4 weeks to go

With time ticking away, here's a quick reminder about upcoming dates for things.

1. Presentations start: May 27th

This is starting to become a growing concern, mostly because I've seen how little some of you have read of your books. Remember that before you present you'll have had to...

1. Finished your book
2. Filled out your chart
3. Looked at the back of the chart for tips on what to say
4. Picked a clip/some clips you want to show
5. Practice and time your presentation

2. Theatre Assignments

These should be done by now. I'm going to stop chasing you about these things.

THIS WEEK:

We have 2 periods together. Make sure to bring your novel for reading. If it's done (which I don't think anyone is) make sure to bring stuff to work on in class. Maybe you could start preparing what you're going to say.

Keep on Keeping' On

Patterson

Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its pupils- Louis Hector Berlioz

What's new

Hey Punks,

Just a little update about due dates and such.

1. Theatre Assignment - The Due date for the theatre assignment is May 14th. We got 2 classes of lab time (some students even came to both) to work on Part 1. I took a vote in class to see if people wanted to devote class time to working on Part II (the program) and the class voted to do that in their own time.

2. We are now fully into the summative. The assignment was distributed in class. The 1st part of that assignment is reading the short story Memento Mori and then watching the film adaptation. We read the short story in class together. We'll watch the film this Friday and finish it next Tuesday. There is a chart sheet to fill out that's worth 10 marks. This will be done after the film.

3. Keep reading your independant novels. You need to get them done in the next few weeks to get ready for your oral presentation.

4. MAY 6th - JOB FAIR. Remember that job fair Ms. Tyrell came to talk to us about?? It's comig up next week on Thursday. We're all going to take a fun little trip together. Information to follow.

Don't Fall behind on this stuff. The end of the year approacheth.

Patterson

I want to die peacefully in my sleep, like my grandfather.. Not screaming and yelling like the passengers in his car. -Anon

Theatre Assignment

Hey Dorks,

So we've spent the last 3 weeks on a couple of plays: Dracula and A Raisin in the Sun. Now it's time to get a little work done on them. I gave this assignment out in class the other day. You should all have copies of both plays and it's up to you to decide.

Enjoy:

Grade 12 – Drama:
Theatre Unit Evaluation


This assignment is an in-depth exploration of a play. You will take either Dracula or A Raisin in the Sun and study it as if you were a director planning to put on your own production. In order to do this, you need to a) read the play and prepare a written report on how you would stage it and b) make a program for that play

Part I: PLAY REPORT

Project Steps:

Read the Play

This will take some time. Although most plays take only an hour or two to watch, it takes a bit longer to read them out. It often helps to either read the play aloud or have friends read the other parts.

Prepare your report

This report must be typed and double-spaced. It will be comprised of the following sections:

a) A cast list – What actors would you like to portray the leads in your production? Chose 4 of the principal roles in the show. For each role, give the following information:
· A brief description of the character
· The name of the actor (you can chose anyone – a celebrity, a friend, yourself) you would have play their part
· An explanation why that actor would be good for that role

Minimum – I page, Double-Spaced

b) An exploration of theme – What is the show about? What message does it send? Why would anyone want to see if in the first place? In this section of the report, you are to answer these questions. You need to identify the themes and ideas presented in the show and give at least 4 specific examples from the text. Make sure to explain in your own words how each of these examples reflect the theme

(MINIMUM – 2 Pages, Double-Spaced)

Part II: PLAY PROGRAM

Anytime you attend a play, you are handed a program on the way in. The program gives you an idea about the play you are about to see, including some basic info on the characters, setting and story. They don’t tell you everything about the play, just enough to get you informed and interested.

You task is to make a program for your production. Your program will include the following.

· An cover image that includes the title of the show
· A brief description of the setting
· Images (either photos are drawn yourself) of the actors playing the roles of the 4 major characters and a brief summary of each.

To give you a better idea, it should look something like this….

The marks will be based on the following:

1. Information: Does it include all the information necessary? Is it neat and has it
been checked for spelling and punctuation?

2. Format: Does it follow the format outlined above? Is it laid out as required?

3. Quality: Was there genuine effort put in? Does the image on the front well

with the content of the play?

