Feb. 1 - 5, 2016: Media Awareness

DUE Wed. Feb. 10 - Reading Log  
DUE Wed. Feb. 10 - Annotated Bibliography assignment

Fri. Feb. 5, 2016 - Complete student information form (3 marks)

- 25 min. for silent reading
- Lab 120 is booked for this class. Use the time to carefully type your five entry annotated bibliographies. Remember to alphabetize your list and proofread before printing.
- Work on the outline for your in-class essay on Wednesday: "Three Places in Western Canada That I'd Like to Visit."
- Explore online bibliography tools: BibMe;   Citation Machine.

Thurs. Feb. 4, 2016

- 20 min. silent reading 
Continue work on the annotated bibliography assignment.
- Using travel media in this assignment, you will write annotated bibliography entries for five samples of travel media; use travel booklets or websites for destinations in western Canada. You will have more class time to complete your five entries.
-When all five rough copy entries are completed, you will have lab time next week to type the bibliography assignment.
- See a sample annotated bibliography. Be aware of media bias and look for it in the travel samples.
- TED Talks Video: Eli Pariser on Internet filter bubbles narrowing our world view.
 

Wed. Feb. 3 

- 20 min. silent reading OR complete your 6-10 sentence paragraph:

1. Compare / contrast formal and informal writing styles (use formal style).

- Discuss MLA annotated bibliography format. Review the annotated bibliography assignment.
- Using travel media in this assignment, you will write annotated bibliography entries for five samples of travel media; use travel booklets or websites for destinations in Western Canada. Start your first entries today. You will have more class time to complete your five entries.
-When all five rough copy entries are completed, you will have lab time on Friday to type the bibliography assignment.
- See a sample annotated bibliography.

Tues. Feb. 2. 2016

- 25 min. for self-directed reading or paragraph completion on the topic of "My Media Diet."
- Review formal and informal writing style comparison notes.
- Underline the seven most important characteristics of each and create a Venn diagram outline in preparation for a paragraph that contrasts formal and informal writing styles (point of view; subject; tone; structure; thesis placement; vocabulary; purpose).
- Use your Venn diagram outline to write a formal style compare/contrast paragraph on formal and informal writing styles (use a third person authoritative voice).
- Discuss MLA annotated bibliography format. Review the annotated bibliography assignment.
 

Mon. Feb. 1, 2016 - Welcome to English 11.
Today we will review the course outline and expectations.
Discussion Items:

• Seating plan
• Course blog / website
• Silent reading (bring or borrow)
• Study block 
• Academic aspirations
• Evaluation 
• Assignment completion
• Essays (informal / formal)
• Email contact (assignments only). Parents should phone school.
• Literary theme(s) of this course: Dreams and self-determination
• Media studies unit / review  (tourism media, media bias, privacy, celebrity topics)

- Group "Ten Most Valuable Words" activity
- Media terminology review
- Media diet diagram pre-writing activity.

Jan. 18 - 21: October Sky

DUE Mon. Jan. 18: October Sky chapter questions.  
DUE Tues. Jan. 19: Documentary reflection chart and paragraph responses
FINAL MARKING DEADLINE for overdue January work is Thurs. Jan. 21, 2016  

Wed. Jan. 20 - Thurs. Jan. 21
Have a wonderful second semester! 
It has been a pleasure to learn with all of you.
- Continue to view the movie October Sky along with lab time to complete final assignments.
- If you've finished everything, check out the writing and media competition opportunities at the very bottom of this website.
- If you wish you could be an October Sky rocket boy/girl, try interactive rocketry:
(Use Google Chrome browser for best access)

• NASA Rocket Science 101
• NASA Launch It
• NASA Bottle Rocket Simulator
• Rocket Simulator
• NASA Interactive Media

Tues. Jan. 19, 2016

- Finish your reading and incomplete assignments.
-  Start viewing the movie October Sky .
- Watch the Homer Hickam interview (part 3)
  


Mon. Jan. 18, 2016

- Documentary film is an effective storytelling medium that is increasingly focused on social, political, and environmental issues / activism.
- We will be viewing The Last Mountain, which tells the story of controversial mountaintop removal mining practices used in West Virginia (the setting of the novel October Sky). This film, the novel, and the text links below allow us to draw intertextual connections between stories that connect the past and present day mining activities with the peoples of British Columbia and West Virginia.
- A similar battle has been successfully fought in British Columbia in the Flathead Valley. As well, The Wilderness Committee has recently raised concerns about the impact of mining on BC's rivers.
- Start work on the documentary reflection chart and paragraph responses (20). Consult the discussion guide if you've missed this documentary.
- This CDC graphic shows the prevalence of cancer in proximity to MTR coal mines. Learn more about the human costs of mountain top removal coal mining. Physicians for Social Responsibility have produced the Coal's Assault on Human Health document.

 

Jan. 11 - 15, 2016: October Sky

DUE Mon. Jan. 18: October Sky chapter questions.  
DUE Tues. Jan. 19: Documentary reflection chart and paragraph responses
FINAL MARKING DEADLINE for overdue January work is Thurs. Jan. 21, 2016  

Thurs. Jan. 14 - Fri. Jan. 15, 2016

- Documentary film is an effective storytelling medium that is increasingly focused on social, political, and environmental issues / activism.
- We will be viewing The Last Mountain, which tells the story of controversial mountaintop removal mining practices used in West Virginia (the setting of the novel October Sky). This film, the novel, and the text links below allow us to draw intertextual connections between stories that connect the past and present day mining activities with the peoples of British Columbia and West Virginia.
- A similar battle has been successfully fought in British Columbia in the Flathead Valley. As well, The Wilderness Committee has recently raised concerns about the impact of mining on BC's rivers.
- Start work on the documentary reflection chart and paragraph responses (20). Consult the discussion guide if you've missed this documentary.
- This CDC graphic shows the prevalence of cancer in proximity to MTR coal mines. Learn more about the human costs of mountain top removal coal mining. Physicians for Social Responsibility have produced the Coal's Assault on Human Health document.

 


Wed. Jan. 13, 2016
- Continue reading and working on chapter questions for October Sky.
- View part 2 of the Homer Hickam interview.
- A news story describes the fire at Big Creek High School, which has since been ruled as arson. This school from the novel was scheduled for demolition, which upset many from this region. Should this building have been declared a heritage site?
 - Group discussion questions.
 
 
Tues. Jan. 12, 2016
-  The library tables and Chrome Books are reserved for this class.
- Use online resources and the novel to help answer ch. 1-8 questions.
- Complete overdue January assignments.

Mon. Jan. 11, 2016

- Continue reading and completion of ch. 1-8 questions.
- To better understand the historical and political setting of the novel, view "Cold War Politics in the Space Race."