GREAT ENGLISH WORK

How does macbeth change? By Fran Gonzalez-Cos

2007-06-11T17:57:00.000-07:00

How does Macbeth change?

During the play, Macbeth changes several times of personality, some times being a brave, noble war hero to a worried murderer. Shakespeare does this by changing his way of speaking, and using a more powerful colloquial language. We can see that Macbeth might have been affected by the witches prediction and made him a more power-hungry man. Once that the first murder has been done, Macbeth has lost interest or fear to death, as he has to live with it, every single day of his life.

The witches prophecy starts Macbeth thinking of power, and evil things, such as murder. Once the prophecy is little by little becoming a reality, Macbeth seems to find himself in a crazy world, full of evil, and illusions. It is when he becomes thane that he realizes he is power-hungry and his world is full of these things.

When Macbeth becomes king, his relationship with his best friend Banquo, seems to fade away, and hatred to fill in. This is because it is his children that will once become kings and take the crown from Macbeth. Now full of hatred, Macbeth seeks to kill Macbeth and his children to avoid this witch’s prediction.

After Macbeth’s first kill, the assassination of King Duncan, the fear of death and murder seem to lurk away. After this first kill, Macbeth stirs up more murders because he is unafraid of what the circumstances might be. This is because once the first kill has made, he has nothing else to lose, and the murders are needed to continue his reign as King of Scotland.

At the start of the play, the first impression we get from Macbeth is that of a noble war-hero, bringing a victory to Scotland. But at as the story unravels, and he becomes more of a killer, his personality changes to that of a worried murderer. He is worried because he knows that his end is near, and does not know what to do to avoid it.

The most responsible for Macbeth’s change is himself because it is he who, committed the acts of murder, even though if he was constantly pressured. He could have acted against his wife, and would reject the offer of killing King Duncan.

Macbeth - Tragic Hero? By Renata Altamirano

2007-06-11T17:13:00.000-07:00

Renata Altamirano 10A Literature Miss Thompson 11/06/2007.

Macbeth: Tragic Hero?

In the play “Macbeth” by the legendary William Shakespeare, the main protagonist, Macbeth, can be referred as a tragic hero. Throughout the play, his language, attitude, and thoughts are changed by influences evil like his wife, Lady Macbeth. He ends as an evil king who will do anything for his own benefits although at the beginning of the play he was a hero coming successful after a battle.

The previous Thane of Cawdor betrayed King Duncan, in recognition for Macbeth’s triumph at the battle; Macbeth is given the title of Thane of Cawdor. Not too long afterwards, the Three Witches say to Macbeth: “All hail Macbeth, hail thee, Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor that shalt be king here after”. This shows how Macbeth’s fate is going to change. He thinks that the only way to become king is by killing King Duncan. Macbeth takes poor decision producing craziness and power-hungry ambitions.

The Three Witches plan telling Macbeth his future after the battle; “Upon the heath”, they say. They have a particular style of speech and a curious language. They use a great opposite making Macbeth a little confused: “Fair is foul and foul is fair”, meaning good is bad and bad is good. This sentence makes you think about a lot of what are they meaning.

The wounded Captain reports King Duncan about the battle with Macdonald. Macbeth fought against King Macdonald’s strong army but still he killed him wining the battle. Afterwards, Macbeth and Banquo have to fight fearless against a Norwegian assault beating them as well. This shows how Macbeth is a strong hero who can lead his troop and be faithful and keep his allegiance with the King Duncan. The captain’s story about the battle is said in a metaphorical language creating an atmosphere. You can also see how the Captain admirers Macbeth since he says great things about him: “But all’s too weak, for brave Macbeth –well he deserves that name-.”

The Witches’ prophecy is that Macbeth will be king and as well as Banquo’s descendants. “Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none. So all hail Macbeth and Banquo.” First, Macbeth is speechless and he is amazed by the predictions about his future. Banquo is also astonished but demands to know more but about his own future. Both men act confused and amazed of what they have just seen and heard.

Duncan warmly welcomes Macbeth and is full of gratitude for his service. Duncan gives credit to Macbeth’s loyalty and he promises his a generous reward. After he names his son Malcolm Thane of Cawdor, Macbeth looks really shocked and worryingly. We speaks to himself using many monosyllabic words, “Let not light see my black and deep desires […]”, starting to show his evil intentions. After hearing the Witches’ prophecy, he is very disappointed at Duncan for not naming him Thane of Cawdor.

Lady Macbeth reads her husbands letter telling her of the Witches prophecy. She plans to kill Duncan when he goes over their castle the next day. When she says “illness”, she means evil, and she fears that Macbeth is too decent to murder Duncan. Macbeth responses with confidence-less and worries about what will come after. Lady Macbeth pressures Macbeth to murdered King Duncan and calls him a coward, manipulating him and taking control over the entire situation. Macbeth starts hallucinating and he sees blood-stained daggers; this shows how he is feeling with evil images and thoughts. “Is this dagger which I see before me, the handle toward my hand?” They do everything as planed; drank the guards and cover them with blood, kill King Duncan and go to sleep trying to pretend nothing happened. Macduff sees Duncan is dead; Macbeth acts normal appearing he has calmed the worrying he had the night before. Eventually, Macbeth becomes king but Banquo fears that he became king by evil means.

Macbeth now as the king calls for two Murderers to kill Banquo since he fears he will be his enemy since he knows about the prophecy. At the banquet he imagines seeing Banquo’s ghost and looks crazy and confused, therefore Lady Macbeth has to calm him so he doesn’t look any suspicious. Macbeth thinks his fears are over but when the Murders tell him Fleance (Banquo’s son) escaped, his fears emerge again seen Banquo’s ghost. “How now, you secret, black, and midnight hags! What is’t you do?” Macbeth challenges the Witches to answer them what he asks. The witches show him several apparitions and Macbeth is determined to kill Macduff, but after hearing he left to England he decides to also kill all his family. A soldier tells Macbeth that Malcolm, Young Siward and Macduff with an army are approaching, he is challenged by Young Siward so he worries and knows the coming battle will break him, but he manages to kill him. Macbeth has almost lost any sense of fear, he fears of Lady Macbeth’s mental disorders and later when he is told she is dead, he is feeling sorry for himself for not going to be able to have any children. But he is determined to die fighting. He refuses to fight Macduff since he relays on the prophecy that he cannot be killed by “one of woman born” but after Macduff tell him he was born differently he realizes the Witches’ prophecies were half-truth and mislead him.

Macbeth tries to keep on fighting but he is killed by Macduff. He displays Macbeths’ head and hails Malcolm as King of Scotland; “Hail, king, for thou art. Behold where stands th’usurper’s cursed head.” Malcolm rewards his nobles for all their services and gives a final speech saying their victory will restore peace, order justice and harmony on Scotland. He says how Macbeth’s ambition was power-hungry and he is hoping for future peace and is against of war and oppression.

YEAR 10/ MACBETH REVISION

2007-06-07T11:01:00.001-07:00

Macbeth Questions

Time: 45 mins

1 Discuss with close reference to Act 5 scene 3 the following question: Is Macbeth a Tragic hero?

2 Macbeth is alone while Lady Macbeth returns the bloody daggers when he says, “Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather The multitudinous seas incarnadine, Making the green one red.” Lady Macbeth returns will blood on her hands as well. What does the blood symbolize? Make references to Act 2.

3 To what extent are the witches a force working against Macbeth? (Use Act 1 as a reference)

4 How do the witches overturn natural order?

5 With reference to Act 1, how does Lady Macbeth gain control of Macbeth?

6 In Act 1 scene 1 and act 1 scene 3 how does William Shakespeare create setting and atmosphere.

7 With reference to Act three, Compare and contrast the murders of Banquo and Duncan. How does the murder of Banquo show the change in Macbeth?

8 Making reference to Act 5, describe Macbeth’s reaction to Lady Macbeth’s death. Compare his reaction to the reaction he had after the murder of Duncan.

9 How do Macbeth and Banquo differ and what influence have the Witches had on each character? Make reference to Act 2

10 There is a turning point in Act III, Scene 4. What is that turning point and how do you think Macbeth will respond throughout the rest of the drama?

sofia lara english homework

2007-06-06T09:19:00.000-07:00

it is at moments after i have dreamed

it is at moments after i have dreamed
of the rare entertainment of your eyes,
when (being fool to fancy) i have deemed

with your peculiar mouth my heart made wise;
at moments when the glassy darkness holds

the genuine apparition of your smile
(it was through tears always)and silence moulds
such strangeness as was mine a little while;

moments when my once more illustrious arms
are filled with fascination, when my breast
wears the intolerant brightness of your charms:

one pierced moment whiter than the rest

-turning from the tremendous lie of sleep
i watch the roses of the day grow deep.

I liked this poem because I like the way the poet describes the way that some parts of a girls body made him feel and feel afterwards in his life it is entertaining to read it.

Death of an Elephant-8C-RP-CT

2007-06-05T12:59:00.001-07:00

How does the writer's use of language make the reader feel sympathy for the elephant?