-------------------------------------

Good Luck on this

Patterson

A Raisin in the Sun - Film

Hey Punks,

At this point we're about 2/3 the way through reading A Raisin in the Sun. Last class we watch some of a film version, the 2007 version starring Sean "Puff Daddy P. Diddy Doo Wah Diddy" Combes. Some people were not there so I thought I'd post the link here.

This week we'll be starting 2 assignments based on the plays we've read. Make sure you stay on top of the reading.

Play Link - http://www.zshare.net/video/669413537180fd19/

Patterson

My only regret in the theatre is that I could never sit out front and watch me! - John Barrymore

Newest Update

Hi Thuglings,

I have not posted on here for a while so I thought I'd do just that. Here's a quick heads-up as to where we're at and where we're going in the course.

1. We are currently in the middle of a play-unit. We've read most of Dracula together. You are expected to finish it at home.

2. We are about 1/3 the way through A Raisin in the Sun. We'll finish reading it by the end of next week.

3. There will be to mid-size assignments based on these plays. One will be of the written variety, the other a media assignment. More to follow.

4. Make sure you have a book selected for you EXAM/SUMMATIVE PRESENTATION. Remember that it should be a book that was adapted into something else (movie, tv show, etc) not the other way around.

Keep on top of your work. Now is exactly the wrong time to fall behind...(not that there has ever been a right time to be behind)

Patterson Outtie!

Guns don't kill people, people kill people, and monkeys do too (if they have a gun). - Eddie Izzard

Review Assignment

As of 12:17 on Friday afternoon, I have been given review assignments from the following students:

1. Courtland
2. Werner
3. Alijcia (Alicja?? Alliceya?? What's her face!)
4. David
5. Dan
6. Jacob

If you ain't one of those 6 people, you've got 3 hours left to give me your work.

To quote Ke$ha "Tick Tock"

DUE DATE IS COMING

Hey Gang,

Just a quick reminder that you have to have your novel review assignment in BEFORE MARCH BREAK.

I WILL NOT TAKE IT AFTER THE BREAK.

YOU MUST HAVE IT IN BY FRIDAY.

I'M NOT KIDDING.

SERIOUSLY.

If you need help....I'LL HELP YOU!

If you don't understand something...I'LL EXPLAIN IT!

If you're stuck on something...I'LL UNSTUCK YOU!!

But you have to take the first step.

I hope this is getting through to you.

Get it in.

Patterson, out!

Everything comes too late for those who only wait - Anon

Review Writing Assignment

Hey Hoods,

Just thought I would post the review writing assignment here. Remember the 3 things you need to hand in:

1. The good copy of the review
2. The chart sheet
3. The review homework assignment

In case you have lost anything, I have both the reviews and the questions below. If you don't have the chart sheet, you need to get that from me personally.

I'm going to make the due date for the reviews anytime before March break but not after. I want to keep moving after the break.

Good luck and if you need any help, just ask.

Patterson

I like a woman with a head on her shoulders. I hate necks. -Steve Martin


THE REVIEWS:

REVIEW 1:

‘The curious incident of the dog in the night-time'
reviewed by Andrew Stickland

Despite what the innumerate masses may wish, our daily lives are inextricably tied up with mathematics. On the most mundane level, we use basic arithmetic to do such things as tell the time, to count our change, to programme the video. But on a less obvious level we also need a reasonably good grasp of geometry in order to park the car in the garage or to pack the shopping bags carefully at the supermarket; we collect and interpret statistical data when the football results come in and we all seem to know how easily order turns to chaos.
In their own way, popular science books have been telling us this for years. But "popular" or not, they still have a limited readership compared with books about, say, a trainee wizard or a little creature with a ring. It is a simple truth, but fact is less popular than fiction. So when a novel comes along which mentions, and clearly explains, the Monty Hall Problem and Occam's razor as well as giving the full solution to an A level maths problem, it's worth stopping to take a closer look.
My name is Christopher John Francis Boone. I know all the countries of the world and their capital cities and every prime number up to 7,507.
In this way we are introduced to the main character of a rather strange and captivating novel, which is part detective story, part social drama and part encyclopaedia. Christopher is fifteen years old and suffers from Asperger's Syndrome, and as the novel is written entirely from his perspective, we are brought into an unusual world where rules, although apparently arbitrary, are of paramount importance. Red things are good, yellow and brown things are bad; different foods must not be mixed on a plate; people should never tell lies.
With these, and his many other curious intellectual tools, Christopher sets about trying to solve the mystery of who has murdered his neighbour's dog. Along the way, he introduces the reader to his family, his teacher, his neighbours, his pet rat and many of the interesting and unusual facts and figures he keeps stored away in his mind.
These aren't all mathematical, as Christopher has something of a scattergun approach to the acquisition of knowledge, but it is evident from his actions and from what he tells us that what is of paramount importance to him is logic. There is no intuition, no guesswork, no hunches, in his detection, or indeed his life as a whole, only rational reasoning.
In truth, there is nothing mathematically challenging in the book. There are a few interesting problems, clearly explained and discussed, and the A Level question which is answered in a brief appendix, but the strength of the book lies in its positive attitude towards a subject most commonly either shied away from or openly dismissed as "the subject I always hated at school".
Unfortunately, given the protagonist's affliction, the book may well end up simply reinforcing the stereotype of the mathematically gifted social inadequate, but I fear that until Harry or Hermione discover the joys of complex analysis, maths in fiction will remain, as here, a rare delicacy, not a staple.

