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onsdag 11. november 2015

*Mock Exam Preparation



10CDEF! 

As you now know the date of the English mock exam is Tuesday November 24. You will get the preparation material the day before + three lessons in class to read and work with the magazine and its topic. The reason for why you get the preparation material only a day before the actual mock exam, is because this is the way it is done on the exam.

In order for you to prepare and practice your writing, we are going spend the next couple of weeks working with this season's issue of Perspectives Magazine and the tasks related to the magazine. The form of these tasks are the same as the form which will be given on the actual mock exam.

NB! Both your English lessons and your KRLE lessons will be devoted to mock exam preparation - so no KRLE the next couple of weeks! 

NB2! If you want feedback on your text about "Making a difference", finish it (both Task 1, Task 2 and Task 3A, B, C or D) by Wednesday night and send it to me in an e-mail: pia.lund@osloskolen.no

or
sirisstudents@gmail.com

I will also have a conversation with each and every one of you about the subject of English (fagsamtale). I will start the conversations on Monday November 16. This is how you should prepare:


  • If you have any questions regarding your development and goals in the subject of English - write them down in your notebook!
  • Make at least three goals for yourself when it comes to your written English - they have to be constructive!
  • Bring both your corrected text from the writing session (I have a dream) and the assessment sheet.
Preparing for this conversation is homework for Monday November 16!

onsdag 7. oktober 2015

*I have a dream - a must-read before Monday




One of the things you will be asked to discuss during the writing session on Monday is Martin Luther King Jr.'s world-known speech "I have a dream". Read the excerpt below, make sure you understand it and that you know what the "March on Washington" was. This text will also be handed out in class today. You should also see the video clip above - Martin Luther King Jr. was known for his great speeches and the way he delivered them. If the video does not work - click here!


"I have a dream"  
Speech given by Martin Luther King Jr. at the "March on Washington", 1963 (abridged) 
"[…] 
I say to you today, my friends, though, even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up, live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."  

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave-owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.  

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream . . . I have a dream that one day in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification, one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.  

I have a dream today . . .  

[…] 

This will be the day when all of God’s children will be able to sing with new meaning. "My country, ’tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim’s pride, from every mountain side, let freedom ring." And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania. Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado. Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California.  
But not only that. Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia. Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee. Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi, from every mountain side. Let freedom ring. 

When we allow freedom to ring—when we let it ring from every city and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last, Free at last, Great God a-mighty, We are free at last." 

*How to prepare for Monday!



Rules of thumb when it comes to writing sessions:
  1. Come prepared!
    1. Read through the timeline you made in the beginning of the semester. Look at the blog, notes from class and homework, and the compendium "American History".
    2. Read the excerpt from Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech "I have a dream". See blog post above.
  2. Read the tasks thoroughly! Make sure that you understand the tasks and that you know what the task is asking you to do.
  3. Show your knowledge, but make sure that you stick to the topic.
  4. Show that you have expanded your vocabulary by using words such as civil rights, independence, abolition, declaration, constitution, segregation, freedom fighter, equality, emancipation correctly.
  5. Use connecting words and various ways to express your opinion. Avoid using the words VERY and REALLY! 
  6. Read through your text thoroughly before you hand it in. Check for errors, typos, and verb conjugations. Your message must be clear – rewrite sentences if you are unsure. Make sure you don’t do the same mistakes as you have done earlier.
  7. Remember:
    1. That you can bring all the aids you need - but you cannot use the Internet. 
    2. That you only have two school hours to complete the task - so come prepared.
    3. Check this out. It´s just a hint.

onsdag 16. september 2015

*Civil Rights Movement


The Civil Rights Movement sparked off with events such as the death of Emmett Till. And it truly sparked off when Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white man. She stood up against an unfair system and government by sitting down! It has been said that the death of Emmett Till and the trial afterwards had made Rosa Parks especially angry, and that he was in the back of her mind when she refused to move.

Read about the Civil Rights Movement in your compendium at page 20 - 21. Then write a summary of the text where you include the most important events and facts.

