Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Things that I Found Valuable in My LA Lessons Last year
Throughout my lessons last year, I have gained exposure to many different types of writing styles, such as poetry, how to write a literature answer, etc. Though I am still not very good in some areas, I have seen some improvement and I learnt how to appreciate the writing styles of different writers or poets. I felt that learning about how to analyse a writer's style of writing in literature was the most valuable thing I have learnt. I have learnt that writers choose every word carefully to suit the situation and theme of the story. I found my Language Arts teacher's (Mr Lundberg) teaching styles interesting and new, such as the "pass the ball" system to encourage people to speak up. More people have become enthusiastic about speaking up during lessons. The only problem I have is that because of the wide exposure to different things, I am unable to focus on anything so even when I have not fully understood something, we might have already moved to the the next topic. ACE assignments such as blog posts increase the opportunities for all of us to express ourselves and commenting on other's blogs allows us to get to read and know about how other's are writing. Therefore, we are given the opportunity to learn from one another.
Monday, January 17, 2011
My Favourite Book
Kite Runner
My favourite book is The Kite Runner. It was recommended to me by my mother. When I began reading, I became so immersed in it that I could not even put it down. The setting was pictured very clearly and everything seemed so real. Even though it’s a fiction novel, everything seemed so real. It is a touching story of friendship, family relationships and betrayal. These main themes are all blended together, making up this lovely book. These themes are scenes that do happen in real life. The book also shows how war and terrorism has scarred Afghanistan and caused the death of innocent civilians. This is a book that I would not hesitate to recommend to others.
Here is the link to see more : http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/77203.The_Kite_Runner
My favourite book is The Kite Runner. It was recommended to me by my mother. When I began reading, I became so immersed in it that I could not even put it down. The setting was pictured very clearly and everything seemed so real. Even though it’s a fiction novel, everything seemed so real. It is a touching story of friendship, family relationships and betrayal. These main themes are all blended together, making up this lovely book. These themes are scenes that do happen in real life. The book also shows how war and terrorism has scarred Afghanistan and caused the death of innocent civilians. This is a book that I would not hesitate to recommend to others.
Here is the link to see more : http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/77203.The_Kite_Runner
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Shel Silverstein poems
The Little Boy and the Old Man by Shel Silverstein
Said the little boy, "Sometimes I drop my spoon."
Said the old man, "I do that too."
The little boy whispered, "I wet my pants."
"I do that too," laughed the little old man.
Said the little boy, "I often cry."
The old man nodded, "So do I."
"But worst of all," said the boy, "it seems
Grown-ups don't pay attention to me."
And he felt the warmth of a wrinkled old hand.
"I know what you mean," said the little old man.
1)What is the underlying message that is being conveyed in this poem?
The underlying message is that both old people and children have many interesting similarities, especially not receiving attentions, being neglected and forgotten by adults.
2)Has Shel Silverstain used any particular poetic technique that brings out this message more clearly?
Shel Silverstain used a conversation to bring out the irony that both people with such a huge age gap have so many similarities.
Messy Room by Shel Silverstein
Whosever room this is should be ashamed!
His underwear is hanging on the lamp.
His raincoat is there in the overstuffed chair,
And the chair is becoming quite mucky and damp.
His workbook is wedged in the window,
His sweater's been thrown on the floor.
His scarf and one ski are beneath the TV,
And his pants have been carelessly hung on the door.
His books are all jammed in the closet,
His vest has been left in the hall.
A lizard named Ed is asleep in his bed,
And his smelly old sock has been stuck to the wall.
Whosever room this is should be ashamed!
Donald or Robert or Willie or--
Huh? You say it's mine? Oh, dear,
I knew it looked familiar!
1)Can you say that the poem is humorous? If so how?
Yes, the speaker in th poem criticizes the owner of the room for not tidying it up when the room is actually his. irony is being used in the poem. All the different descriptions of the room make it more interesting and amusing.
2)What aspect of the human character has been highlighted in this poem?
From the poem, we can see that humans tend to blame others before blaming themselves.
Cloony The Clown by Shel Silverstein
I'll tell you the story of Cloony the Clown
Who worked in a circus that came through town.
His shoes were too big and his hat was too small,
But he just wasn't, just wasn't funny at all.
He had a trombone to play loud silly tunes,
He had a green dog and a thousand balloons.
He was floppy and sloppy and skinny and tall,
But he just wasn't, just wasn't funny at all.
And every time he did a trick,
Everyone felt a little sick.
