Tues. Nov. 1, 2017: Assess and Reflect: The Essay Exam (MC)

Today, your exams were returned to you and you were given questions to help you assess the results. If you were not here, you will have to do this in class, either in the morning, at lunch or after school as the test is secured.

Mon. Oct. 30, 2017: Short Story Overview Reading

Today, you worked on Reading Plus. You then were given a handout on short story information to read actively. Reading actively means doing the following:
1. Looking and responding to the title.
2. Highlighting the 5ws and relevant information as you read.
3. Highlighting and looking up unknown words (and defining them on the page).
4. Paraphrasing to prove to you instructor that you understand what you are reading.

Fri. Oct. 27, 2017: Short Story Introduction Continued

Today, we watched Pixar's "Tin Toy" and answered questions after ensuring the definitions for terms were understood. If a student was not here, that student can use any Pixar short that we have not done and do the assignment, which I have pasted below:

Pixar Fun

1.   Name of Short Film.

2.   What can we infer about the antecedent action?

3.   What is the character’s motivation?

4. What types of characters are present in this short? Name and define them.

5. What dilemmas are present in this short?

6. Is this escape literature or is it meant to teach us something? Explain.

7.  Are there any examples of foreshadowing in this short?

8.   What is the initial incident in this short?

9. Are there any examples of irony in this short? Explain.

10.  Who is the protagonist in this short?

11. Who is the antagonist in this short?

12. What point of view is this in? How can you tell?

13. Create a plotline for this story.

Thurs. Oct. 26, 2017: Short Story Introduction

Today, we examined Pixar shorts (Geri's Game, for the Birds, and Magnifico) in order to determine plot

Wed. Oct. 25, 2017: Essay Unit Exam

Today, the students wrote their essay unit exam with an emphasis on process. We will start the short story unit tomorrow.

Tues. Oct. 24, 2017: Test Prep. Essays

Today, I handed out information for tomorrow's exam. I have pasted it below:

ELA B 10 Essay Unit: Test Prep

Your exam will consist of two readings. There are 21 questions total. They are all multiple choice.

Each reading must be read actively (highlighting main points, 5Ws and other pertinent information; basic paraphrasing).

Essay                           Total word count: 543. Approximate reading time: 5 minutes

                                    (15 minutes of active reading)

Memoir Excerpt:         Total word count: 1412. Approximate reading time: 5-7 minutes

                                    (15 – 21 minutes of active reading)

TOTAL READING TIME: 33 – 39 minutes

Each question must be answered using process of elimination (eliminating the “wrong” answers to arrive at the best two and then circling the best one).

TOTAL M.C. ANSWERING TIME: 11-17 minutes

Timed Activity: 60 minutes only

You will be marked as follows:

Active Reading

Meet submission expectations (name where indicated)          3

Analysis of title (s)                                                                  2

Highlighting of essential information                                     10

Highlight unknown words                                                      6

Paraphrase (basic)                                                                   4

                                                                                                            25

M.C. questions

Meet submission expectations (name where indicated)          3

Highlight essential information as you read                           7

Cross out the two throwaways                                               5

Circle the answer you think is correct                                     5

Total correct answers                                                              21

                                                                                                            41

                                    Total = 66

To do well on these types of exams, YOU NEED TO READ!!!!You also need to study and memorize your MOSES (literary/stylistic devices) sheet.

Mon. Oct. 23, 2017: Reading an Analysis

Today, I handed out the reading "Annie Edson Taylor" to read and do the multiple questions on. If you were not here, come and get this at lunch or earlier.

Fri. Oct. 20, 2017: Marking of Reading and Multiple Choice

Today, we marked "Through The Looking Glass."

Thurs. Oct. 19, 2017: "Goal Post" Marking

Today, we did a ReadingPlus vocabulary and then marked the essay "Goal Post." I modeled how I would read it and then we marked the questions. Tomorrow, we will mark "Through the Looking Glass" so get it in.