10EF: This is homework for Wednesday September 23. 

onsdag 9. september 2015

*American History essay


This week you are going to finish parts of your essay on American history. Your essay should include:

An introduction, with a clear thesis statement.

Three body paragraphs with clear topic sentences.

The three body paragraphs should be about

  • The first settlers
  • The War of Independence (and the Declaration of Independence)
  • The Civil War and the abolition of slavery.
Feel free to include other paragraphs, and feel free to finish the essay. 

NB! Vary your language, use connecting words and use some of the new words you have learned while working with this topic:

civil rights, independence, abolition, declaration, constitution, segregation, freedom fighter, equality, emancipation

HW: For 10CDEF for Wednesday 16th. Upload the text on "itslearning" - go to Fag -> Engelsk skriftlig -> Essay American History

*The Death of Emmett Till


After the Civil War and the abolition of slavery there was a century in U.S. history where black Americans were free but far from equal. In the Southern states blacks were treated particularly bad. One event that partly sparked the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950's and 60's was the death of a black boy named Emmett Till. The young artist Bob Dylan even wrote a song about it. Listen to the song and read the lyrics below. Then write a summary of what the lyrics are about. 

10CDEF: This is homework for Wednesday September 16th

The Death of Emmett Till 
’Twas down in Mississippi not so long ago
When a young boy from Chicago town stepped through a Southern door
This boy’s dreadful tragedy I can still remember well
The color of his skin was black and his name was Emmett Till
Some men they dragged him to a barn and there they beat him up
They said they had a reason, but I can’t remember what
They tortured him and did some things too evil to repeat
There were screaming sounds inside the barn, there was laughing sounds
out on the street
Then they rolled his body down a gulf amidst a bloody red rain
And they threw him in the waters wide to cease his screaming pain
The reason that they killed him there, and I’m sure it ain’t no lie
Was just for the fun of killin’ him and to watch him slowly die
And then to stop the United States of yelling for a trial
Two brothers they confessed that they had killed poor Emmett Till
But on the jury there were men who helped the brothers commit this
awful crime
And so this trial was a mockery, but nobody seemed to mind
I saw the morning papers but I could not bear to see
The smiling brothers walkin’ down the courthouse stairs
For the jury found them innocent and the brothers they went free
While Emmett’s body floats the foam of a Jim Crow southern sea
If you can’t speak out against this kind of thing, a crime that’s so unjust
Your eyes are filled with dead men’s dirt, your mind is filled with dust
Your arms and legs they must be in shackles and chains, and your blood
it must refuse to flow
For you let this human race fall down so God-awful low!
This song is just a reminder to remind your fellow man
That this kind of thing still lives today in that ghost-robed Ku Klux Klan
But if all of us folks that thinks alike, if we gave all we could give
We could make this great land of ours a greater place to live

onsdag 26. august 2015

*History of Slavery in the U.S.



You now know that president Lincoln freed the slaves with the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. But what is the history of slavery in the U.S? Click HERE to learn more about it!

HW:
1. Read the article.
2. Write a short summary using your own words (about half a page).

10EF: This is homework for Wednesday September 2nd
10CD: This is homework for Wednesday September 2nd

torsdag 23. april 2015

*Tips and advice for the mock exam!


You have now spent the last couple of weeks preparing for the mock exam. You should know and be able to use the focus words, you have to have read all the texts and you should have made a list of all the things YOU have to remember when it comes to your written English.
When it comes to the actual day of your mock exam there are some things your guys need to remember:
  • Do not spend too much time on the shorter answers - remember only two paragraphs on each task. Make sure that you stick to the topic and answer the task – use the same words and phrases as in the task!
  • Make sure that you spend quite some time planning your longer answer. 9EF; use the writing frame! Go for an essay/article unless you get a brilliant idea for a short story (and it better be brilliant). MAKE SURE THAT YOU TRULY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE TASK IS ASKING AND THAT YOU ANSWER THE TASK COMPLETELY! Make a solid thesis statement (again; use words and phrases found in the task), stick to the topic, stay away from gibberish and bring a list of things you have to remember when you write.
  • You may bring all sorts of aids except gadgets you can use to communicate with others.
Click on the link to find useful transition words and phrases.
BREAK A LEG!