Review 2:

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

A Review by Laura Miller

Fifteen-year-old Christopher John Francis Boone is not an unreliable narrator, exactly. As he tells it, and credibly so, he never lies; in fact, he doesn't seem capable of it. But he's an imperfect narrator, to say the least. An autistic savant who can list all the prime numbers up to 7,057, he's not so good with emotion, and since the story he relates in Mark Haddon's delightful first novel, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, concerns the dissolution of his parents' marriage and the precarious nature of the care he needs to survive, we have to read between his lines.
As far as Christopher is concerned, this is a murder mystery, the kind solved by his hero, Sherlock Holmes. (Curious Incident is meant to be Christopher's account of the case, a project suggested by his teacher.) The victim? Wellington, the dog that lives -- make that "lived" -- across the street from Christopher's home in an English suburb. Wellington turns up dead, by "garden fork" (which is, I'm guessing, British for "pitchfork"), shortly after midnight. Christopher discovers the body because he's a night owl, favoring the hours of "3 am or 4 am in the morning [when] I can walk up and down the street and pretend that I am the only person in the world." He also fantasizes about becoming an astronaut, "because I'd be surrounded by lots of the things I like, which are machines and computers and outer space. And I would be able to look out of a little window in the spacecraft and know that there was no one else near me for thousands and thousands of miles."
Christopher can tolerate people he knows well and who don't therefore overwhelm his psyche with unfamiliar and inassimilable sensations, people like his father and his teacher, Siobhan, but he doesn't like to be touched by anyone. Given this, and the fact that he considers picturesque figures of speech such as "He was the apple of my eye" to be "metaphors" and thus "lies," he makes for a daunting prospect as a narrator, emotionally detached and doggedly literal-minded. Yet Haddon manages to create in Christopher a character of great charm and appeal; once you slip into the world as he sees it, you feel surprisingly comfortable.
Christopher's situation is in many ways pitiable, and it certainly offers ripe pickings for the sentimentally inclined; viewed from the outside, this story could have been a sap-fest. But because Christopher himself can't wallow in bathos, we, his readers, are kept clear of it, too. He's being raised by a single father, under the impression -- perhaps erroneous? -- that his mother is dead. From what he remembers of her, she clearly lacked the patience to care for him. He never entirely understands what's going on around him, where everyone else is tuned to a frequency he can't receive.
Yet, like anyone else, really, Christopher believes that his way of interpreting the world is superior. For example, remembering a particularly excruciating vacation in France, he writes, "people go on holidays to see new things and relax, but it wouldn't make me relaxed and you can see new things by looking at the earth under a microscope or drawing the shape of the solid made when 3 circular rods of equal thickness intersect at right angles." He reserves particular contempt for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle "because he wasn't like Sherlock Holmes and he believed in the supernatural." In fact, people's inability to grasp that their feelings "are just having a picture on the screen in your head of what is going to happen tomorrow or next year, or what might have happened instead of what did happen," remains a source of ongoing frustration.
In tracking down the truth about Wellington's untimely death, Christopher discovers more than he bargained for. The truth sends him on a truly valiant journey to London; though any other 15-year-old would have found the train trip manageable enough, for Christopher it's a nearly incapacitating gauntlet of terrifying sensations -- Mordor itself couldn't seem more threatening. Throughout, Haddon depicts his hero with expansive sympathy and an irresistible humor. As befits Christopher's way of experiencing the world, the novel is studded with little illustrations and diagrams -- floor plans, patterns he likes, the maps he needs to get around because the visual field of new streets is too confusing. All of this makes The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time feel light, but that's deceiving. There are vast reservoirs of human suffering and courage beneath its sprightly, peculiar surface.