The writer uses a wide arrange of adjectives. He describes in detail the elephant's reactions to help us connect with its' pain. The author also utilizes points of three and similes to achieve this end.
He describes after the first bullet hits the elephant, how drastically the elephant changes. Sentences such as "an enormous senility seemed to have settled upon him," let us further solidify the idea of this enormous change that the first shot has provoked. "He seemed to tower upward like a huge rock toppling," gives us the impression of the elephant's greatness and of its unstoppable demise, just like a huge rock. "His trunk reaching skyward," in a sense personifies the elephant's death, of how he in a human like way looks up to the sky, one last time, with a sense of knowing that it is not the end but only the beginning of a new adventure.

alex cardini blog poem

2007-06-04T19:13:00.000-07:00

Her smile, ironic as always
she, beutiful in al the ways
happy, great, explendid
like the wind on winter

my love falls on you
like the leafs fall on automn,
you make me feel awsome
but I know you dont love me

your eyes, desribe your pasion
your body your fashion
and although you dont love me
I do love you

your eyes are like fire winkles
your mouth like a cave
guarding all of you
you ears hear your eye´s voice
and let me tell you they make noise

by Alex Cardini

2007-06-04T17:34:00.000-07:00

maggie and milly and molly and may by E. E. Cummings

10

maggie and milly and molly and may
went down to the beach(to play one day)

and maggie discovered a shell that sang
so sweetly she couldn't remember her troubles,and

milly befriended a stranded star
whose rays five languid fingers were;

and molly was chased by a horrible thing
which raced sideways while blowing bubbles:and

may came home with a smooth round stone
as small as a world and as large as alone.

For whatever we lose(like a you or a me)
it's always ourselves we find in the sea

I like this poem because I like the rhyme he uses I think that it very entertaining, I also like the way he compares the sea at the end with a sort of heaven, like the place everyone meets after death.
Another poem be e.e. cummings that I really liked is this one:

dying is fine)but Death by E. E. Cummings

dying is fine)but Death

?o
baby
i

wouldn't like

Death if Death
were
good:for

when(instead of stopping to think)you

begin to feel of it,dying
's miraculous
why?be

cause dying is

perfectly natural;perfectly
putting
it mildly lively(but

Death

is strictly
scientific
& artificial &

evil & legal)

we thank thee
god

almighty for dying
(forgive us,o life!the sin of Death

I like this poem because he describes the difference of two words that for us could be the exact same thing just said differently, but to him they are two totally different things and I like that when he describes this two things he actually makes you see death & dying as two totally different things, so I think that in this poem he really acheives what I believe was his aim (making you see death & dying as tatal opposites). I also like the way he writes it because it makes you feel that it is a theme on which he feels passionate about.

rebeca 9B

e.e. commings by alex cardini

2007-06-04T09:29:00.002-07:00

i liked this poem bbecause it makes u feel what he is trying to make you feel

 have found what you are like
       the rain,

               (Who feathers frightened fields
       with the superior dust-of-sleep. wields

       easily the pale club of the wind
       and swirled justly souls of flower strike

       the air in utterable coolness

       deeds of green thrilling light
                                     with thinned

       newfragile yellows

                         lurch and.press

       -in the woods
                    which
                         stutter
                                and

                                   sing

       And the coolness of your smile is
       stirringofbirds between my arms;but
       i should rather than anything
       have(almost when hugeness will shut
       quietly)almost,
                      your kiss

e.e. commings by alex cardini

2007-06-04T09:29:00.001-07:00

e.e. cummings CRG

2007-06-04T09:25:00.001-07:00

I loved cumming´s poem
"it is at moments after i have dreamed" especially because of what it makes you feel. It has a sensation of sadness, love and loss at the same time.
I think everyone could identify with the poem, because I think everyone has hoped dreams were reality.
It also has a great rythm because of the punctuation and a very good rhyme.
The best thing about the poem is the end, because that´s when you notice why there´s a nostalgic feeling in the poem,: it´s not real.

by dania gomez english homework

2007-06-04T09:20:00.001-07:00

        i have found what you are like
       the rain,

               (Who feathers frightened fields
       with the superior dust-of-sleep. wields

       easily the pale club of the wind
       and swirled justly souls of flower strike

       the air in utterable coolness

       deeds of green thrilling light
                                     with thinned

       newfragile yellows

                         lurch and.press

       -in the woods
                    which
                         stutter
                                and

                                   sing

       And the coolness of your smile is
       stirringofbirds between my arms;but
       i should rather than anything
       have(almost when hugeness will shut
       quietly)almost,
                      your kiss

Yr 9 E.E. Cummings CA

2007-06-04T09:04:00.000-07:00

I liked the poem of Bufalo Bills defunt because it makes you wonder what it means until you get the meening I liked but not very much
Carlo Sanabria

Y9 e.e. cummings RVV

2007-06-04T09:03:00.000-07:00

e.e. cummings wrote a poem about his father at the age six. It used a nice way to repeat the word, "father", he also uses a lot of puncuation to separate his phrases, it is pretty original for a boy that age. Raul :)

Yr 9 ee cummings EA

2007-06-04T09:01:00.000-07:00

I liked the bufalo bill poem from E.E. Cummings
I found it iteresting.
Esteban Alvarez

ee cummings review/Yr 9

2007-06-03T17:02:00.000-07:00

I was asked to look up some of ee cummings' poems for an English work. We'd already read "a leaf falls of loneliness" in class but I found another one I liked.

It's about Buffalo Bill so it's automatically great.

Alexander Espinosa 9B

2007-06-01T08:29:00.001-07:00

2007-06-01T08:29:00.000-07:00

Year 9 Poetry- ee Cummings

2007-05-31T14:33:00.000-07:00

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear;and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)
i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

I love this poem because is soooo romantic! I like how smooth and gentle it sounds and the way he uses the parenthesis to speak to the girl this poem is about. I think it is a very good poem because of the word choice and the way he arranges words. This poem realy creates a feeling inside you of a sort of happiness and peace and that is why I believe it is so succesful.

The expectations of society in plays

2007-05-30T10:47:00.000-07:00

It's still incomplete miss, i just wanted you to see thet i HAVE been working.

The expectations of society in plays.

Society plays an important role in Laura Ezquivel’s ‘Like Water for chocolate’.

This story is about an atypical middle-class family in Mexico during the revolution (1910-1921). The “typical family in Mexico during the revolution had a man (of the house) that was the principal source of income for the family. The wife’s role varied because of Porifirio Diaz’s ideologies for “pimping Mexico up the French way”. Because of this, typical middle class woman could have the luxury of not having to take care of house business by hiring a maid. But more typically the woman had to do the house keeping.

Like Water for chocolate lacks some figures in the typical family scheme. Mama Elena is the head of the house. She is a widow and has servants to help her with the house keeping. The main character however is NOT Mama Elena. The main character is Tita, Mama Elena’s daughter. From the beginning Mama Elena says that Tita has the role of taking care for her whenever she’s old because that’s tradition in society. From the start of the play, there is a banquet in which the De la Garza family is introduced, giving place to lots of anxiety and preparation. So from the beginning Laura Ezquivel portraits how important the looks were to society in those days.

Henrik Ibsen does something alike in a doll’s house. The story starts on Christmas eve, with Nora (the plays main character) being introduced being delivered a package. Then Torvald (her husband) is introduced being a little cross about Nora spending so much money, so from the beginning Ibsen shows how important money will be in his play, but expresses it in an almost childish way by calling her a “squirrel” or a “sky lark”. This gives the reader the impression that Torvald treats his wife as a child because he underestimates her, because he doesn’t know Nora’s secret, “...I too have something to be happy and proud about. It was I who saved TORVARD'S life.''. In Norwegian society I’m sure they have the same roles for genders. So Nora being so independent (I make this assumption because Torvald doesn’t know about Nora spending so much money) is a little too much freedom.

When Nora is speaking to Christine, the deceit is surfaced. The reader now knows that Nora knows about handling money and that she made a “manly” decision to save her husband’s life. This in contrast with society’s expectations is clearly badly seen because no-one would ever think a housewife such as Nora would ever borrow money and be so independent from her husband. ''Is it foolish to save one's husband?'' and ''Papa didnt give us a penny. it was i who found the money.'' Clearly shows how Nora has solved the problem she had at the time.

In Like Water for Chocolate, Pedro confesses his love for Tita and tells her that he wants to marry him. During the revolution, the man was supposed to go to the bride’s parents and ask them is they would let her daughter marry him. From this point on, you can realize that this is not a typical setting because during the Mexican revolution, people used to marry for land and not for love. Pedro does this but Mama Elena refuses because it was Tita’s role to take care of her until she died. ''If he intends to ask for your hand, tell him not to bother, he ll be wasting his time.''. On the other hand, she offers Rosaura and Pedro accepts.

Pedro’s father is outraged by this decision but is settled because Pedro tells him that he married her to be close to Tita. This is deceit and is badly seen by society. Even when he has a son with Rosaura, Pedro still loves Tita and many times had intentions of cheating. The key part pof the play in which you realize that society does play a big role in Like water for chocolate is when Rosaura tells Tita that she can have Pedro but on the condition that whenever they are with someone else, she and Pedro still seem like man and wife. This clearly shows how important third views are in this play. 'They ordered 200 roosters to be brought for castrating and fattening up. This task fell to Tita and Nacha'' There is a social expectation towards Tita.

The key part in a doll’s house is when Krogstad tries to blackmail Nora.