tirsdag 10. mars 2015

A moment I will never forget

Here are some of the texts you guys wrote in class today. Lean back and read about your fellow students' scary, sad, hilarious, terrifying, akward, embarrassing or happy moments. You will both gasp and giggle! Enjoy :)


Once upon a time I was at the local shop to buy some eggs for my mom. It was a mile-long queue and I had to wait for years to pay. When I finally was about to pay for the eggs, I noticed that one of the customers had forgotten her bread. So I grabbed the bread and started on a journey to find the owner. First, I asked one of the employees at the shop about who the bread belonged to. They told me it belonged to an old tiny woman who had left around five minutes ago. So I ran outside and started seeking for the woman. There were cars everywhere and the sun fried my pale skin. But I didn’t give up. In danger of my own life, I crossed the road to look for the woman there. I couldn’t see her anywhere and I was about to give up. But suddenly I saw a tiny person slinking around in the shadows. I moved closer and I saw that it was the owner of the bread. I gave her the bread, and since my mission was completed, I ran back to the shop. When I got there everyone applauded and one of the employees gave me two ice-creams.
Written by Mads Severin 9F

My best friend Marie and I were sitting in the school hallway with the rest of our friends. Marie was making all kinds of weird facial expressions without realizing it and I couldn’t help but laugh. Because I was laughing she started laughing too even though she didn’t know why. So we both sat there laughing, pointing at each other until there was no sound coming out of our mouths and we were just shaking. Still pointing at each other and laughing silently. We went on like this for a few minutes maybe. The other friends that we sat with were just staring at us like we were retarded. I don’t blame them for that though, because we did look pretty stupid. But we didn’t really care about that. I remember this moment so well, because we were both happy and laughing at each other for almost no reason at all. It was a moment I will never forget, because for a few minutes I felt happy. The world around us kind of disappeared for a little while. Also I shared this moment with someone I love and spend a lot of time with. And therefore this is a moment I will never forget. ..The end.
Written by Linn 9F

A moment I will never forget happened when I was a three year old kid. I was a stupid kid at the age of three. For some reason I liked to eat candle wax. One day I ate candle wax again but my mom and dad didn’t notice. The wax got stuck in my throat and I could barely breathe. When mom and dad noticed they tried to get the wax out but they didn’t make it at first, so after one minute my mom just took her hand down my throat and pushed the wax down into my stomach. Mom and dad had never been that scared before. My face looked like the biggest blueberry in the world. I wish that my mom or my dad had taken a picture of me when this happened, but of course I understand that they would rather save me than take a picture...
Written by Sebastian 9E

A couple of years ago, my family and I went to Italy for the summer with some of our friends. I remember this whole vacation as particularly good. Yet, there’s one moment I remember as the best that summer. We had rented a sail boat with crew to sail around. The trip was stunning. The water was turquoise, and the sky clear blue. The sun was shining. At the end of the sail trip, the sail boat stopped right outside of a beautiful beach. We were to swim from the boat to the shore. I remember the moment as I jumped out of the sail boat, into the ocean. I was exited and happy. The water was crystal clear and warm. I remember watching the different fish and plants as I swam. When we arrived at the beach, it was quite windy, and we left pretty fast. But that moment, swimming from the boat to the beach, was pretty amazing.
Written by Simone 9E

A moment I will never forget is the time my nose got broken, it was the first time in my life I saw blood! This happened in kindergarten when I was around 4-5 years old; I was living a life without fear and evil. For some reason I used to enjoy hiding behind doors so I could scare those who dared to walk by. This one day I was waiting behind the door for about 10 minutes without anyone walking by, so I decided to take a peak into the other room through the gap that appears when you open a door slightly. Without hesitating I stuck my whole face into the gap and before I could say a peep, someone closed the door! The door squashed my nose and I could feel every inch of the bones in my nose break. At first I didn’t really react, but when I saw the weird red goo that I later would find out was called blood, I screamed so loud that the people living in Finnmark could probably hear me! I was sent to the hospital and it wasn’t really before I got told that my nose was broken that I felt pain. A poor child like me wasn’t supposed to witness such a horrible thing! Blood, ugh! The word freaks me out still to this day!
Written by Goman 9E