And every time he told a joke,
Folks sighed as if their hearts were broke.
And every time he lost a shoe,
Everyone looked awfully blue.
And every time he stood on his head,
Everyone screamed, "Go back to bed!"
And every time he made a leap,
Everybody fell asleep.
And every time he ate his tie,
Everyone began to cry.
And Cloony could not make any money
Simply because he was not funny.
One day he said, "I'll tell this town
How it feels to be an unfunny clown."
And he told them all why he looked so sad,
And he told them all why he felt so bad.
He told of Pain and Rain and Cold,
He told of Darkness in his soul,
And after he finished his tale of woe,
Did everyone cry? Oh no, no, no,They laughed until they shook the trees
With "Hah-Hah-Hahs" and "Hee-Hee-Hees."
They laughed with howls and yowls and shrieks,
They laughed all day, they laughed all week,
They laughed until they had a fit,
They laughed until their jackets split.
The laughter spread for miles around
To every city, every town,
Over mountains, 'cross the sea,
From Saint Tropez to Mun San Nee.
And soon the whole world rang with laughter,
Lasting till forever after,
While Cloony stood in the circus tent,
With his head drooped low and his shoulders bent.
And he said,"THAT IS NOT WHAT I MEANT -
I'M FUNNY JUST BY ACCIDENT."
And while the world laughed outside.
Cloony the Clown sat down and cried.
1)Expain the irony in this poem.
When Cloony did tricks and other things to make people laugh, no one was amused and no one laughed. However, when Cloony apoke of his woes, everyone began laughing while he cried.
2)Does Shel Silverstein manage to convey some harsh realities in this poem?
Shel Silverstein managed to show how unsympathetic people are and not caring for the feelings if others.
3)What poetic devices has the poet used to effectively convey his message?
He used onomatopoeia, similes and various types of descriptions to show the feelings clearer. Irony was also used.
Said the little boy, "Sometimes I drop my spoon."
Said the old man, "I do that too."
The little boy whispered, "I wet my pants."
"I do that too," laughed the little old man.
Said the little boy, "I often cry."
The old man nodded, "So do I."
"But worst of all," said the boy, "it seems
Grown-ups don't pay attention to me."
And he felt the warmth of a wrinkled old hand.
"I know what you mean," said the little old man.
1)What is the underlying message that is being conveyed in this poem?
The underlying message is that both old people and children have many interesting similarities, especially not receiving attentions, being neglected and forgotten by adults.
2)Has Shel Silverstain used any particular poetic technique that brings out this message more clearly?
Shel Silverstain used a conversation to bring out the irony that both people with such a huge age gap have so many similarities.
Messy Room by Shel Silverstein
Whosever room this is should be ashamed!
His underwear is hanging on the lamp.
His raincoat is there in the overstuffed chair,
And the chair is becoming quite mucky and damp.
His workbook is wedged in the window,
His sweater's been thrown on the floor.
His scarf and one ski are beneath the TV,
And his pants have been carelessly hung on the door.
His books are all jammed in the closet,
His vest has been left in the hall.
A lizard named Ed is asleep in his bed,
And his smelly old sock has been stuck to the wall.
Whosever room this is should be ashamed!
Donald or Robert or Willie or--
Huh? You say it's mine? Oh, dear,
I knew it looked familiar!
1)Can you say that the poem is humorous? If so how?
Yes, the speaker in th poem criticizes the owner of the room for not tidying it up when the room is actually his. irony is being used in the poem. All the different descriptions of the room make it more interesting and amusing.
2)What aspect of the human character has been highlighted in this poem?
From the poem, we can see that humans tend to blame others before blaming themselves.
Cloony The Clown by Shel Silverstein
I'll tell you the story of Cloony the Clown
Who worked in a circus that came through town.
His shoes were too big and his hat was too small,
But he just wasn't, just wasn't funny at all.
He had a trombone to play loud silly tunes,
He had a green dog and a thousand balloons.
He was floppy and sloppy and skinny and tall,
But he just wasn't, just wasn't funny at all.
And every time he did a trick,
Everyone felt a little sick.
And every time he told a joke,
Folks sighed as if their hearts were broke.
And every time he lost a shoe,
Everyone looked awfully blue.
And every time he stood on his head,
Everyone screamed, "Go back to bed!"
And every time he made a leap,
Everybody fell asleep.
And every time he ate his tie,
Everyone began to cry.
And Cloony could not make any money
Simply because he was not funny.
