Yr 7: Readathon

Hello all Readathon sponsees. Hopefully you're almost ready to get reading over half-term: Reading material selected; sponsors building up. This week the library is open at lunch time only to you. We have a selection of teachers and other members of staff organised to read part of their favourite book to you as well a someone coming in on Tuesday to read to you in Cornish. Who knows what else we'll get up to?

7L: Work Poems

Hello 7L. I would like to send off our work poems by Thursday at the lastest so if you took your poem home to finish, you need to make sure you get then back in to me.

Thanks

Miss C.

National Poetry Day

Did you know that Thursday 9th October is National Poetry Day?

What is your favourite poem or song?

One of mine is:

Sonnet 130

My mistress's eyes are nothing like the sun;

Coral is far more red than her lip's red;

If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun,

If hair be wires, black wires grow on her head.

I have seen roses damasked, red and white,

But no such roses see I in her cheeks;

In some perfumes there is more delight

Than the breath with which my mistress reeks.

I love to hear her speak, yet well I know,

Music hath a far more pleasing sound;

I grant I never saw a goddess go;

My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground.

And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare

As any she belied with false compare.

By William Shakespeare. (As if you couldn't have guessed)

Yr 11: Curley's Wife

You all came up with some really strong points in today's debate about Curley's Wife. I was impressed (as always) by your reasoning and use of evidence- it was not easy to decide who had the strongest argument. Also, you worked very effectively in large groups- not always easy!

I'd love to know your individual opinions though- Do you think Curley's Wife deserves our sympathy? Why or why not?

Year 7: Readathon

Right, I've already given out about 30 sponsorship forms and that only covers 3 tutor groups so far, so I'm really impressed by your enthusiasm. Those of you that are taking part, here's what you need to do now.

1. Make sure you show your Parents/Carers the letter so they know what you are doing.

2. You need to decide what you are going to read and fill in the top part of the sponsorship form. Remember, it doesn't matter what you read, just that you set yourself a bit of a challenge. You can read books, magazines, newspapers, listen to books on tape, have stories read to you... anything as long as it is a bit more than you might normally read.

3. Once you have set yourself the challenge you need to collect some sponsors. It is really important that you only ask friends and family members- your safety is the most important thing. You have until half term to collect as many as possible.

4. You've picked your books; got the sponsors now over half term, all you have to do is the reading itself.

5. Finally- you need to collect the money from your sponsors and hand in to either Miss Edwards (in the library) or me (Miss Cutts, room 58)

With 8 year 7 tutor groups taking part, I have high hopes that we can raise a really good amount for the Readathon. There will be a prize for the tutor group that raises the most AND the individual that raises the most.

But more importantly- enjoy the books, stories and texts that you read.

Thanks for your help year 7.

If you would like to know more about the charities you are raising money for click on the links below.

http://www.clicsargent.org.uk/support

http://www.roalddahlfoundation.org/

7L: research homework

Wow! some of you are so quick. Whoever Mini Champy is- I have your facts, well done.

Thought I better create a blog that you could attach your homework to. Remember, you had to find out three things (minimum) about one of the following:
1. Archaeopteryx,
2. Owl pellets,
3. Icarus,
4. Persephone,
5. Angels
6. Evolution

Keep up the good work!

Year 10: The Shakespeare Essay

Here it is, the moment you've all been waiting for: your first piece of coursework

Essay Title: How does Shakespeare Make Act 3, Scene 1 of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ Dramatically effective?

1. Introduction: give a brief summary of what the play is about. How does it fit Into the Tragedy genre? What themes does it explore? What is the social and historical context of the play? Why is the play still relevant to a modern audience? Where does the scene fit into the play?

2. How does Shakespeare create mood and atmosphere at the start of the scene? (Think about Mercutio and Benvolio’s conversation. What are they discussing? What kind of image is Mercutio going on and on about?

3. How does this scene contrast with the previous scene? (the wedding scene) How does the mood change?

4. How does this scene link with previous events events in the play? (the ongoing feud, the previous public brawls, the Prince’s warning)

5. How does Shakespeare use Dramatic Irony (when the audience knows something the characters don’t) in this scene?

6. How does Shakespeare Use the features of stagecraft? (entrances and exits, stage directions)?
7. How does Shakespeare’s use of Verse and Prose add to the drama? (the scene starts in prose and ends with Rhyming couplets)

8. How does the build up of events create drama and suspense? (for example the repetition of ‘A Plague on both your houses’)

9. Conclusion: Finally, why is this such an important scene? How would the audience feel at this point? Why could this scene be considered a turning point? What do you think of the play and this scene?

TIPS FOR SUCCESS
1. I have shown I know the order of the play and its characters.
2. I have clearly answered the question in the title of the essay (I have used the sentences starters to help me with this)
3. I have used short quotes to support my ideas (PEE paragraphs)
4. I have talked about the play (the script) and not the film.