New Media for Old Teachers by Laurence Brillet

2007-05-30T10:46:00.000-07:00

I used to love writing by hand. I would always have a pen in my bag and jot down ideas , unknown words, things I thought I did not want to forget. I still do to some extent, but not as much as before. Now I have the agenda in my cell-phone to make sure I won’t forget important things . I have written a huge number of letters in my life. As a teenager, I had penfriends all over the world and was prepared to wait up to two months to get a reply. Good old days some would say. Not really… Now we have the email. I keep in touch with loads of people around the world and instead of a pen (paper, envelopes, stamps and trips to the post-office), I just turn on any computer. Any. The difference is this: my friends know intantaneously what I am up to. It takes seconds to inform them of my next visit home. Seconds to make arrangements to meet up. This is our world:fast and changing.

How is all this related to Mr Grimshaw’s homework set to us last Friday? Well, if new technology is part of our every day life, it has to be reflected in our teaching style. I know I still have a long way to go to be a confident and experienced new media user but I want to get there. I started with a very simple power-point presentation ( with 7A as my guinea pigs). Then I got the students to do theirs on a voluntary basis. I was impressed at the enthusiasm I got from the students. The results were fantastic! I bravely tried to use movie-maker a few months ago. I must admit , that was not so good! I still have quite a bit of thinking to do about planning such projects. I am not afraid of taking my students to the IT lab to do some research and produce something that belongs to them,( not to me), from research to conception and production. Instead of using the old tape-recorder to do radio adverts the other day, I should have let my students get on with it and use their own computer to produce something which would have worked better than what we did in class. Tape-recorders are ancient they say and they don’t even know how to use them .

I am not afraid of new technology and new teaching methods that go with it. Quite the opposite. I am eager to learn more about it. I’m like my students in that way. In a learning process, picking people’s brains, researching, experimenting, getting it all wrong, getting it right sometimes too! What I like about my job is the creative side of it. Creating new activities, new games, not just using the same old resources. I see in the new media a large space given to creativity.

Some of my short term plans: start my year 12/13 lessons with news from TV5 or Radio France Internationale online. Get my student to chat with French speaking teenagers. Use all the interactive sites I have already found on the Internet. Show the students that they have access to a large amount of things on the web. And so much more…..

Thanks Mr Grimshaw for once again a very inspiring workshop!

New Media in the Classroom/Claire Thompson

2007-05-29T09:15:00.000-07:00

New Media is as a fantastic way to facilitate learning in today´s modern world. As teachers our role is changing, we are facilitators of learning and not simply people who teach students to absorb information.

By using New Media as a tool for learning, together with critical skills, the teaching and learning in my lessons has improved by 100%!!! Thus enabling my students to engage, access and use their knowledge and skills effectively. Most of them find the work challenging, engaging and also fun; allowing them to gain a deeper understanding of how they learn and also have the confidence to share this with others.

I like the statement made during the session that implies 'teachers are old and passed it' as I believe this is true (even at the tender age of 28)! We are, even though we may think we`re not! We need to move with times, technology and communication as it´s every changing!!

Also, this method of teaching allows students to think for themselves, work together and share skills. Many pupils know and understand concepts in a classroom situation for a specific purpose although New media allows them to take this thought further. Through analysing their performance and work, students surprise themselves by how much they actually retain and learn.

Twas an Excellent course Ed! Here's to New Media.

Miss T

Y12/A1/ Coursework Advice sheet/CT

2007-05-29T08:51:00.001-07:00

Introduction

Clear points
Possible bring in ideas from other sources
Remember include names of texts and also refer to the question.

Development

PEE

Keep a clear structure - SIMPLE (MAKE SURE I CHECK IT!!)

RELATE IDEAS BACK TO THE QUESTIONS

EMBED QUOTES RATHER THAN SIMPLY SHOW THEM, INTERGRATE THEM INTO YOUR IDEAS AND SENTENCES.

KEEP YOUR IDEAS CLEAR - ALTHOUGH ALWAYS BACK THEM UP WITH REASONS AND QUOTES.

Make COMPARISONS!!!

CONCLUSION

SUM UP IDEAS

RELAY IDEAS BACK TO THE QUESTION

WRITE SOPHISTICATED AND RELEVANT COMMENTS

Good luck!

Y12/A1/ Sample level 7 coursework/CT

2007-05-29T08:27:00.000-07:00

Crescendo and Exaltation in Shelley’s “The Cloud”

In the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, there is a room entirely devoted to one single painting. The painting fills the entire side of one wall, and is an example of the Hudson River School. One’s eye has little sense of where to first fall, as it is overwhelmed by the depth and grandeur of a landscape so real you could almost walk into it. I do not recall the artist’s name, but I do remember the impulse to sit down and observe it for some time, and I do remember trying to gain a better understanding of what had grabbed me, what had caused this impulse. Shelley’s poem, “The Cloud,” has the same effect on me. Upon first reading, the reader recognizes its fluid cadences, its overall beauty. Yet, Shelley’s reader comprehends that there is something else there, something that requires further attention. In absorbing both works of art, there is an exalted sensation in response to the illustrations of Mother Nature provided by the artists; this compels one to ask, what causes this exaltation? As the art aficionado’s eye scans the painting to see how the sunrise is reflected on the pond and the detail paid to the ripple that a dropped stone has created, Shelley’s reader scans the poem for meter, notes the internal rhyming, and is moved by the powerful metaphors. Shelley has filled his six stanzas with as much detail and use of device as the Hudson School artist has filled the blank canvas craving for beauty with skilled strokes of oil. Each syllable in one of Shelley’s lines is like each ripple on the surface of the painting’s pond; each has been carefully crafted to draw the observer into the overall flow of the work, and it is necessary to step back in order to discern and appreciate the artistry.

The structure intensifies the feeling of elation in this piece. There is a crescendo effect that carries the reader through the first few stanzas. The first eight lines have a pleasant tone, calling to mind an image of “fresh showers” (l.1), the warm lull of “noonday dreams” (l.4), and the comforting recollection of being “rocked to rest on their mother’s breast” (l.7). This abruptly changes to the stronger ambiance of “lashing hail” (l.9), which progresses towards “pines groan[ing] aghast” (l. 14) in the second stanza. The image depicted, the thunder which “struggles and howls at fits” (l.20), builds up the energy in this stanza concurrently along with the electrical energy of the thunderstorm that moves the cloud, the “[lure] by the love of the genii that move/ in the depths of the purple sea” (ll.23-24). Nevertheless, despite this increase in energy, the tone that pervades the stanzas is still tranquil. In the midst of the snowstorm, the cloud “sleep[s] in the arms of the blast” (l.16), and the thunderstorm guides the cloud “with gentle motion” (l.21). This presents a stark contrast to the original representation of the lashing snowstorm and the struggling thunderstorm. By the end of the second stanza, Shelley has described a peaceful spring-like day, a heavy snowstorm, and the final ascent to the clash of a thunderstorm. Nevertheless, although the energy of the poem rises, and the state of the cloud changes, the tone remains tranquil and collected.

Shelley’s meter, which is for the most part iambic and anapestic, also adds to the crescendo effect. Shelley writes: “From my wings are shaken the dews that waken” (l.11) and “And I laugh to see them whirl and flee” (l.53). The metric pattern in these lines, an anapest followed by three iambs, repeatedly occurs in “The Cloud.” The syllabic stresses rise within the feet, and the effect of this is to add a trilling lightness to the tone of the poem. This is facilitated by the rhyme scheme, which occurs both within the line and at the end of the line. Of a four-line set, the first and third lines have an internal rhyme, that is to say, a syllable halfway through the line will rhyme with the last syllable; however, they have no end rhymes with other lines. Moreover, the second and fourth lines will rhyme on the last syllable, but not within themselves. This would appear something like: AA/B/CC/D. In most cases, the syllables that rhyme are stressed, which not only draws attention to the words, but since they occur at the end of each line, also add to the rising crescendo. Furthermore, the regular meter and rhyme scheme pull the reader into the rising feeling of the poem, which is one of exaltation. Nevertheless, this consistency is accompanied by several variations to the meter. This makes the variations noticeable to the reader’s ear, and thus, effectively important. In the first stanza, which consists of twelve lines, ten of them end with an iambic foot; however, the tenth and twelfth lines end with unaccented syllables. The last line of this stanza is, “And I laugh as I pass in thunder” (l.12); an iamb and an anapest precede an amphibrach in this line causing the line to fall off at the end. This plainly diverges from the lines that lead up to it, which are light and rising; this corresponds with the change from discussion of “flowers” (l.1), “streams” (l.2), and “dreams” (l.4), to the more threatening “thunder.” The change in meter will often accompany a change of the state of the cloud and a change of energy in this poem.

