S4 Homework

S4,
Your homework is to redraft (and in some cases, draft!) the essay we wrote in class on Owen's 'The Last Laugh'. Due TUESDAY 13th November. You have 'Tree of Knowledge' on Monday, so will not be in English.

No excuses!

The poem and essay plan are below:

The Last Laugh

'Oh! Jesus Christ! I'm hit,' he said; and died.
Whether he vainly cursed or prayed indeed,
The Bullets chirped-In vain, vain, vain!
Machine-guns chuckled,-Tut-tut! Tut-tut!
And the Big Gun guffawed.

Another sighed,-'O Mother, -Mother, - Dad!'
Then smiled at nothing, childlike, being dead.
And the lofty Shrapnel-cloud
Leisurely gestured,-Fool!
And the splinters spat, and tittered.

'My Love!' one moaned. Love-languid seemed his mood,
Till slowly lowered, his whole faced kissed the mud.
And the Bayonets' long teeth grinned;
Rabbles of Shells hooted and groaned;
And the Gas hissed. 

Wilfred Owen

ESSAY PLAN

‘The Last Laugh’ by Wilfred Owen

Task: Choose a poem which deals with the topic of war. Identify the poet’s message to the reader, and explain how this message is delivered.

Introduction

Include:

-          Wilfred Owen

-          ‘The Last Laugh’

-          A line or two describing what happens in the poem

-          The theme(s): shock and waste of youth/human life to the machinery of war

-          Owen’s message to his reader

-          The techniques he uses: personification and onomatopoeia

Paragraph One

Include:

-          What happens

-          Why the soldier says “O Jesus Christ! I’m hit”

-          Personification: What do the bullets and guns do? How does Owen make the bullets and guns sound? (hint: think about ‘guffawed’)

-          Owen uses repetition to emphasise the guns’ message. What do the guns and bullets seem to be ‘saying’ to us? (hint: think about “In vain! In vain! In vain!”/ “Tut-tut! Tut-tut!”)

Paragraph Two

Include:

-          What happens (Who is this soldier? Why is he calling out to his mother and father? What is Owen reminding us of?)

-          What does Owen tell us about his facial expression? Why? Why does he say the soldier’s face is ‘childlike’? (hint: is a battlefield a place for children? Is ‘being dead’ ok?)

-          The soldier is killed by a bomb and its shrapnel. What does the ‘Shrapnel-cloud’ do and say? Why does Owen have it do this?

Paragraph Three

Include:

-          Who is the third soldier calling for? What does this tell us about him?

-          Why is this soldier ‘kissing the mud’? Why might this be disturbing to the reader? Who should he be kissing?

-          Look at: ‘the Bayonets’ long teeth grinned’. Why has Owen described the bayonets this way? How does it make the reader feel?

-          There is a lot of noise in this stanza: ‘Rabbles of Shells hooted and groaned’. Why might the shells be described as hooting and groaning? (hint: think of them as spectators at a match).

-          Owen ends his poem with ‘the Gas hissed’. Explain why this is a powerful use of personification.

Conclusion

Who or what is laughing at the soldiers when they die?

What is Owen trying to say about the war?

Do you think his poem is effective? Did you like it? Explain why, or why not.

For more information, check out the following sites of interest:

http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/ww1lit/education/pathways/path/5hn2it

and

http://www.wilfredowen.org.uk/poetry/the-last-laugh

S3 Holiday Homework

By the time you come back (have a happy holiday!), you should produce a very rough draft of your NGC story.

That's it!

Use the work we did today on character--think about it. You may not explicitly include all the details you created for your character, but it'll help that you 'know' them.

Neil Gunn Writing Competition 2012-13

Hi everyone,

Here is the link to the Neil Gunn Writing Competition for this year:

http://www.highland.gov.uk/leisureandtourism/libraries/neilgunn/

We'll be making a big effort this year to make sure we put our best pieces of writing forward for the competition. The aim is, of course, to make a clean SWEEP!

The theme this year for secondary pupils S3-6:

“Perhaps the only real treasures he possessed were his secrets.”

from Young Art and Old Hector by Neil Gunn

Writers are invited to interpret this theme in any way they wish.

The piece of writing does not have to be set in Scotland.

Read carefully the rules and the information about the theme (see the website above).

Maximum: 1000 words.
Deadline: mid-Feb, so we can organise our entries for the March competition deadline.

Get thinking. Get planning. Get writing.

Then rewrite.

You can do it!

Final S3 'What If' Redrafts

Hi S3,
Here's your homework reminder:

COMPLETE your redraft for Monday. This should be a good copy, remember!