REVIEW QUESTIONS:

Review Analysis Sheet – The Curious Incident…

Pick one of the two reviews: _________________________________________

1.

Describe the style of the review. How is the information laid out? Does each paragraph serve a distinct purpose? Are some a blend of 2 or 3 purposes?

2.

Words. Words. Words. Look for and copy down specific opinionated language. What words does the reviewer use to get his opinion across?

3.

Summary. How much of this review is summary? Too much? Not enough? Is it just right?

4.

Of the two reviews provided, which do you prefer (this does not necessarily mean ‘agree with’) and why?

Review Writing - Day 1

Hey Punks,

Now that we're finished the novel, we're going to focus on a formal writing assignment: Review Writing. You are going to write a novel review of THE CURIOUS INCIDENCT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT TIME. Before you do, however, we should take a look at some other reviews. A review is not the simple act of putting your opinion on paper; There's a specific structure and style to review writing and we're going to learn it.

1. We watched the movie ZERO EFFECT in class because it deals with a lot of similar elements as the novel: It's a mystery, the detective does not fit psychological norms, the story takes a turn in tone half way through and a variety of other similarities.

Just in case you don't remember the film, here's the trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSH8Y3h5j-g

2. We then read a couple of reviews of the film. One of them was positive and the other negative. However, both reviews are similar in structure in many ways.

Positive Review:

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19980130/REVIEWS/801300307/1023

Negative Review:

http://www.joblo.com/reviews.php?mode=joblo_movies&id=365

Next Class:

We're going to read a couple of novel reviews and do an excercise to help better understand the review writing process.

See (some of you) there.

Patterson

Media Presentation

Hey Punks,

Just a quick reminder that your Media Assignments on the novel are due Monday. You can do just about anything so there's NO EXCUSE for not having it ready. I have posted a copy of the assignment below. Looking forward to seeing them.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time:
Media Presentation

As we reach the end of the novel. It’s important we take some time to reflect on the novel in a variety of ways. The review that you are writing is one way (this is to come). Another is through a media presentation.
Since this book represents the coming together of a variety of styles (mystery, children’s story, comedy, family drama, and instructional book) it is only fitting that this is reflected in the kind of media presentation you create.

Here are a few suggestions about what you could do:

1. A dramatic recreation (either on video or live in class) of a scene from the novel
2. The cover design for an alternate book jacket
3. An artistic rendering of a particularly striking scene
4. An interpretive dance (I’d love to see another one)
5. A website-study guide for the novel
6. Staple 40 dollars to a blank sheet of paper and give it to Mr. Patterson (that's a joke)
7. A sculpture of your favourite character
8. Write and perform a song inspired by this story

And so on and so on. Of course, you are free to express yourself in some way this is not on this list (pending approval from Mr. Patterson).


Things to do for this...
A. Complete the proposal sheet by next class and give it to Mr. Patterson
B. Get to work on your presentation
C. To be presented: Tuesday, February 2nd (if you want it on the next report) or Monday, February 8th

Get this done on time. I want to move on to other things.

Patterson

What I really need is a woman who loves me for my money but doesn't understand math. -Mike Birbiglia

Jouranl 3

Hey Hooligans,

Here's that 3rd journal entry, the one I put up on the board earlier today. Make sure you get this done (along with the other two journals) for next Tuesday. I need it by then for the report card, unless you want a big old nothing on it in which case you've got nothing to worry about.

JOURNAL 3:

Chose 1 of the following topics:

a. The tone of the book switches a bit in this section; It moves from comedy/mystery to family drama. What do you think of this chance in tone? Does it make you enjoy the book more/less/differently? How do you predict the book will end?

