Fabulous Friday!

Block A:  Think about ideas for your short story - your proposal is due sometime before the end of class on Monday.

Block C:  Keep up with your reading for the meeting on Monday. You should also be thinking about quotes and personal responses for your journals - as the next set of entries is due on Wednesday.

Block D:  If you have not finished the rough draft of your expository paragraph, it is due on Monday. Make sure that you are keeping up with your reading in preparation for Tuesday's meeting.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Fire Drill Thursday!

Block A:  The questions for "Boys and Girls" are NOT due tomorrow. However if you would like to complete the questions, you can find full-text versions of the story online.

Block C:  You will have time in class to complete your Task of the Day tomorrow.

Block D:  Make sure you have your reading done for the meeting tomorrow. In addition, you should have 2 completed journals ready to hand in at the beginning of class.

No rain = less leaking on this Wednesday!

Block A:  Presentations are finished!!! Great job everyone - for tonight complete your reflection on the group project. We will be completing the short story "Boys and Girls" and the questions in class tomorrow.  Start thinking about which genre you would like to write your story in as well.

Block C:  I am SO pleased with the level of analysis and discussion today! Wonderful work sharing your journal responses. Remember that the first set of 4 journals is due tomorrow. Also have please complete your sticky notes and reading for the meeting tomorrow.

Block D:  I will be giving you some time tomorrow to meet in your groups and complete your journal discussions. We will learn about the next sticky note task tomorrow.

A lot of noise from the roof Tuesday... hopefully that is a good sign!

Block A:  Thanks to the two groups who presented today - we have 2 more presentations tomorrow then we will finish up "Boys and Girls" the Alice Munro short story we started today.

Block C:  A great first meeting today - you will have time in class tomorrow to work on your first set of journals that are due on Thursday. You will also need to complete the reading for your next meeting on Thursday.

Block D:  Continue your reading and sticky notes for the meeting tomorrow.

More water is falling from my ceiling Monday...

Block A:  Great job to those groups who presented today - we will be continuing on with presentations tomorrow - along with a short story activity.

Block C:  In preparation for your first group meeting tomorrow - make sure your reading and sticky notes are done - in addition you should have 2 of your personal responses complete and ready to share.

Block D:  You should start your next section of reading. You will need to look for great quotes as your next sticky note task. Please have 2 personal responses done for Wednesday's meeting.

Oh no! There is a leak in my ceiling Thursday!

Block A:  Now that your terminology check in is over and done with, you can concentrate all of your energies on creating wonderful, informative and entertaining presentations which start on Monday.

Block C:  Your response to The Matrix is due on Monday. In addition you should start your reading and use of sticky note reading strategies. I will be reviewing some of the terminology that I expect you to use on a regular basis when discussing and writing about your novels, then you will have time in class to begin working on your first set of dialectical journals.

Block D:  You need to complete the reading for Mondays group meeting - remember you are looking for symbolism in your novel. In addition I will be collecting your two journal responses.

Have a great three day weekend everyone!  Hopefully the leak will be fixed by Monday!!

Wonderful Wednesday!

Block A:  Continue working on your group short story projects - presentations start on Monday! Remember to study your blue sheet of terminology - for the knowledge check in tomorrow.

Block C:  The journal response to The Matrix is due on Monday - see your handout for the prompt.

Below are the 8 novel choices for our unit. Read through them all, then email me your top THREE choices to nmatsuzaki@sd38.bc.ca or leave your picks in the comments section below. Please indicate the title only - no need to include the author. You will have until 9:00 tonight to post your preferences, or else I will put you in a group.

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
     This novel is about a family struggling for survival during the Great Depression of the 1930s. Beautifully written, this novel takes the reader on a journey across The United States, facing many obstacles as the family seeks work in California. If you enjoy the writing of Steinbeck and his masterful use of language this book is for you.

Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell
    Stark and bleak is the world of 1984. Big Brother (a term coined by Orwell) has the ability to control and spy on all citizens. This novel is about one mans struggle for survival in a frightening world controlled by the Big Brother regiem. If you like to read about satire, in distopic settings and with some sci-fi undertones this book is for you.

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
    A moving and heartbreaking story of survival, friendship and political struggle in Afghanistan. This book spans decades of conflict in a complicated country. If you have ever wanted to learn more about the background to the conflict in Afghanistan this book is for you!  This story does contain graphic depictions of violence - so if you feel that you don't want to read about that - then don't choose it!

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
   I LOVE this book! Jane is a poor orphaned girl, left in the care of a neglectful aunt, and a cruel cousin. In order to make a living she becomes the governess for a girl in the mysterious Thornfield Hall, where she meets the equally mysterious and tortured Mr. Rochester. This story is not only a romance, but also the triumph of the individual to overcome obstacles to truly know oneself. A wonderful read.

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
   Those of you who have read Chaucer will recognize the intertextuality in the title to The Canterbury Tales. This is Atwood's response to Orwell's 1984. Atwood's distopic society is a world where the rights of women have been decimated to the point where they no longer have control over their own bodies and are forced to bare children for the wealthy. This story does contain strong language, and sexual references - so please don't choose it if you are concerned about that. This novel is poetic and political so if that appeals to you then this might be your book.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
   Love, hate, revenge and intrigue. This novel is set in the 1920s - the age of Jazz. The narrator takes a summer house beside the wealthy, extravagant and mysterious Jay Gatsby. Soon the narrator finds himself caught up in a world where appearances can sometimes be deceiving.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
    The original monster story. Dr. Frankenstein sets out to create life - but in doing so he breaks the natural order of things, the consequences of which have lasting and damaging effects. There are elements of horror in this story - but not really graphic or bloody - it is poetic in nature, and will push you to understand life and humanity in ways not previously thought.

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
   Set in the future, this distopic novel is about a society where people are classified and ranked at birth. Based upon your rank - you are designated certain jobs and certain partners in life. Freedom is limited, but there are those who don't believe and those who wish to seek a world where these kind of restrictions don't exist. A challenging read - but certainly shares some interesting intertextuality with The Matrix.


Once again, choose 3 titles and write your choices in an email to me or in the comments below by 9:00. No promises that you'll get your top pick but I'll do my best!


Block D:  Great second meeting today - I can already tell that you've taken the feedback from the first meeting and continues on. Your next reading task is on symbolism. On your notes make a column for the symbol, and a column for the meaning. These sticky notes will be connected to the next task of the day.  Your 2 journal responses are due on Monday.