Remember also: Check--> Correct--> Change--> Improve.

:-)

Advanced Higher

Today we spoke about your dissertation topics and your plans. We consolidated Christina's approach, discussed the 'living' nature of plans, changed Bruce's topic slightly to match his current line of inquiry, and spoke about Ronan's broad plan.

Remember--a number of you want to discuss the works you are studying as being representative of their times in particular ways. This is fine, but remember that your focus must be primarily on the literature, not the history.

For next time, bring written plans (Kirsten and Ronan!), and one paragraph of your writing. We will be analysing content and expression.

Keep up the hard work, and don't forget to also keep up with your Dickens and Creative Writing.

Space Cadets, ahoy!

Well done to the S3 Riddlemasters!

Check your status to the left.

I'll have another riddle up soon. In the meantime, don't forget your homework. And feed the fish.

Thank you.

Welcome to Green's Galaxy, S3!

Here's your updated homework:

1. Sign up for tweets and/or emails from this site

2. Complete the first draft of your 'What if?' piece

Don't forget to use your Success Criteria sheets as you're working.

Any questions, ask away.

3.3 'What If?' Homework

Well done today, everyone. Here's where we are 'at' for the What If? task:

PLANNING

Get the basics down in your jotter. You can do this using

• lists
• mind maps
• spider diagrams
• storyboarding
• and so on... you might even try a method new to you!

To help you along, you might want to spend some time researching your chosen What If--and by this I don't just mean on the internet. Try discussing it with peers, family and so on. Try to gather responses from different genders and ages.

Remember, those of you writing short stories are focusing on character development (thoughts and feelings), and those doing essays are ensuring a clear point of view.

Higher Macbeth Work

1. You are in groups sized according to the number of characters in the scene you are responsible for.
2. Task 1 is to prepare and perform a staged production of your scene.
3. Task 2 is to prepare and deliver a lesson for the class (you'll be experts! Don't forget to use your York Notes for help/online resources).

Due dates:

Group 1/ Act 2.2
Wednesday 19th September

Group 2/ Act 2.3
Friday 21st September

Group 3/ Act 2.4
Monday 24th September

Looking forward to your interpretations! Yes, Fergus, Star Trek would be particularly inspired. Live long and prosper.

 Errrr, sorry. Star Wars also fine!

AH Homework!

Hi everyone,

Remember to write out a rough plan for your dissertation (and bring it with you!) for next Thursday.

:)

S3 Homework--Lamb to the Slaughter

Hello lovely 3.8!

If you didn't manage to complete your story in class today, you should complete it for MONDAY 17th September.

No excuses now!

Welcome back!

Welcome back, everyone!

Welcome to a fresh new year at Dingwall Academy. I'd like to particularly welcome our new first year pupils. You may have already noticed a number of changes in the English Department, and a number of new faces. Welcome to Ms Fraser, Miss McCulloch and Miss Tweedie, who have all joined us this year.

Now down to business. On this blog you will find a page for your class, as well as a series of posts and resources which may be of use to you (check the record of posts at the very bottom of the page). If you are in one of my classes, you should consider signing up for email alerts. These come in 'digest' form between 3 and 5pm each day when there have been changes or additions to the blog. It can certainly be handy as a homework reminder! Alternatively, you could follow #greensgalaxy on twitter, as short urls to new posts are tweeted the moment I hit 'publish'. Please be aware, however, that at the moment I am not keeping an eye on twitter, so if you're trying to get in touch, use email.

Check it all out. Please do feed the Punctuationfish. They're hungry.

If you think of something you'd like on the page, please do visit the 'Suggestions Box' (look in the tabs above) and leave a message, or email me. In the interests of online safety, when you do post, please simply use your first name and year as your 'signature'. For example: John S4.

Looking forward to another fantastic year!
Mr Green

Revision time!

Highers and Int 1 folk:

If you have not begun revising independently, you MUST begin NOW. Start by gathering together your notes on all texts studied, as well as Close Reading notes. Organise them (remember the binders I asked to you get at the start of the year? Are they in order?). Check your materials against your study buddy's. Do you both have the same notes? If not, fix it!

Second, reread your big texts. All the way through. Stop after each chapter/scene to reflect on what you've read, perhaps jotting down notes about anything old/new you may have discovered.

Third, go over your notes. A highlighter is useful here.