I have a moment I believe I will never forget, because it was one of the most awkward moments in my whole life. This summer, my family and I was in Crete in Greece and we had an incredible time together. On the way home I suddenly got my period. Since I didn’t think I was going to get my period at that time, I had no tampons, and nothing that could stop the bleeding. The problem was that I didn’t notice that I was bleeding, but a lot of other people did, including the airport security (!!). Unfortunately they had to do a body search on me. But since I didn’t know I was bleeding, I didn’t feel uncomfortable, but I believe a lot of other people did. When my family and I had gone through the security check, my mom came to me and told me that I was bleeding. The first thing that came to my mind was how awkward it most has been for the guards. Later, we sat down on a bench with some small holes while we waited on our plane. After a few minutes, I saw some people stare at me, but I didn’t understand why.... Then, I spread my legs and look down on the floor, and it was a big pond on the floor. I have never felt so embarrassed, I am scarred for life!
Written by Cora 9F

I was about 7 years old at the time. I remember I had a friend over and we were playing super spies in the woods close to my house. We found an old, abandoned shed, hidden by the trees, which we decided to make into our secret headquarter. The building was kind of creepy. It was rotten, with several holes in the walls and rusty nails sticking out everywhere. The roof was flat and somehow we managed to get onto it by using my pink skipping rope. We were up there for a while, but then, when I tried to get down, I managed to fall from the roof which was maybe two meters above the ground. I fell pretty hard on my back and lost my breath. I lay there on the hard ground and felt the terror spreading through my body. I couldn’t move and I couldn’t breathe. “Is this the way I’m going to die?” I thought. My vision went blurry, and could hear my friend screaming: “Run, Emma! There’s an animal right next to you!”. But I didn’t manage to move. I managed to breathe again and pulled myself together. I stood up, relieved that I was not dead. We found out that the “animal” my friend saw was just a stick, and I didn’t get any injuries from the fall.
Written by Emma K. H. 9E

It happened in 2003, I know it’s a long time ago. But still it sticks to my memory even though I’m trying to forget it. I don’t remember so much of the things that happened before and after. The only thing I remember is that I went to the park and there was one kid who had a birthday that day. It was playtime and the kid with the birthday had a hoodie. I remember he was one year older than me, and he was going to ride the slide. When he went down the slide the string that you use to tighten the hoodie got hooked at the top of the slider and he choked. And unfortunately he died, only 4 years old. I remember that the ambulance came and that it was an extreme chaos. But I don’t remember so much. It was a long time ago, and I can’t remember anything else that happened that day. One thing I know is that he was only four years old, and that I will never forget it. Thank you for your attention.
Written by Julian 9F

There was this time me and my grandma were walking to the store. Just a normal day in the summer, the only thing that was bothering us both was that my grandma’s bicycle had been stolen two days before. It was a bicycle with a lot of memories and stickers from everywhere my grandparents had been together, so she missed it a lot. This normal day when we were walking to the store, I saw her bicycle. I started yelling and was all: “Grandma, grandma! I found your baby!” She turned the way I pointed and started running. The only downside was that the bicycle was tied up with a huge padlock. We couldn’t get it off, so I asked her what we should do. My stubborn grandmother answered me loud and clear; “We are going to sit here until the disrespectable thief comes back here, unlocks the padlock and gives my bicycle back to me!” I didn’t say anything, just sat down by her side. We sat there for four hours, doing nothing but wait. Then I called my grandpa and told him everything. Half an hour later he came and he didn’t come alone. He had brought his biggest wire nipper. He grabbed the padlock, and cut it in two. I didn’t really understand why all this happened just becuase of a bicycle, but what I did understand was that if you want something, you don’t quit until you get it.
Written by Mathilde 9F

