Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Hello everyone,

I have made some changes concerning the final test of Big Mouth&Ugly Girl. The changes have been published on Rex Net, however I will post them on our course blog as well.

Please read the following:

w.2 We'll meet in class on 14 January between 16-18 to discuss the novel in depth. Learn all the Big Mouth &Ugly Girl words on the hand-out given to you on our previous meeting. When we meet on January 14 you will sit a vocabulary test on the words and write an essay in connection to the novel read. This time the final analysis of the novel will be in writing. The results from your last vocabulary test will be issued.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and try to recharge your batteries!

w. 51 Blueprint B The Seeds of Evil

For this week you are to read a text in Blueprint B called The Seeds of Evil by Michael Medved. The topic is violent videos and TV programmes and how they are changing children's childhood. Hollywood's impact on society can sometimes be devastating! Deadline December 16.

Read the article pp. 73-75 carefully and answer the questions p. 76:

Read and React:

1) One teacher notices a major difference when it comes to stories her students choose to tell. What is the difference from before?

2) Mr Medved, the author of the article argues, "tens of millions of people watch brutal entertainment" without ever doing the same thing in real life. But a few do. How does he support his argument?

3) The article admits, restricted access to firearms and new efforts to tackle violent videos will not change society overnight. Is it still worth implementing? If so why? What is your reaction?

Refelct and Share:

1) What is the thesis statement in the article, the main point Mr Medved is trying to make? Try writing it out in one simple sentence.

2) Considering the pros and cons in this article, where do you stand in this debate? Do you know of more arguments that might shed light on the question of entertainment and its undesired effects on children - or on any of us?

w. 50 ch. 15-30

Deadline: December 13

We go on reading the novel Big Mouth&Ugly Girl by Joyce Carol Oates and this week we take a closer look at chapters 15-30.

Please answer the following questions when you have finished the above chapters:

1) Describe the personality change which takes place in Matt. He used to be described as the perfect American boy, always smiling and full of wit. In what way has he changed, why and would you think he will become his old self again, is this possible?

2)We have discussed Ursula previously, however, the more we read the more we get to know her. Characterise Ugly Girl- warrior woman please.

3) Express something about the text message correspondence between Matt and Ursula.

4) Is suing the school the correct thing to do? What is your opinion? Will this act put a final end to Matt's situation?

w. 49 Big Mouth&Ugly Girl

Chapters. 1-15 Deadline 0n 6 December

You have now begun reading novel number two on the B-course Big Mouth&Ugly Girl. I hope you have taken the opportunity to listen to the author Joyce Carol Oates on your learning platform. I found a You Tube clip where she talks about how to create different characters which I found interesting.

Big Mouth&Ugly Girl is Oates's first young adult novel, published in 2002.

Analysis questions to be answered:

1)Describe the main character Matt Donaghy and what we know about him so far. What was Matt accused of having done? Was there any truth in the rumors? What did Matt himself think he was guilty of?

2) What is the difference between Ursula Riggs and Ugly Girl? Search and collect key words and expressions for each side of the same person in the chapters.

3) Describe Ursula's family picture.

4) How did Ursula react to the rumors about Matt?

5) Discuss the new information which is presented about Matt's personality in chapter five.

6) Why does the Principal Harold Parrish deny troubles at Rocky River High?

7) How did the school react to the accusations concerning Matt?

8) Describe how Matt's friends reacted?

9) Who claims: Matthew is the one who's been wronged"? What is meant by this?

10) What is so unfortunate with Matt's sophomoric sketch and the Edgar Allen Poe story in this whole new situation?

11) For Matt is seems to be important to impress people and to make them laugh. Mention a few situations where this is shown. How could this be related to the incident in the cafeteria which started this whole mess?

12) Ugly Girl: "You might be liable for suspending Matt Donaghy without probable cause and defaming his character" What is meant by this ?

13) "Suburban hysteria" - Please explain this sentence in the book.

14) Matt signed an e-mail to Mr Weinberg with Matt "Terrorist" Donaghy. Why? Consequences?

15) What is your viewpoint on the narrative technique of the novel? In every second chapter we either get some insight into the plot told by Matt or Ursula? Good or confusing, please explain?

A summary

Summarise the newspaperarticle The Columbine Massacre in your own words please.
Deadline: 1 December

Words for w.48

I have received many questions about the vocabulary for w. 48. The test will be based on the hand-out. The online vocabulary link only tests some of these words.

