossibility of being something you are not, even when your circumstances are close to unbearable. In the story the main character Max, feels forever on the margins of society due to his inability to hear. Frustrated with a hearing aid that emits an abrasive high-pitched buzz, he discards this device in favour of the quiet solace of his own imagination. After a seeing a lion at a zoo, seeking the acceptance, power, and respect he does not possess, Max decides to take on the identity of this courageous beast. Literally. He soon has his mom sew him a costume and proceeds to fully embrace life as lion. However, after sneaking into the cage of the lion that inspired him to take on this new role, Max’s attempt at securing a new identity ends with tragic results. For those of us used to a Hollywood ending this final scene was shocking. This being said, in creating this sequence of events the film shows that on some level we must come to grips with who we are, as well as who we are not. Max could never be a lion, and moreover needed to respect that a lion is by nature a wild, dangerous, and ferocious beast. The film demonstrates that losing oneself in a world of fantasy can be very dangerous as we can lose sight of the nature of reality and its inherent dangers.  In this way, no matter how painful, we must all learn to accept our limitations and work within the bounds of the possible. 
  
  Editorial:  (I would use most of the above paragraph, but I would add the following)
  While I understand why the author believes this to be true, I must disagree.  Alois Di Leo believes that following our dreams is somehow dangerous, that conformity is preferable to being different or unique.  Such a message is offensive and deplorable.  In the film there are multiple occasions when Max is portrayed in colour, whereas his colleagues are all coloured yellow; this is a perfect example of how the author is implying we should all conform to society, and sacrifice our unique identity.  Conformity and the sacrificing of our dreams should not be the message being sent to our youth, being pushed on the next generation.  Alois Di Leo has made it seem as though only pain and misfortune can come of being different, of having hopes and ambitions that are perceived as usual to the majority.
  

  Please respond to three of the six below, either with an Analytical response, Editorial response, or Anecdotal response:

  Film:  Sniffer
  
  Film:  Amar

  
  

  montreal_1962.docx

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  introduction_to_poetry.docx

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  do_not_go_gentle_into_that_good_night.docx

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  o_me_o_life.docx

  Download File

Issues in Genetic Engineering Letter Writing Assignment due Monday, Nov. 5th

For the next assignment we will be integrating work you are doing in Math/Science with a Humanities letter writing activity. In this assignment you are asked to respond in letter form to one of the political cartoons another classmate has created.

Your letter should identify the ethical issue related to genetic engineering being taken up in the cartoon and then state your position on this issue. Ensure to include the following elements:

• Header, date, inside address (use the classroom addresses and correct spacing) 
• Salutation with colon (:)
• Short introduction paragraph where you introduce yourself, why you are writing this letter. You may choose to briefly outline the message of the political cartoon along with the ethical issue raised.
• Body paragraph should include your interpretation of the cartoon, clearly identify the ethical issue being raised and then where you stand on this issue. Ensure to develop your insights and back up your position with supporting details and facts. You may also include solutions or how we might think about this issue differently. 
• Closing should be short and include something like: Thank you for taking the time to read this letter and I look forward to hearing your response. 

This is due Monday, November 5th. Please hand into Edmodo and post your letter on your blog. The blog post should include a link to the political cartoon your classmate created, but here you do not need to include the address portion. 

This assignment will be evaluated out of 40 as follows:

• Correct business letter formatting /10: one mark off for each mistake
• Content /20: 
• /4 your ability to clearly and effectively interpret the message of the cartoon
• /4 your ability to clearly identify and communicate the ethical issue being raised. 
• /12 your ability to use the SES (State, Explain, Support) format where you clearly state your position on this issue, explain and develop your thoughts, and then support this with facts and independent research. Here, you should include your sources. According to...
• Style /10: here I will focus on your voice, control of sentence structure, grammar, along with transitions and flow.  

We have been working on writing a great deal this term and this is an opportunity to show me what you can do. For this assignment I want to see what you are capable of doing independently and will not be available to provide formative feedback. Please proof read your work several times before handing in as this will have a great impact on your final mark this term. 

Write a business letter to Mr. Butterfield assignment, due Thursday, Nov. 1

If you are in 9.1, please disregard this first section. As well, your letter is due on Friday by the end of the day not Thursday. 

After the last DPA class Mr. Butterfield wrote me an email. In this email he indicated that this was one of the more lackluster DPA classes he has had with grade 9 students. He takes responsibility for the fact that the activity didn’t go over as well as he hoped. However, he voiced some concerns that included a lack of appropriate clothing that did not enable some students to comfortably participate in outside activities.