Wed. Oct. 18, 2017: Presentation Continued (on M.C) and questions

Today, I finished discussing the Powerpoint on how to actively approach multiple choice exams. It is linked to yesterday's blog.
I then handed out the questions for the reading "Through the Looking Glass." You were supposed to have the reading done for today. Tomorrow, you are to hand in both the questions and the reading (stapled together).

Tues. Oct. 18, 2017: Active Reading and Test Taking Skills

Today, you worked on ReadingPlus, doing one Vocabulary activity and one comprehension activity.  If you were not here, log on and do these at home or at lunch tomorrow. You were then given the reading "Through the Looking Glass" to read actively. Keep in mind that you need to also highlight and define literary devices so you keep up with what you have also learned and improve at it. Finally, I gave you information on how to approach multiple choice exams. It was a PowerPoint. I have linked it below.

Powerpoint on how to actively approach exams

"Through the Looking Glass" Reading 

Fri. Oct. 13, 2017: Catch-up and "ReadingPlus

Today, you went to the computer lab to work on ReadingPlus. You were instructed to completed two readings, two vocabulary assignments and one writing assignment. If you had time left over, you were to use it to catch up on outstanding assignments.

Thurs. Oct. 12, 2017: Paragraph Reflection

Today, you were given your paragraph back, a number of handouts pertaining to the assignment (some you might already have) and a reflection activity to complete. This is to be done in this class period. If you were not here, be sure to get all of this from you portfolio.

Wed. Oct. 11, 2017: Reading analysis and questions

Today, you were given a reading and multiple choice questions to answer. These are in your portfolios.
Do the "before" and "During" activities/steps (not the "After") on the text provided. Answer the multiple choice questions and then staple them to the reading and submit.

Tues. Oct. 10, 2017: Essay Discussion

Today, we marked the editorial on Smoking in order to ensure all students know marking expectations. I then started discussing process of elimination for tests.

Fri. Oct. 6, 2017: Essay Activity

Today, you were to hand in the assignment form yesterday. I then handed out out another one to complete this weekend. I am pasting it here.

“Loaded”

INSTRUCTIONS: Actively read these three paragraphs (DOING THE “BEFORE” and “DURING”  ACTIVITIES ONLY) and then answer the questions that follow fully (flipping the question into a statement and answering it). As you read, also look for “loaded” words indicating that the writer is strongly in favour of or against something. Recognizing the writer’s bias can help you locate the “real” facts.

Paragraph One

            If anybody could ever die of boredom, it would be in Chase Falls, Ohio. Stuck in an isolated valley on the small Chase River, Chase Falls is strictly dullsville. Its streets are choked with cheap cars and pickup trucks during the day as grimy farmers come in to shop and to peddle their dirty-looking vegetables. At night, the streets are deserted and lifeless. Local high-schoolers cruise about aimlessly in their hopped-up cars, looking for trouble. This burg is so dull that the major annual entertainments are the local football team in the fall and a spring fair, when the town makes a sorry attempt to pretty itself up.

Paragraph Two

            Nestled snugly in a valley carved by the beautiful Chase River, Chase Falls is a delightful little town. During the day the streets are bustling as local farmers come in to shop and to sell their all-natural vegetables. At night, the streets are peaceful and quiet, patrolled only by fun-loving teenagers in their specially modified cars. The town actively supports its sports teams, especially football. The high point of each year is the spring festival, when the town decks itself out in glorious flowers.

Paragraph Three

            Chase Falls, Ohio, is a village of about 4,500 people in a valley created by the Chase River. It is a commercial centre for the surrounding farms, and many kinds of local vegetables are sold in the village. Most stores and vegetable stands close at 5:30 p.m. recent years have seen a small increase in local traffic as younger drivers have been able to afford cars. The local high school football team has achieved some fame with a 32-5 record in the past five years. The town is known for a spring fair it holds every year, during which the town is decorated with flowers.