Fourth, work on some past papers. You don't have to do every essay question possible, but it is useful to at least have a go at planning responses to several. You could then try writing a few under pressure. Higher: you could give yourself 45 mins to do an individual essay, or you could consider trying the two in 1.5hrs to make sure your hand will hold up! Past papers for all levels (both Essay and Close Reading) are available on the SQA website (see link at side).

Fifth, and possibly most importantly: take care of yourself! You'll have heard this all before, but DO get some sleep, drink plenty of water, and eat healthily in the run-up to exams. What you do with your body starting now will certainly have an impact on how you feel in 2 or 3 weeks' time.

Good luck!

The semicolon, for Higher pupils

Go to http://theoatmeal.com/comics/semicolon for the following set of images and more!

Spring Equinox

Hurray!

Spring Equinox Heralds Official End of Winter

Exam dates

Get revising, everyone!

S4 Study Leave begins 23rd April
S5/6 Study Leave begins 4th May

Standard Grade: 26th April 
Intermediate 1: 16th May
Higher: 17th May

Intermediate and Higher folios go to the SQA shortly after the Easter Holiday, so be prepared to redraft during this time.

S4 Cinema trip permission letter

Hello lovely S4,
I hope you all got a copy of the permission letter (below).
If you didn't, please get this signed and bring in your £9 for Tuesday.

Woman in black cinema trip

View more documents from Mr Green.

Woman in Black trip

Dear S4: I'm still finalising the trip for next Wednesday, and hope to do so in the next couple of hours. Your permission letter should be up by late evening (the school's servers are still not completely sorted out for Websense, so I can't get into slideshare to upload the letter), and should be printed/returned for Monday, please. I will post again when it's uploaded.
See you Monday!

Int 1 Homework

Homework due 2nd March (tomorrow!)

Complete your persuasive essays (remember these can take the form of a letter if that'll help you imagine your audience).

Three more poems...

To make up for forgetting to post the poems up to Valentine's Day, including one of my all-time favourites:

He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven by W. B. Yeats

HAD I the heavens' embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half-light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.


ANIMALS by Frank O'Hara

Have you forgotten what we were like then

when we were still first rate 

and the day came fat with an apple in its mouth

it's no use worrying about Time 

but we did have a few tricks up our sleeves 

and turned some sharp corners 

the whole pasture looked like our meal 

we didn't need speedometers 

we could manage cocktails out of ice and water 

I wouldn't want to be faster 

or greener than now if you were with me O you 

were the best of all my days

She Walks in Beauty by Lord Byron

1
She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that's best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes:
Thus mellowed to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.
2
One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impaired the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lightens o'er her face;
Where thoughts serenely sweet express,
How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.
3
And on that cheek, and o'er that brow,
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!

Love after love...

The time will come 
when, with elation 
you will greet yourself arriving 
at your own door, in your own mirror 
and each will smile at the other's welcome, 

and say, sit here. Eat. 
You will love again the stranger who was your self.
Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart 
to itself, to the stranger who has loved you 

all your life, whom you ignored 
for another, who knows you by heart. 
Take down the love letters from the bookshelf, 

the photographs, the desperate notes, 
peel your own image from the mirror. 
Sit. Feast on your life. 

Love's silence...

Silentium Amoris by Oscar Wilde

As often-times the too resplendent sun
Hurries the pallid and reluctant moon
Back to her sombre cave, ere she hath won
A single ballad from the nightingale,
So doth thy Beauty make my lips to fail,
And all my sweetest singing out of tune.

And as at dawn across the level mead
On wings impetuous some wind will come,
And with its too harsh kisses break the reed
Which was its only instrument of song,
So my too stormy passions work me wrong,
And for excess of Love my Love is dumb.

But surely unto Thee mine eyes did show
Why I am silent, and my lute unstrung;
Else it were better we should part, and go,
Thou to some lips of sweeter melody,
And I to nurse the barren memory
Of unkissed kisses, and songs never sung.

MoM...

If you're still smarting from the pressure of Prelims, or the NABs are really starting to niggle, or are just generally stressed out of your head these days, mindfulness might just be for you. There are huge numbers of studies to show that mindfulness techniques help people in a wide variety of ways... without drugs! It can help you with your confidence, concentration, stress, anxiety, and general sense of wellbeing. It's quick (although you can do techniques which take a little longer if you like), free, and, in a sense, easy.

Here are just a few of the published benefits:

1. Improve focus, concentration, and precision.
2. Enhance the quality of communications and relationships.
3. Heighten the clarity of our thinking and intentions.
4. Improve efficiency and safety.
5. Deepen peace of mind and sense of flow.
6. Master stress.
7. Deepen insight and intuitive wisdom.
8. Awaken more authenticity, heart, soul, and caring in our lives and work.
9. Increase resilience to change.
10. Strengthen self-confidence.

