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.
Tuesday, 14 June 2011
Tuesday, 7 June 2011
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.
Wednesday, 1 June 2011
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.
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.
Tuesday, 31 May 2011
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.
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.
Thursday, 26 May 2011
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!
At the meeting, we'll discuss lunchtime meeting(s) and how we will decide on roles.
See you there!
Wednesday, 25 May 2011
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:
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:
Monday, 23 May 2011
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!
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!
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!
Thursday, 19 May 2011
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!
Wednesday, 18 May 2011
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 |
Tuesday, 17 May 2011
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!
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!
Monday, 16 May 2011
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.
Saturday, 14 May 2011
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. :(
Thursday, 12 May 2011
Wednesday, 11 May 2011
Advanced Higher: another article
[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.
Tuesday, 10 May 2011
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