Good luck, see you Thursday

Maria

Face to face meeting in class next week

Hello everybody,

Now it is time for us to meet face to face in class next week again. On 26 November at 16-18. I'll meet you in the reception as I did last time.

For this second meeting you are expected to:

Have finished reading the novel and have commented on all the assignments on the blog

Have learnt the vocabulary belonging to the book. You will sit a vocabularytest this evening.

There will be a final discussion about the novel, where you will have the chance to analyse the novel orally. I have prepared a set of questions for us to discuss.

Last but not least, I look forward to hearing your 3- minute weeding speeches. Hand out was issued during our first physical meeting. Follow the instructions given on the hand-out.

Welcome to our meeting next week!

BR,

Maria

Week 47 Reading assignment

Thank you for all your submitted answers concerning the novel An unarranged marriage. My comments to your answers will be found as "kommentar" as well". I have noticed that only some of you have been active and are following the course. Keep up the good work and next week it is time for us to meet in class again between 16-18. I'll meet you in the reception as last time. Please prepare your assignment for week 48. We will discuss the novel in class orally, sit a vocabulary test and listen to your wedding speeches. Novel nr two will be introduced as well.

Assignment for week 47: Deadline: 20 November

1) Tell me how you have coped with the learning of the words for the novel and how you like the Quizlet link - practise words online.

2) How did you score on the Online Novel Quiz?

3) What do you think about the author's language in the novel?

4)How did Manny manage to get out of his relatives' house without being seen?

5) Which person do you think is the most interesting one? Why?

6) What appealed to you in this novel?

7) Was there something you didn't like in the story?

8) Which episode in the novel do you remember the most?

9) What is Manny's real name and why does he hate it?

9) What have you learnt during this reading journey?

10) What would you like to change in the novel?

11) Describe and characterise Uncle Jag please.

Week 46

Your reading assignment for this week was to read pages 59-164. Choose 3 quotations that made an impression on you. It could be something funny, gross, strange or elegant etc. Explain thoroughly why you have chosen these quotes (don't forget page numbers) and what is happening in the selected text extracts.

A quotation is a sentence or many phrases from a book which you repeat in a speech or piece of writing because it is interesting.

Example: "We had been skiving the afternoon lessons at school and I had seen a CD that I wanted"(p. 59)

This quotation shows that...
I have chosen this quotation because...

How to navigate on our course blog

If you want to navigate on the course blog you need to go to the right-hand down corner and click on the different months in Bloggarkiv.

Diagnostic tests

Thank you Sandra, Nicklas, Michelle, Jenny and Timmy for your diagnostic test results. I am looking forward to receiving the rest of the group's results soon.

Background research about the novel w. 45

Write some things about the author of the novel Bali Rai and the Punjabi region in India. You have also read and listened to some podcasts on forced marriages, please express your viewpoint on this matter and publish as "kommentar". Deadline: 2 November

An unarranged marriage w. 45

A picture of the author Bali Rai.

We will now begin to read the novel An unarranged marriage by Bali Rai. Go to the learning platform Rex Net before you start reading the book. On the platform I have given you net addresses to Bali Rai's homepage and to other useful sites. Read these before you start reading the novel to get a proper introduction to the author and the themes of the novel.

Please read chapter one until chapter four and answer these questions on the blog. Publish your answer by choosing "kommentar".

1) Look at the front cover of the novel and describe what you see, look at the title and ponder on what the novel will be about.

2)What kind of cultural differences are described in the four first chapters? Punjabi culture vs. European culture?

3) The author describes some changes in Manny's life. Reflect upon the changes.

4) Present another character that you have met in the novel. What do you know about this person so far?

5) In chapter three and four Manny starts to rebel. How?

6)Multiculturalism is one of the themes in the novel. How do you notice this?

7)Lisa is introduced in chapter three and four. What do we know about her? What kind of a role do you think Lisa will have in the novel?

Deadline: 6 November

Oktober 4

Welcome to our courseblog English B Flexible. This is where we will be discussing novels, articles, films and news items. You are expected to take part actively by publishing your viewpoints and by commenting on other students' thoughts. Everyone on the course can see and take part in the ongoing discussion. As this is an open blog, it can be read by other people who are not course members, however they can't publish anything.

Your teacher


Maria