Perhaps one of the most essential devices in this poem, or any poem for that matter, is the metaphor. In Shelley’s third stanza, he provides a compelling metaphor of the sunrise as a phoenix: “The sanguine sunrise, with his meteor eyes, / And his burning plumes outspread” (ll.31-32). In mythology, the phoenix is a bird that burns, and then rises from his own ashes. Shelley compares “the burning plumes” of a Phoenix to the “sanguine Sunrise” which reappears every morning after setting at night. Prior to this stanza, the thunder of the night before is “dissolving in rains” (l.30), and the energy is changed into a fiery sunset the next morning. Furthermore, this is similar to the fashion of the cloud, which dissolves and restores itself in new forms. Throughout the poem, Shelley focuses on the idea of dissipation and rebuilding, whether within the cloud, the sunrise, or “the child from the womb” and the “ghost from the tomb” (l.83). The image that the “sanguine Sunrise” presents, ushering in the new day with the striking color of blood red, brings to mind “the child from the womb,” also a new life entering the world. “The crimson pall of eve may fall” (l.41), or in other words, the sun will go down at night, again, in a burning red color, only to repeat the cycle once again. The child’s cycle will also carry on, as it will be born once again after death as a “ghost from the tomb.” All of these ideas of rebirth and the proverbial cycle of life are parallel to the cloud’s nature: “I change, but I cannot die” (l.76).

Throughout the poem, the cloud takes several forms, it “bind[s] the Sun’s throne with a burning zone,/ and the Moon’s with a girdle of pearl” (ll.60-61), it is “sunbeam-proof” and “hang[s] like a roof” (l.65), and it marches “with hurricane, fire, and snow” (l.68) to form a “million-colored bow” (l.70). Shelley maintains the light, composed attitude and tone of the cloud throughout all of its metamorphoses, as it professes, “I silently laugh at my own cenotaph” (l.81), “I laugh to see them whirl and flee” (l.53), “and I laugh as I pass in thunder” (l.12). In its perpetual state, Shelley’s cloud hardly wearies from the rigor of its chore, concluding with, “I arise and unbuild it again” (l.84).

Throughout the poem, there is an occasional falling action, but the dominant drive of the poem leads one towards a rising feeling. The tone is light and uplifting, the energy builds progressively, the iambic and anapestic feet rise, and the phoenix, the child, the ghost, and most importantly, the cloud, arise after their falls. It is easy to immerse oneself in “The Cloud,” as it pulls one’s senses towards understanding the elevated state of the cloud, which is between the corporeal and the ethereal, and is perpetually reestablishing itself. The end effect is an exaltation of one’s senses and emotions. Shelley’s poem carries us to a landscape between the earth and the heavens, and transforms the intangible spirit of the cloud into a concrete emotion comprehensible for a human. (1,432 words)

A1/CT Sample level 7 essay

2007-05-29T07:41:00.000-07:00

GENERIC ESSAY OUTLINE

2007-05-25T07:55:00.000-07:00

Introduction - Rephrase the question

Introduce the texts, author and characters you will be analyising
Explain main idea, concept of response to the question.

Possible ways of starting...use a quote...then begin your introduction.

Include a concept, idea or even dictionary definition.

2 Main body of essay

Divide into ideas

Place them in or relevance or significance to the question

Explain each ideas using PEE (POINT, EVIDENCE, EXPLAIN)

Minimum of one paragraph per point.

Vary sentence types, lengths and openings. Use connective. Add sophistication through subordinate clauses.

KEEP REFERING BACK TO THE QUESTION YOU ARE ANSWERING

IN EACH PARAGRAPH - ADD RELEVANCE AND REFER BACK TO THE QUESTION.

For a comparative essay.....compare and contrast ideas from each paragraph... For example you could alternate ideas between paragraphs.

3 Conclusion

Sum up ideas - Again, relay key points back to the question.

Unseen paper - mark scheme /YR 11/ CT

2007-05-25T07:52:00.001-07:00

Table of mark band generic criteria
0-1 The answer does not meet the criteria for Grade G.
2-3 Candidates will –
show just a very little awareness of…
4-5 Candidates will –
make a few straightforward points about…
6-8 Candidates will –
make some straightforward points about…
show a little understanding of
9-11 Candidates will –
begin to develop a response…
show some understanding of…
12-14 Candidates will –
make a sensible response…
show reasonable understanding of…
show a little awareness of the way language works.
15-17 Candidates will –
make a considered, sustained response.
show clear understanding of …
show some awareness of the way language works.
18-20 Candidates will –
sustain a perceptive, convincing response.
show extensive understanding.
respond sensitively to the way language works.

Unseen paper - mark scheme /YR 11/ CT

2007-05-25T07:52:00.000-07:00

Unseen paper - lit revision /YR 11/ CT

2007-05-25T07:50:00.000-07:00

The extract below is the beginning of a story by Sylvia Plath. It tells of a young family at supper. Read it
carefully.
What does Plath’s writing make you feel towards each of the four members of the family, and
how does she portray them and the relationships between them so vividly?
In the beginning there was Alice Denway’s father, tossing her up in the air until
the breath caught in her throat, and catching her and holding her in a huge bear
hug. With her ear against his chest, young Alice could hear the thunder of his heart
and the pulse of blood in his veins, like the sound of wild horses galloping.
For Alice Denway’s father had been a giant of a man. In the blue blaze of his
eyes was concentrated the color of the whole overhead dome of sky, and when he
laughed, it sounded as if all the waves of the ocean were breaking and roaring up
the beach together. Alice worshipped her father because he was so powerful, and
everybody did what he commanded because he knew best and never gave
mistaken judgment.
Alice Denway was her father’s pet. Ever since Alice was very little, people had
told her that she favored her father’s side of the family and that he was very proud of
her. Her baby brother Warren favored mother’s side of the family, and he was blond
and gentle and always sickly. Alice liked to tease Warren, because it made her feel
strong and superior when he began to fuss and cry. Warren cried a lot, but he never
tattled1 on her.
There had been that spring evening at the supper table when Alice was sitting
across from her brother Warren, who was eating his chocolate pudding. Chocolate
pudding was Warren’s favorite dessert, and he ate it very quietly, scooping it up
carefully with his little silver spoon. Alice did not like Warren that night because he
had been good as gold all day, and mother had said so to father when he came
home from town. Warren’s hair was gold and soft too, the color of dandelions, and
his skin was the color of his glass of milk.
Alice glanced to the head of the table to see if her father was watching her, but
he was bent over his pudding, spooning it up, dripping with cream, into his mouth.
Alice slid down in her chair a little, staring innocently at her plate, and stretched her
leg out under the table. Drawing her leg back, she straightened it in a sharp, swift
kick. The toe of her shoe struck one of Warren’s frail shins.
Alice watched him carefully from under her lowered lashes, concealing her
fascination. The spoonful of pudding halfway to his lips dropped out of his hand,
tumbling streakily down his bib to the floor, and a look of surprise sprouted in his
eyes. His face crumpled into a mask of woe and he began to whine. He did not say
anything, but sat there meekly, tears oozing out of the corners of his shut eyes and
blubbered wetly into his chocolate pudding.
‘Good lord, doesn’t he do anything but cry?’ Alice’s father scowled, lifting his
head and making a scornful mouth. Alice glared at Warren in safe contempt.
‘He is tired,’ her mother said, with a hurt, reproving look at Alice. Bending over
the table, she stroked Warren’s yellow hair. ‘He hasn’t been well, poor baby. You
know that.’
3
0486/03/O/N/05
Her mother’s face was tender and soft like the Madonna2 pictures in Sunday
school, and she got up and gathered Warren into the circle of her arms where he lay
curled, warm and secure, sniffling, his face turned away from Alice and her father.
The light made a luminous halo of his soft hair. Mother murmured little crooning
noises to quiet him and said: ‘There, there angel, it is all right now. It is all right.’
Alice felt the lump of pudding stop in the back of her throat as she was about to
swallow, and she almost gagged. Working hard with her mouth, she finally got it
down. Then she felt the steady encouraging level of her father’s gaze upon her, and
she brightened. Looking up into his keen blue eyes, she gave a clear triumphant
laugh.
‘Who’s my girl?’ he asked her fondly, tweaking at a pigtail.
‘Alice is!’ she cried out, bouncing in her chair.
1 tattled: told tales
2 Madonna: Mary, the mother of Jesus
© UCLES

Y12/A2/Comparative Essay Question/CT

2007-05-24T19:19:00.001-07:00

1. Society has developed a series of feminine and mascline charcteristics. Define these and explore how they are explored in both of the plays.

2. In what ways do the woman of the texts give in to the social and sexual roles given to them by society and or male fantasy?

3. Many of Ibsen's female character have the properties of a 'new woman' - valuing independence and equality over a comfotabke life. Explore how two or more charcters (one from each text) fit this description and why.

4. In both of the texts, the charcters are bound by societies expectations of them. Consider how these roles determine the proate and public life in both of two or more characaters (at least one from each text).

5. Compare and contrast the way the writers use imagery for effect in both of the texts (fiid, doors, opening and shutting and animal).

Y12 / COURSEWORK NOTE ON LW4C AND DOLLS HOUSE/CT

2007-05-24T18:44:00.000-07:00

Quotes for you!!!

A Dolls House Act 1

Nora: ''Papa didnt give us a penny. it was i who found the money.''

Nora: ''...I too have something to be happy and proud about. It was I who saved TORVARD'S life.''

''I too have done something to be proud and happy about.''

''Is it foolish to save one's husband?''

''...Then it might be useful to have something up my sleeve.''

''Yes, now I feel really, really happy. Now there's just one thing in the world I'd really love to do.''

''I cant get anywhere without your help''Nora is faking that she depends on Helmer.

Pepe & Inaki

Christine hush there Torval came home do you mind going into the children for the present? Torvard cant bear to see dress making going on.

Nora: ''Splendid! But dont you think it is nice of me, too, to do as you wish?

