ELA B 30 Fall 2017

Today, you wre given the reading "What Men Live By" to actively read. You will then make a text critique on Monday. I have linked the reading below. What Men Live By Reading

Today, you were given an overview of the change in hero types. While Sir Gawain was a hero to the rich, Robin Hood fits a Christian theme as a hero for the poor. You were also given the reading "Robin Hood and the Three Squires" to read actively. Finally, you were to create a text critique for this reading which is due tomorrow. If you were not here, check your portfolio for these handouts.

Today, you were given class time to revise the summary I returned yesterday and answer the questions I gave each of you as part of that revision. Please be sure to hand in your revised summary with the answers and your initial marked summary into me if you want me to consider changing your mark. This is due ASAP.

Today, I discussed the importance of being sequential in presenting evidence in a summary as well as the importance of including all relevant material. I then gave you your summaries back. Each summary has questions on it for you to answer. You will then have the opportunity to revise your summary and resubmit.  you did this work in groups in order to discuss. I will give you today and tomorrow to do the questions and revise (though I will accept it until Friday).

This activity will help students understand and organize for this term activity. It is due on Tuesday. I have linked it below. If you got the old one from me, please transfer the information and use this one. It makes more sense! Initial Novel Study Activity

Today, I explained to the students how to Google sources to help then with common writing problems. I generally will Google by word and then Powerpoint (apostrophe s powerpoint) and then I will also Google exercises. These two things together can really help a student overcome a writing problem. The students then used the rest of the time to perfect their summaries and text critique. Reminder: Be sure to have your novels and headphones here tomorrow.

The students have today and tomorrow to write a text critique on "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight." I will give them tomorrow to complete this (in class).

Today, I checked to see evidence of active reading while reading "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight." I then discussed the summary the students submitted and explained that all steps having to do with layout, storage, size, format must be met and then returned them for further revision. We then discussed how to create a text critique. I have linked this below. Finally, I handed out the booklet to help you with citation. I have also linked this below. If you were not here, be sure that you have the reading ("Sir Gawain and the Green Knight") read for tomorrow's class as we will be developing a text critique with it. If you don't have the reading, it is linked to yesterday's blog. How to Write a Text Critique "MLA Citation" Booklet

Today, we discussed whether Beowulf met the definition of a hero for his day. We examined the heroic things he did and then I insisted the responsess be backed up with evidence (where did you find that?). We then moved into a discussion on heroes in the next histrical age: the age of chivalry. We took notes from a PowerPoint (linked below), were provided with a virtues list (linked below) and the actively read the text (linked below). This is to be completed for tomorrow's  class Age of Chivalry PowerPoint Reading for tomorrow's class Virtues List

Today, you were to write and complete your summary, and hand the summary in by the end of the day. Part of this is to do the computer layout steps. I have pasted these below: Today, students worked on their essays. I spent some time ensuring that  the class knew how to layout their papers according to MLA Citation. The things you have to do are as follows: Create a folder and name is ELA B 30 Create a document and put it in the folder. Call the document Essay One On that page do the following: Right click then click on "paragraph" In "paragraph, ensure that the spacing before and after are both at zero Change the lines from "multiple" to double-spacing and then save Now, go to "Insert" Go to "Page Number" Click on "upper" then click on number 3 Now, Type in your last name and a space before the number and click out of the header and save. Now, put your first and last name on the first line of typing space On the ...

Today, I finished reading Beowulf while students actively read following my modelling. I then got them to pair up and discuss the changes in perspectives over time. In the past, Grendal is a monster worthy of death. Today, depending on his age, some might be able to defend him and insist he needs love and compassion. Students were asked to create a defense for Grendal that we then discussed as a class. Tomorrow, they will create a summary for this reading.

Today, I finished the notes on Beowulf. I then handed out part one of the ballad and instructed students to read the introduction on their own (actively). This was a timed activity. If a student did not finish, then it is homework. I then read the ballad modelling the skills of effective readers. Students will then have to write a summary of this part of the ballad (tomorrow). Steps for Active Reading Examine the title:  The title is supposed to indicate what a reading will be about. Analyze it putting a couple of words beside it.     Highlighting :  If you don’t know a word, highlight it; if you come across the five Ws, highlight them as well. Also, highlight what the thesis and main points might be (in an essay). Look up definitions and put them right on the page near the word.     Questioning:     If something is unclear or you don’t understand it, put a question mark beside it. This will draw you back for a second look and a...

Today, I introduced Beowulf (PowerPoint). In addition to this, we discussed summary writing, conventions, and literary devices. I handed out the following blue sheets: "The Summary" "16 Common Errors" "Stylistic Devices" Please check your portfolios for these if you were absent. If they are not there, see me for a copy. REMINDER: HAVE YOUR INDEPENDENT NOVEL IN CLASS FOR NEXT MONDAY.

Today, students formed groups of three and examined the following topics using table-mats: Heroes (names) Heroes (characteristics) Heroes (Ideals) Heroes (types) After this, we had a discussion in which I presented students with small notes, which are as follows: Heroes are defined by their own separated culture and their own time in history. The ideals of early heroes were told in stories (fiction) to convince the population to amin for the same ideals presented. It is an early form on propaganda.

Today, I did a homework check to ensure that the students have read "Life and Literature in Early Britain." I then provided notes on how to read actively, which I have pasted below. I then demonstrated the importance of questioning when reading by showing and having students answer 30 trivial questions for this reading. Steps for Active Reading Examine the title: The title is supposed to indicate what a reading will be about. Analyze it putting a couple of words beside it.     Highlighting :  If you don’t know a word, highlight it; if you come across the five Ws, highlight them as well. Also, highlight what the thesis and main points might be (in an essay). Look up definitions and put them right on the page near the word.     Questioning:   If something is unclear or you don’t understand it, put a question mark beside it. This will draw you back for a second look and also help when we are discussing it.     Paraphrasing:  ...

Today, we discussed how England and the English language was influenced by the invasions that the island sustained. I then gave you are reading entitled "Life and Literature in Early Britain." You are to read it actively for tomorrow's class and be prepared to discuss it. I cannot post it as it is copyright protected. If you were not here, it is in your portfolio. Come in and get it in the morning in order to prepare. Notes from the board: Ideal: an idea of what would be perfect for a person, society, culture, religion, or world. e.g., Clean drinking water, no pollution, unlimited resources. We also watched a Powerpoint in order to enhance note-taking skills: The Anglo-Saxon Period on SlideShare (Google it to see).