Today, you needed to submit your cheat sheet and dictionaries/thesaurus if you wanted to use your own.
I also had you complete you final class assessment. If you were not here, you will need to do this ASAP (it does impact your mark).
You exam is tomorrow morning.
Be here by 8:45 and expect to write until 4 pm.

Wed.,Thurs. & Fri. Jan. 18, 19, & 20 2017: Test Prep.

Today, we continued preparing for the final. Most students in class worked on test sheets. I also posted the answers and reasons for the poem "For Friends Only" on the board.

You have also received another reading package to do (three readings) as practice. Keep in mind that your cheat sheet is due on Monday.

Tues. Jan. 17, 2016: Test Prep.

Today, you continued to work on the readings/activities I supplied for you yesterday. If you were not here, they are in your portfolio. I also need you guys to get that cheat sheet into me.

Fri. Jan. 13, 2017: Test Prep. Readings

Today, you were given readings and questions that are from a prototype final exam ( I follow to create my own, so they are parallel).

The readings and questions are as follows:

    "The Whites Only Beach"
    "For Friends Only"

You got these at the end of class to do as you wish. It is practice. I will post the answers on Tuesday (you can submit the answers for ease if you choose).
If you were not here, the readings and questions are in your portfolio.

Mon. Jan. 16, 2017: Finding the Main Idea

Today, I handed out a number of worksheets to aid you in preparing for the final:

"Transition Word Practice"
"Find the Main Idea"
"Find the Main Idea of Paragraphs"
"Inference Practice: Ancient Animals"

While some may seem simplistic, the reality is that many students make errors. Active engagement is often the key. You were allowed to work on these on your own or in pairs.

Tues - Fri. Jan. 11-13, 2017: Test Prep: Draft

Today, we discussed the first four questions of draft: transitions, tone, and main idea. If you were not here, you will be able to refer to the notes on the board or ask a classmate for a copy of their notes.
On Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, we continued with examining this draft.

Tues. Jan. 10, 2017: Test Prep: Draft

Today, I reminded you that you need to underline/italicize the titles of major works in your essays and use quotation marks (aka., bunny ears) on the titles of minor works.
We then examined the questions of the first reading you will face on the final: The draft. This reading tests your comprehension and, more importantly, your understanding of the 15 common errors. As a practice, you read the Draft prototype released by Saskatchewan Education and then, using your "15 Common Errors" booklet and your process of elimination skills, attempted to arrive at the correct answers. We will review these in class tomorrow.

Mon. Jan. 9, 2017: Test Prep

Today, we began working on prepping for the final. This is not a time to miss as I will not be posting detailed notes. You will have to talk to classmates.

Fri. Jan. 6, 2017: Independent Novel Study Completion

Today, was the deadline to get your independent novel study in. Keep in mind that this assignment was given to you in September. You have had more than four months to read the novel, do the rough copy, and revise. Even at a month per task, you should have had an extra month after to be sure it was in. We will start with test prep. next week.

Thurs. Jan. 5, 2017: Independent Novel Study

I am giving you until the end of class tomorrow to get your independent novel assignment in. Be sure to check off all the things you have done on your instruction sheet. Most of the time, students lose marks because they didn't double check the expectations. Also, keep in mind that this assignment is DEADLINED for tomorrow. I will not accept it late. You have had the assignment since September and have been invited to submit early.

Wed. Dec. 21, 2016: In-Class Essay

Today, you wrote an in-class essay. Your cheat sheets and the instructions were returned to those who submitted them yesterday. This is a one hour activity. Please remember that you have an independent novel study DEADLINED for Friday, January 6.

Tues. Dec. 20, 2016: Cheat Sheet

You will be writing your in-class essay tomorrow so you will get today's class to create a cheat sheet. It must be handed in to me by the end of class (it will be returned tomorrow).

Thurs. Dec. 15, 2016 to Mon. Dec 19, 2016: Hamlet Film

For the next three days, you will be watching the feature film Hamlet, starring Mel Gibson. If you weren't in class, check to see if it is online or on Netflix.

Wed. Dec. 14, 2016: Hamlet Exam

Today, you wrote your Hamlet exam.

Tues. Dec. 13, 2016 to Wed. Dec. 21, 2016: Hamlet tests and essays (READ ALL)

Today, we finished reading Hamlet. I have put a test prep. sheet in your portfolios.
The rest of the classes before the holidays will proceed as follows:

You will write a comprehension exam tomorrow (Wednesday)
You will view the feature film Hamlet, with Mel Gibson (Thurs., Fri., and Mon.)
You will get a day to work on your essay cheat sheet (Tues.)
You will write an in-class essay on Wed (the 21st).

The questions for the essay were provided yesterday (see blog or portfolio).
The test prep. information is posted below:

Hamlet

Test Prep: 2016

Questions 1-35            True/False statements that tie to the plot of the play. If you know it, you

                                    will do fine (Trivia).

Questions 36-88          Multiple choice: complete the sentence provided. These also are

                                    examining how well you know the play (Trivia).

