Generate Generate Questions

Develop between three and five generate questions related to your novel and the theme you selected in your last blog post. One of your generate questions will become the basis for the formative essay you will be working on next week.

Consider the following questions while you create your generate questions (do not answer the questions);

1. How does your protagonist change in relation to the the theme that you chose? 

2. What does the antagonist show in relation to the theme that you have chosen?

3. Is there a revelation at the end of your novel related to your theme?

4. How does the understanding or perception of the theme change and develop throughout the novel?

Connecting a Theme

There will be many themes, and statements about those themes, present in the books that you read throughout the semester. The plot details, as well as the development of your characters, will make a statement or teach you something about the theme.

You task today is to choose a theme from the list provided to you in class that you feel is present (and significant) in one of the books you have read so far. Once you have chosen your theme, complete the following tasks in complete sentences. Provide properly formatted MLA citations where required.

1. Define your theme.
2. Describe where it can be found in your novel.
3. What does your novel say about the theme? (what do you learn about the theme)

Respond to a Peer's Blog

Before you begin this blog post, read the page "blogging tips" at mrceng2d.blogspot.ca.

Today your task is to comment on the blogs of two of your classmates. On the class blog you will find a list of blogs on the right side of the page. You must comment on the blog that is above your name on the list and the blog that is below your name on the list.

Justice or Injustice

It is now time to delve into your book and look at the novel as more than just an entertaining story. This blog post will ask you to begin making connections between your novel and the theme of justice or injustice.

Following the rules of good blogging, and following proper MLA in-text citation, identify a situation of justice or injustice in your novel. Plot summary should be kept to a bare minimum.

In a second paragraph, explain what you as the reader, or what the character in the novel, can learn from this situation. Can you draw an overall conclusion about justice or injustice? Can you develop a moral or lesson from this event that can be applied to your life (be sure to avoid cliches)?

2. Identify and Sort

First, make sure you are done your first post. If you are not - go back to the instructions and finish it. These can be found in the blog archive.

This week, begin your post by identifying the book or books you would like to address for today's post. Use the MLA format to create a properly formatted MLA citation. You may also choose to include an image of the book cover to add further visual interest to your blog (use the 'add image' icon found on the tool bar at the top of your 'new post' page).

Today you will be identifying and sorting.

1. First, identify five main elements of your novel. Use your note "Elements of the Short Story" as a reference. (NOTE: Because this hand out is talking about good fiction - we can transfer our understanding from short fiction to longer pieces.)

2. Then, sort these elements according to importance for your engagement in your reading. Put the most important element to you at the beginning of your sorting list.

3. Once you have identified the most important element for your enjoyment,describe how this element has been used (or is lacking) in your novel. 

4. Use a direct quotation from a section of your book as evidence. Be sure to include a properly formatted MLA style citation following your direct quotation. Do not leave the quotation standing on its own - make sure that you explain its significance to the element you have selected as your top engagement feature.

MLA STYLE CITATION: (Author page)

a sample student entry of the third and fourth activity for this week is below:

Riggs, Ransom. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. Philadelphia: Quirk Books, 2011. Print. 

Imagery

This element is used quite often in my book. In my previous post, I had a quote where I think Imagery was used best to describe a hollow which is a flesh-eating soulless creature. I think Imagery is the most important because it projects an vivid impression of what is being described. It helps the reader to really imagine themselves in the scene with the characters.

"A vast, lunar bog stretched away into the mist from either side of the path, just brown grass and tea-colored water as fat as I could see, featureless but for the occasional mount of piled-up stones. It ended abruptly at a forest of skeletal trees, branches spindling up like the tips of wet paintbrushes, and for a while the path became so lost beneath fallen trunks and carpets of ivy that navigating it was a matter of faith." (Riggs  78)

Even if I didn't want to imagine this bog, I couldn't help it after reading this excerpt. This is one of the less gag-inducing parts that I could have chosen. But it's true, sometimes you are happy to imagine a place of beauty and peace. But you might be forced to imagine a dreary bog, or a spine tingling creature. That's the best part about imagery, it's like real life because you can't choose what you want to see or however long that image lasts in your mind.

First Post- Welcome!

The purpose of your first blog post is to introduce yourself to your readers, mainly your teacher and your classmates. As this is a literary blog, introducing yourself as a reader would be most appropriate. Your first blog post should include the following items;

1. What kind of literature do you prefer to read? This could include specific authors, genres, fiction, non-fiction or even what websites you read.

2. What are the last two books that you have read? Provide a brief (2-3 sentences) description of the books and whether you enjoyed them or not. Explain your opinion of the books.

3. To date, what has been your favourite book you have ever read? Why?

Once you have finished your post, email Mr. Connolly your blog address at philconn@fc.amdsb.ca. Be sure to include your name in the email.

With whatever time is remaining, begin customizing the look of your blog. Don't forget, this is a literary blog, so make appropriate choices.

Welcome

Welcome to your ENG 2D independent reading blog!!

Similar to last year in ENG 1D, it is from this class blog that you will receive your instructions for your grade 10 independent reading blog.

Each week this class blog will be updated with specific instructions for you to complete a post on your own blog. You will be given 35 minutes a week on computer to complete the writing necessary for your independent reading (Blog Fridays).

Starting next week, you will be given instructions as to how to begin your Independent Study Project. You will then be given 35 minutes a week to complete exercises that will prepare you to be successful with your Culminating Essay.

Enjoy your reading . . .

Go to the toolbar above and

open the page entitled BLOGGING TIPS.