January 2011

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

6 DAYS OF EXAM AND ELPA PREP:
 Your English exam will be on January 17th and 18th
 The ELPA will be on January 21st and 24th

-Today: Review 5 Paragraph Essays

-Wednesday: Review Persuasive Essays
-Thursday: Review Narrative Essays
-Friday: Review “Speak”

-Monday: “Speak” Test

-Tuesday: Writing Prompt

-Wednesday: Review Editing/Grammar

-Thursday: Review Poetry Terms
A NEW YEAR IS A NEW BEGINNING…

*January is a popular time of year for people to set

goals for themselves. What are some common
goals/new years’ resolutions?
SET UP YOUR PAGE LIKE THIS:
Goals for 2011
5 Paragraph Essay Outline

Goal #1:______________________________________

Goal #2:______________________________________

Goal #3:______________________________________
5 PARAGRAPH ESSAY: GOALS

1) Think of THREE goals that you have for 2011

and write them on your outline.
S.M.A.R.T. GOALS:

2) Now turn your three goals into S.M.A.R.T.

goals and write them underneath your
original goal.
-S… specific
-M… measurable
-A… attainable
-R… realistic
-T… timely
HOW CAN THESE BECOME S.M.A.R.T. GOALS?

1) I want to do well in my course.

→
2) I want to learn to knit.
→
3) I want to save money so I can go to
Newfoundland this summer.
→
DETAILS:

3) Now fill in the space between the goals with…

-WHY you want to accomplish this goal.

-HOW you are going to accomplish it.
-WHEN you plan to accomplish this goal.
HOW TO WRITE AN INTRODUCTION:
The purpose of an introduction is to prepare the reader for the body
of writing that comes after it. You know what you are writing
about why but unless you inform your readers of this in an
introduction, they will feel lost and judge your essay to be an
unclear piece of work.

A good introduction:
*needs to be at least three sentences
*indicates the topic that the essay is about
*describes how the body of the essay is organized
*saves the details for later paragraphs
HOW COULD WE IMPROVE THIS INTRODUCTION?

This essay is about my goals for this year. First I am going

to write about school, and then about knitting, and then
I’m going to write about Newfoundland.

1) Discuss the errors of this introduction with your

group.
2) If you have a blue sticker on your desk, you are in
charge of writing a good copy on a piece of loose leaf.
3) If you have a red sticker on your desk, you are in
charge of reading it to the class when the time is up.
ROUGH DRAFT:
4) Now you are ready to write a rough draft of your introduction.
*Please double space the essay and use MLA format:
Your first and last name
Mrs. MacDonald
English 9, Period ___
11 January 2011
*Raise your hand when you are finished so I can proof read it with you.

January is a popular time for people to set goals. I have three goals that I hope to accomplish by
the end of 2011. My first goal is…

5) Now write the rough draft of the body and conclusion of your essay.
-Paragraph #1: Introduction
-Paragraph #2: Goal #1
-Paragraph #3: Goal #2
-Paragraph #4: Goal #3
-Paragraph #5: Conclusion
EDITING: STEP #1

1) Pass your essay to your right.

2) Read through the essay once, just for content.
(*what it’s about)
3) Now read through the essay a second time,
checking to make sure there is a capital letter at the
beginning of every sentence and punctuation
(period, question mark, or exclamation mark) at the
end of every sentence.
*Do not correct it for them, just highlight it.
EDITING: STEP #2

1) Pass the essay to your right again.

2) Read through the essay once, just for content.
3) Now read through the essay a second time,
looking for spelling mistakes.
*Do not correct it for them, just highlight the
mistake.
EDITING: STEP #3
1) Pass the essay to your right again.
2) Read through the essay once, just for content.
3) Now read through the essay a second time, looking for
contractions:
-don’t = do not
-can’t
-it’s
-I’m
*Do not correct it for them, just highlight the mistake.
EDITING: STEP #4
1) Pass the essay to your right again. You should have your
own essay back again. (If not, switch with the other
members of your group.) Read through your essay and
highlight any other errors you notice.
2) Now read through it again and circle at least 3 words that
you could change into more interesting words:
-“extremely” instead of “very”
-“plenty” instead of “a lot”
-“gigantic” instead of “big”
*Use a thesaurus if you need to!
GOOD COPY:

Now you are ready to write a good copy. It is due

on Friday.
PERSUASIVE ESSAYS:
 Sample topic: "Dragons Should Not Be Tamed“

 In the persuasive essay, you must defend your side of an

argument to convince the reader that you are right.
 You need a limited topic which is well defined and
debatable.
 The persuasive essay must choose a side, make a case for it,
and consider and refute alternative arguments.
 It is always best to take a side that you believe in, preferably
with the most supporting evidence.
READING COMPREHESION QUIZ:
 Read the two persuasive essays about the H1N1
vaccine (one for and one against) and answer the
questions independently.
GROUP BRAINSTORMING:
*List at least THREE advantages and at least THREE disadvantages for your topic
sentence.