Topic sentence starters:
At the start of Act 3 scene 1…
One of the ways Shakespeare makes this scene dramatically effective is by…
Act 3 scene 1 is made dramatically effective in various ways such as…
Shakespeare uses … this makes the scene more dramatic because…
Shakespeare creates effective drama by…

Sentence starters: (use these to develop your ideas in your paragraphs and ensure you’re still focused on the question. )
The drama is built up again when…
The effect of the tension is that…
Shakespeare makes this dramatic by…
This is effective because the audience…
The reason this is dramatic is because…
Shakespeare refers to… the effect of this is…
Shakespeare reveals… this is made dramatic because…
In conclusion, Act 3 scene 1 is very dramatic because…

Good Luck!

Year 11: Of Mice and Men

Two of the sections in the final Literature exam require the pupils to have read a post 1914 novel and a post 1914 play. As our novel we are reading 'Of Mice and Men' by John Steinbeck, an exploration of friendship, loneliness and the American dream in 1930s America. I have added some handy websites to the 'Usefull Links' list.

Year 9: Comparing two texts

Year 9 have been reading two short stories (yes, 'The Speckled Band' does count as a short story) from the murder mystery genre so they can compare and contrast the texts. They will shortly need to write a comparative essay (using PEE paragraphs) exploring how the authors portray and use character, setting, style and structure

Essay Title: ‘Lamb to the Slaughter’ and ‘The Speckled Band’ are two very different examples of murder mysteries. Describe some of the ways in which they are different and some of the ways in which they are the same. How is language used by the authors to create an atmosphere of suspense that makes you want to read more?

* Everyone will answer this question
® Most pupils will answer this question
© Some pupils will answer this question

Paragraph 1 (remember to indent paragraphs/write in sentences)
* Who wrote The Speckled Band? When was it first published?
® What is the name of the famous detective in all his stories?
© What do you already know about this detective?

Paragraph 2
* Who wrote Lamb to the Slaughter? When was it first published?
® What sort of stories is he famous for writing?
© What sort of people does he write about in his stories for adults?

Paragraph 3
* Describe the setting of the old house in The Speckled Band. (Put in a quotation to describe it)
® How do you feel about the atmosphere of this house?
© What other details are there in this story that add to the
atmosphere of evil and horror?

Paragraph 4
* Describe the setting in Lamb to the Slaughter. (Put in a quotation to describe the living room and the atmosphere Mary has created)
® How do you respond to the atmosphere Mary has created?
© Do you feel any sympathy for the victim wanting to leave her?

Paragraph 5
* What does the detective do in The Speckled Band?
® How does he do this (refer to clues and suspects)
© How do you feel about the detective’s ability? Did you work out the clues yourself?

Paragraph 6
* What do the detectives not do in Lamb to the Slaughter?
® What things do the detectives do that they shouldn’t do?
© Can you find a quotation that makes the detectives look “sloppy”?

Paragraph 7
* Who is the victim in The Speckled Band.
® How is she described when we see her first in the story?
© Put in a quotation which shows how terrified she is.

Paragraph 8
* Who is the victim in Lamb to the Slaughter?
® How do we know that things are not right?
© Give a detailed example of his behaviour that shows that he is going to give his wife the bad news. Give as many examples as you can of clues which show that something is about to happen.

Paragraph 9
* Describe the murderer in The Speckled Band. (Put in a quotation to describe him)
® What is his motive for murder (why does he do it)?
© Do you feel any sympathy for this murderer? How do you
respond to him?

Paragraph 10
* Describe the murderer in Lamb to the Slaughter. (Put in a quotation to describe her)
® What is her motive for murder (why does she do it)?
© Why doesn’t she want to be caught? Do you feel any sympathy for her?

Conclusion
* Which story did you like best? Why?
® Why will people always like to read murder mysteries?

Year 7: Readathon

Calling all year 7. Redruth School is joining a National Readathon in order to raise some money for the charities CLIC Sargent and the Roald Dahl Foundation. You can get involved by simply selecting a few books, comics, magazines, newspapers... and getting friends and family to sponsor you for sitting back and simply reading them! It's that easy! You will get more information in your LRC Induction lessons overthe next week or simply pop up and see Ms Edwards (in the Learning REsource Centre) or me (Miss Cutts in room 58). I look forward to seeing you.

Year 10: Shakespeare Essay

Year 10 are currently studying Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet'.

Essay Title: How Does Shakespeare make Act 3, Scene 1 of 'Romeo and Juliet' Dramatically Effective?

What to start thinking about?

• The imagery;
• the entrances and exits;
• dramatic irony (what does the audience know that the characters don't?);
• the different language that the different characters use;
• what an audience might expect to happen compared with what does happen;
• the themes that are explored in the scene

You might want to follow these links to watch the scene you will be writing about:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQ0kOi6qqHY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LjuLSZU4Hk&feature=related

Useful Links

Am starting to get the hang of this now, have managed to start adding links to useful revision sites. Useful for anyone but especially year 9 and 11 pupils.

the first blog

Well, here it is, my first 'blog'. I have finally discovered the joys of 'blogging' and there's no stopping me now.
I am hoping that this page will give me the chance to allow both pupils and parents/carers to share their thoughts and ideas on what happens in the classroom. I intend to add links and resources to support my lessons. I would also like to include other links and ideas that might be of general interest or help.
However, that all relies on me figuring out how this all works, so watch this space...