Assignment #9

Take-Two ...Second Chance...Do-Over
Highschool is nearly over, ten more classes!!! Looking back and thinking
about your highschool career what is something that you wish you had done
differently? Why? If there is nothing that you wish you had done differently,
nothing you wish you could do over what is the reason for this?

Marina's Comments

Jack assignment #1-Picture is worth a thousand words
Mike- Spring break...assignment...#7?
Vanessa- Assignment #1 PIcture

Assignment #8

Peer Collaboration...

You have all responded to seven writing prompts on this blog site. It was my initial intention that you would actually read what your peers have to say as it is often very interesting. However, few of you have taken time to do this. For this assignment you will have to choose three different posts, written by three different classmates and comment on them. You must then comment on this post telling me whose posts you commented on and which post it was. (Brock Anderson-Assignment #4)Your comment must be no shorter than fifty words. Your comment must be a response to what was posted and not something like, "you are cool!"

(Due Friday May 6th BEFORE class)

Assignment #7

We have discussed that lyrics for songs are a form of poetry. Reading through lyrics it becomes evident that many poetic devices are used by song writers. One device used in nearly every song is imagery. Song writers, musicians and singers all put words together in such a way that they create an image in the listener's mind. When these lyrics are put to words and an audience listens to them each individual is taken to a unique place that exists only in their mind. However, this changes when these same lyrics are incorporated into a video. In music videos artists and producers create images that they feel the songs are portraying. Instead of being taken to an individual place viewers are now taken to the same place as every other person is who watches that video. Do you feel that music changes once you see a music video? Should songs and lyrics be acted out? Is music something that is not meant to be acted out? Is music something that is meant to be part of an individual escape?

Hello World

Watch the music video for Lady Antebellum's "Hello World" and respond to the text above discussing this song/video and any others you wish to include.

Spring Break

This year for spring break I went to Hawai'i with my volleyball team. After fund-raising for ten months we finally reached our goal and had enough money to take the trip that all of us were hoping for. We went to the island of Oahu, and stayed in Honolulu at Wikiki beach. We were just a few blocks from the beach and had a great time hiking (top of the Diamond Head with Vanessa above), sight-seeing, snorkeling and spending time in the sun.

My favorite day was spent at Hanauma Bay. We snorkeled and since I have experience with snorkeling, I went out further and saw many beautiful types of fish, coral and other sea life. Usually I am terrified of fish but i discovered that I actually like fish, just the pretty ones.

Another interesting day was when we visited Pearl Harbor. My dad is a total war buff so I took a bunch of pictures for him thinking that he'd never visited Pearl Harbor, however he has, but he appreciated the pictures anyways. I was one of the only people who went inside the Bowfin, a real life submarine that is now available for people to visit. I can't imagine living in such a small, crowded space for so long. It made me appreciate the life I have and what soldiers have done to keep people like me safe and free.

This spring break was great and almost as my trip to Europe last year. The weather was better, and I really enjoyed the heat, but it couldn't compare to Italy and Greece's culture and history.

I can't wait for next year. :)

Assignment #6

Best part of spring break was.......

Write a concise, descriptive paragraph and include one image.

(min 250 words)
Due Friday April 8th

We Forgot...

We forgot to decide....

V for Vendetta or the Adjustment Bureau?

Assignment #5

R U LSNG YR ABLTY 2 US TH ENGLSH LNGG ??

The loss of language in 1984 can be connected to the ongoing debates in 2011 concerning the loss of language due to text messaging. Some scholars are calling this new abbreviated language "teen-speak"(connection to newspeak?) as it is a language most widely used and understood by teens. We have discussed this issue in class. Part of this discussion also touches on the idea that teens are losing their ability to express themselves and their feelings in person. Teens are only comfortable communitcating through a screen or cell phone. Now I want your personal opinion. What do you feel txt msg, FB or other such communication tools are doing to your language? Read Ben Macintyre asks is texting shrinking kids' language and connect it, along with 1984 to your response.

Minimum of 400 words.

(Due BEFORE class March 7th 2011)

Assignment #4

Class of 2011

Grade 12...Finally! Most of you have been looking forward to your final year of highschool and now that it is nearly over you will be asked countless times, "what are you going to do now?" I am curious, what are you going to do once you graduate?

(Must be posted by Feb 28th)

Album of the Year..

Assignment #3

 

Album of the Year....

The 53rd Grammy Awards took place tonight and many amazing musical artists took the stage. The last and biggest award presented was Album of the Year, this year the nominees were:

Arcade Fire - The Suburbs

Eminem - Recovery

Lady Antebellum - Need You Now  

Lady Gaga - The Fame Monster

Katy Perry - Teenage Dream

Arcade Fire - The Suburbs took home the Grammy. If it was your choice, which album would you choose and why? If you wouldn't choose any of the nominated artists pick another group. Keep in mind that, Album of the Year is awarded for a whole album, and the award is presented to the artist, producer, recording enginer, and mastering engineer for that album. (Minimum 250 words)

(Must be posted by Feb 18th)

Assignment #2

WRITE THE END...

The superbowl is on right now and a Doritos commercial just played.
Buffalo Wings n' Ranch vs Onion Rings n' Ketchup. There are several of
you who have shown me how creative you can be with words. I am positive that
all of you can write creative endings to the commericial. The prize is big!
It can't hurt to try. Your next assignment is to go to http://www.writetheend.ca/
watch the commercial and read the contest instructions. Post your ending to
the commercial on your blog. Then as a class we will decide on the top
five and those five will enter the actual competition.

Good Luck!

(Must be posted by Feb 9th 2011)

A picture is worth 1000 words..

The picture that i chose to use is one from this hockey season. This picture makes me think about how close of a team we have. In the dressing room we have a team full of good guys and willing to battle hard every time there on the ice. The picture always shows how the team has came together from not knowing anyone to now having a family type environment. From riding on the bus for hours, long practices, bumps and bruises our team has stayed together and battled for each other. Hockey is more then just a sport, you will meet people you will know for a life time. Not to mention all the stories from the road trips, hotel over night trips, and the dressing room. This season we have all put in countless hours to help make the team succeed and it has worked every well. We have 37 wins, 2 loses, 2 ties, and 4 overtime loses. We have been rated first in British Columbia all season long and top of our league. This is very impressive feat considering we our a expansion team. It's been great and I have learned so much from the team and coaches.

Assignment #1

A picture is worth a thousand words......

Your first assignment is to write a paragraph based on a picture you will upload onto your post. Your paragraph must be about the image you have chosen in some way. Other than that you are free to write about whatever you want in any style you choose.
Remember that spelling and grammar count!
(Must be posted by Feb 4th 2011)

Have fun.

Ms. Harstone

Intro to Blogging...Read before proceeding.

Blog Introduction
Blogs offer students a chance to easily read each others' ideas, as well as draw from internet resources. Many students prefer to write on a computer as it allows for more convenient editing and provides the option of using tools such as spellcheck, grammarcheck and thesaurus.

Please remember the following guidelines for blog use:

1. Everything you write on your blog must be considered PUBLIC. Do not include ANY information or opinions on your blog that you would not be comfortable with anyone else (in or outside the class) reading.

2. Please follow the proper expectations for writing in English 12. It is natural for students to become careless in their writing when working in an internet environment. Do not use FB or MSN abbreviations and style. Formal grammar, punctuation, and appropriate word choice must be used at all times.

You will be graded on your blogsite thoughout the year. Part of your mark will be based on having all assignments complete. Part of your mark will be based on your writing skills and the effort and detail that you have put into your work. Finally, part of your mark will be based on the comments you write on the posts of your peers.