March 20

Humanities 8

Silent reading

We watched a video on the scientific benefits of meditation. Here is the link : 

http://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/science-meditation

Next we went over the poetry test and then finished off the notes on religious tolerance and intolerance (see previous links).  

Next, we discussed the terms:
fanaticism - extreme beliefs
martyr - a person who dies for his or her cause/beliefs

We then read a short biography of Father Damien and discussed whether or not he was a martyr.

First Nations 12

We wrote our chapter 3 test today.  Webs and reviews were handed in.  An assignment about explorers and maritime vs land-based trade was given. (see below).

Chapter 4: The Fur Trade Era

Explorers of the “New World” – pg. 64-66

Explorer	Year(s)	Noted for
Christopher Columbus
Juan Perez
James Cook

Comparing the Land-Based and Maritime Fur Trade – compare the two types of trade. Pg. 67- 68

	Land Based Fur Trade	Maritime Fur Trade
Who First Nation & European traders
What trade goods wanted by European traders
What trade goods wanted by First Nation traders
Where were the major centers of trade
How  was the trade conducted

Finally we read about Vancouver's arrival and the Squamish people's oral story about the meeting.

English 10

Today I read a memoir about finding my 1st dog - Buddy (see below).  I read two different versions so students could see some techniques of developing their story.  These strategies included:

• using literary devices such as similes and personification to enhance descriptions
• internal dialogue so that the reader gets an insight into the thoughts and feelings of the storyteller

Students were then asked to work on writing their memoir for their short story porfolio. See below for assignment sheet.

Early One Morning

          The adrenaline pumped through my veins as fast and furiously as an angry rap song.  I’d almost hit him.  My Dad’s dire warning reverberated in my head:  Don’t swerve for deer.  You’ll end up killing yourself or someone else. It wasn’t a deer.

          My heart beat was slowly, normalizing.  Ok, calm down, I said to myself.  You missed him.  You’re safely on the shoulder of the road.  It’s OK.  Take deep breathes. 

          Slowly, my attention returned to my surroundings.  The sun was slowly awakening and the road was empty.  Where was he? I wondered.

 I decided to get out of my car to investigate.  There was movement in the bushes to my right.  Two anxious brown eyes peered at me from the bushes. 

          “Here puppy, I am not going to hurt you,” I called softly.  His black and tan body was tense with fear, so that when I edged closer he started and retreated a few feet. 

          How am I going to get him to come to me? I wondered.  I was petrified that he’d become road kill if I didn’t act quickly.  It was fortunate for him that I had disregarded my Dad’s safe driving adage and swerved to avoid a collision.

          Food, that is what I need.  Dogs love food.  I searched my car for something appetizing for a dog.  Nothing, but an apple.  Well, it was worth a shot. 

          He must have been starving because eventually, after much coaxing, he came to investigate the piece of apple I held out for him.  As he sniffed the apple chunk suspiciously, I was able to make contact with him. I petted him gently, speaking soothingly all the while.  I reached for what I thought was a white collar, hoping to discover the owner’s name.  However, I was shocked to discover that the white collar was actually a large hairless scar around his neck.  The white was his skin.  My heart bled in sympathy.   

What was I going to do?  Take him to the SPCA? Leave him to die on the road or become someone else’s problem?  Take him home?  I was torn and I had no time to ponder my options. 

I coaxed him into my car and headed for my destination.  Fate had written a new chapter for me and my new ‘Buddy.’ 

Version 2

An Incident on the Road

          One morning I was driving to see my friend race in a mountain bike race, when I almost ran over a Rottweiler –cross puppy.  I was afraid that he was going to get run over by the next car, so I lured him into my vehicle with a piece of apple.  I drove him to the SPCA, but it was closed so I was forced to take him with me.  Slowly over the course of that day, I fell in love with him and decided to keep him.  He is now my beloved pet.

English 10 Creative Writing Portfolio                                                                                        Name: ___________________________

BEFORE HANDING IN YOUR PORTFOLIO MAKE SURE:

        All of your pieces of writing are clearly labeled by the number that matches the list below.

        The 4 pieces of writing that are not going to be marked in depth are stapled together in order.

        The piece of writing that is your best is written out in good copy or typed out.

        Your assessment sheets are in your folder with your name on them and your self assessment questions are complete.

Details of your writing pieces:

1.       Setting Description

        2 paragraph minimum

        Creates an atmosphere (feeling)

        A little bit of action to have a character interact with the setting

        Use the 5 senses

  Sight

   Sound

   Smell

   Taste

   touch

2.       Character Creation /Description

        2 paragraph minimum

        Physical appearance

        Personality described through actions

        Includes a metaphor (comparison not using like or as)

3.       Memoir

        3 paragraph minimum

        Write a story of a vivid memory or experience you have had

        Try to create a movie in the reader’s mind

   Describe feelings

  Describe the setting

  Use descriptive verbs for the actions

4.       Alternate Ending to “The Possibility of Evil”

        3 paragraph minimum

        Resolution has to match the rest of the story

        Includes details that match the rest of the story                      

5.       Internal dialogue

        No paragraphing necessary– but half page minimum

        Describes the character through description of his/her thought process

Assessment:

All 5 pieces of writing need to be handed in to be marked.  Each complete piece of writing will be given 6 marks, for a total of 24 marks.  The piece that you choose to be marked in detail, will be marked out of 24 (weighted 4 times the 6 point scale) and you will be given 2 points for thoughtful answers to the self assessment questions.

Writing Rubric

6

Ideas are fully developed and supported. Accomplishes the purpose with some originality, individuality or maturity. Effective word choice and sentence variety. Voice and tone engage the audience throughout. Structure is logical and the writing as a whole may appear effortless. Errors are not distracting.

5

Ideas are well-developed and supported. Has a clear sense of purpose. Appropriate word choice and sentence variety. Voice and tone generally engage the audience. Structure is logical and the writing demonstrates control. Errors are not distracting.

4

Ideas are generally straightforward and clear, with some support and sense of purpose. Basic vocabulary,some sentence variety. Attempts to engage the audience, but lacks a consistent voice. Structure may be formulaic. Errors generally do not impede meaning.

3

Ideas are often listed or developed unevenly, with little support or sense of purpose. Limited vocabulary and sentence variety. Lacks a sense of audience and voice. Structure may be weak. Errors may distract and impede meaning.

2

Ideas are often broad generalizations with little support, and no clear purpose. Colloquial vocabulary, weak sentence structure. Writing reflects little understanding of language conventions. Inappropriate tone or language for audience. Structure may seem illogical. Frequent noticeable errors interfere with meaning.

1

Ideas are not developed. Has no discernible purpose. May be too brief to accomplish the task. Lacks structure.Frequent serious errors.

***Note: the second rubric will be used to give more specific feedback than the above more generic rubric.  ****

My best piece of writing is _________________________________________________ because:

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

 __________________________________________________________________________________________________

I deserve a _____________________ for this piece of writing because:

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

 __________________________________________________________________________________________________

        Piece #1  - Setting                                                                            Assessment                                                       /2

        Piece#2 – Character

        Piece #3 – Memoir

        Piece #4 – Alternate Ending

        Piece # 5 – Internal Dialogue                       /24                         Best:      /6 x 4                                                     /24        

                                                               

/50