Read it: The Life and Crimes of Harry Lavender.

Written by renowned Australian detective/crime author, Marele Day. The Life and Crimes of Harry Lavender one of the books in the 'Claudia Valentine mystery' series and it'll keep you on your toes constantly. Here is the blurb for your reference:

Mark Bannister, writing 'the best seller of the century' is found dead at his computer- the victim of a murder so perfect that Claudia Valentine smells a rat... and wants it caught. The chases leads deep into the murky underworld of Sydney- a world where bright tough Claudia must play a deadly high-tech game of cat and rat with the menacing overlord of the city's cancerous network of crime and corruption.

Witty, wryly, humorous and fast-paced, The Life and Crimes of Harry Lavender is a mystery with a twist, which brilliantly exposes the seamy action below the surface of the city's glittering facade.

Enjoy,

PS: Year ten students, we will be doing this book for novel study so please try to get a copy of it for our lessons ASAP. Cheers.

Poetry: Onamatopoeia.

Sound words are sometimes called echoic because they echo or sound like the nature sounds of objects, people or actions. The use of such sound words in poetry is called onomatopoeia. The following poem puts this idea into practice.

The Onomatopoeia River

Glade...shade...pool...cool...

Fickle...trickle...supple...able

Yearning...trending...wending.

(Read each line faster)

Amble, addle, dawdle, dabble,

Babble, bubble, gurgle, gambol,

Bustle, hustle tussle, tumble,

Mumble, grumble-rumble, hurtle-

Lunge! Plunge!

Splash! Spray,

Flay, fume.

Gnash! Lash! Rage, wage.

(read each line slower)

Freed, speed...

Weed...reed...

Haze...laze...

Hide...glide...

Wide...tide.

By Max Dunn.

Essay Writing Help.

I've come across a few essay writing related links which will assist and further your understanding of essay writing and analytical pieces. Please have a read of these in your spare time as they will greatly help you if you have difficulties in grasping the written technique.

- http://www.lc.unsw.edu.au/olib.html#1

- http://www2.actden.com/WRIT_DEN/tips/essay/

- http://www.bestessaytips.com/

- http://www.studentnow.com/features/essayswritingtips.html

Hope it makes sense, if not, email me and I can further explain.

Lessons resume: 23rd & 24th January 2010.

Reminder that our lessons resume on the 23rd and 24th of January 2010 (according to whether or not your lessons are on Saturday or Sunday-obviously). Our lessons will begin at the same times until further notice. Let's hope the (rainy) weather gets better by then and you are all ready to get some work done. I have already planned a few of my lessons so be prepared to work hard. That is all.

Holiday activities.

With the festive season ALMOST over, it only makes sense that now is the time you should be writing and reading a lot especially before Term one begins. It is a good time to tackle the tasks which you need to complete along with any revision which will assist you in 2010. Please remember that my email inbox is always open for work and marking so you should really get sending if you want feedback before lessons resume. I expect at least two written pieces of work by everyone especially if you would like to start 2010 on a good note, if not, well I hope you have a good and very guilty holiday break. Which I know you will have anyways.

Happy Holidays!

Just want to say a very quick and late Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Huge thanks to everyone for being such wonderful students and for making my lessons extremely enjoyable! Stay safe throughout the holiday season and get reading and writing before school resumes! Feel free to email me or call me if you have any questions or need some help with study preparation for 2010!

PS: Thanks to everyone who texted me with a 'Merry XMAS' or 'Happy New Year'! It made my night.