Before I tell you about this story you have to know something about my father. He is a professional sailor, well not completely professional, but he still competes in races like NM and other competitions. He owns a small sailboat, and he and his crew practice a lot during the sailing season. Well back to the case, a competition was right around the corner and the crew was feeling good, but there was only one problem, they were one man short. So my dad called around to find someone who could to step in, but there was no one left. My dad was quite bummed, he had looked forward to this race for a long time. But as the good son I am, I told him I could step in and save the day. My father thought about it for a moment before he said I officially was a part of the crew. I was as happy as my father, because I knew the King would compete in this race too. The race was located in the Oslofjord, not far away from our house. When the day arrived, we woke up early and we drove down to the starting point. We did some the last changes on the sails and other sailing stuff which I didn’t understand at all. The race had begun and we had a pretty good position, we were right behind the King in 6th place. There were only 500 meters left to the finish line and we were in the same position as the King, and then a miracle happened... We got so much wind out of nowhere, we flew above the water and we finished third before the King and my dad's rival. Even though we didn’t win, I will always share this moment with my dad.
Written by Lars Bendik 9F

About three weeks ago I was skiing in the mountains with my father and my friends. We were skiing off-piste in the woods up on the mountain. We were about to ski back to the slopes again, when I saw a hill. I thought it was just a small hill, so I picked up the pace, and drove off. In the middle of the air, as soon as I drove off the edge I saw what the hill really was. It was a huge cliff, and it was most likely 3 meters down to the ground, and at that moment Erik realized he had screwed up. When I landed my ski bindings shot off and made me fly forward and land on my face, a real faceplant. That day it was snowing, and luckily there were lots of snow where I landed. So that is probably why it did not get hurt at all. I got up, and cleared my helmet and my face for snow, and then the others came along and laughed with me, after they had wondered how I could not have seen the cliff. Then they took a picture to show to my mother that always worries (and that made her worry even more). They helped me dig up my skis from the snow, and we went down to the lift. At the way down I said: "Now is a good time to eat lunch..."
Written by Erik 9F

It was Christmas eve. I walked over to the Christmas tree. I picked up a present, and gave it to my mom. Her eyes were bigger than all the stars in the whole universe. She began to open it. Slowly she took off the gift paper and watched closely. She probably thought “this can`t be real.” But it was, it was a little black box. She opened it and she began to cry. She took it out of the box and looked at it. It was a necklace, made of gold and a diamond. I saw she liked it. She began to thank me for the present. And today she uses it almost every day at work. And I appreciate that.
Written by Borge 9E

When I was about 6 years old I was trying to do a good deed, but it ended catastrophically. It was Saturday evening and the clock was about seven. My brother and I were eating candy and drinking chocolate milk, and suddenly my brother spilled chocolate milk all over a chair. Since I am the big sister of course I offered to find some paper to dry up the all the chocolate milk. I went in to the kitchen and tried to find some paper, and then I saw a paper roll on the top of our enormous kitchen cabinet. I dragged a chair close to the cabinet that was used to store glass and other kitchen stuff. The paper was on the top so I had to step on the cabinet. I remember I was about to put my foot on the cabinet, but after that it`s black. I woke up when my father was carrying me to my room. I cried a lot and my father called the casualty clinic and drove me there. They said I had a concussion and what really sucked was that I wasn`t allowed to watch TV or read or basically do anything fun. And when I was going to bed it was impossible to sleep. I had three enormous bumps in my head. One on the left side where I hit my head on the table, one on the back of the head from when I hit the floor and one on the right side where the cabinet fell down on me. When I was at the kitchen later I saw the cabinet that maybe was three times taller than me lying on the floor and all the glass was broken.
Written by Embla 9E