Read more here

The S6 group 'Ministry of Mindfulness' will now start up after the February break. Times are as follows:

Thursdays Period 2
Thursdays Period 5

Both in Room 202. Email me or see me in person to sign up, as there is limited space. Check the MoM tab above periodically, and the Senior Social Area for MoM 'Try-its'--techniques you can try yourself or during one of the periods above.

How do I love thee?

Continuing the series of love poetry, or poems of love, ahead of Valentine's Day... This one you may know already:

Sonnet 43 - How do I love thee? Let me count the ways by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints,—I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life!—and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

Valentine, by Carol Anne Duffy

Valentine's Day is coming... here's something a little different...

 

Valentine

Not a red rose or a satin heart.

 I give you an onion.
 It is a moon wrapped in brown paper.
 It promises light
 like the careful undressing of love.

 Here.
 It will blind you with tears
 like a lover.
 It will make your reflection
 a wobbling photo of grief.

 I am trying to be truthful.

 Not a cute card or kissogram.

 I give you an onion.
 Its fierce kiss will stay on your lips,
 possessive and faithful
 as we are,
 for as long as we are.

 Take it.
 Its platinum loops shrink to a wedding ring,
 if you like.
 Lethal.
 Its scent will cling to your fingers,
 cling to your knife.

-- Carol Ann Duffy

Not My Business by Niyi Osundare

They picked Akanni up one morning
Beat him soft like clay
And stuffed him down the belly
Of a waiting jeep.
                            What business of mine is it
                            So long they don't take the yam
                            From my savouring mouth?

They came one night
Booted the whole house awake
And dragged Danladi out,
Then off to a lengthy absence.
                           What business of mine is it
                           So long they don't take the yam
                           From my savouring mouth?

Chinwe went to work one day
Only to find her job was gone:
No query, no warning, no probe -  
Just one neat sack for a stainless record.
                           What business of mine is it
                           So long they don't take the yam
                           From my savouring mouth?

And then one evening
As I sat down to eat my yam
A knock on the door froze my hungry hand.
The jeep was waiting on my bewildered lawn
Waiting, waiting in its usual silence.

S1 Targets for chapter summaries

THIS Friday 27 JanuarySummaries completed up to chapter 12

NEXT Wednesday 01 FebruarySummaries completed up to chapter 16

NEXT Friday 03 FebruaryAll done! Hand in.

Higher Prelim

Good luck to you all on Monday! I will be thinking of you all as you revise, revise, revise this weekend.

Here's a very simple explanation of what happens in Fern Hill. Some of you might find it helpful.

Remember: revise both Macbeth and Fern Hill carefully, ensuring you've mastered the main quotations. Don't forget to eat plenty of healthy food, drink lots of water, and get some sleep. Those things all play a big role in success.

Int 1 Prelim

Good luck tomorrow, everyone!

Just a reminder: REVISE, REVISE, REVISE.

In particular, you should be revising Telephone Conversation, which is a very manageable piece which you know well. Look over your notes again, and try redoing the practice essay you first did about the poem, or look to past papers. Remember to start with a plan, and work from there.

You've had some more Close Reading practice, so just get there on time and give it your best shot!

You can do it!

PS. REVISE!

Higher Close Reading Revision (useful for S4 up!)

Choose a Study ModeScatterLearnFlashcards

Study these flash cards | Study english flash cards

Higher Holiday Homework

Here it is:

1. Two essays--one Poetry, one Drama (see below for question choices, which are written right above the embedded question papers)

2. Re-read both of your texts

3. Read TWO newspaper articles--see what you can spot in the way of techniques used, look up any vocab you're uncertain of, etc.

4. Have a fantastic (and SAFE) time tonight at the Social, and of course a wonderful break.

See you in January!

Higher Past Paper Drama Questions

Choose ONE of the following: 3, 7, 14.

Slideshare isn't behaving at the moment, so I can't embed, but I'll come back later to do it. Here's a link to Slideshare: http://www.slideshare.net/greensgalaxy/higher-drama-questions-2007-to-2010

Higher Past Paper Poetry Questions

Here are the questions.
Choose ONE from: 9, 12, 13

Higher poetry questions

View more documents from Mr Green

Holiday Homework...

... is coming! It will be published here, as well as on your individual class pages.  No excuses! You've been warned!

