Friday, February 25, 2011

Eng 11, 1-2: Notes from Friday, Feb 25

Today, we discussed the "Saturday Climbing" homework assignment.  In one group, only half of the class completed their homework; please remember your responsibility to come to class prepared.  On Tuesday, we will write the paragraph response - if you want to get ready in advance, you can find what you think are good quotations for a theme-related paragraph (of course you'll have to consider possible themes, first).

I can't return the grammar unit test until the final three students to write do so.  There were some failing marks; students who would like to re-write the test, may, but only after doing some remedial exercises on the sections of the test that gave them trouble.

En 12: Notes from Friday, 25 Feb

Today, we discussed the effect of biased language in journalism and other forms of writing.  We read a handout that had six examples of journalistic writing from various sources.  We highlighted examples of "loaded" or biased language from each.  Please ensure that is done for homework.  We'll do some writing with that on Monday.

Hist 12: Notes from Friday 25 Feb

Today we continued with the events around the Russian Bloody Sunday, Jan 1905.  We also looked at the Tsar's response in the October Manifesto, and the reasons for it.  We also noted that not everyone was happy with it, even at the start.

Please ensure you read the handout on the Fundamental Laws of 1906, and the two handouts on the Stolypin agricultural reforms.  We'll find that Peter Stolypin is a new "significant" person for us to know.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

En 12: Notes from Thursday, 24 Feb

Today we continued our discussion of Book 3.  The presenters did a good job leading the discussion; I thought they came up with some strong observations that led to some key points in understanding the novel.  We will finish up tomorrow and then start a new activity centred around the use of language by the media.

His 12: Thursday, 24 Feb

Tiday we did a quick review of Marxism and then took notes on pre-1905 Russia and Bloody Sunday.  We also reviewed DeMarco, pp. 38-39 and discussed the use (and misuse) of statistical information.

Please read Demarco pp. 39-40 and consider the answers to the questions on p. 40 (just do this in your head unless you want notes for later reference.

SS11: Thursday, 24 Feb

Today we finished discussing the battles worksheet.  We also reviewed the type of information for the test that will be on Monday.  Review the work sheets - especially the Chapter 5 textbook questions - they cover lots.  Also, scan through the workbook - have a sense of the timeline: what was Canada doing in 1939, 1940, 1941, etc.?  Also what was the role of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force - what different battles/roles did they fill?  Finally, review the blog - the test has no surprises, and nothing is on the test that we didn't spend time discussing.

Don't be lazy - review and give yourself some honest self-evaluation in terms of your knowledge and preparedness.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

En 12: Wednesday, 23 Feb

Today, we split up the questions from Book 3 of the study guide to be completed by two-person teams.  We will finish debriefing them tomorrow and then do a special activity around the power of loaded language.

We will be using the technology and supervision articles at a later date.

History 12: Wednesday, 23 Feb

Today, we continued our investigation of Marxism.  Tomorrow we will debrief Ex #13 and the readings from DeMarco.  Also, I'll start with the story of the Russian Rev of 1905 (we'll have to go back to 1861).

No homework today - you've earned a break!  I'm very pleased with everyone's effort and participation so far.

En 11-1&2: Wednesday, 23 Feb

Today we dd our grammar unit test.

We also read "Saturday Climbing" and did all of the questions on the worksheet (except #4, from the bottom of the page).  Please remember to bring your text to every class.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Hist12: Notes from Tuesday, 22 Feb

Today I collected the colourized propaganda posters - they look very well done.  Next we read the intro to a chapter titled "Politics Old and New" from Howarth's The World Since 1900.  We noted how the growing class consciousness that existed at the turn of the last century helped to shift, or at least awaken changes to, the balance of power in the "Western" world.

Next we viewed an introductory PPT that identified some of the main vocabulary terms associated with communism and then completed the definitions on Ex #13.  Please finish Ex #13 for homework.  Also, please read pp 35-40 in DeMarco.

Tomorrow we fill finish our introductory notes on Marxism and start to look at the "first" Russian revolution.

Monday, February 21, 2011

Hi 12: Notes from Monday, 21 Feb

Today we wrote our synthesizing essay on the world after the First World War.  It forced organization of the many facts and circumstances that roughly include the Paris Peace, the League of Nations, and the other (smaller?) events linked to the quest for security and stability in the years that followed the Armistice.

Tomorrow you should come with your posters coloured and prepared to begin our study of the Russian revolutions.

En 12: Notes from Monday, 21 Feb

Today, we started by reviewing the difference between the active and passive voice.  There is a link on the blog to a good website on this topic (it has a quiz you can play with).  Next, we peer-edited our final theme paragraph and then rewrote it for submission for marking.

We have been reading the novel for 21 days; even at 13 pages per day, you should all be finished the reading.  Next class I will discuss Book Two with you.  You should expect a reading quiz any day to ensure you have completed the book.

En 11, 1-2: Notes from Monday, 21 Feb

Today, we did our final practice quiz and then studied the correct use of parallel structure.  Next class, Wednesday, will be our grammar unit test.  You must be ready to respond to questions on the following:

a) sentence structure - identify subject and predicate
b) sentence structure - identify simple subject and simple predicate
c) sentence structure - run-ons, fragments
d) punctuation - add punctuation to a sentence (some will include dialogue)
e) parts of speech - complete table to include the 8 parts and their 4 ctaegories
f) parts of speech - identify words in a sentence
g) modifiers - name modifier errors and correct them
h) parallelism - idetify modifier errors in a sentence and corrct them

Use your practice quizzes to recognize where your weak areas are.  Good luck.