Hel: Nice! because you do as your husband wishes?...

Estaban &Andrez

Nora: ''Leave me, Torvald! Get away from me1 I dont want all this.'' (pg 88)

Helmer: ''What? Now Nora, you are joking with me. Dont want, dont want? Arent I your husband?''

''Scientific experiment! Those are big words for my little Nora'' (pg 92)

''Good night my little songbird.'' (pg 92)

Rank: What a happy peaceful house you two have. (pg 88)

Water for Chocolate

March

''Tita was the best qualified of all the woman in the ouse to fill the vacant post in the kitchen, and in there flavours, smells, textures and the effects they could have were beyond Mama Elenas iron command.''

I think this is a good quote because it shows that even though Tita was opressed by Mam Elena she still had courage and faith to progress and be close to her true love, Pedro.

January pg 13

''If he intends to ask for your hand, tell him not to bother, he ll be wasting his time.''

July pg 119

''Instead of obeying her, tita turned away...'' shows that she she has become very independent and capable of standing up to new mother, she wants equality.

July pg 119

''For the first time Tita firmly helf her gaze and mam elena lowered hers,'' shows that she wants equality.

January pg 19

''You're old enough t have a little drink on a special occasion but tell me, you little, did you say it was ok?''

April pg 62

''The sound of Tita's melodious voice, singing as she cooked, had kindled his sexual feelings.''

January pg 15

''Im sorry Mommy, I will never do it again.''

July pg 116

''Tita told Chencha her decision never to go back to the ranch again.'' Tita goes against tradition by leaving her house, and not going back means standing against her mother and family tradition, that she takes care of her mother.

February pg28

''They ordered 200 roosters to be brought for castrating and fattening up. This task fell to Tita and Nacha'' There is a social expectation towards Tita.

pg 71

''Tita, how is the child?'' shows how the younger girls have obligations/chores. There has never been a man who has this kind of class.

Year 8/ advertising project

2007-05-10T20:55:00.000-07:00

Yr 11/ Literature/ More Mockingbird questions.....

2007-05-07T09:46:00.000-07:00

1 Analyse the childhoon world of Jem, Scout and Dill and their relationship with Boo Radley in part one.

2 How do Jem and Scout change during the course of the novel and how do they remain the same?

3 What is Atticus`s relationship to the rest of Maycomb? What is his role in the community?

4 Discuss the role of family in ´To Kill a Mockingbird´, paying close attention to Aunt Alexandra.

5 Discuss the author´s portrayal of the black community and the characters of Calpurnia and Tom Robinson. Are they realistic or idealized?

6 Discuss Atticus´s parenting style. What is his relationship to his children like? How does he seek to instill conscience in them?

Analyse the author´s treatment of Boo Radley. What is his role in the novel?

To Kill a Mockingbird | One-page Summary/Yr 11/CT- part 2

2007-05-07T09:42:00.001-07:00

Part Two
The family's involvement in Tom Robinson's trial dominates Part Two of the novel. One personal inconvenience of the trial is the arrival of Aunt Alexandra, Atticus's sister, who comes to tend to the family. Scout finds her presence unwelcome because Aunt Alexandra disapproves of her tomboyish dress and activities and tries to make Scout wear dresses and attend women's socials.

The time for the trial arrives, and Atticus guards the jail door the night Tom Robinson is brought to Maycomb. The children, including Dill, sneak out to watch over him and soon become involved in a standoff. Carloads of men drive up and demand that Atticus let them have Tom Robinson, and he gently refuses. Scout recognizes a schoolmate's father, Mr. Cunningham, and asks him polite questions about his legal debt to Atticus, who did work for him, and about his son. Scout's innocent questioning of Mr. Cunningham shames him, and he convinces the men to leave.

The children also sneak to the courthouse to attend the trial. They sit in the balcony with the black townspeople because no seats are available on the ground floor. Atticus's questioning of Bob Ewell and Mayella Ewell, both of whom claim Tom Robinson beat and raped Mayella, reveals their lies. Mayella was beaten primarily on the right side of her body by a left-handed man. By having Bob Ewell sign his name, Atticus shows him to be left-handed. Tom Robinson's left arm, however, is crippled from a boyhood accident. Tom's story rings truer. He contends that Mayella invited him into the house and tried to seduce him, a story made credible by Mayella's and Tom's descriptions of her lonely life. Tom resisted her advances, but before he could leave Bob Ewell discovered them. Tom ran and Ewell beat Mayella. To avoid social disgrace, the Ewells claimed Tom had raped her.

Despite the evidence, Tom is convicted. Atticus has expected this verdict and believes he can win on appeal. Jem has difficulty accepting the injustice of the verdict. Others, however, remain angry over Atticus's sincere defense of Robinson, particularly Bob Ewell. Ewell confronts Atticus, threatens him, and spits on him. Soon after, Tom Robinson's story ends in tragedy as he is shot trying to escape from prison. He ran because he believed he could find no justice in a white-dominated legal system.

The following October, Scout dresses as a ham for the school Halloween pageant. On the way home from the pageant, she and Jem are followed, then attacked. Scout cannot see their assailant because of her costume, but she hears Jem grappling with him and hears Jem being injured. After the confused struggle, she feels a man lying on the ground and sees another man carrying Jem. She follows them home. The doctor arrives and assures her that Jem is alive and has suffered only a broken arm. The man who carried him home is standing in Jem's room. To Scout's tearful amazement, she realizes that he is Boo Radley. Sheriff Heck Tate informs them that Bob Ewell attacked them and that only Scout's costume saved her. Ewell himself now lies dead, stabbed in the ribs. Atticus believes Jem killed Ewell in self-defense, but Tate makes him realize that Boo Radley actually stabbed Ewell and saved both children's lives. The men agree to claim that Ewell fell on his knife in order to save Boo the spectacle of a trial. Scout walks Boo home:

He had to stoop a little to accommodate me, but if Miss Stephanie Crawford was watching from her upstairs window, she would see Arthur Radley escorting me down the sidewalk, as any gentleman would do.

We came to the street light on the corner, and I wondered how many times Dill had stood there hugging the fat pole, watching, waiting, hoping. I wondered how many times Jem and I had made this journey, but I entered the Radley front gate for the second time in my life. Boo and I walked up the steps to the porch. His ringers found the front doorknob. He gently released my hand, opened the door, went inside, and shut the door behind him. I never saw him again.

Neighbors bring food with death and flowers with sickness and little things in between. Boo was our neighbor. He gave us two soap dolls, a broken watch and chain, a pair of good-luck pennies, and our lives. But neighbors give in return. We never put back into the tree what we took out of it; we had given him nothing, and it made me sad.

She returns home to Atticus, who stays up all night waiting for Jem to awake.

To Kill a Mockingbird | One-page Summary/Yr 11/CT- part 1

2007-05-07T09:40:00.000-07:00

Part One
Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird depicts the life of its young narrator, Jean Louise "Scout" Finch, in the small town of Maycomb, Alabama, in the mid-1930s. Scout opens the novel as a grown woman reflecting back on key events in her childhood. The novel covers a two-year period, beginning when Scout is six and ending when she is eight. She lives with her father, Atticus, a widowed lawyer, and her older brother, Jem (short for Jeremy). Their black housekeeper, Calpurnia, tends to the children. Scout and Jem's summer playmate, Dill Harris, shares the Finch children's adventures and adds imagination and intrigue to their game playing. In the novel, we see Scout grow in awareness and come to new understandings about her town, her family, and herself.

During the summer before Scout enters school, the children become fascinated with Arthur "Boo" Radley, a reclusive neighbor. Radley's father, a religious fanatic, confined Boo to the house because he was arrested for youthful pranks as a teenager. Some years later, Boo casually stabbed his father in the leg with a pair of scissors, confirming people's worst fears about him. The children are naturally afraid of and intrigued by such a "malevolent phantom," as Scout calls him. Yet they only approach the house once, when Jem runs and touches the porch on a dare.

Scout enters first grade the following September and must confront new challenges and learn new ways to deal with people. She cannot understand, for instance, her young teacher's lack of familiarity with the town families and their peculiarities, such as the Cunningham children's poverty and pride. Later, Atticus explains to Scout that she must put herself in others' places before judging them, one of the many lessons she learns by making mistakes.

With summer's return, Dill arrives and the children's absorption with Boo Radley begins again in earnest. Ultimately, they attempt to look in the house to see Boo, but a shotgun blast from Nathan Radley, Boo's brother, drives them off. In their panic, Jem catches his overalls in the Radley fence and must abandon them. Later that night, he returns to retrieve them and finds them neatly folded on the fence with the ripped fabric poorly resewn.

Their contact with Boo Radley continues into the school year. Before the previous summer, Scout and Jem had discovered gum and Indian head pennies in a knot-holed tree by the Radley house. Now more objects begin to appear in the knothole, including replicas of Scout and Jem carved in soap. They decide to leave a note for whoever is leaving the objects, but before they can, Nathan Radley fills the hole with cement, upsetting Jem.

Scout soon encounters trouble at school when a schoolmate condemns Atticus for "defending niggers." Atticus confirms that he is defending a black man named Tom Robinson, who is accused of raping a white woman, and that his conscience compels him to do no less. He warns her that she will encounter more accusations of this kind and to remember that despite their views, the people who cast slurs at them are still their friends. Atticus later tells his brother Jack that he hopes he can guide his children through this time without them becoming bitter and "without catching Maycomb's usual disease" of racism.

