I forgot to say in the last post... If you missed time for your Controlled Assessment, you must come to Psychology II (the room through the doors to the Y10 office), P3 tomorrow, 30th November.

Hello Y10

Firstly, we did some team building where we appreciated the strengths of the members of the the class team! I think that this was a valuable exercise and I hope that it goes some way to making us work more collaboratively

Today we looked at the poetic devices song writers use in songs. We considered how the language and devices create layers of meaning. The purpose of the activity is to extend our analysis poems; we're not just commenting on the device we are commenting on the effect upon the reader and considering how this adds to the theme/tone/purpose of the poem.

We analysed the opening of Coolio's Gangsta's Paradise today. It's loaded with poetic devices that add to the layers of meaning conveyed to the audience. Next lesson, you'll choose songs as poetry and present these to other groups or the whole class.

As I've said, it's essential that you are confident in analysing poetry as you'll have an unseen poem in the exam (this means that you will not have seen it before). If you're not very confident in your poetry analysis now, you don't need to worry about it too much. This work is preparation for your exam in the Summer of 2012! We'll look at poetry at intervals over the course to build on and refine your skills.

Wrap up warm!

Ms

I'm still waiting for a special prize winner - the special word is weblog.

Hello Y10

Today we reflected on our skills as members of the class team. You've set yourself targets and you need to consider these next week; we need to work together more cohesively. We'll do a bit of team building next week, but, basically, we're going to work together for about another 19 months so we need to make it work.

We've been studying poetry this week. Today we looked at Isaland man. It's essential that you know and can use the devices confidently as you'll have an unseen piece of poetry in the exam. Poems are easier to discuss when we know the techniques poets use. If you would like to look at the poetic devices sheet it is here.

If you would like to look at the analysis of Island Man that we looked at in lesson click here.

If you missed a lesson, it is essential that you study independently in order to ensure you are at the same point as the rest of the class. This is your responsibility and this resource is availiable to you. Use this blog. You've already started your GCSEs in English.

I'm looking forward to next week and a whole new team ethos!

Ms

Hello Y10

Today we looked at Poetry. We considered how the poet used language to convey meaning and ideas.

We looked at The Night of the Scorpion and did a piece of drama to go with it. The idea for this is that you understand how the poet conveys a sense of place and culture. For a special prize say 'weblog' to me at the beginning of the lesson!

You need to learn ten poetic devices for Thursday. The three you need to find out the meaning for yourself are Caesura, Sibilance and Synecdoche. You then need to know seven other (or more if you know the meaning of any of these three). Dictionary is here! It will help cement your understanding if you look for examples of the devices.

We also need to consider how we can work together as a team more effectively. How do you think you can impact upon this?

See you Thursday

Ms :)

Well done for getting the Controlled Assessment done Y10! We really have been working on our Competency of perseverance...

We will be moving on to poetry next; we'll have some fun with this and study a variety of different poems.

Happy Eid!

Ms

Hello Y10
It's the Controlled Assessment next week. You're well prepared for this and have all the help you need in your draft books. Look through your article, which should be fully drafted by now, and check it against the your success criteria, your targets and the Assessment Objectives.

Remember, you're marked for your communication (purpose, genre & rhetoric), organisation (discourse markers, paragraph links) and SENTENCE STRUCTURE. Ensure you have a range of sentences as your marks are weighted towards this.I recommend that you look at the games here, particularly the newspaper article. It's quite basic, but it's good cement understanding. It's not a children's game either.

Look at the first one (don't bother with the second) here for advice on semi-colons. There is more information here. There is even a semi-colon game for some light relief.

Everything you need is in your draft books; try to remember as much as you can!

Ms Caldwell

As promised, here is the article we looked at in the lesson. Look at the article and consider how language is used for impact. Look at how the sentences are crafted for effect.

It's also important, if you weren't there, that you know that some of the sentences are inaccurate! Towards the end of the article subordinate clauses are wirtten as whole sentences.

Malone uses devices to create whole text cohesion. She uses 'spectre', 'grusome peep show', 'hellish glimpse' and 'horror show' to create links though the text. There are also links between paragraphs. What can you find? How can you mirror this in your article?

Any comments, then let me know via this blog or the school email.

Ms :)

Hello Y10

Well done for the last two lessons. It's imperative that we understand the conventions and purpose of the writing.

Your homework, due Friday, is to write two of the most amazingly fantastic paragraphs you've ever written. You need to:
- Consider the genre, purpose (so use a range of rhetorical devices to persuade the reader).
- Use links between the paragraphs (and consider how you could make links to show whole text cohesion)
- Use discourse markers (click here for some examples)
- Use a range of sentence structures that are crafted for effect
Remember how Carole Malone crafted the sentences, using repetition and rule of three to add to the impact of her sentences? Use that!

If you missed the lesson we looked in detail at how Carole Malone uses language, particulary rhetoric, in an article about Jade Goody before she died. I've uploaded this article to my Google account, but I'm having trouble inserting it into this blog. (I know you're as excited about this new feature as I am!) If you did miss the lesson, check the blog again tomorrow and it will have th earticle for you to look at.
See you next week

Ms Caldwell