“Loaded” Questions

A.    Circle the letter of the best answer in each question.

1.      Which of these words is not “loaded”?

A.    Nestled

B.     Grimy

C.     Choked

D.    Increase

2.      Which description of Chase Falls might have been written by local businesses trying to attract tourists?

A.    Paragraph One

B.     Paragraph Two

C.     Paragraph Three

3.      What is the author’s purpose in writing paragraph three?

A.    to give factual information about Chase Falls

B.     to persuade people that Chase Falls is a good place to live

C.     to persuade people that Chase Falls is a bad place to live

B.     Write your answers to these questions.

4.      What fact explains why the streets of Chase falls are almost empty in the evening? (stores close at 5:30)

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

5.      What sort of person might have written the first description? Positive, negative, or factual?  (Negative)

________________________________________________________________________

6.      When people are described as “looking for trouble,” what may they really be looking for?

________________________________________________________________________

7.      What would be a good way for you to decide whether to move to Chase Falls?

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

C.    Facts & Opinions, Bias & Assumptions

·         A fact is a statement about something that can be counted, measured, checked, or tested.

·         An opinion states how somebody thinks or feels about something. It cannot be proved.

·         Bias is the set of personal beliefs and feelings a writer may bring to a piece of writing.

·         An assumption is taking information for granted without actual proof.

Write F next to each sentence that states a fact. Write O next to each sentence that states an opinion.

8.      _____  The 55-mile-per-hour speed limit is not obeyed and should be abandoned. (O)

9.      _____  Since the 55-mile-per-hour speed limit was put into effect, traffic deaths have

been cut almost in half. (F)

10.  _____  On the average, if you add up all the blinking in one day, a person has his or her

eyes closed for 30 minutes. (F)

Write a + before any sentence that has a positive bias, a – before any sentence with a negative bias, and an N beside any sentence that has no bias.

11.  _____  Snow stretches out in front of you: pure, blue-white, crisp, inviting. (+)

12.  _____  Snow stretches out in front of your: white, cold, wind-blown. (N)

13.  _____  Snow stretches out in front of you: deadly white, frigid, menacing. (-)

Circle the letter of the assumption that underlies each statement.

14.  All ski trails should be closed to snowmobiles.

A.    Snowmobiles endanger skiers.

B.     Snowmobiles go faster than skiers.

15.  Sled dog racing should be outlawed to save the dogs.

A.    Sled dogs find it boring to pull people around.

B.     It is cruel to make any animal work for our pleasure.

16.  Winter has begun; it may snow any day now.

A.    Once winter comes, the snows start.

B.     Only cold northern areas have winter.       

Bonus Questions!!!! Have Fun!!!

17.  Explain how I can drop an uncooked egg 100 centimetres without breaking it (onto a cement floor).

Drop it from 110 cm.

19.   Obviously, the next number will be 10, but does it go above or below the line? Explain (this is not a math/number problem!)

1          2                6                      ?

               3   4   5      7   8   9         ?

Thurs. Oct. 5, 2017: Essays: How to read them Actively

Today, The students were given two items: an editorial entitled "Smoking is a Real Community Tragedy" and "How to Actively Read an Essay." As a class, we went through the essay and I modeled how to read one. I then had the students answer questions that were on the backside of the essay. If you were not here, these are in your portfolio (I cannot put the essay up on here due to copyright).

Wed. Oct. 4, 2017: Reading Plus & Last Slide of Essay Powerpoint

Today, we worked on writing on Reading Plus (as well as vocabulary and reading). I then finished my essay Powerpoint. NO Homework!

Tues. Oct. 3, 2017: Introduction of Essays

Today, I introduced essay writing to the class.

Mon. Oct. 2, 2017: Justifying the Test

Today, I gave you your literary Unit Exam back. You were then given the opportunity to argue the answers amongst group members and submit your arguments to me for consideration.