That Christmas, Atticus gives the children air-rifles and admonishes them to shoot no mockingbirds. Miss Maudie Atkinson, their neighbor, explains Atticus's reasons when she says that "Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy." Hence, it is a sin to kill them. At this time, the children feel disappointed in Atticus because he is old (almost fifty) and does nothing of interest. They soon learn, however, about one of their father's unique talents when he shoots a rabid dog that threatens the neighborhood, killing the beast with one shot. The neighbors tell them that Atticus is the best shot in the county, he just chooses not to shoot a gun unless he must. Scout admires Atticus for his shooting talent, but Jem admires him for his gentlemanly restraint.

Mockingbird Sample essay - Growth and maturity of Boo Radley and Scout

2007-05-07T09:38:00.000-07:00

In this essay, J. Kersh tracks the growth and maturity of major characters in the novel, including Boo Radley and Scout.

As To Kill a Mockingbird opens, we get a glimpse of Scout and Jem’s world – dark, overgrown, one might even say a bit decaying. It’s hardly the bright world of Alice in Wonderland or The Wind in the Willows. Neither, though, is it the harsh existence of The Lord of the Flies; the key word to describe Maycomb county would have to be “realism.”

Harper Lee seems to be showing the children as realistic characters in the midst of a heightened “Southern Gothic” background. A great deal of this heightened world comes from the children’s (particularly Scout, the narrator’s) observations and active imaginations: "In rainy weather the streets turned to red slop; grass grew on the sidewalks, the courthouse sagged in the square."(9) The children’s strength lies in the fact that they know their games could have violent (or at least negative) ends, but they play to ensure that all the players are able to return home. On the other hand, adult games hurt those who refuse to play by ever-changing “rules,” and not everyone gets to come home.

These games parallel the children’s development from a total, imaginative innocence to a level of experience by realizing how genuine life’s games really are. For instance, after playing games inspired by children’s books and the pulp literature of the time, Scout, Jem and Dill turn to the world around them for ideas. Boo Radley becomes the perfect “monster,” and they build a legend around him from stories told them by Miss Stephanie Crawford, Atticus, and Miss Maudie. They progress from daring each other to cross into the Radleys’ yard to acting out different versions of Boo stabbing his father in the leg to, even after being scolded by Atticus, attempting to look into one of the Radleys’ windows. Mr. Radley catches them, scaring them into realizing how real their game could be. Artifacts of this incident – the shotgun, Jem's pants left at the scene – remain as reminders, and the children grow a bit.

Childhood name-calling in To Kill a Mockingbird gives way to genuine voices of hatred. The children hear their father called a “Nigger-lover” and other names by people who don’t mean it playfully; their understanding of such things expands as the trial begins and such understanding is essential. So, too, does the incident at the jail. Scout innocently saves her father from a beating at best by simply recognizing Mr. Cunningham and calling out to his humanity. In doing so, she separates him from the safety of the mindless group of which he is a part, preventing violence – a very grown-up act, indeed, although she doesn’t yet realize how much she is changing.

The trial is a game in itself, with Mayella and Bob Ewell and their supporters pitted against Tom Robinson and Atticus, with the children sitting in the “Negro section” of the courtroom, symbolizing where their support lies. The children support their father not just because he is their father; they are coming to realize the stakes in this game, and that these stakes involve right and wrong. Scout and Jem also develop a higher respect for Atticus, because his version of the game involves respect and regard for the individuals involved, innocent or guilty. It is the only truly “adult” behavior in the novel. Atticus’s fairness in the trail makes it even harder for the children to accept the verdict. Atticus explains as well as he can, emphasizing both sides' reasons for their words and actions. They still have a hard time understanding, as the “rules” of the community supercede the rules of fairness and the rule of law.

Outside its own playing field, the trial makes little sense to the children. It also leads to real-life violence, with no rules and no guarantee that anyone (Tom Robinson, in attempting escape, and Bob Ewell later) will return home. Boo Radley, the “monster” from earlier in the book, returns at the end to rescue the children from a crazed Bob Ewell. Believing he and his daughter have been wronged despite the fact that Mayella came on to Tom in the first place, Ewell just wants revenge on anyone, even children. Scout experiences an unusual negative response to missing her entrance in the school’s agricultural pageant (denoting a change in her attitude) then is attacked by Ewell on the way home. Jem attempts to defend his sister, but only when Boo comes out of nowhere does Scout survive. Boo Radley accidentally kills Ewell in the struggle; after carrying the wounded Jem home and sitting with Scout for a while, Boo disappears once more into the Radley house.

Walking home, Scout realizes that their games of imagining what Boo’s life was like no longer matter. He is a human being, no more or less flawed than anyone else in a final analysis. The “monster,” like Tom Robinson and Bob Ewell, isn’t inherently evil, but caught up in situations beyond their control. By deciding to embrace her father's advice to practice sympathy and understanding, Scout emerges ready to deal with an adult world, where the games are real, and the rules change as you go.

Sample essay on gender and the character of scout - To Kill a Mockingbird

2007-05-07T08:16:00.000-07:00

Gender is an important issue in To Kill a Mockingbird. In this essay, J. Kersh uses specific examples from the text to explore Harper Lee's examination of gender issues and roles, especially in the main character, Scout.

It's no coincidence that young Jean Louise Finch is nicknamed "Scout"; in addition to the obvious symbolism of the term, "Scout" is almost gender-neutral. Harper Lee's examination of racial and class-based issues in To Kill a Mockingbird extend to gender roles as well. Scout symbolically moves from boy to girl and back, giving us a glimpse of the woman she will become, much like Harper Lee herself, who questions southern gender stereotypes as a part of the problem of growing up southern.

Early on in the novel Jem places his sister right on the balance of male and female: "'Scout, I'm tellin' you for the last time, shut your trap or go home - I declare to the Lord you're gettin' more like a girl every day'" (52). "More like a girl" in the sense that she tends to talk through a situation rather than immediately acting upon it, as women are taught, Scout nevertheless shows both feminine and masculine tendencies, giving her an insight no character except possibly her father (the best possible example of masculinity in the book) can hope to achieve.

Having lost her mother at an early age, Scout’s female role models are fleeting at best, and negative at worst. Her aunt Alexandra, brought into town to help Atticus by providing a "motherly" influence, is simply incapable of understanding her niece having any interest in "doing things that required pants" (81). In one particular case, Mrs. Dubose, a grumpy old lady, stops Jem and Scout as they walk into town, asking Scout, "'what are you doing in those overalls? You should be in a dress and camisole, young lady!'" Mrs. Dubose is crabby and unpleasant, and the idea of being like her repulses Scout. Jem's reaction? "'Come on, Scout,' [. . .] be a gentleman'" (101). Much of Scout's gender identity originates with those closest to her, her father and brother, so rolling around in the dirt and fighting with boys (and beating them) comes naturally. Aunt Alexandra and Mrs. Dubose represent opposite extremes of womanhood – the prissy socialite and the rotten old dowager – in effect showing Scout what she does not want to be.

By the time Mayella Ewell enters the book presenting an entirely different type of female, Scout has already realized what stereotypes are: "Ladies in bunches always filled me with vague apprehension and a firm desire to be elsewhere, but this feeling was what Aunt Alexandra called being 'spoiled'" (229). Mayella is a "rebel" in a sense, but also an outcast. She is also a victim of abuse, and Lee expertly contrasts the stubborn little girl who’s not afraid of a fight with the pathetic wisp of a young woman who, at the very least, responds overly gratefully to the slightest kindness.

The term "sexual predator" was coined long after To Kill a Mockingbird was published; however, Mayella Ewell could be defined as one when she sends the children out for ice cream then invites Tom into her house to fix a door that isn’t broken. She ends up grabbing his legs as he reaches up to retrieve a box, hugging him and begging him to kiss her - these actions are more sad than malicious. Lee doesn't seem to think Mayella is a predator, merely a woman so weak she can only rely on her sexuality to alleviate some of the boredom and danger of her home life. But the fact remains that Mayella is weak enough to allow her father, who already has an abusive hold over her, to twist the truth in court to uphold his own "reputation."

Scout isn't interested in becoming a socialite, a matron or a victim; presumably the only option she has left involves a sort of gender-blending that allows her to take on both female and male characteristics. She wears jeans and overalls, even under her fancy dress; she fights and plays rugged boys' games. She begins to lose sight of her feminine side when Jem, who seems to be displaying his own "feminine side," prevents her from squashing a roly-poly. Jem is starting to grow a few chest hairs, and is considering trying out for football; ironically, this is when he really starts paying attention to the value of a more "feminine" perspective, that is, one that is more concerned with his surroundings and the emotions involved. In short, Jem is becoming a more complete person.

Scout is similarly returned to a more "feminine" role at the end of the novel. She enters Jem’s room, where Atticus awaits to read her one of her brother's books. After being exposed to life as seen by wild little boys, social climbers, bitter old ladies and perpetual victims, she is ready to be, if for just one evening, her Daddy’s little girl again. This is significant because this very girlishness is something Scout has rejected throughout the novel, as she has moved through various phases of engagements with the issue of gender. In the end, she wants to try life as Jean Louise Finch instead; it is a life we can assume will carry her well into a well-adjusted adulthood. Like Jem, Scout has "chosen" her gender role by seeing the world from both perspectives. The result brings them both closer to their father, whose fairness and evenness represents the best of both worlds.