Given this, his main concerns regarded how one teacher can supervise 50 kids in different spaces if we move inside and how we can make DPA more enjoyable and physically active. 

In order to help Mr. Butterfield, along with the DPA class in general please respond in business letterform to one of the three concerns:

• How can we make DPA a more physical time in a way that is fun and enjoyable for the majority of students given the constraints we have on space?
• How can we better accommodate the individual interests of students while also ensuring they are supervised by a teacher?
• How can we generally make DPA less of a lackluster experience for all?

__________

For 9.1 please write a business letter addressing something you would like changed either in class or in the school in general. This should be addressed to the person who is responsible for this issue.

Your business letter must include proper formatting as outlined by Mr. Publack as well as include three short paragraphs as follows:

Paragraph 1: Introduce yourself and briefly explain why you are writing this letter (1-2 sentences)

Paragraph 2: What you see as the problem with DPA (3-5 sentences). Here you must get inside the head of a teacher or administrator and consider how they might understand this issue before voicing your own concerns. Then your task is to be constructive and include possible solutions that take into account the constraints that an administrator or teacher has with DPA or another issue (we are your legal guardians during school and must supervise you; the purpose of DPA is to be physically activity which is proven to improve general mood and overall health).

Paragraph 3: Short closing, thanking the reader for reading this letter and considering your request. 

This will be evaluated out of 20 towards your term 1 report card. You will lose 1 mark for every business letter formatting error, spelling mistake, punctuation or grammar issue. The content will be marked for control of sentence structure, clarity, level of professionalism and politeness, along with your ability to see an administrators or teachers' perspective, while offering constructive feedback. Please submit this to Edmodo no later than 3:30 November 1st. 

How to write a business letter videos and October 25 Homework update

Homework this weekend 

Homework for Math/Science-Humanities integration:

For the next little bit we will be linking with Math/Science as part of your Genetics unit. Later next week you will be asked to write a letter outlining your position around an current issue in genetic engineering.

In order to prepare for this, for homework this weekend you are asked to watch the following three-part video by Mr. Publack to learn how to write a letter. As you are watching please take notes in a word document following his directions. On Monday you are asked to turn in a rough draft of your letter reflecting the format Mr. Publack demonstrated.


Homework for Enbrdige Pipeline Project:

On Wednesday we will be doing a town hall style debate around the Enbridge Northern Gateway Proposal. In order to prepare for the final part of this project please ensure that you:

• Complete all your research in the Google doc. for Monday. You will receive a grade on your efforts here. This should include:
• a title, your groups' name, colour coding for each member, your position, 3-4 strongest arguments, supporting evidence connected to particular sources (i.e., if Enbridge claims they will create 900,000 jobs, where did this statistic come from). 

• While you are doing your research please consider 3-4 questions you would like to ask other groups. In order to give each group time to prepare, you will be asked to post your questions so each group knows the questions they will be asked. On Tuesday you will have an opportunity to see the questions and prepare accordingly. 

• Wednesday is the debate. We will be marking this based on the rubric below. You will be marked for your participation, willingness to ask questions, ability to defend your position with strong, referenced supporting details. 

How to write a letter part 1:

How to write a letter part 2:

How to write a letter part 3:




Final two minutes:

October 17th Homework Update

Just a reminder:

The talking to the text assignment is due tomorrow Thursday, October 18th. Please submit via Edmodo.

Ensure you have two separate articles on the Northern Gateway Project pasted into a Word document. From there ensure you have the following talking to the text elements using track changes:

• Monitoring meaning: defining new words; words you are unfamiliar with
• Questions: probing, relevant questions related to issues brought up in the article
• Connections: make connections to other things you have read or seen
• Golden nuggets: key quotes from the text that summarize the central argument or point being made
• Summary: for those looking for bonus marks, include a short summary of the article

Blog post outlining your position on the Northern Gateway Project due Friday, October 19th 

The following sentence frame will help you:

 

Opening: Recently we have been studying…

Thesis statement: After reading several articles and seeing two videos for and against the project I believe that….

Develop:

Specifically, …

More to the point, …

By this I mean that…

Further,  Moreover,

State argument:

One key argument supporting this position is..

There are many arguments supporting my position, but the one I think is most central is…

I believe this because…

Support

____ in the Vancouver Sun writes, “…..”

Here we can see that..