Impromptu S2 Winter Poem Competition

Congratulations to the following:

First Place

Erin and Jill

Second Place

Josh and Regan

Third Place

David and Arran

Special Mention

Isaac

NAB Resit dates

Resit dates for both Textual Analysis and Close Reading are as follows:

Int 1: Monday 19th December
Higher: Tuesday 20th December

Int 1 Essay Question Choices

Here they are, for those of you who missed them:

SECTION B—PROSE

Choose a novel or short story which deals with a crisis in a family or a community. Briefly say what happens in the story and then go on to show how the family or community deals with the crisis.

OR

Choose a novel or a short story or a piece of non-fiction or a group of prose texts which interested you because it deals with young people.
Say what happens to the young people and show how the writer helps you to understand the situation they are in.

S5/6 Prelims

Intermediate 1:
Thursday 19 January
Paper 1: 9:00-10:00am in MPH
Paper 2: 11:35am-12:20pm in MPH

Higher:
Monday 23 January
Paper 1: 9:00-10:45am in MPH
Paper 2: 11:35am-1:05pm in MPH

Revision areas and tips coming soon... do plan to work over the holidays!

Contact evening

As most of you will know, tonight's S5/6 Contact Evening has been postponed due to the weather. It has been rescheduled for next Wednesday, 14th December. Your appointments will remain the same. See me if there are any problems.

Homework reminders

S1: complete your mind map for FRIDAY

S2: complete your timeline and mind map/spider diagram for MONDAY

S4: complete your ghost story final redrafts for MONDAY. Bring your Philosophy materials on FRIDAY.

Intermediate 1: complete your Lord of the Flies essays for FRIDAY

Higher: your first Macbeth essays are overdue! Second essay is due MONDAY (the one you worked on today in class in groups).

Homework and so on...

For those of you who weren't in today, whether due to illness or prelims:

S3: we worked on topic sentences today. A great effort was made by Tent C in particular.

S4: today we worked on developing character (show, don't tell) using body language and extended description. We had a look at this site to help a little more with facial expression and realism.

Int 1: today, taking a break from Close Reading skills, we revised character in Lord of the Flies. Remember to bring your newspaper homework tomorrow!

Higher: today we went through the majority of Act 5, apart from the end of scene 9, and all of scene 1. Tomorrow we will be working on essay skills, to help you complete your first Macbeth essays. Those of you who haven't finished the pink Close Reading paper should do so for the end of the week.

email contact

Hello everyone,
Just a quick note to remind everyone that I have made the shift this term to using greensgalaxy@gmail.com as my primary contact. Please try to use this address, rather than the live.co.uk address you may have used in the past.
Thanks!
Mr Green

Nearly time to come back...

Hi everyone. I hope you have all had a very good holiday, and are ready to return. With that in mind, could I just remind you that you should check the posts below carefully to ensure you've completed your holiday homework.
Also, I've posted a new riddle.
See you all Tuesday,
Mr Green
PS Well done, Highers! Only one of you needs to resit your NAB!

S4 Holiday Homework

1. Read the rest of Woman in Black
2. Read Chapter 4 of Critical Thinking
3. Do 4.1 and 4.2

Have a great holiday!

Higher Holiday Homework

Read ALL of Macbeth
Update scene/character logs for all of Acts 2 and 3.

Test upon your return!

Int 1 Holiday Homework

Read all of Lord of the Flies
Answer all the questions (all the way up to Chapter 11--we will do 12 together when you come back)
TEST on your return--those who do not complete the homework WILL be reported to Mrs Reid.
 Have a great break, everyone! Looking forward to working with you on your essay skills when we return.

Attention S5 and S6!

Just a quick reminder to my Intermediate 1 class: your Textual Analysis NAB is on MONDAY.
To my Higher class: your NAB is on TUESDAY.
Be there!

Int 1 Homework

Read up to and INCLUDING chapter 5 of Lord of the Flies.

(This should be easy-peasy! You have all been reading for 15+ minutes each evening anyway, haven't you?)

Higher Homework

1. Read Act 2 of Macbeth (use No Fear Shakespeare if you need to!)
2. Bring in your book money

Due Monday 26th Sept.

New Riddle Posted

New riddle's up! See if you can solve it WITHOUT GOOGLING!

Thank you!

I haven't heard a final total yet, but it sounds like Dingwall Academy pupils and staff raised approximately £5000 for the Teenage Cancer Trust last Friday. I myself am very grateful to all who participated, and to those who gave so generously. Here are a few pictures of the event (PS I'm still waiting for someone to send me video footage! Links to YouTube etc are fine, too).