In February 2015, I was on a training camp in Cadiz, a city in southern-Spain. One day, there was almost no wind – but that did not stop the waves from becoming enormous. We had a four, maybe five meter swell that day and I had never been surfing on a board without a sail on before. I was so nervous about getting caught by the waves while I was in the water (and getting that washing-machine feeling) that I had to take off my wetsuit again and again just to pee before I went out. I went out to the water with huge waves, crazy Spanish surfers and an amazing sunset. After a couple of minutes I managed to catch my first wave, the feeling is almost indescribable. With the greenish color on the water and the perfectly clean waves, and accelerating full-speed down the swell, it felt like running on water. I felt like Jesus, or maybe the great Poseidon. There is no greater feeling than surfing and that feeling of being part of the ocean, riding on top of the world. Surfing is freedom, adventure and creativity rolled into one. It is easy to see why surfers love surfing so much. I think the primary reason for why I never will forget this fantastic experience is because the first time you do or see something is the most amazing one. Also, the atmosphere on the beach after we had surfed was wonderful. We got to see the very best of what the nature in Southern-Spain had to offer.
Written by Matteo 9E

I was at a friend’s house with three of my best friends. Since it was summer (the summer of 2010 actually), the sun was almost frying us alive. We were all extremely hot (take that which way you want), and the sweat was literally dripping. I was wearing pants and a sweater (don`t ask why, I was really stupid at that time okay?), which obviously didn`t help at all. Therefore, I decided to go home and change into something more weather-appropriate (my house was a few houses away so it wasn’t a big deal anyway). After going home and changing into shorts and a t-shirt, I decided to take my bike back to my friend`s house. I didn’t want to miss out on all the fun they were having (and by fun I mean getting dehydrated from all the sweating), so I sped up and tried to get back as fast as possible. This “riding-my-bike-as-fast-as-I-could-thing” was a terrible idea, because I ended up on the side of the rode, crying. Not only did I scratch my knee up pretty bad, I also broke my wrist and ended up with a cast on my arm for three weeks. My friends surprised me with a feel-better-card later that day when I came home from the hospital. So moral to the story is: “Don`t wear heavy clothing on a hot, summer day, because you might end up with a broken wrist”.
Written by Emma T. 9E

Once upon a time I made a teacher cry. This wasn’t bad tears, but tears of joy, or so I think. This was during school, in a class called “dream-class”. The whole class sat in a circle with their chairs, and the teacher told us to say something nice to the person next to you. I sat next to the teacher. I got a compliment from the girl next to me. Then I turned around and said to the teacher “Hilde (the teacher's name), you got a nice fashion style.” It was silent for like two seconds. Then the teacher took a deep breath. And I swear I saw tears in her eyes. And then she said back to me that I was sweet. Then the class just kept on saying compliments to each other. But I still remember that she started to cry.
Written by Benjamin 9E

torsdag 26. februar 2015

*Hitting the snooze button!




A well known problem for many of you (and us teachers included).
1. Read the article in Perspectives Magazine, learn all the words.
2. Decide if you agree or disagree with Jilly Dos Santos. Write two paragraphs, each starting with one argument. If you like, you may start like this:
 First of all, I believe........
Secondly....
My second argument is....


Your paragraphs should be normal paragraph length.


(Remember an argument is your opinion and the reason for it. The reast of the paragraph should be used to give examples or evidence for your argument.


Example:


I believe it is important that teenagers get pocket money, because it will teach them finacial responibility. If you have not been taught how to handle money, you will not know the value of it. It will make it difficult to stick to a budget later on, which may leads to serious finacial problems. In addition it is a growing problem that young people turn to easy solutions like cretit cards and other loans with huge interests. This way young people will be in big debts before reaching adulthood. This is not a good way to start off.


BRING YOUR TEXT TO CLASS!


This is homework for 9EF for Thursday March 5
This is homework for 9CD for Monday March 2

torsdag 5. februar 2015

*Writing session



Next week you guys are to have a writing session. Your homework for next week is to prepare for this. Remember that you are to write an article/essay so make sure that you know what a hook, thesis statement and topic sentences are. You must also have read all the texts in Perspectives Magazine. This is what you should bring to the writing session:
  • Perspectives Magazine
  • Your notes from class
  • A list of useful connectors (tekstbindingsord)
  • Other aids that might come in useful (e.g. a list of words to use instead of "very", feedback from earlier texts, a list of things you know you have to focus on while you write, etc.)
Remember to plan your essay before you start writing!