YR 11/ Literature - Mockingbird essay plans/CT - Narration

2007-05-07T08:14:00.000-07:00

Lee chooses Scout as narrator for the novel. In what way does it accomplish Lee’s purpose to have a young, innocent narrator? Can she make a profound statement about the hypocrisy of society? Explain your answer.

Outline
I.Thesis Statement: Through Scout’s innocent point-of-view, the reader sees Maycomb society with its barriers of class, race, and sex.

II. “Different kinds of folks”
A. Jem
1. Ordinary folks like the Finches and neighbors
2. The Ewells
3. The Cunninghams
4. The Negroes
B. Aunt Alexandra
1. Heredity
2. Shortcomings in other tribal groups
C. Scout
1. Says that “Folks is folks”
2. Less prejudiced than most other characters

III. Sees evidence of racial differentiation
A. Said Calpurnia was “supposed to use back door”
B. Jury was white men from outside town
C. Is told by Reverend Sykes that he “ain’t ever seen any jury decide in favor of a colored man over a white man. . . .”

IV. Sex lines in Maycomb
A. Women not on a jury
B. Expect girls to act and dress in a certain way
C. Southern womanhood

Y11/ Literature/To Kill a Mockingbird/Themes/CT - Lessons Atticus teaches his children

2007-05-07T08:13:00.000-07:00

tticus teaches many lessons to his children. What are some of the lessons that Atticus taught? How does he teach his lessons? Cite examples from the novel.

Outline
I. Thesis Statement: Atticus teaches many lessons to his children through his examples and through his patient lessons.

II. Lessons
A. Answer children when they ask you something
B. Do not hurt the defenseless
C. Be the same in public as in private
D. Use compromise when possible
E. Try to crawl into someone else’s skin

III. Means of instruction
A. Tells brother to do so and does himself
B. Example
C. Example
D. Shows Scout how to do so by doing with her
E. Mentions many, many times to children

Y11/ Literature/To Kill a Mockingbird/Themes/CT -Atticus Finch and Bob Ewell

2007-05-07T08:12:00.000-07:00

Topic #2
Both Atticus and Bob Ewell are important characters in the novel. Compare and contrast these important characters.

Outline
I. Thesis Statement: In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird there are similarities and differences between Atticus and Bob Ewell, but the differences outweigh the similarities.

II. Similarities
A. Fathers
B. Single parents
C. Set examples for their children

III. Differences
A. Atticus Finch
1. Same in public as private
2. Set example of honesty and concern for others to children
3. Did not use corporal punishment
4. Works as lawyer
B. Bob Ewell
1. Does evil works in secrecy
a. Scares Helen Robinson when she is alone
b. Cuts judge’s screen
c. Attacks children at night when they are alone
2. Sets contentious example for children
3. Beats children
4. Does not hold job

YR 11/ Literature - Mockingbird essay plans/CT

2007-05-07T08:10:00.000-07:00

Topic #1
The theme of the mockingbird is an important one in To Kill a Mockingbird. Write a paper on the mockingbird theme in Harper Lee’s only book. Be sure to tell what a mockingbird is and tell exactly why both Boo and Tom are mockingbirds. Are fears and superstitions associated with the mockingbird theme, with Boo, and/or with Tom? Explain your answer.

Outline
I. Thesis Statement: Harper Lee uses the mockingbird theme with both Boo and Tom as examples and with fears and superstitions attached to the mockingbird and both characters.

II. Definition of a mockingbird
A. Songbird
B. Gives its music
C. Expects nothing in return
D. Does no harm
E. Sin to kill mockingbird

III. Boo
A. Like the songbird
B. Gives gifts in tree and in end protects children
C. Expects no gifts or favors in return
D. Does no harm
E. Sin to harm or kill Boo

IV. Tom
A. Like the songbird
B. Gives gifts of labor
C. Expects no gifts or favors in return
D. Does no harm
E. Sin to harm or kill Tom

V. Superstitions attached to each
A. Mockingbird
1. Sin to kill
2. Spends life giving
B. Boo
1. Rumors spread about him
2. Fear attached to him and the Radley Place
C. Tom
1. Rumors spread about him
2. Fears associated with him and his race
a. “No lady safe in her bed” (Mrs. Farrow)
b. “Sin to kill a cripple” (Underwood)

Mockingbird Questions

2007-05-07T08:06:00.002-07:00

Chapter 16
1. Describe Judge Taylor. What do you think was unusual about him? What kind of courtroom did he run?

2. Describe the day of the trial in Maycomb. Is there another event in a small town to which the event could be likened? Why do you think so many people attended?

Chapter 17
1. Describe the Ewell home. Compare it and contrast it to the home in which Scout and Jem had grown up in Maycomb.

2. Why did Jem think Tom would be found innocent? Why was Scout more hesitant to believe that way?

Chapter 18
1. Is Mayella telling the truth or is she lying? What does she say and do in court that makes you feel this way?

2. Describe Atticus’ behavior in court toward Mayella. How do you think he feels about her and what she says?

Chapter 19
1. Contrast and compare the style of Atticus’ and Gilmer’s cross-examinations.

2. Compare and contrast Mayella’s and Tom’s style of answering questions and compare their testimonies. How are they alike? How are they different?

Chapter 20
1. Give a of Atticus’s final speech to the jury. Why do you think that he loosened his clothing and removed his coat before he began?

2. Describe Atticus’s view of lies and immorality. Do you think his view is typical of most of Maycomb society? Why, or why not?

3. What was the unwritten social code that Mayella broke? Are there unwritten social codes that Atticus himself has in his life?

Chapter 21
1. Describe Atticus’ actions after the trial. What was the significance of each action?

2. What impressions did Scout have as she waited for the decision?

Chapter 22
1. How did many people show their appreciation to Atticus? What does Atticus say and do when he sees their response to him?

2. What did Miss Maudie do for the children to make them feel better the morning after the trial? What did she say to them that made them feel better? Do you think she believed what she told them? Why do you believe this way?

Chapter 23
1. What were the four kinds of people in the world according to Jem? According to Jem’s grouping system, where would Little Chuck Little who helped calm Miss Caroline when she saw the cootie be placed? Do you agree with Jem that the Finch family in Maycomb was in a different group than the Ewell family? Why?

2. Mr. Ewell spat in Atticus’s face. What were some reasons Atticus did not fight back? Which man had greater courage?

Chapter 24
1. Aunt Alexandra is trying to teach Scout to be a lady. From what went on at the meeting, what is a lady, according to Miss Maudie’s example? according to Aunt Alexandra’s example? according to Scout’s thoughts?

2. What is a missionary circle? Describe the women’s missionary meeting. Is there any irony evident at the meeting? Explain.

Chapter 25
1. Tell about Mr. Underwood’s editorial. To what does he compare Tom? Is this a good analogy? Why?

2. Compare and contrast the Robinson Place with the Radley Place. Do ghosts exist at both places? Explain.

Chapter 26
1. Why did Miss Gates use current events in her class? Knowing what Miss Gates said on the courthouse steps, are there any inconsistencies in what she says in the classroom and what she does and says outside the class? How is this similar or different from Atticus?

2. Compare a democracy and a dictatorship. How are they different?

Chapter 27
1. Why was Robert Ewell bitter, according to Atticus? How did he show his bitterness?

2. Compare and contrast the break-in on the Barber sisters’ house and the attempted break-in on Judge Taylor’s house.

3. Describe in detail Scout’s costume for the pageant.

Chapter 28
1. Describe the Maycomb Halloween celebration.

2. What events contributed most to the confrontation that occurs after the celebration?

Chapter 29
1. Describe what happened after the children arrive home. Why did Boo decide to stay at the Finch home instead of sneaking back home? What feelings do you think Boo was experiencing?

2. Describe Boo Radley. Compare and contrast his true description with the description that the children held of him in Part One.

3. In Part One Scout called Arthur Radley, “Boo.” Miss Maudie tells her to call him, “Arthur.” She thinks of him as Mr. Arthur on her way home from third grade. When she sees him for the first time, she calls him, “Boo.” What is the significance of each of these names?

Chapter 30
1. Tell Atticus’s story of the murder and what he thought should be done.

2. What did Sheriff Tate want to do about the murder and why?

Chapter 31
1. What could be seen from Arthur’s porch?

2. Are there indications in the chapter that Boo is sick and will die?

Mockingbird Questions

2007-05-07T08:06:00.001-07:00

To Kill a Mockingbird | Suggested Essay Topics

Chapter 1
1. Describe Boo Radley, through the eyes of Jem and Scout Finch. Discuss his habits, his appearance, and his actions.

2. After defining the words “Caste” and “Class,” describe the caste and class system in Maycomb. Do you think such a system would still exist in the town today? Why, or why not?

Chapter 2
1. Contrast the teaching styles of Atticus Finch and Miss Caroline Fisher.

2. Describe the outward appearance and the actions of Miss Caroline. Are there any contradictions between the two?

Chapter 3
1. Contrast Atticus Finch’s idea of the law and Mr. Radley’s idea of the law.