Questions 89-92          Matching characters to quotes: You will have to actively examine four       

quotes and then determine which character (provided) stated each one. Process of elimination works for this.

Questions 93-97          Matching WHO IS BEING DESCRIBED to quotes. Students mess this

                                    one up because they don’t read the instructions. It is NOT who is saying it

                                    but who is being described that matters. Process of elimination works for

                                    this.

Questions 37-44          Active reading of an excerpt from a play and multiple choice questions to

(98-105)                      examine understanding. You will get a dictionary. Read as actively as time

allows. Use process of elimination on these questions.

Mon. Dec. 12, 2016: Hamlet

Today, we began reading Hamlet on Act IV, Scene 5 and ended on Act V, scene 1, at the top of page 131.
I also gave you your in-class essay question early so you could start preparing for your in-class essay on Wed. December 21. I have posted this below.

If you were not here, read the section and complete the following questions:

7. How does Claudius propose to satisfy Laertes’ suspicions?

8. What reasons does Claudius give Laertes for not taking action against Hamlet, who, Claudius says, “Pursued [his] life”?

9. Why does Claudius plan to poison the drink, in addition to poisoning the rapier tip which Laertes will wield?

     10.      How does Ophelia drown?

ELA B30

Shakespearean Timed Formal Essay

Time Allowed: sixty minutes

Instructions: Using the Shakespearean play we studied in class, answer either a. b. c. or d.

a.       When it comes to the main character, determine if he is cunning or crazy. Defend your position. OR b.      Is the main character a person who could be defended as basically good or one who could be seen as basically bad? Defend your position. OR c.       Examine the actions of the main character. Based on our earlier unit, could he be defined as brave (heroic) or cowardly? Defend your position                                                              OR d.      Examine the differences between the text version of the Shakespearean play read in class and the film version viewed in class. Why did the director or script writer choose to make differences to the film? Defend your position.

I am allowing you to have the question early so you can prepare; I am also allowing you to bring in a cheat sheet of no more than 50 words. If the cheat sheet has more than 50, then it will not be allowed. Your planning should involve gathering your evidence, studying essay format, and honing up on any areas of mechanics or punctuation where you have deficits.

Further considerations:

·         You must write in dark blue or black ball-point pen (not felt tip as they bleed through).

·         You must double-space (this allows you room to cross out errors and fix in the line above).

·         You will be allowed to use a dictionary.

·         You will be given a planning page (you cannot bring one in with you).

·         All electrical devices must be off your person (if you bring them in the room, put the item(s) in the day care).

·         You will write on Wednesday, December 21.

    

Fri. Dec. 9, 2016: Hamlet

Today, we read from Act III, scene 2 (p. 95) of Hamlet up to Act IV, scene 5 (we will start on this act on Monday).

Below are questions you need to answer to show you were active in this reading (if you were not here). Hand these in on Monday.

The end of Act III:

1.      What is the apparent purpose of the Ghost’s appearance in the Queen’s bedroom while Hamlet speaks with his mother?

Act IV, scenes 1-3

    1.      What is Claudius’ response when Gertrude tells him that Hamlet has murdered Polonius?

2.      What does Claudius direct Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to do?

3. Why does Hamlet hide Polonius’ corpse and then dash away when Rosencrantz and Guildenstern question him about it?

4. Why does Hamlet call Claudius “dear Mother”?

Wed. Dec. 7, 2016: Hamlet Act III

Today, we assigned new roles and began reading Act III of Hamlet. We got to Act III, Scene 2, line 195 (page 81).

If you were not here, read this section and answer the following questions:

1.      What do Rosencrantz and Guildenstern report to Claudius regarding their conversation with Hamlet?

2.      What do the pair fail to reveal to Claudius?

3.      What favor does Hamlet ask of Horatio?

4.      What is the plot of the Dumb Show the Players present?

Tues. Dec. 6, 2016: Hamlet: Act II

Today, we read the rest of Act II of Hamlet. If you were not here, you will need to answer the following questions after you read it and submit it for the next class.

7. What does Polonius mean in an aside, as he speaks with Hamlet, “Though this be madness, yet there is method in’t”?

8. What does Hamlet make Rosencrantz and Guildenstern confess?

9. Why have Hamlet’s two friends arranged for the theatrical troupe to perform at the palace?

10. What is the significance of the speech which Hamlet requests from the actor, taken from the story of the Trojan War?

Mon. Dec. 5, 2016: Hamlet Act II

Today, we read Act II of Hamlet. If you were not here, you will need to read the Act, answer the questions pasted below, and submit at the start of the next class.

Act II: Study Questions

1. What task does Polonius assign Reynaldo in Paris?

 2. Why is Ophelia so upset when she speaks with her father?

3. In what respect does Polonius change his mind about Hamlet and the prince’s relationship to Ophelia?

 4. What task does Claudius assign to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern?

 5. What news do Voltemand and Cornelius bring back from Norway?

 6. What do Claudius and Gertrude conclude after hearing Polonius read the letter from Hamlet to Ophelia?