Int 1 Homework due Wednesday 21st

A reminder of the mini-essay question:

The question

Choose one character from the novel. Discuss your first impressions of that character, moving on to explore one or more points of interaction with one other character.
 Remember: Try to use PEE statements as far as possible, limiting your retelling of plot details to the bare minimum (i.e. just give the context, don't retell the story!).

Remember to use quotations to support your points.: Choose one character from the novel. Discuss your first impressions of that character, moving on to explore one or more points of interaction with one other character.

Thank you to those who have donated so far!

Thanks, everyone, and particularly to Arran, who had a go at text donating. Also, big thanks to Ian for his spectacular donation via the webpage! Sparkly Stars!

We still have a ways to go before tomorrow at lunchtime, so dig deep, everyone. I'll have an envelope available in my classroom for cash donations.

Remember: £200 is the target! Cough up, or I keep my hair on!

Click on 'Donate' to the left to use paypal or your bank card, or TEXT: TCTG50 £2 to 70070 (you can change the amount)

Hurry! Time is running out!

S1 Homework: Hercules!

Click on this link to read about the twelve labours of Hercules.

Read six of them for Friday, when we'll reassess the question 'what is a hero?'

New Riddle Posted (finally!)

I've finally posted a new riddle. Are you a riddle master? Can you figure out the answer? Send me an email, or tell me in person, if you think you have the solution.

Teenage Cancer Trust

As most of you know, I'm helping to raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust. If I raise enough money (over £200), I'll be having my head shaved on Rock Your Shades Day, September 16th.

Here are four ways you can donate to this great cause:

1. Click on the widget to the left (the 'donate' button)

2. Go to my donations page (you can use PayPal here): www.justgiving.com/mrgreen

3. Text your donation:  Text TCTG50 £1 to 70070 to sponsor me today for £1 (you can change the £1 to any amount you like). Texting is handled by www.justgiving.com--you can leave a message as well.

4. See me in school to sign my sponsorship sheet.

Thanks in advance, everyone!

More information on Rock Your Shades coming soon...

S1 Homework

Subscribe to the mailing list by the end of the week. If you need an email address, either use your school address or a free service such as gmail, Yahoo! or Hotmail.

Use the 'Get Updates by Email' section to do this (below the PunctuationFish on the left hand side of the page).

S4 Homework

Complete your 'My Philosopher' poster/factfile for Monday.

S3 Homework

Complete your short story, titled 'The Arrest'.
Due Monday.

Int 1 Homework

Complete your reflective essay for Monday (first draft).

Welcome back, everyone!

Good to see you all back again, and to welcome some new faces to both the school and my classes. Remember to sign up for the email updates (scroll down and look for the updates box on the left of the page).
Have a great year, everyone!

Int 1 Homework

Homework time!

Due tomorrow:

1. Sign up for email updates

2. In your own words, explain how the poem 'Telephone Conversation' makes you feel, and why.

Higher Homework

Do now!
Subscribe to alerts from Green's Galaxy. You can do this via the sign up box on the left.

Due tomorrow:Read 1.1 and 1.2 of Macbeth
 Due Thursday:Translate the Captain's speech on page 5 (lines 8-23) and page 7 (lines 34-42) into modern English. This must be your own work!

Don't know what to read?

I've been asking a lot of you what you're reading right now, or what you've read recently. The answers have been rather alarming, ranging from 'nothing--I never read' to 'I think I read a novel in my last English class...' to 'I only read the TV listings on Sky'. Now, that's not quite right, is it!? Some of you are reading, and you read a wide variety of things: magazines (of varying quality!), newspapers, websites, and of course books. ALL reading is good. For those of you aspiring to be excellent communicators, or wanting to achieve a great grade at Int 2, Higher and beyond, however, you really need to think about changing your reading habits. Start reading! Reading quality texts regularly (this means broadsheet newspapers, some magazines, and any good literature) helps in all sorts of ways--it's like secret learning which isn't as painful as a bad grammar lesson!

Why read? Consider this:

Prof. A.C. Grayling, in a review of ‘A History of Reading by Alberto Manguel’ that was published in Financial Times had said, "To read is to fly: it is to soar to a point of vantage which gives a view over wide terrains of history, human variety, ideas, shared experience and the fruits of many inquiries." So true! Reading is really like taking a flight to high altitudes in pursuit of information and knowledge. It is a journey in search of enlightenment.