Group 1: MP3 players and iPods should be permitted in class.

Group 2: A school isn’t necessary for education. The entire curriculum could be taught
through student and teacher communication online.

Group 3: Saint Malachy’s should have mandatory school uniforms.

Group 4: Homework should be eliminated.

Group 5: Violent video games have increased acts of violence among adolescents. Stores
should not be permitted to sell violent video games to consumers under the age of
sixteen.

*Ace of diamonds= writer, Five of clubs= presenter

SET UP YOUR PAGE LIKE THIS:
Persuasive Essay Outline

Topic:________________________
Topic sentence:________________________________

Reason#1:_____________________________________

Reason#2:_____________________________________

Reason #3:_____________________________________
NOW CHOOSE A TOPIC OF YOUR OWN:

1) Choose a topic from the list of suggested topics.

*If you’d like, you can use one of the topics presented in
the groups.
2) Fill in your outline with your topic, topic sentence, and
then decide on your three most convincing reasons.
4) Raise your hand so I can check it over before you begin
your rough draft.
5) Begin writing your rough draft after I’ve checked your
outline.
EDITING: STEP #1

1) Pass your essay to your right.

2) Read through the essay once, just for content.
3) Now read through the essay a second time,
checking for the use of “I” or “me.”
*Do not correct it for them, just highlight it.
EDITING: STEP #2

1) Pass the essay to your right again.

2) Read through the essay once, just for content.
3) Now read through the essay a second time,
looking for spelling mistakes.
*Do not correct it for them, just highlight the
mistake.
EDITING: STEP #3
1) Pass the essay to your right again.
2) Read through the essay once, just for content.
3) Now read through the essay a second time, looking for
contractions:
-don’t = do not
-can’t
-it’s
-I’m
*Do not correct it for them, just highlight the mistake.
EDITING: STEP #4
1) Pass the essay to your right again. You should have your
own essay back again. (If not, switch with the other
members of your group.) Read through your essay and
highlight any other errors you notice.
2) Now read through it again and circle at least 3 words that
you could change into more interesting words:
-“extremely” instead of “very”
-“plenty” instead of “a lot”
-“gigantic” instead of “big”
*Use a thesaurus if you need to!
NARRATIVE ESSAYS:
 Sample topic: "Me and My Dragon."

 also called informal essays (a relaxed style but strong structure)

 written mainly for enjoyment
 tell a story (therefore include a plot, setting, characters, a
climax, and an ending)
 describes sensory details
 narratives are generally written in the first person (using “I” )
 the main point is often revealed in the opening sentence, but
can also be in the last sentence of the opening paragraph
READING COMPREHESION QUIZ:
 Read the narrative essay titled “My Most
Embarrassing Moment” silently and answer the
questions independently.
WRITE A NARRATIVE ESSAY:
*Remember… narrative essays tell a story.
 
►Step #1- Choose one of the following topics:

A. [Most Embarrassing Moment] Think of a time that you did something really
embarrassing. Think about the details of the event and write about what happened.
Your narrative should show your readers how you felt during and after the event.
B. [Standing Up] Choose a time when you did something that took a lot of nerve; a
time when you didn't follow the crowd, or a time when you stood up for your
beliefs. Think about the details of the event and write about what happened. Your
narrative should show your readers why you decided to make a stand or try
something that took nerve, and share how you felt after the event.
C. [Topic of your choice.]
WRITE A NARRATIVE ESSAY:

►Step #2- Brainstorm:

 
 What happened?
 When did it happen?

 Where did it happen?

 Who was there?
 Why did it happen?
WRITE A NARRATIVE ESSAY:

►Step #3- Tell the story to the person beside you.

(You should not take more than 3 minutes to tell
your story.)
WRITE A NARRATIVE ESSAY:

►Step #4- Organize your ideas into 5 paragraphs:

 Introduction-
 Paragraph #1-
 Paragraph #2-
 Paragraph #3-
 Conclusion-
WRITE A NARRATIVE ESSAY:
►Step #5- Now you can write your narrative essay:

 -You need an introduction that clearly indicates what the essay is

about.
 -The point of view in narrative essays is usually first person (“I”).
 -Your essay should be double-spaced.

*If you do not finish your narrative essay in class, you are to finish
it for homework. It will be collected at the beginning of class
tomorrow.
POETRY REVIEW:

Do you know the answers to any of the blanks on

your page?
POETRY REVIEW: FIGURES OF SPEECH
Figures of speech help us to see things in a unique way.