One day he said, "I'll tell this town
How it feels to be an unfunny clown."
And he told them all why he looked so sad,
And he told them all why he felt so bad.
He told of Pain and Rain and Cold,
He told of Darkness in his soul,
And after he finished his tale of woe,
Did everyone cry? Oh no, no, no,They laughed until they shook the trees
With "Hah-Hah-Hahs" and "Hee-Hee-Hees."
They laughed with howls and yowls and shrieks,
They laughed all day, they laughed all week,
They laughed until they had a fit,
They laughed until their jackets split.
The laughter spread for miles around
To every city, every town,
Over mountains, 'cross the sea,
From Saint Tropez to Mun San Nee.
And soon the whole world rang with laughter,
Lasting till forever after,
While Cloony stood in the circus tent,
With his head drooped low and his shoulders bent.
And he said,"THAT IS NOT WHAT I MEANT -
I'M FUNNY JUST BY ACCIDENT."
And while the world laughed outside.
Cloony the Clown sat down and cried.
1)Expain the irony in this poem.
When Cloony did tricks and other things to make people laugh, no one was amused and no one laughed. However, when Cloony apoke of his woes, everyone began laughing while he cried.
2)Does Shel Silverstein manage to convey some harsh realities in this poem?
Shel Silverstein managed to show how unsympathetic people are and not caring for the feelings if others.
3)What poetic devices has the poet used to effectively convey his message?
He used onomatopoeia, similes and various types of descriptions to show the feelings clearer. Irony was also used.
Big Fish
1) What does " a big fish in small pond" mean to you?
People who are important but only within their limited circle of influence.
2) What is the purpose of Edward Bloom's tall tale about the big fish and the wedding ring?
3)How does William Bloom as a boy feel about the relationship between Edward and William Bloom?
William was very fascinated with the tale when he listened to it the first one or two times. However, Edward kept repeating the story at william's events such as campfires and wedding.William thus befan to feel that the story was unbelievable and lame.
4)Why does Edward Bloom feel the need to keep repeating the tale throughout his life?
Edward felt that his story was very interesting and could always entertain people at events.
5)What does the tale reveal about the relationship between Edwward and William Bloom?
At first, William enjoyed to listen to his father's stories. However, as William grew up and his father continued to repeat the "big fish" story, their relationship suffered. William felt ashamed of his father when he repeated the story at William's wedding and did not talk to him for three years.
6)Consider the following quote: "In telling the story of my father's life, it's impossible to separate fact from fiction, the man from the myth. The best I can do is to tell it the way he told me. It doesn't always make sense, and most of it never happened, but that's what kind of story this is." What kind of storieshave you been told that match this description? What is the effect of telling a story in this way?
Myths, legends or fairytales match this description. By telling a story this way, it becomes much ore interesting for the audience.
7)Does bending the truth or exaggerating the truth for the purpose of conveying an entertaining story undercut the believability of such a story? is a tall tale less valid than a straight reportage of the facts? Why or why not?
Yes, as the story moves further away from reality and truth, the believvability of the story is being comprimised. it is definitely less valid than a straight reportage of the facts but much more exciting in interesting.
People who are important but only within their limited circle of influence.
2) What is the purpose of Edward Bloom's tall tale about the big fish and the wedding ring?
3)How does William Bloom as a boy feel about the relationship between Edward and William Bloom?
William was very fascinated with the tale when he listened to it the first one or two times. However, Edward kept repeating the story at william's events such as campfires and wedding.William thus befan to feel that the story was unbelievable and lame.
4)Why does Edward Bloom feel the need to keep repeating the tale throughout his life?
Edward felt that his story was very interesting and could always entertain people at events.
5)What does the tale reveal about the relationship between Edwward and William Bloom?
At first, William enjoyed to listen to his father's stories. However, as William grew up and his father continued to repeat the "big fish" story, their relationship suffered. William felt ashamed of his father when he repeated the story at William's wedding and did not talk to him for three years.
6)Consider the following quote: "In telling the story of my father's life, it's impossible to separate fact from fiction, the man from the myth. The best I can do is to tell it the way he told me. It doesn't always make sense, and most of it never happened, but that's what kind of story this is." What kind of storieshave you been told that match this description? What is the effect of telling a story in this way?
Myths, legends or fairytales match this description. By telling a story this way, it becomes much ore interesting for the audience.