Have you asked yourself the question, "Why is reading important?" What was the answer that you got? I am sure your heart must have answered in favor of reading. Reading is like providing the mind with nourishment. Knowledge is the food for the mind and soul. Apart from giving us the basic information about the world around us, it also provides us with the food for thought. It encourages us to think. It increases our hunger for knowledge and our thirst to learn more.

During the ancient times, reading was limited to books. But today, it encompasses reading on the web. We have some very good sites providing their readers with authentic information. Reading from the Internet is an easy option for one and all. Reading from the web does not undermine the pleasure one can get from reading books.
Manali Oak

Here are a couple of links to whet your appetite:

1. Best Books 4 Teens
2. Goodreads

Remember, you should be reading a little (or more!) every day.

"Reading, like no other medium, can transform your life in a flash, and you never know which book, at which time in your life, might be the one that rocks your world and inspires you to grow in ways you never thought possible."
---Burke Hedges.

What are you reading?

To the guys, initially:

Just wondering... what are the lads reading? Read anything decent lately (and by lately, I mean, ever)?
Don't worry, I'll be asking the girls too!
Let me know--what magazines are you reading, what books, newspapers, websites, anything at all which you read. Either post a comment here below, or send me an email. Either is fine.

Magazine update

Interviews were held today for the post of Editors-in-Chief.

Congratulations to:

Frank F.
and
Lauren M.

A big thank you from myself and Miss O'Boyle to all those who gave it a go! You all did well, and we hope you learned something from the experience. We also hope that you will all participate in another part of the magazine, taking responsibility for a section which is also of interest to you. Remember, ALL the posts, right down to Staff Writers, are really very important.

We unfortunately ran out of time for Director interviews, so these will be held tomorrow at lunchtime.

We anticipate that Editorial and Managerial posts will be sorted out on Friday after school, between 2 and 3pm. Any problems, just come see me.

Once again, well done, everyone! We're really proud of you all for your maturity, enthusiasm and dedication.

Welcome back, S4

Welcome back. Get ready to begin preparations for moving on to Int 1, Int 2 and Higher!

Magazine Interviews

Following the group's decision, all posts will be subject to applications/interviews.

Interviews for

Editors-in-Chief and all Director posts

will take place at tomorrow's meeting. The results will be posted after lunch.

Interviews for

Section Editors
Graphics Editors
Design Editors
Copy Editors
Budget Manager
Advertising Manager
Marketing/Fundraising Manager
Distribution Chief

coming soon!

Best of luck, everyone! And don't worry, there are plenty more posts to go round, from Section Assistants to Photographers to Staff Designers.

Next magazine meeting

Thanks to all who turned out for the first meeting. The next meeting is next Wednesday, 1st of June. We'll make it a little later this time: 1:40 should do the trick. I'll be around from 1:30 for those of you who want to be there early.

At the meeting, we'll discuss lunchtime meeting(s) and how we will decide on roles.

See you there!

All you need is a little creative thinking and scientific knowhow!

Last week's riddle required a number of different skills. First, you needed to sift through the information in the riddle to determine what was important, and more importantly, what wasn't!

Here's the riddle:

A man walked into a cafe wearing a hat with fuchsia daisies on it. After ordering a strawberry and banana sandwich, he asked for a jug of cherry lemonade, an empty glass, a dinner plate, a match, and one quarter of a kiwi. After straightening his turquoise tie, and pouring the cherry lemonade onto the dinner plate, he said to George, the cafe owner, "If you can transport the cherry lemonade into the glass without touching or moving the plate, I will give you £173.54. You may use the kiwi and the match to do this."

George scratched his balding head, analysing the stranger before him. Minutes later, he walked away £173.54 richer.

How did George get the cherry lemonade into the glass?

This is just an overegged version of the 'lemon wedge, water and a match' riddle. The man's appearance, the £173.54, and indeed, even the cafe, are not important. The feat that George successfully attempted was all that was important, and the tools with which he did it. So the kiwi, match and glass were the important tools here.

First, George stuck the match into the kiwi, so that it would stand straight. Then he lit the match, and put it in the middle of the plate (still stuck in the kiwi). Then he placed the glass upside down over the match. As the flame used up the oxygen in the glass, it created a small vacuum, which sucked in the cherry lemonade through the space between the glass and the plate. Thus, George got the water into the glass without touching or moving the plate. The man with the crazy hat with fuchsia daisies couldn't pay for his strawberry and banana sandwich... so he had to wash dishes.

You can try this experiment at home with appropriate supervision. Want clearer instructions? Click here to learn how to transfer water using a lemon and a match.

