Showing posts with label english. Show all posts
Showing posts with label english. Show all posts

24.1.10

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.

20.12.09

Essay Writing: STAR method.

Here is an abbreviated way to revise and remember the basic form of an essay. It is called the 'STAR' method.

S- Statement
T- Textual evidence
A- Analysis
R- Related

Hope this helps!

30.11.09

Year Nine English Classes for 2010!

If you are a current year eight student, you might be interested in joining our newest English Class program ready in early 2010. Following the astounding success of the year nine 2009 classes, we've decided to extend this warm welcome to the year nine students of 2010 with the introduction of Saturday morning English classes. In these English classes, you will learn in a focused yet fun environment, perfect for discussions and development of new ideas in a more social surrounding. We will explore different genres, texts, writing styles, literature pieces and many more. If you are interested for more information, please feel free to contact me or email me. I will be releasing more information regarding these lessons soon, so please keep your eyes peeled for more updates.

Kris Kringle Online.

So the Kris Kringle names are out and it's obviously time to start checking out cheap and chic gifts. Here are my favourite online sites which will have Christmas presents and cheaper than chips Kris Kringle sorted almost instantly!

- www.smiggle.com.au
- www.prettyinpink.com.au
- www.apple.com/itunes
- www.amazon.com/au
- www.thebodyshop.com.au
- www.toysonline.com.au
- www.sweetstems.com.au

So, a reminder that the budget is $10 and gifts should be wrapped/packaged/well presented with a Christmas card as it is just a polite thing to do. I hope no one gives their K.K a gift in a white Big W bag or whatnot as I will scream! Enjoy!

23.11.09

Creative writing competition due soon!

Just a reminder that the creative writing competition piece is due very soon on the 12th of December 2009. Please make sure you have this ready as any last minute entries will be accepted however any late entries will be accepted yet might not qualify in the competition. Keep up the time management and before you all know it, the academic year will be over, so make the most of it. Check the link below for the competition details.


Remember this is a compulsory task to complete! Good luck!

14.11.09

Relaxing summer holidays music list.

I have no idea what you all might be getting up to these upcoming Summer holidays. For some reason, I've always pictured myself lying on a woven hammock with a book and iPod in tow on a balmy summer afternoon just staring into the distance. Very idealistic, as you can imagine. Here is my top 10 relaxing Summer music list for your enjoyment.

1. Seven Days in Sunny June: Jamiroquai
2. Serve the Ego: Jewel
3. Make it Mine: Jason Mraz
4. Dancing with myself: Nouvelle Vague
5. Dream On: Kelly Sweet
6. Love: Matt White
7. Live High: Jason Mraz
8. Imagine: Eva Cassidy
9. The Last day on Earth: Lisa Mitchell
10. Don't know why: Norah Jones
Enjoy!

11.11.09

Your opinion.

Courtesy of The Blake Wright blog.

7.11.09

Term 4: Topics of Interest.

With the exam period almost coming to an end, it only seems inevitable that the workload decreases and the interest in the topic mildly comes to a distinctive halt. As a result, I've figured that (if you're in year twelve, please disregard) you probably might be more interested in learning aspects of English which may best relate to your knowledge and personal interests. These few weeks, I will be asking you which topics you would like us to go over. Examples of topics may include:
- 19th Century Literature and values
- Australian poetry
- Film studies
- Novel and contextual studies
- Understanding literary genres
- Visual literature and picture books
- Revision of creative writing etc.
If you have any suggestions, feel free to email me prior to our lesson so that I can organise, otherwise please come equipt as usual to go over school based work and assignments and be prepared with a topic of interest in mind.

19.10.09

Good Luck Year 12!

I just want to wish all of the year 12 students good luck for the upcoming exam period! Hope for the best, revise your essays, refine your thesis statements, re-annotate your quotes and with that little bit of extra luck, you should all be fine. Avoid burning out by the middle of examination period and keep organised and confident. You will be so grateful for the moment it is all over. If you have any last minute pieces you wish for me to mark, email me and I will get it to you as soon as possible. Moderation, persistence and confidence is key. Good luck!

6.10.09

Wise words of the Day.

Literary critical perspectives.

This is a summarised list of some literary critical perspectives which you may encounter in senior English (especially 3U). I would keep these terms in mind if you are going to enter Year 10, 11 or 12. They might come in handy for future reference.

- Post colonial criticism
- Feminist criticism
- Marxist criticism
- Psychoanalytic criticism
- New historicism and cultural materialism
- Deconstruction
- Queer Theory

5.10.09

Great place to visit these holidays.

