Tutorial Topics

Students have signed up for topics to research.  If there are any questions, please comment in this blog post.  I will check the blog and respond to questions before the end of the day on Friday.  Alternatively, if your questions require me to read through notes, please indicate in a blog comment that you would like me to check your notes.  Drop all research notes in your Hand In folders.

REMINDER!!

You must log into your Halton Cloud Google account in order to access many of the links that I have posted in the blog.  If you are experiencing trouble seeing various handouts and slide presentations it is probably because you are not using your CHATT login.

Tutorials

Students have had questions regarding what a tutorial should look like.  A tutorial is a discussion-based learning community, usually led by a tutor.  The tutor, or in our case, tutors, will be tasked with presenting a body of information to the discussion group and then leading a discussion on the topic at hand.  The purpose of a tutorial is to further learning and thinking on a particular topic/subject.

Tutorials are an integral part of post-secondary education and often comprise a hefty portion of course marks.  We have to remember that everyone learns in different ways.  Allowing for Accountable Talk means that students are given an opportunity to develop their thinking and learning in a way other than the traditional, lecture-style of teaching.

Students can explore some of the features of tutorial discussions using various websites.  The University of New South Wales in Australia has useful information posted on their website.  Another useful resource is this handout that I found online for a World Politics course offered somewhere within the York District School Board.

In the YouTube clip, the Socratic Seminar is defined and explored.  The Socratic Discussion is what our tutorial are modeled after but ours are mini versions.  This is our first time trying out this type of discussion.  The goal is to move towards Socratic Discussion.  For now, experts should present some basic information  on their research topic and then lead the class in discussion based on the open-questions they pose to their peers.  These questions should allow students in the class to express and support their opinions and respond to those opinions shared by others.  Through this kind of Accountable Talk learning will occur.

Remember to focus on big ideas and the most important facts.  Your time is limited so sticking to what matters, especially sticking to what you think is most relevant to Shakespeare's writing, is essential.

Good luck!

Great Chain of Being Tutorial Topic

We really need someone to cover the Great Chain of Being Tutorial topic.  Please sign up for it on Google Docs!

Hamlet Pre-Reading Tutorials

Students are going to be the experts after researching a very specific aspect of European history, spanning from Medieval to Renaissance times.  Students are going to be given an opportunity to research this time period and then propose what they would like to explore and teach the class about.  Students are to act as tutorial leaders whose objective/purpose is to provide peers with a historical/cultural/social/political/religious context for Shakespeare's play, HAMLET.  Given the breadth of the task, students are able to choose a topic within this historical time frame that they will enjoy exploring based on their own personal interests. The task is outlined in the handout entitled Tutorials: Hamlet.  The success criteria for the task is also included in this handout, as well as a project timeline.

Students are asked to work in pairs or in small groups of three (but no more than three!).

Students can use the resources listed on The Best History Sites website:

http://www.besthistorysites.net/index.php/medieval-history/europe

http://www.besthistorysites.net/index.php/early-modern-europe/renaissance

Another interesting site...focuses on Macbeth but lots of relevant information for Hamlet too!\

Seminars will run on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week.

Expository Essay Editing Tips

Students should use the STAR Method as well as the 6+1 Writing Traits to edit their writing.  Share your writing with a peer and Mrs. Phillips in order to get feedback.

The Expository Essay

First drafts of expository essays are due tomorrow.  On Monday, students will be given an essay sight passage to read and respond to.  Expository essays will be submitted for evaluation on Wednesday, February 26.

Expository Writing Continues

Today we discussed how voice is created in writing.  In particular, we explored authentic voice and how this is created in an effective piece of writing.  Students should come to class prepared to write tomorrow.  I will be conferencing with students on the writing and fielding questions.  1st drafts of expository essays are due on Friday.

Expository Essays: Creating Voice

 

In his TED Talk, Sir Ken Robinson addresses how students are being "educated out of creativity."  Students can read a profile of Ken Robinson on the TED website.

Students will be tasked with investigating how Robinson successfully creates a sense of VOICE in his piece.

The Expository Essay: David Suzuki

Student read another expository essay and explored form today.  We also co-created some success criteria for their expository essay writing.

Students should have rough drafts of their expository essays complete for Friday.

2nd Draft Writing

Students are encouraged to draw upon the work done in class on editing in order to revise and fine tune their personal essay.

Expository Essays

Students are asked to read one of Gladwell's essay and be prepared to discuss content tomorrow.

OWL Purdue (Online Writing Lab)

The Online Writing Lab at Purdue University is a great resource for student writers.  

As part of our Essay Unit, we look at the 6+1 Writing Traits and investigate how authors use this "tool kit" in order to effectively achieve purpose and cater to audiences.  Rick Mercer's rants are an easy way to practice analysis of texts using the 6+1 Traits.

Personal Essay Writing: "Attitude"

Students received their first writing assignment today.  After a close reading of Margaret Atwood's Attitude, students are using the piece as a mentor text in order to embark on their first writing adventure.  Students are being asked to write a valedictory address to the Iroquois Ridge High School Class of 2014.  They are to address the state of the society that students are entering, and are asked to keep audience and purpose in mind as they write their first essay.

A success criteria has been included in order for students to gauge what the expectations are.  In class we attempted to co-create this success criteria.  This is a skill that we will continue to work on as the semester progresses.

Students will be given the class period tomorrow to work.  A rough draft must be brought into class on Monday for peer editing.

Attitude: Analysis

Students were asked to analyse Atwoods Attitude using the 6+1 Traits.  Many of them shared their notes via Google Drive.

Entering a Literary Landscape: An Atwood Essay

Margaret Atwood is an active member of the Canadian literary landscape.  A Toronto-based poet and novelist, Atwood was educated at Victoria College, at the University of Toronto (...just like your little ol' English teacher, Tamara Phillips!).

Her convocation speech entitled Attitude, delivered in 1983, is the first essay we will be reading this semester. As you read, use the "comment" feature in Google Docs to note your thoughts, questions, feelings, responses.  Active reading is key!

Hone in on the TONE of her piece.  How would you describe her VOICE?  What WORDS, in particular, create this tone?  How do you, as the AUDIENCE, feel by the end of the text?


After reading the speech, ask yourself, why did Atwood write this?  What was she hoping to achieve?  In other words, what was her PURPOSE?

Please comment and contribute to the blog.  Discussion and debate lead to learning and growth!

Welcome!

Welcome to Grade Twelve University English!
I am so excited to meet all of you!

You can contact me via CHATT: phillipst@hdsb.ca

Please become familiar with CHATT and your CHATT sign-on.  You will be needing this sign-on to access the Halton Cloud.

Your first task is to complete the Getting To Know You form and submit is electronically.  You will have to use your CHATT login to access the form.  This is the same address you use to sign on to school computers.

I'm really looking forward to hearing from all of you and discussing some of the interesting facts you share!

For help accessing the Halton Cloud and the blog, check out the intro presentation.