Consequences for incomplete homework

Image taken from Google images on 28/04/11

Over this long weekend, please ensure that everything from this term is up to date and published on your blog.

If you are not up to date by the first lesson back next week you will be spending lunch times in the Library until your work is completed.

If you are having trouble with your Blog account, you may need to consider starting a new one. However, I would advise you to try logging in through iGoogle first and then opening up blogger.com before you decide to scrap your old blog.

Attention to detail

Your homework for the weekend once again focuses on developing your ability to utilise descriptive language that allows you to work on showing rather than telling.

For this writing task, you need to choose a member of your family (this can include a pet if you think it would be easier to write about) and write a piece of prose that invites the audience to develop a clear picture in their mind of the individual. You don't have to mention his/her name but you do need to work on appealing to the senses of the reader. Try to be creative in your description by utilising emotive language, similies, metaphors, personification, etc.

As with the previous writing task, I do not want you to go beyond 1000 words but at the same time, I do not expect you to all reach 1000 words.

Please make sure that you proof-read and edit your response before you post it onto your blog.

Image taken from Facebook on 28/04/11

Journey through memory

In class today, we will look at a recollection called Sky-high. In this piece, the character is reminiscing about her childhood backyard (specifically her affinity with the clothesline).

In order to continue with your creative writing practice, your task is to take your readers on a similar journey into a childhood memory. As with the task regarding travelling to/from school, you should aim to provide examples of showing rather than telling.

Remember, an effective way of engaging your audience is to appeal to their senses. Think about ways that you can get your readers to see, hear, smell, taste and touch what is going on.

This task, along with your school journey, need to be completed and posted on your blogs by no later than the end of the long weekend. Before posting, ensure that you have proof-read and edited your work. If possible, also have someone else proof-read your work.

Image taken from Google images on 20/04/11

Everyone is on a journey

Everyone in the world is on a journey, in fact most of us are in the process of starting and completing multiple journeys at the one time.

As an everyday individual, most of us do not necessarily think that our daily lives are particularly interesting but as writers we can all make our journeys seem interesting and unique to an audience.

The way you utilise and manipulate language can help to paint a picture for your reader so that they step through a journey with you. In today's lesson, I want you to experiment with language choices to create a story that paints the picture of your journey to or from school each day. Rely on showing rather than telling the audience what you see, hear, smell, etc. on your daily journey.

Image taken from: Google images on 19/04/11

Setting the scene through language choices

Unfortunately, the majority of you did not complete your homework from last week (even though you had about five days in which to do so) which means that you are now required to catch up on the missed work and keep up to date with all future work as well.

Tonight's homework is fairly simple, in that it requires you to go back to the Prologue of Alice Pung's Unpolished Gem and write a paragraph that discusses how the author utilises language choices to construct the colourful atmosphere of the market and the interaction between Alice's father, the stall holders and other customers. In your paragraph, you should aim to explore how Pung positions the audience to view the market place and its customers though her use of language.

Your paragraph needs to be proof-read and edited before you place it on your blog and the task must be completed by tomorrow's lesson.

Image of Footscray Markets, taken from Google images on 19/04/11

Blogs in Term 2

Just as a heads up, I want you to be aware that we will be using the Blogs quite extensively this term so you need to ensure that you have set your blog up properly and that you can remember your username and password.

If you need to create a new blog, please make sure you e-mail the link to me so that I can update the information that is currently on Blackboard.

A quick reminder that everything you publish should be of the highest possible quality so please ensure you utilize the spell check function on Blogger and that you proof-read your work carefully.

Lastly, please feel free to personalize your workspace girls. If you want to add pictures, sound, etc I have no issue with it so long as you also put the same effort into your analysis. For some of you, the ability to add a visual or aural element to your responses may allow you to feel a greater sense of engagement with the work.

Image taken from Google images on 14/04/11

Homework Task: Journeys in Poetry

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening – Robert Frost

Whose woods these are I think I know.

His house is in the village, though;

He will not see me stopping here

To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer

To stop without a farmhouse near

Between the woods and frozen lake

The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake

To ask if there is some mistake.

The only other sounds the sweep

Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep,

And miles to go before I sleep.

Complete the following questions and post your responses on your English Blog. This homework task is due by next lesson.

1. List all the things that Frost sees. Rank them in the order that you would find them attractive.

2. What are the images and ideas that Frost reflects upon when he has stopped?

3. Imagine that you are Frost. Write what you would say to your wife when you returned home from your journey.

4. Is there a deeper meaning to the poem? What do you think it is?

5. Comment on the use of three poetic devices in the poem. (Especially the use of rhyming and repetition in the last line).

6. The poem draws attention to two conflicting desires: the desire to be alone and to explore mysterious, challenging or even dangerous places, thoughts or objects, and the desire to a sociable person who responds to the company of others. Trace these ideas through the poem.

7. What aspects of the journey are being emphasised?

8. Explain why this poem does or does not appeal to you. Justify your answer with quotes from the poem.