Reading Blog

Image taken from: http://www.winchesterlibrary.org/?p=66 on 23/02/10

Ladies,

A gentle reminder that the reading blog is a weekly, ongoing element of your homework.

I know a lot of you don't particularly like reading, however, it is incredibly valuable if you are trying to improve your work. This applies not just to English, but, also to to your other subject areas.

If everyone is posting reflections weekly, it may allow for girls to look at what people are reading and find books that they will also enjoy - kind of like an Oprah's Bookclub online.

By now you should have at least 3-4 posts on your blog for the book/books you have been reading. It is not a huge task, I am only asking you for 100words per week!

Some people are really doing some fantastic work on their blogs and I encourage you to go in and have a look at what your peers are achieving. After all, it may spur some of you on to put greater effort into your own posts.

Enjoy whatever book you are currently reading and if you just can't seem to get into the one you currently have, maybe you should consider finding something else. I am happy to help people find books to read - remember it does not necessarily have to be a work of fiction.

SPECS and SLIMS for "I Was Only Nineteen"

Over the weekend, in preparation for our SPECS and SLIMS analysis of Redgum's I Was Only Nineteen, I would like you to listen to the song again, while reading through the lyrics, and then read the links on Blackboard's "Who Are They?" folder to learn about the band Redgum. This will give you some insight into why they wrote and performed this song.

Homework for Wednesday, 10/02/10

Your homework over the next two nights requires a few different elements which will depend on how up to date you are with your work so far.

1. You need to ensure that you are completely up to date with your blog and what should be included on your page by this point. You should also go through and proof-read and edit your current posts to ensure that everything is of a high standard. This should be completed by no later than the end of the weekend.

2. You need to have a second reading journal post published by no later than the end of this weekend.

3. You need to go into the Blogs folder for our class in Blackboard and leave comments on at least two people's posts for poetry circles to see what others are saying about the poems that we are studying. The people you choose to comment on should not be in your group. This should be done by no later than Friday.

4. You are to read the poem An Irish Airman Forsees His Death by W.B Yeats which can be found on Blackboard. You also need to read the wikipedia post about the poets life which can be accessed through the "Who Are They?" folder on Blackboard. This needs to be completed by tomorrow's lesson.

Which War?

Image taken from: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/wie/teaching/frm2/research.jpg on 04/02/10

Your homework for tonight, Thursday 4th Feb, is to do some research on one of the wars/conflicts that is included in the folder on Blackboard entitled, Overview of various wars/conflicts. You are required to have a look at the links included for your chosen war/conflict and make some notes and reflections on what you find. Focus particularly on facts/issues that you did not know about and make some reflections on how people may have felt during this conflict (both civilians and soldiers), how war has changed (assuming you look at something from pre War on Terror) and any questions that you may have about this war.



Post your notes, reflections and questions onto your blog.

Reading Log

Image taken from: http://api.ning.com/files/mG-ERYu6rJsIjAp7KFXNXPFUcDuUM*M22nmGd6WGjeCtyWp*CwqEs7PwmESQ2RybSJDp-KLnkCtwsmpdokc5C29yQJUV8cTM/bookclub1.jpg on 04/02/10

As I have explained several times so far this term, it is incredibly important for your academic development that you are reading. As such, part of your homework for English each night is that you should be attempting to read for at least 20 mins. To encourage you to keep up with this, and to allow for people to share book suggestions with others in the class, you are required to post a 100 word reflection on your current reading book by Friday evening of each week.



After your visit to the library yesterday, everyone should be in a position to complete a 100 word reflection on their current book by tomorrow evening.



You aren't writing a book review as such, you are simply reflecting on what you have read up to this point. You may wish to comment on what you like/dislike about the book, give it a rating so far, talk about the characters or even comment on the type of genre the author has chosen. Try not to give too much away in terms of plot spoilers as others may wish to read the book after reading your comments.

Journal Task

Image taken from: http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/english/on-line-exhibits/diaries/pics/diary_open_520.jpg on 04/02/10

After having viewed a variety of images that were taken during various wars/conflicts, I would like you to reflect on what it must be like to be directly involved in that type of environment.



On your blog, I would like you to write a journal entry from the perspective of someone who is being directly affected by war or conflict. The entry should reflect the emotions that the person is experiencing, as well as physical and mental state they are in as a result of their environment.



You may wish to use the photos you have seen as a general guide, or you may wish to choose specific photographs to inspire your reflection.



Strive to write as much as possible and ensure that you proof read you work prior to publishing.

Poem

Image taken from: http://img.slate.com/media/1/123125/123050/2076385/2081051/2081641/030424_WarPoems.gif on 04/02/10

Now that you have started to think about the impact that war has on individuals and society, make an attempt to write your own poem that reflects your perspective of war.



Once you are happy with your poem, post it onto your blog.