Monday - Period 2 & Tuesday - Period 4

Short story final copy to be submitted in this lesson.

Continuing our examination of extracts that represent the characteristics of dystopian literature, we will look at the 'hero' element of 'The City of Ember'.  As well as examining scenes containing Lina and Doon, we will also consider the 'hero's quest' and how it is evident in this text.

Week 2 Lessons

This week our lessons included:

Monday - in this lesson we looked at the characteristics of dystopian fiction and then made links to where these characteristics exist in the film, 'The City of Ember'.   We also looked at elements of dystopias generally (see mind map below).

Wednesday - today we concentrated on the back story contained in the film by examining the extracts that showed the builders establishing Ember in order to protect mankind from destruction.  You should have made notes from the deconstruction that identified how the filmmaker achieved the back story.

Thursday - today we returned to the writing process for our short stories.  You peer-marked another students work to provide them with feedback on all elements of their draft.  At the conclusion of the peer marking you received your draft, the comments from the peer marker, and comments from Mrs Lans.  Using the feedback on your draft you are not to revise and edit your text to produce your completed version.  This is due for submission in class on Monday, 1st August.

Wednesday - Period 1

CINDERELLA INC: Given the loss of a number of lessons recently (Long Weekend, Polding Walk, Staff Development Day) we will look at Christopher Anvil's short story, 'Cinderella Inc' through a reading and discussion. This story speculates on how we as a society view surgical attempts to create physical beauty. By the end of this story you should have recognised a number of familiar elements that occur in contemporary society and how Anvil has projected they may develop in the future. We will also look for the conventions of the science fiction genre as used by Anvil.

To finish the term you will compose a paragraph that explains how the word 'corruption' is relevant to your wider reading of Jeanne du Prau's 'The City of Ember'.  We will spend the final two lessons viewing the film adaptation in anticipation of our film study starting Term 3.

Tuesday - Period 4

With the benefit of our discussion and backchannelling around the ideas explored by Ray Bradbury in his short story, The Pedestrian, we will today look at the narrative elements and language employed in this story.

In particular, you will compose questions using the 'Questioning Circles' model to explore both the text and how this idea relates to the wider world.

Friday - Period 1

This lesson will be dedicated to the short story you are composing for your first assessment task.  Make sure you have a copy of your draft (electronic or hard copy) so you can continue to develop this story.  You will also need your planning journal.  This is the last class opportunity to work on this.

Monday - Period 4

Activities:

1.  Journalling
2.  'Shatter Proof' short story (continued)

Homework:  NAPLAN Reading sample questions (comprehension.  DUE - Wednesday, 3/3/10

Friday - Period 2

Activities:

1.  "Reading is the staircase to new worlds"
Wider Reading Log - using the 'comments' link below, post a comment in response to the following questions:
a)  Is the title important or significant?  In what way?
b)  Describe the protagonist and the antagonist in your story.
c)  Where is the story set? (Time and place)
d)  Explain the complication
e)  Predict how this story will end.

2.  'Shatter Proof' short story (continued)

Homework:  Make sure you are making progress with your wider reading book.  This needs to be read by the end of term so you should be mid way through your book if you are not already finished.

Wednesday - Period 3

WIDER READING

Last Friday you borrowed a wider reading book for Term 1.  Using the 'comment' hyperlink below, write a post that details the following:

1.  Your name
2.  The book title
3.  A short blurb (summary of what the book is about)
4.  Why you chose it

SHORT STORIES - 'Full Time' by Steve O'Brien

We will continue our work on this short story by working through the questions.  In particular we will focus on character and setting. 

HOMEWORK: 
1.  Read 3 chapters of your wider reading book.  For smaller books this should be at least 10 pages.  To be completed by Monday, Period 4 (15/2/10).  You will complete a reading log at the beginning of this lesson to demonstrate what you have read.

2.  Thinking homework:  Start planning a short story that is in the crime genre.  We will compose this in class using computers in Week 4 so you will need have some ideas for a story.