SS 11: Notes from Friday, 4 March

Today we had a review of the nature of the Cold War, and discussed the occupation and eventual partition of Germany after the Second World War.  We were introduced to words such as: denazification, Potsdam Conference, satellite state, Bizonia, DEFCON, and many allusions to "brinkmanship."  We learned about the Berlin Blockade (1948-49) and heard about the Korean and Vietnam wars.  More on those two, soon.

PLEASE COMPLETE THE CHAPTER SIX QUESTION SHEETS BEFORE CLASS ON TUESDAY.

ANYONE WHO HAS NOT WRITTEN THE SECOND WORLD WAR UNIT TEST WILL DO SO ON TUESDAY, EITHER AT LUNCH OR IN CLASS.

Have a relaxing weekend - the weather is supposed to improve.

En 12: Blog topic #3

Please take time to comment of the following prompt related to 1984:

When is war a morally just response?

En 12: Blog topic #2

Please take time to comment of the following prompt related to 1984:

What should citizens value most?

En12 Blog Topic #1

Please take time to comment of the following prompt related to 1984:

What is the role of the police?

Hist 12: Notes from Fri 4 Mar

Today we started by playing "Put 32 Events from the Russian Revolutions in Order" in timed groups.  We recognized that just like using the "signpost states" to order the countries in Europe, we can identify "signpost events" in Russian history: Bloody Sunday, WW1, March Revolution, and November Revolution.  From there, it's just a case of deciding "before and after."  The reason we do this activity is not to "memorize" a long list of events, but rather to have a list that is long enough that we must recognize "cause and effect" relationships, rather than being able to learn by rote.

We also reviewed the answers to Lenon's "Call to Power" (ex #16)  On Monday, we'll watch the end of the "Russian Revolution" VHS documentary.

En 12: Notes from Thursday, 3 March

Today, I returned the paragraphs on the articles written that used biased language and were written about the tar sands issue.  We also finished our "privacy" essays.  If you did not finish yours in class, you should do so for homework.  Next Tuesday we will write the objective test and on Wednesday we will write our final 1984 essay (except for a piece on an essay by Orwell).  On Thursday and Friday I plan to watch the DVD.

En 11, 1-2: Notes from Thurs, 3 March

Today, it was story time.  I read "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" (pp. 33-37) and then we discussed what it meant to be a Mittyesque character.  Remember, Mitty is a daydreamer who tries to escape his inadequacies in a life that is run by an over-bearing wife.  Next, we discussed the narrative techniques that Thurber used in the creation of his story.  Finally, students embarked on a new conclusion to the story that should start off in media res (in the middle of the action) during the final firing squad scene, and then move on to two or three more daydream/reality sequences.  Your story should be about a page and a half of double-spaced prose.

Have fun: this is a departure from much of the writing we uually do.

History 12 :Notes from Thursday, 3 March

Today, students reported on some background information on central leaders in the Bolshevik party.  We also worked on and reviewed WS # 15 which covered the April Thesis, the July Days, and Kornilov Affair.  Please read Demarco pp 43 - 55.


KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.

History 12: Notes from Tuesday, 2 March

Today, we did an activity where we put a series of events from 1862 - 1917 in chronological order.  Next, we looked at the political landscape and identified where on the political spectrum the different political parties would fall.  Finally, we had a PPT lesson the events of 1917.  For homework, we are each going to research one of the prominant Bolsheviks from this era.

SS11: Notes from Tuesday, 2 March

We had a PPT lesson on Canada and the Cold War (1945-1991).  We also worked on the Chapter 6 package; please complete the sections up to and including Trudeau, but do not do the ones on Mulroney.  I haven't got the questions handy - I think it is up to #58.

En 12: Notes from Tuesday, 2 Mar

Today we watched a short presentation from TED showing advances in computers as "a sixth sense."  We also saw a short video showing a pizza call with invasive features.  We also got a handout outlining security issues around Facebook.  Finally, we had a discussion about personal privacy.  We started an essay on privacy and will finish that in class tomorrow.

En 11-1: Notes from Tuesday, 1 March

Please see today's blog post for the other group - the two classes did the same thing.  Attached are the topic sentences that we shared in our class.

Hist 12: Notes from Tuesday, 1 Mar

Today, we reviewed the details of the Fundamental Laws of 1906 and noted how they limited the power promised to the Duma in the October Manifesto.  We also looked at the climate in Russia under Stolypin and the overriding influence of terrorism, including the "expropriations" supported by Lenin's Bolsheviks.  Please read pp 27-31 in Falk's workbook.

En 11-2: Notes from Tuesday, 1 March

Today, we discussed the importance of theme and setting in the short story "Saturday Climbing" (p. 52 in your anthology).  We practiced writing topic sentences and blending quotations into our prose.  Please complete the paragraph response (#4 at the bottom of the assignment sheet) for homework.

SS11: Notes from Monday, 28 Feb

Today, we wrote our WW2 unit test and started the text book questions for Chapter 6.  Please complete up to number 31 for next class. 

English 12: Notes from Monday, 28 Feb

Today, we discussed the Alberta tar sands in terms of who the various interest groups connected to the project might be and what their levels of support might be.  After that brain storm/discussion, we wrote a paragraph "that discusses some of the different arguments concerning the tar sands and identifies examples of the biased language that groups who are in favour, or opposed, might use." 

Please have that paragraph ready for tomorrow's class.

Hist 12: Notes from Monday, 28 Feb

Today, we spent some time examining the differences between an English 12 and History 12 writing style.  We noted how the latter must be rich in facts and very concise.  We also discussed how long introductions are wasted on the History 12 final exam - I do still encourage the inclusion of a one or two sentence introduction.  Thanks to those who shared examples of their "improved" sentences.  Students who wish to resubmit their essay with a revised version, may; however, I expect more than just my teacher suggestions to be included.

We also watched the VHS (hey, there's history right there) tape titled "The Russian Revolution."  We viewed details up to the March Revolution, of 1917.  Tomorrow, we'll discuss the Stolypin era and the effect the Fundamental Laws had on the Duma promised by the October Manifesto.  If we have time, we'll look at the political landscape in Russia.