Compare & Contrast Essay Guidelines

Dear students,

If you would like more information about compare contrast essays, as covered in class, you will find some excellent supplementary materials by clicking through the links below.

I suggest that you save copies to your computer so that you can access them easily later.

This site has a great example of a Venn diagram;
http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/venn/venn.pdf

This site gives a very detailed explanation of point by point and block organization;
http://www.sbcc.edu/learningresources/website/WL/downloads/WritingaCompareContrastEssay.pdf

This site lists common compare and contrast signal words and example sentences;
http://urbandreams.ousd.k12.ca.us/lessonplans/extended/9/garland/docs/Compare_Contrast_Intro.pdf

This site gives detailed explanations and examples of distinguishing features found in the compare / contrast essay, including introductions & thesis statements. There are also some good practice exercises;
http://www1.uprh.edu/ccc/Ingles/Comparison%20and%20Contrast%20Essay/Comparison%20and%20Contrast%20Essay%20FINAL.pdf

I hope it's a help.

Enjoy!

Mr Lee

Internet Research

Trend spotters 

Task: Use one or more of the websites listed to research the job of a “trend spotter” (or “cool hunter”).
Respond using information from the websites.

1. What are trend spotters? What do they do? Who hires them? What qualities are important for the job?
2. What are some ways trend spotters gather their information?
3. Do you think you would make a good trend spotter? Why? What qualities do you have or lack?

http://www.time.com/time/covers/1101030908/xopener.html
http://unlimited.co.nz/unlimited.nsf/unid/8E03FF805F76BD56CC256FB6006C63A1
http://www.medialifemagazine.com/news2002/jan02/jan07/4_thurs/news4thursday.html

You can also search for your own information. Try using these keywords in your search:

trend spotter
trend watcher
cool hunter

The deadline for comments on this post is Friday January 15th.

Happy blogging,

Mr. Lee

The Alchemist - Book Report

Dear students,

Your final assignment is to write a short book report on the the title you have just read, 'The Alchemist'.

Please don't worry if this is your first time writing one, as you will probably discover that it is not as difficult as you think. However, if you have any problems or are not sure about any of the questions, please come and see me or contact me through the blog. I will be happy to answer any questions you might have.

There are no exact guidelines as to how much you should write. Just be sure to answer each question fully and to the best of your ability.

You may review the book's content at:

http://www.ramblinggypsy.com/

Follow the link below to download the book report template.

http://www.education-world.com/tools_templates/bookreport_fiction.doc

The due date for this assignment is Friday 6th November 2009.

Good luck!

The Alchemist - Vocabulary Quiz 2 of 3

Please learn the following words in preparation for the quiz on Friday 2nd October.

1. mumble
2. grouch
3. rueful
4. immense
5. curse
6. incessant
7. conspire
8. convince
9. vain
10. divination
11. coincidence
12. capricious
13. murmur
14. bugle
15. nostalgia
16. intuition
17. balk
18. burden
19. freight
20. treacherous
21. detour
22. nocturnal
23. fringe
24. collaborate
25. manifestation
26. mania
27. incredulous
28. obscure
29. groan
30. content

Good luck!

The Alchemist

In the story that the King of Salem tells Santiago, the wisest of the wise men tells the boy that the secret of happiness is to see all the marvels of the world, and never to forget the drops of oil on the spoon. p32 to p34.

What does the wise man mean?

What do you think is the secret to happiness?

The deadline for comments on this assignment is Friday 18th Sept.

Happy blogging!

Mr. Lee

The Alchemist - Vocabulary Quiz 1

Please learn the following words and phrases in preparation for the quiz on Friday 11th September and continued reading of The Alchemist.

1. resist
2. abased
3. wander
4. fidget
5. be/become accustomed to
6. infidels
7. depend on
8. retaliate
9. whet one's appetite
10. lamenting
11. signify
12. weep
13. marvel
14. assemble
15. converse
16. perceive
17. descend
18. profound
19. gesture
20. tense


Good luck!

Mr. Lee

The Alchemist

Dear students,

You may read Paulo Coehlo's biography by clicking on the link below.

http://www.paulocoelho.com.br/engl/dow/Bio.pdf

The following link allows you to view suprisingly detailed pdf excerpts from many of Paulo Coehlo's titles. In fact, you can actually download the entire novel for certain titles; Paulo Coehlo's first work "The pilgrimage" is one such title!

http://www.ramblinggypsy.com/


Enjoy!

Mr. Lee

HOME

Dear students,

Please follow the link below to read more about the environmental concerns raised in the docmentary "Home".

http://www.goodplanet.org/en/

The link below includes a counter showing how fast the world's population is growing every second. It also includes podcasts from many likeminded people around the world.

http://www.6billionothers.org/index.php

Please generate discussion on the blog by expressing your own thoughts and feelings on this very important issue.

Happy blogging,

Mr. Lee