9EF: Come prepared for the writing session on Tuesday February 10.


torsdag 8. januar 2015

*My Hero




Welcome back to a new year, new opportunities and a new issue of Perspectives Magazine! This time the main topic is "Heroes". You will meet everyday heroes, heroes from history, young heroes and old, and heroes who changed the world.


The first text we want you to read is a text about two everyday heroes, one was a lawyer and the other is a teacher. The text is called "My Hero" and is to be found at page 4 in Perspectives Magazine.


Read the text and learn all the difficult words. Then write a small text (half a page) where you describe what a hero is to you. Is it someone who has done great deeds? Or could it be your next-door neighbour?


9EF: You will get Perspectives Magazine in class on Monday. The homework above is for Thursday January 15.

torsdag 20. november 2014

*Mock Exam Preparations




Another issue of Perspectives Magazine is out, and this time the topic is LOVE! To find it; log on to Fronter -> Ressurser -> Cappelen Damm. Log on to Cappelen Damm using your Fronter username and password. When you're in you will see your name up at the right hand corner. Click at "Min side" and Terminprøver Engelsk will come up. Click on "Gå til" and voila! You're in :)


Rules of thumb when it comes to the Mock Exam:
  1. Come prepared! Make sure that you have read all the texts thoroughly and that you know the basic rules of the genres (essay, short story, diary entry, personal letter etc.)
  2. Write down sources! If you have gathered information outside of the magazine (which you should do) make sure that you write down where you found that information. If you use it in one of your texts you HAVE TO include it (list the source(s) at the end of your text).
  3. When you get the tasks; read the information (PRAKTISKE OPPLYSNINGER) at the beginning thoroughly! Here you will get information about font size, font, spacing and more.
  4. Read the tasks thoroughly! Make sure that you understand the tasks and that you can say YES to all the bulletpoints at the criteria checklist (there is a criteria checklist in each task).
  5. Plan your writing. Especially when it comes to Part B and your longer answer it is crucial that you make a draft / plan before you start to write.
  6. Make sure that you refer to texts in Perspectives Magazine when you are writing. Show the reader that some of the texts and quotes inspired you!
  7. Use connecting words and various ways to express your opinion. Avoid using the the words VERY and REALLY!
  8. Read through your texts thoroughly before you hand in your exam. You will get at checklist sheet you have to hand in with your exam.
  9. Bring energizing food! Not just candy :)
GOOD LUCK!



NB: Take a look at the chart below!


torsdag 13. november 2014

*Focus on writing

Grammar Joke
As you now know our focus the forthcoming weeks will be on your writing. When correcting your texts we found that there are still some grammatical issues you guys have to work on. We have found some exercises for you - put all the sentences down in your notebook. Make sure that you can explain to a fellow student in class why you chose the different conjugations of the verbs (subject-verb agreement).

Ex: Jane does not read a book.
In this sentence I used does because Jane is third person singular and the verb to do is always conjugated as does in the simple present (presens) when the subject is third person singular.

Go to the exercises by clicking on the links below (NB: Click on the TOGGLE EXAMPLE if you do not understand what you are supposed to do):



Also do this exercise which focus on the correct usage of there, their, they're (put the complete sentences down in your notebook):


9EF: This is homework for Thursday November 20th.
9CD: This is homework for Wednesday November 19th. (You may write the explanation down in Norwegian)

fredag 7. november 2014

*Mock Exam Prep


The date for the Mock Exam is closing in - Thursday the 27th of November. We will spend most of our time the next couple of weeks preparing and working on your writing. You now know the drill - when writing non-fiction texts you have to plan your text thoroughly, you have to be able to write inspirational introductions (hook the reader), you have to have a thesis statement, you have to have great arguments, topic sentences and killer conclusions. We'll focus on planning essays/articles in class, being able to vary your language and using a vocabulary suitable for both the topic and the context.