7)Does bending the truth or exaggerating the truth for the purpose of conveying an entertaining story undercut the believability of such a story? is a tall tale less valid than a straight reportage of the facts? Why or why not?
Yes, as the story moves further away from reality and truth, the believvability of the story is being comprimised. it is definitely less valid than a straight reportage of the facts but much more exciting in interesting.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Snapshotland-10 steps to analyse a poem
In Snapshotland everyone is happy all the time.
It is the promised land where people sit with flasks of tea
on smooth sand by a flat sea and smile and smile and smile.
The sun shines all day long and every day in Kodachrome
or sepia on sandboys and sandgirls who never
stop smiling from the time they first appear, with buckets,
in crisp, gingham pinafores and bonnets on the sea-shore.
Lovers stay in love forever; married couples never
grow tired of each other; everything is always just right.
The dolphins know exactly when to leap into the air
and stay there for the permanent delight of passengers
aboard the pleasure-boat which never passes out of sight.
Nobody in Snapshotland grows old unless they want to,
judging by the way they go on smiling so, in deck-chairs,
on the beach, or in old-fashioned gardens with lavender
and grandchildren here and there – and no one dies, ever.
Even if they don’t appear later, the people are still
always there, smiling through the lavender and dolphins
and the buckets full of pebbles on the same sea-shore.
By
Sylvia Kantaris
1) Forget what the poem may or may not mean, or what it may be about.
2) Look at just the title and WRITE DOWN about half a dozen things that it suggests to you. Give literal meanings as well as other associations.
- Camera
- Photoalbum
- Fairytale/Fantasy
- Good memories
- Photographs
3) Read the poem once quickly, and then several times more slowly. Try to hear the poem aloud in your head. DO NOT recite the poem aloud in class; if you must hear it aloud, read it quietly to yourself.
4) WRITE DOWN a list of all those things in the poem that force their attention on you or which catch your interest for any particular reason. This includes unusual/odd/striking words, rhymes, or repetitions/patterns/contrasts, etc.
-smile and smile and smile (repetition)
- 'every day in Kodachrome or sepia on sandboys and sandgirls' (play with words,figurative language)
- 'and no one dies, ever' (emphasis on 'ever')
- 'gingham pinafores and bonnets' (clear description)
- 'everyone is happy all the time' (shoes people only take pictures smiling)
- 'everything is always just right' (makes it sound like a fairytale)
5) WRITE DOWN any features of figurative language in the poem: metaphors, similes, personification, alliteration, assonance, onomatopoeia, symbolism, etc.
- 'It is the promised land' (metaphor)
- 'on the same sea-shore' (alliteration)
6) WRITE DOWN groups of words that may be thematically similar (for example, that all similes make reference to animals/death/plants, etc., or all the first words of lines are conjunction words, etc.). Don't worry about whether your groups of words seem silly or improbable; look at what you have observed and ask yourself: what is its significance?
'smile and smile and smile',
'never stop smiling',
'everyone is happy all the time',
'permanent delight of passengers',
'smiling through the lavender and dolphins'
'the way they go on smiling so'
7) Look at your lists, notes, and groups. Do you see any pattern taking shape? If so, WRITE DOWN this pattern.
--They are all about happy moments
8) Read the poem again and WRITE DOWN your intelligent guesses of what the poem may mean.
--The poem might mean that all the beautiful moments of life are captured in pictures, beautiful moments that will not fade.
9) Answer the following questions:
Who is "speaking" in the poem? Is it the POET or a PERSONA?
--The poet is speaking about pictures.
Who is the poem "spoken" to? In other words, who is the audience for this poem? Is it to a particular person, to the poet himself (reflective) or to the public in general?
--It is to the public.
What is the speaker's attitude to this audience? Is it angry, sincere, joking, teasing, etc.?
--He is describing the beautiful memories photographs have in a happy mood.
What is the POET's attitude to this audience? (This may be different from the speaker.)
--(See Above)
Why is the poem organized in the way that it is?
--The first para is an intro to snapshotland. The rest are descriptions of different scenarios of photographs.
What is the EFFECT of all the things you have written down in Steps 2-8?
--Analyse the purpose of the poem
10) WRITE DOWN your guess at the poet's intent: what do you think the poet hoped to accomplish in writing this poem?
--He wishes to convey to us the value of poems.
It is the promised land where people sit with flasks of tea
on smooth sand by a flat sea and smile and smile and smile.
The sun shines all day long and every day in Kodachrome
or sepia on sandboys and sandgirls who never
stop smiling from the time they first appear, with buckets,
in crisp, gingham pinafores and bonnets on the sea-shore.