1. Simile: Comparisons using “like” or “as”.

2. Metaphor: Direct comparison (without using “like” or “as”.)
3. Personification: Giving life-like qualities to an inanimate object.
5. Hyperbole: Large exaggeration not meant to deceive.
“BIRTHDAY” BY CHRISTINA ROSSETTI:
MY heart is like a singing bird
Whose nest is in a water'd shoot;
My heart is like an apple-tree
Whose boughs are bent with thick-set fruit;
My heart is like a rainbow shell
That paddles in a halcyon sea;
My heart is gladder than all these,
Because my love is come to me.
 
Raise me a daïs of silk and down;
Hang it with vair and purple dyes;
Carve it in doves and pomegranates,
And peacocks with a hundred eyes;
Work it in gold and silver grapes,
In leaves and silver fleurs-de-lys;
Because the birthday of my life
Is come, my love is come to me.

*It may help you to know that “halcyon” means calm and peaceful; “dais” is a raised platform where people are placed to
give them respect and honour; and “vair” are furs.

Can you find the example of a simile?

“I AM A ROCK” BY PAUL SIMON:

A winter’s day
In a deep and dark December-
I am alone
Gazing from my window
To the streets below
On a freshly fallen silent shroud of snow.
I am a rock;
I am an island.

I build walls.
A fortress deep and mighty
That none may penetrate.
I have no need of friendship;
Friendship causes pain.
Its laughter and its loving I disdain.
I am a rock;
I am an island. (continued on the next slide)
 Don't talk of love. (continued)
Well, I've heard the word before;
It’s sleeping in my memory.
I wont disturb the slumber
Of feelings that have died.
If I never loved I never would have cried.
I am a rock,
I am an island.
I have my books
And my poetry to protect me.
I am shielded in my armor,
Hiding in my room
Safe within my tomb.
I touch no one and no one touches me.
I am a rock;
I am an island.
And a rock feels no pain,
And an island never cries.

What is the metaphor in this poem? What are the common attributes to the two things compared?
“THE SOUND OF THE STREAM” BY
HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW:
The sea awoke at midnight from its sleep,
And round the pebbly beaches far and wide
I heard the first wave of the rising tide
Rush onward with uninterrupted sweep;
A voice out of the silence of the deep,
A sound mysteriously multiplied
As of a cataract from the mountain's side,
Or roar of winds upon a wooded steep.
So comes to us at times, from the unknown
And inaccessible solitudes of being,
The rushing of the sea-tides of the soul;
And inspirations, that we deem our own,
Are some divine foreshadowing and foreseeing
Of things beyond our reason or control.

What is personified in this poem?

POETRY REVIEW: SOUND DEVICES
Sound devices help bring out the musical qualities of poems.

Alliteration: The repetition of initial sounds (at the beginning of the

word.)
Onomatopoeia: Words that imitate sounds.
“REFLECTIONS DENTAL” BY PHYLLIS MCGINLEY:
How pure, how beautiful, how fine
Do teeth on television shine!
No flutist flutes, no dancer twirls,
But come equipped with matching pearls.
Gleeful announcers all are born
With sets like rows of hybrid corn.
Clowns, critics, clergy, commentators,
Ventriloquists and roller skaters,
M.C.s who beat their palms together,
The girl who diagrams the weather,
The crooner crooning for his supper-
All flash white treasures, lower and upper.
With miles of smiles the airwaves teem,
And each an orthodontist’s dream.

‘Twould please my eye as gold a miser’s-

One charmer with uncapped incisors.

What lines contain alliteration?

 “CAFETERIA”
Boom!
Went the food
trays.
Clap! Clap!
Goes the teacher.
Rip!
Went the
plastic bag.
Munch! Munch!
Go the students.
Slurp!!!
Went the straws.
Whisper
Is what half the kids
in the room
are doing.
Crunch!
Crunch!
go
the candy bars.

*Find examples of onomatopoeia in this poem.

POETRY REVIEW: SENSUOUS IMAGERY
Sensuous Imagery: when the words stimulate our
senses

Visual: Words that appeal to our sense of vision.

Auditory: Words that appeal to our sense of hearing.
Tactile: Words that appeal to our sense of touch.
Gustatory: Words that appeal to our sense of taste.
Olfactory: Words that appeal to our sense of smell.
Motor: Words that appeal to our sense of motion.
“WINTER UPLANDS” BY ARCHIBALD LAMPMAN:

The frost that stings like fire upon my cheek,

The loneliness of this forsaken ground,
The long white drift upon whose powdered peak
I sit in the great silence as one bound;
The rippled sheet of snow where the wind blew
Across the open fields for miles ahead;
The far-off city towered and roofed in blue
A tender line upon the western red;
The stars that singly, then in flocks appear,
Like jets of silver from the violet dome,
So wonderful, so many and so near,
And then the golden moon to light me home—
The crunching snowshoes and the stinging air,
And silence, frost and beauty everywhere.

Find an example of visual, auditory and tactile imagery.