“Secrets”, by Bernard MacLaverty

Posted on 27/06/2016 by cecilialasa

At this moment, you are reading the short story, having discussed already what a secret implies… and what breaking it into the open implies.
We know, then, what the story will present us with: a broken secret. You will find, of course, a literal secret. I want you to think of what the secret of the secret is. Post your comments below.

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Concluding your essays…

Posted on 26/06/2016 by cecilialasa

Consider the following tips when writing your conclusion:

– It cannot simply take one sentence.
– It should start with an appropriate topic sentence, like any other paragraph.
– It should finish with an appropriate concluding sentence, like any other paragraph.
– It should summarise the arguments presented above (suggestion: compress each paragraph of the body into one sentence. There should be as many sentences as paragraphs in the body).
– It should restate the thesis statement in the light of your arguments.
– It should be based on what you have ACTUALLY written: avoid questions and speculations.

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Monday 31st: Designing a Questionnaire to Analyse Poetry

Posted on 28/05/2016 by cecilialasa

These is the task you are to do:

1) Divide yourselves into groups of 3/4 people. Half of the class will work with “These are the Times We Live in”, by Imtiaz Dharker, and will complete the activities on pages 25 – 27. The other half will work with “The Border Builder”, by Carol Rumens and will complete the activities on pages 23 – 25.
2) To analyse the poems, you can bring computers to the classroom since I have booked “Aula virtual”.
3) Once you have analysed the poems, you have to write a questionnaire of 6 questions. The questions should aim at making your mates understand the poem. That means you cannot ask, for instance, “What is the tone of the poem”. Instead, you have to ask questions such as: “The persona uses the words “distressed” and “gloomy” to describe his mood. What does that semantic field suggest about the tone?”
4) Each member of the group will post the questions on his/her blog. Do not forget to head the activity.

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Passage based questions on “The Lemon Orchard”

Posted on 16/05/2016 by cecilialasa

In pairs or in groups of three students, choose one of the following passage based questions and write an answer as a reply to this entry. Make sure different groups tackle different questions.

1) To what extent is the situation presented as an act in theatre? How does nature/spectator behave? (paragraphs 1 to 4)

2) To what extent is the situation presented as an act in theatre? How does nature/spectator behave? (from “The dog started barking” till the end)

3) How is the Apartheid depicted in the following passage? (from “Wag’n oomblikkie. Wait a moment” till “I will shoot whatever hotnot or kaffir I desire”)

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Tips

Posted on 11/04/2016 by cecilialasa

This link takes you to a file in which you will find many of the suggestions you have received in your feedbacks. Let’s keep it updated!

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According to Cata Rela… Keys to Write a Wonderful Essay

Posted on 11/04/2016 by cecilialasa

cata's chart

Cata has designed this beautiful chart which you can use as a guide to assess your writing. Very soon, Cata will be adding our conclusions as regards… the conclusions of an essay.

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Our first draft on “The Yellow Wallpaper”

Posted on 11/04/2016 by cecilialasa

This File contains all the first drafts on the short story by Perkins Gilman, as well as my feedback.
As a second step in the writing process, we have checked such feedback together, identified positive aspects, signalled those that need further work and thought of possible courses of actions.
Next, you are to rewrite the draft and include a conclusion in the light of the previous steps.

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Glossary

Posted on 06/04/2016 by cecilialasa

Here you can access the glossary with the literary terms we learn throughout the year.

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Lines of life, lines of literature

Posted on 04/04/2016 by cecilialasa

Hi there!
Today we are to analyse this poem by Emily Brontë, after discussing Victorianism and the role of the woman writer.

Here’s the poem for you to listen to it:

We are going to use the following doc to pool our ideas:
“Last Lines” and other poems

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Journeys…

Posted on 01/04/2016 by cecilialasa

“Not I, nor anyone else can travel that road for you.
You must travel it by yourself.
It is not far. It is within reach.
Perhaps you have been on it since you were born, and did not know.
Perhaps it is everywhere – on water and land.” Walt Whitman

Now that you have read two short stories entitled “Journey”, reflect upon that quotation. How does it shed light on your understanding of the texts? Compare and contrast them and use the following chart to spark off analysis:

Journeys

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