Lovers stay in love forever; married couples never
grow tired of each other; everything is always just right.
The dolphins know exactly when to leap into the air
and stay there for the permanent delight of passengers
aboard the pleasure-boat which never passes out of sight.
Nobody in Snapshotland grows old unless they want to,
judging by the way they go on smiling so, in deck-chairs,
on the beach, or in old-fashioned gardens with lavender
and grandchildren here and there – and no one dies, ever.
Even if they don’t appear later, the people are still
always there, smiling through the lavender and dolphins
and the buckets full of pebbles on the same sea-shore.
By
Sylvia Kantaris
1) Forget what the poem may or may not mean, or what it may be about.
2) Look at just the title and WRITE DOWN about half a dozen things that it suggests to you. Give literal meanings as well as other associations.
- Camera
- Photoalbum
- Fairytale/Fantasy
- Good memories
- Photographs
3) Read the poem once quickly, and then several times more slowly. Try to hear the poem aloud in your head. DO NOT recite the poem aloud in class; if you must hear it aloud, read it quietly to yourself.
4) WRITE DOWN a list of all those things in the poem that force their attention on you or which catch your interest for any particular reason. This includes unusual/odd/striking words, rhymes, or repetitions/patterns/contrasts, etc.
-smile and smile and smile (repetition)
- 'every day in Kodachrome or sepia on sandboys and sandgirls' (play with words,figurative language)
- 'and no one dies, ever' (emphasis on 'ever')
- 'gingham pinafores and bonnets' (clear description)
- 'everyone is happy all the time' (shoes people only take pictures smiling)
- 'everything is always just right' (makes it sound like a fairytale)
5) WRITE DOWN any features of figurative language in the poem: metaphors, similes, personification, alliteration, assonance, onomatopoeia, symbolism, etc.
- 'It is the promised land' (metaphor)
- 'on the same sea-shore' (alliteration)
6) WRITE DOWN groups of words that may be thematically similar (for example, that all similes make reference to animals/death/plants, etc., or all the first words of lines are conjunction words, etc.). Don't worry about whether your groups of words seem silly or improbable; look at what you have observed and ask yourself: what is its significance?
'smile and smile and smile',
'never stop smiling',
'everyone is happy all the time',
'permanent delight of passengers',
'smiling through the lavender and dolphins'
'the way they go on smiling so'
7) Look at your lists, notes, and groups. Do you see any pattern taking shape? If so, WRITE DOWN this pattern.
--They are all about happy moments
8) Read the poem again and WRITE DOWN your intelligent guesses of what the poem may mean.
--The poem might mean that all the beautiful moments of life are captured in pictures, beautiful moments that will not fade.
9) Answer the following questions:
Who is "speaking" in the poem? Is it the POET or a PERSONA?
--The poet is speaking about pictures.
Who is the poem "spoken" to? In other words, who is the audience for this poem? Is it to a particular person, to the poet himself (reflective) or to the public in general?
--It is to the public.
What is the speaker's attitude to this audience? Is it angry, sincere, joking, teasing, etc.?
--He is describing the beautiful memories photographs have in a happy mood.
What is the POET's attitude to this audience? (This may be different from the speaker.)
--(See Above)
Why is the poem organized in the way that it is?
--The first para is an intro to snapshotland. The rest are descriptions of different scenarios of photographs.
What is the EFFECT of all the things you have written down in Steps 2-8?
--Analyse the purpose of the poem
10) WRITE DOWN your guess at the poet's intent: what do you think the poet hoped to accomplish in writing this poem?
--He wishes to convey to us the value of poems.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
My Limerick - The Lich from Mars
There was a lich from Mars,
Who had nothing but cars;
I thought that lich
must be very rich
But no, my witch
As there was no one left on Mars
Who had nothing but cars;
I thought that lich
must be very rich
But no, my witch
As there was no one left on Mars
Monday, July 19, 2010
My Poem- Life is ...
Fe Fi Fo Flope,
Life is like a rocky slope,
Up and down it goes
Where it never slows
Life is like a fertile field,
Fun and abundance it will yield
Fruits of joy and seeds of givings,
Sprouting into smalls seedlings
Life is like a rocky slope,
Up and down it goes
Where it never slows
Life is like a fertile field,
Fun and abundance it will yield
Fruits of joy and seeds of givings,
Sprouting into smalls seedlings
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