There is nothing that I adore more than a rainy grey day huddled up in a gorgeous dimly lit cafe with a hot chocolate by one side and a superb book on the other. My favourite place to do this would have to be the Guylian cafe. Located at The Rocks and Circular Quay, the Guylian cafe is a great hotspot in the heart of Sydney. Add a good book, the harbour view and a Degustation plate to share and your day is set. Check out www.guyliancafe.com.au/ for more information. Bon apetite!

4.10.09

Wise words of the Day.

Board of Studies.

To everyone who is either going to Year 11 in 2010 or Year 12 in 2010, please check the Board of Studies website so that you can have a look at what the English Syllabus requires of you. There are different categories of English which can be studied from Standard English (2U), Advanced English (2U), Extension One (3U) English, Extension Two (4U) English and ESL (2U). Hope the links below assist in your subject selection process.


Extension One English:

Extension Two English:

ESL:

2.10.09

What keeps you sane?

Amongst the craze of the HSC, exams, assesment and assignments along with the countless pieces of homework and reading which needs to be done, I'm surprised at this point by the types of attitudes which many of my students are encompassing. Attitudes which comprise of a variety of wit, sarcasm, boredom and laziness. Considering that it is indeed your school holidays coming up, I'd be so interested in knowing the answer to this question: What keeps you sane?
1. Tiffany & Co.
2. Christian Louboutin Shoes
3. Buttercream Cupcakes and Cocktails Please list three responses as mine are already featured as examples.
PS: I am like the Queen of baking cupcakes. On my to-do list: Make cupcakes for students for XMAS. Yum.

Buy it now: Penguin Classics Novels

Forget overpriced books which will do nothing except slowly rob your of your finances, luckily Penguin Classics novels provide a cheap and chic way to read amazing fiction (and non fiction) at lovely and forgiving prices. At just $9.99 at most retailers, Penguin Classics novels include the best pieces of writing of all time including works by Jane Austen, Truman Capote, Oscar Wilde, Anais Nin, Scott Fitzgerald, Virginia Woolf etc. You are sure to find something which you enjoy to read these holidays. This series of novels are honestly my absolute favourites and I can never resist getting a new (cheap) novel each time I go out as the price and content make this such a good purchase. Check out the list of novels available and find some good tales to read this holidays. Enjoy.

25.9.09

6 random blogs which may interest you.

1. http://www.drunkwritertalk.blogspot.com/
A site where alcohol and writing walk hand in hand. Check out the different rants over novels, movies and stories which a group of five writers come up with when their on the hard liquor. Mostly funny however at times, enjoyably random.

Blogged by two fabulous New York women, the Daba girls represent the group of wives and girlfriends who date the elite group of bankers and expose their thoughts and opinions on the changing definition of romance during the recession.

Any aspiring fashion journalists out there? This is a glimpse into the critical magazine world which is more 'Devil wears Prada' than a sample sale. The bitchiness is exposed, the superficiality is revered and the industry is still one of the world's most desirable.

Postsecret is a (at times) creepy blog where postcards are sent anonymously often revealing an unexpected secret. The postcards feature a combination of funny and eerie postcards and are great as conversation starters.

One of the world's most iconic fashion photographers for Vogue magazine started out on this blog with a compilation of amazing photographs of the fashion elite. Take a trip to Paris, Milan, New York and more and check out what the runway stars are wearing off the catwalks and on the streets.

A satirical take on the daily musings of a British gossip journalist and a journalist in Manhattan as they prepare to reveal the Hollywood world piece by piece. Really funny and uplifting interpretations of the actions of celebrities and their counterparts.
There are obviously more of my favourites but I cannot remember them all from the top of my head so if you are interested in more blogs and random things, check out The Blogger Choice awards for a taste of all good things online. http://www.bloggerschoiceawards.com/

18.9.09

Reminder to year nine class: Payment is due.

Just a friendly reminder that payment for the year nine English class is due THIS WEEK. Please make sure you pay early to avoid further confusion. Also, any lessons missed are to be paid for except in certain situations (in which you should ask me for more information) as these four week classes are in a package and not designed to be 'pay as you attend'. The fee for Angels and Demons by Dan Brown (only if you requested a copy) is $13.00 and this is due on Saturday as well. You will not be able to receive your copy until payment is made. Please do not forget, extra processing fees may be underway if you cannot stay consistent with the due dates. Thankyou.

Teachers Pet: Smiggle slimline pens.

I'm obsessed with the Smiggle slimline pens which come in a large variety of colours to suit anyone's tastes! My favourites are the light blue, pink and silver as they are covetable pieces to fit into any pencilcase or handbag. These make the perfect little presents, all you have to do is grab a ribbon to tie it with and it's done! These pens are such perfect little goodies. Available from the Smiggle website and Smiggle stores for just $4.95.