OR

b. Assume that Christopher's trip is successful and he reaches his mothers home. Write an account of their first meeting from Christopher's point of view. Remember everything we talked about regarding writing in first person from our last unit.

Good luck and get those journals in on time.

Patterson

Evil will always triumph over good because good is dumb. - Dark Helmet, Space Balls

Second Term Reports

Hey Gang,

Second term report cards are on their way. How exciting. I just thought I'd let you know what assignments we've done since the 1st term report.

1. Short Story Quiz
2. Creative Writing 1: 1st person
3. Creative Writing 2: Satire
4. Creative Writing 3: Poetry
5. Journals for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time - 3 Journals - Due Tuesday, February 2.
6. Curious Incident 9 am questions
7. Curious Incident Media Assignment - This is not due before the report card but if you finish it early, I can include it in your marks.

Any questions about these assignment, simply ask me in class.

Patterson

Do not confuse motion and progress. A rocking horse keeps moving but does not make any progress. -Alfred A. Montapert

Media Assignment

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night time:

Media Presentation

As we reach the end of the novel. It’s important we take some time to reflect on the novel in a variety of ways. The review that you are writing is one way (this is to come). Another is through a media presentation.

Since this book represents the coming together of a variety of styles (mystery, children’s story, comedy, family drama, and instructional book) it is only fitting that this is reflected in the kind of media presentation you create.

Here are a few suggestions about what you could do:

1. A dramatic recreation (either on video or live in class) of a scene from the novel
2. The cover design for an alternate book jacket
3. An artistic rendering of a particularly striking scene
4. An interpretive dance (I’d love to see another one)
5. A website-study guide for the novel
6. Staple 40 dollars to a blank sheet of paper and give it to Mr. Patterson
7. A sculpture of your favourite character
8. Write and perform a song inspired by this story

And so on and so on. Of course, you are free to express yourself in some way this is not on this list (pending approval from Mr. Patterson).


Things to do for this...

A. Complete the proposal sheet by next class and give it to Mr. Patterson
B. Get to work on your presentation
C. To be presented: Tuesday, February 2nd (if you want it on the next report)
Or Monday, February 8th

Mark Breakdown

1. Proposal Sheet 5 Marks
2. Project Presentation 10 Marks
3. Product Quality 20 Marks

Good Luck. Looking forward to these.

Patterson

I don't believe pumpkin pie is even made from pumpkin. I mean, how can something that smells that awful make a pie so sweet? There's not enough sugar in the universe. - Lewis Black

Journals 1 and 2

A Reminder about Journals

I will collect your journals next Tuesday. This is the last day I can get them before the report card so you better get them into me. If you don't, there will be a big old "0" where that mark should go. I will give you the 3rd entry on Friday. For today, a quick reminder what the first two journals are about:


1. Journal 1 - First 1/3 of the novel

-What do you think of the book so far? Are you enjoying it? Why or why not?
-What's your reaction to the first person style? Is it interesting? Distracting? WHy?
-Where do you predict the story will go?

2. Journal 2 - Autism/Aspergers Videos

-What new things did you learn about Autism and Aspergers?
-What similarities do you find between the kids in the movie and Christopher?
-Did you find any bias/slant/omissions in either of the films?

Links to Videos

60 Minutes Report - http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8591772688227106806#docid=-1775861296735035102

My Crazy Life -

part 1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_PBVxGEEY4

part 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UviCfQC8Uzk&feature=related

part 3 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boEuFeDO8Ow&feature=related

Those are the first two journals. The 3rd will come on Friday.

Adios.

Patterson

If a man smiles all the time, he’s probably selling something that doesn’t work
-George Carlin

Welcome, Punks

Hey Gang,

Welcome to Mr. Patterson's new and exciting experiment in online and interactive learning. From now on I'll be posting all assignments, videos and other important teaching type stuff on this page. No more will "I was sick" be your lame excuse for not having work done (not that it was much of an excuse before).

Stay tunned. I should have the following items up on this site soon:

1. Journal Entries
2. Links to videos watched in class
3. Dates and Deadlines
4. Pictures of my cats

Have a nice day.

Patterson

Whenever I go to shave, I assume there's someone else on the planet shaving, so I say, "I'm gonna go shave, too."
-Mitch Hedburg