9EF: You started on (and some of you completed) Task 1 and 2 from the 2013 Mock Exam in class on Thursday (you'll find both the tasks and an online version of Perspectives Magazine on Fronter at the English room under EF 2013). Go to Fronter and find your text and complete it (Archive -> English -> Task 1 and 2 - Overcoming Obstacles). Finish it and polish it! Make it as good as possible - use suitable words, a varied language and transition words and phrases. Use different ways to express your opinion. This is homework for Tuesday November 11th - we'll be at the computer room, so e-mail the text to yourself online.


NB! TAKE A LOOK AT THE CHART BELOW (click on it to make it bigger):


torsdag 6. november 2014

*IDIOM OF WEEK 45




What do we mean when we say:

This is a catch 22 situation!

Put this idiom in an interesting context, share in class.

This is homework for 9EF for Thursday November 13th.

torsdag 9. oktober 2014

*How to analyze characters

This week we are talking about characters. Often when you describe characters you describe their appearence. Now, we would like you to go deeper into the characters and describe their personalities.

Read this link.

Now write down notes on each of the two characters in Thank you M'am, and bring to class. (Do this thoroughly!)

This is homework for 9CD for Wednesday 15th.
This is homework for 9EF for Thursday 16th.

torsdag 18. september 2014

*Writing session coming up!



Next week you are to write a longer text at school where you will be graded. Make sure that you come prepared!

Before:
  1. You MUST have read the whole magazine and learned difficult words.
  2. You should make a list of things you know you have to work on (e.g. subject - verb agreement, the use of past and present tense, the use of capital I, etc.) in order to NOT make the same mistakes again and again. 9EF: Take a look at the letter you wrote to yourself before the summer vacation - you'll find it on Fronter under ARCHIVE and ENGLISH.
  3. Read up on transitional words and phrases - take a look at this webpage!
  4. Make sure that you know the basic rules of an essay and other genres - go to p. 244 - 251 in Key English if you need to refresh your memory.

During:
  1. PLAN YOUR TEXT - it is crucial to plan your text before you start writing. Make a mind map where you brainstorm ideas. If you are to write an essay; find your thesis statement and all your arguements - make an outline where you put down your thesis statement and all your topic sentences. Then start writing.
  2. Use appropriate words and phrases which are related to the topic - show the reader that you have a varied language and that you have expanded your vocabulary while working with Perspectives Magazine.
  3. Use transitional words - but make sure that you use them correctly.
  4. If you write a non-fictional text (such as an essay) try to refer to texts in Perspectives Magazine. If you are to write about pocket money for instance it would be wise to show the reader that you have gained knowledge from the text "The Positives of Pocket Money for Kids".
  5. Do not hand in your text before you have re-read it several times. Rewrite sentences that don't sound right and make sure that your message is clear. Take a look at the list of things you know you have done wrong earlier and check if you have done the same mistakes again - correct them.
If you follow this list of advice you will be a killer writer in no time!

BREAK A LEG!

 9CD: Meet up by the computer rooms at 09.20 on Monday 21st.
9EF: You are to meet up at computer room 116 and 119A at 09.30 on Tuesday 22nd for your writing session.

torsdag 4. september 2014

*Own it! (The 's-genitive)


Sometimes you will need to express a possessive relation between people or things. This means telling if someone/something belongs to someone/something.
In this case, you use an "'s" after the noun or the name. Take a look at the following example:
You have a book. But it is not your book, it is your friend's book. This means: the book belongs to your friend.
Read more about the 's-genitive HERE! Do all the tasks at this web-page - make sure that you write the complete sentences in your notebook as well.

9CD: This is homework for Wednesday September 10th
9EF: This is homework for Thursday September 11th


*An act of kindness


Sometimes in life, your heart tells you to do something unexpected. Read the story of a boy who chose to follow his heart, and really made a difference in someone's life.

a) Read the text "An act of kindness" and learn all the words.
b) If you were handed 10 000 Norwegian kroner to give to someone. Who would you give it to? It can be a person or an organization. Give good reasons for your answer. Write 1/2 a page.

This is homework for 9CD for Wednesday 10th of September.
This is homework for 9EF for Tuesday 9th of September.