Alternatively, here's a video:

School Magazine

Good with the stars? Fancy yourself an expert Agony Aunt or Uncle? Budding journalist? Control-freak editor?

All who are interested in being part of the creation of Dingwall Academy's school magazine should attend a short meeting at lunchtime in Room 202 on Wednesday, 25th May. All year groups invited.

My current S3-soon-to-be-S4: see you there!

Returning department materials (books & past papers)

Attention all S4/5/6!

Please return any copies of texts/past papers you have which belong to the department.

For most of you, this will be your copies of Lord of the Flies and Chaucer.

Thank you!

Another riddle tip...

The glass will not be filled in the usual way... it will be upside-down!

Riddle tip...

Read the riddle carefully. Try to decide what information is actually necessary to solve the problem... think scientifically...

Neil Gunn Writing Competition

Congratulations to all who took part!

Dingwall Academy pupils submitted poetry and prose to this competition, and they performed outstandingly, winning several prizes.

The theme was A Wrong Turning, inspired by:

"Our river took a wrong turning somewhere! But we haven't forgotten the source."

Highland River, Neil M Gunn

Our school's prizewinners:

1st Prize: Will Hoffman

2nd Prize: Katrina Gallacher and Anna Macrae

Highly commended: Freddie Mack, Samantha McNeil and Natalie Bushell

The awards ceremony will be held on Tuesday, 14th June, in the Town House.

Once again, well done to all who entered!

S1 Talks

	Wednesday 18th	Thursday 19th
1	Lauren Maclean	Shaun
2	Kirsty	Trent
3	Rebekah	Ryan
4	Louise	Nathan
5	David	Jack
6	Rachael	Adam M
7	Cora	Holly
8		Johannes
9		Rachel
10		Lauren Murison
11		Adam J

S2 Talks

S2,
Your talks will take place between 31st May and 2nd June. Start thinking about your topics now! The best topics (for this talk!) are ones which you can already talk about, without much research. For this, think about any holidays you have been on, big events, such as music festivals, or issues which you have strong opinions about. Speak to your peers--they might have some good ideas to help you along!

S3 Talks

S3 Talks are now officially delayed until tomorrow. Check the S3 page for a reminder of when you are scheduled to do your talk. They will take place between tomorrow, 17th May, and Thursday, 19th May.

Missing posts

Apologies to the Higher candidates who posted their quotation work on the page over the last couple of days. For some reason, there are a number of missing posts, with the comments you provided, and I haven't received an explanation from Google/Blogger. The whole of Blogger appears to have gone down on Thursday night at some point, and it wasn't resurrected until sometime Friday. :(

Congratulations S4/5/6!

Well done, everyone!

Good luck for the rest of your exams.

higher Drama quotations

Similarly, post your drama quotations from this morning here.

Advanced Higher: another article

Introduction to "The General Prologue" of The Canterbury Tales

[The following is the text of a lecture delivered, in part, in English 200, Section 3, on October 5, 1998, by Ian Johnston, at Malaspina University-College, Nanaimo, BC, Canada (now Vancouver Island University). This document is in the public domain, released October 1998, and may be used by anyone, in whole or in part, without permission and without charge, provided the source is acknowledged]

Check it out--either click on the title, or click here. I think you'll find it a useful summary.

Phantom Tollbooth Assignment

S2, your Phantom Tollbooth assignment is now posted on the S2 page.

Good Luck, S4!

Remember the times:

Standard Grade exams take place on Friday, 6th May, at the following times:

9:00-10:15am    Writing
10:35-11:25am   Reading (F)
1:00-1:50pm       Reading (G)

Remember also:
1. Turn up on time (EARLY is on time... rushing in at 9:00am on the dot is NOT!)
2. Bring 2 or 3 pens with you--blue or black
3. DON'T bring your phone or iPod
3. Remember all the 'tips' we covered in class
4. Relax! Breathe! Enjoy!

Advanced Higher Essay

AH chaps:

You are reminded that your essay in response to the question below is due tomorrow, 6th May:

“The most fascinating pilgrim is Geoffrey Chaucer himself...”
To what extent do you agree? With reference to GP and one or more tales, discuss Chaucer’s place as pilgrim and poet in the Canterbury Tales.

I look forward to your very capable responses.

Higher Essay Skills PowerPoints Posted

All Higher pupils should check the Higher webpage for the PowerPoints we used when we worked on essay skills. Any problems, let me know. They're all embedded via SlideShare, so if you have a free account there, they're downloadable.

Don't forget: you should be working hard on learning your quotations, and revising all texts right now!