2. Compare and contrast Walter Cunningham and Burris Ewell.

Chapter 4
1. What evidence does one have that Boo Radley is trying to make friends with the children?

2. How is Scout growing and maturing as the story progresses?

Chapter 5
1. Explain why Miss Maudie Atkinson would be a good friend for a young, motherless girl to have.

2. What lessons did Atticus Finch try to teach the children when he found them using a fishing line to give a message to Arthur Radley?

Chapter 6
1. Why did Jem return for his pants?

2. Why were the children going to spy on Arthur Radley on the last night of summer?

Chapter 7
1. What were the six gifts placed in the tree? Why do you think those gifts were chosen?

2. What are the children beginning to think of Boo as a person?

Chapter 8
1. Describe Miss Maudie’s reactions to her home burning. Tell why she was able to behave in this way.

2. Describe the colors of the snowman/woman. Tell how the colors relate to Maycomb. Describe the outward appearance of the snow person and how it changes. Describe the interior of the snow person. Is there symbolism relating to gender bias here? Why, or why not?

Chapter 9
1. Compare and contrast Atticus and Jack. Consider their methods of disciplining Scout. How are they the same? How are they different? Which person do you think is more effective in getting the desired result? Why do you believe this is true?

2. Describe the outward pressures on Scout to “become a lady.” Do you think Atticus applies the same pressures? Why, or why not? Why do you think Atticus behaves in this way?

Chapter 10
1. Atticus had many accomplishments. What were some of these? Jem and Scout did not recognize their father’s accomplishments, they wanted him to distinguish himself in other ways. When Atticus killed the dog, Jem decided to keep this silent. Why do you think this happened?

2. Contrast marksmanship with playing the piano, according to Miss Maudie. Explain why Atticus refused to hunt.

Chapter 11
1. Describe Mrs. Dubose. Describe her home. Does the setting in which Mrs. Dubose lives seem suited to her personality? Explain.

2. According to Atticus, what is real courage? Give examples of real courage you have seen in To Kill a Mockingbird.

Chapter 12
1. Describe the double life that Calpurnia leads. Why does she lead this double life?

2. Compare and contrast the church service in Calpurnia’s church with a church service in Jem and Scout’s church. Why do the differences occur? Do you think the church services in the two churches will become more alike or more different as time goes by? Why?

Chapter 13
1. Compare and contrast Scout’s and Alexandra’s definitions of “a fine person.”

2. Both Jem and Atticus tell Scout that it is not time to worry. What does this tell you about the speakers?

Chapter 14
1. Compare Dill’s fictional and factual accounts of running away.

2. What evidence do you see that Jem is growing up? What evidence do you see that Jem is not yet an adult?

Chapter 15
1. Compare and contrast the events of the Saturday night and the events of Sunday evening.

2. Discuss the bravery of the children, especially in contrast to the cowardly mob.

YR 11/ Literature - Macbeth Quotes/CT

2007-05-04T11:42:00.000-07:00

What hands are here? Ha, they pluck out mine eyes!
Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood
Clean from my hand?
(2.1)

In the same scene, Macbeth expresses anguish, realizing that nothing will be able to wipe the guilt from his conscience. He proclaims, figuratively, that nothing can wash the blood from his hands, not even all of Neptune's ocean.

Here's the smell of the blood still:
all the perfumes of Arabia
will not sweeten this little hand. Oh, oh, oh!
(2.1)

As the play progresses, Lady Macbeth deteriorates under the psychological burden of her deeds. Just as Macbeth proclaimed earlier with a similar figure of speech, she realizes that nothing can clear her conscience. Finally, in act V, her guilt becomes too great, and she commits suicide.

Life's but a walking shadow; a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
(5.5)

Macbeth's famous words after being told of Lady Macbeth's death; he is filled with anguish, and a expresses a view found in many of Shakespeare's characters, that of life and its seeming futility.

YR 11/ Literature - Macbeth Questions/CT

2007-05-04T11:15:00.000-07:00

Y11/ English Literature/ Macbeth/CT- Summary

2007-05-04T10:02:00.000-07:00

The play begins on an open stretch of land in medieval Scotland. Three Witches enter and give the prophecy that the civil war will end that day and that at sunset they will meet Macbeth. The Witches are summoned to leave, but they do not leave without stating that what is normally “fair” will be “foul,” and what is “foul” will be “fair.”

King Duncan learns that Macbeth has been victorious and has defeated Macdonwald. The Thane of Cawdor has betrayed Duncan and is accused of being a traitor. Duncan orders the Thane of Cawdor’s execution and announces that Macbeth will receive the title of Thane of Cawdor.

Macbeth and Banquo leave the battlefield and meet the Witches. The Witches state the prophecy that Macbeth will be Thane of Cawdor and king and that Banquo will be the father of kings, but not king himself. Macbeth has been victorious on the battlefield and the war is at an end—to what greatness should he now aspire?

The Witches spark the ambitious nature in Macbeth, as he knows his rise to power would greatly be enhanced by being named Thane of Cawdor. After the Witches vanish, Ross and Angus arrive and announce that Macbeth has been named Thane of Cawdor. Banquo is skeptical of the Witches, but Macbeth, driven by a desire for power, considers killing Duncan to gain the crown. Macbeth is overwhelmed by the image, yet his desire for power is still present, as stated in a letter he sends to Lady Macbeth.

Lady Macbeth encourages Macbeth to act on his thoughts, telling him that she will guide and support his plan to kill King Duncan. While Duncan is visiting Inverness, Macbeth’s castle, Macbeth kills Duncan as he sleeps. After the murder is discovered, Macbeth kills the servants, whom he accuses of Duncan’s murder. Duncan’s sons, fearing for their own lives, flee Scotland. Macbeth is crowned king.

Banquo raises suspicions that Macbeth killed Duncan. Macbeth hires two men to kill Banquo and his son Fleance, whom Macbeth fears will become king, as the Witches foretold. Banquo is killed, but Fleance escapes.

The Witches conjure a spell, and Apparitions reveal to Macbeth three prophecies that will affect his future. He is told to beware of Macduff, that no man born of woman can harm him, and he will not be conquered until the forest at Birnam marches to Dunsinane. Macbeth is also shown a procession of kings with the last king looking in a mirror—the reflection is that of Banquo.

Macbeth orders Macduff’s family to be murdered and leaves for England to confront Macduff. When Macduff hears of the massacre of his family, he vows to seek revenge on Macbeth. He joins Malcolm in his quest to depose Macbeth.

The army proceeds in camouflage by carrying a branch from Birnam Wood into battle. Alarmed by this, Macbeth fears the Witches’ prophecy will come true. Macbeth is told of Lady Macbeth’s death by her own hands, and he laments the nature of his life.

Macbeth fights Macduff, and Macbeth boasts that he cannot be killed by any man born of woman. Macduff informs Macbeth that he was surgically removed from his mother’s womb and thus was not born of woman. Macduff kills Macbeth in battle and hails Malcolm as King of Scotland. Malcolm vows to restore Scotland to a peaceful country.

YR 11/ Literature Essay on Midterm break

2007-05-04T07:24:00.000-07:00

Some poets achieve a powerful effect by using simple direct language and very little imagery. Explore how the poet creates a memorable poem in this way in Mid Term Break by Seamus Heany.

Mid Term Break by Seamus Heany is a strikingly powerful poem based on the poet’s memory of the death of his younger brother. Heany was at that time, a young boy ‘the eldest away at school’. The childlike language is kept throughout the entire poem, recounting the dreadful events. It’s a memorable poem because of its simplistic yet weighty tone, its harsh theme and the way it appeals to the reader’s attention.

The poem doesn’t reveal itself immediately, but rather, gradually recounts the story a little at a time. From the beginning we can see something is wrong, ‘Knelling classes…’ the reference to a funeral bell already suggests something, the reader immediately is curious and begins to consider who is it that’s dead. My immediate thought was Heany’s father. In the second stanza the poet speaks of his father, ‘In the porch I met my father crying.’ The poem discloses another fragment of the story. This, slow, gradual tone, creates pace which sets the atmosphere of the poem and gives it a sad voice.

Throughout the poem every stanza contains three lines. This use of short stanzas adds to the overall childlike feeling of the poem, but also proposes other things. The three lines symbolize that whoever died was young. In addition the lines also make reference to the way a funeral bell is tolled.

Imagery is seldom used in Heany’s poem and yet there is no need for it, the structure used for every line contributes to make it unforgettable.

‘I sat all morning in the college sick bay

counting bells knelling classes to a close’

The recurrent use of enjambments gives a measured, recessive feeling to each stanza and creates a sense that there is something missing in the poet’s life. It is a grave poem.

Much of the language used is simplistic and direct, ‘embarrassed, counting, drove, whispers’ this gives the impression it’s a child or a young person talking. ‘…Our neighbours drove me home.’ The way the poet speaks gives the poem a personal feeling. However, quotations like ‘I was embarrassed…’ and ‘The ambulance arrived with the corpse, stanched and bandaged’ make the poet sound detached, almost inhuman. It’s not what one would expect in a funeral. The way the author refers to his brother as a ‘corpse’ was included in the poem to give to the reader an outsider’s point of view as well as an insider’s, it also enhances how uncomfortable Seamus Heany must have been. The fact that simple language is used makes small words such as ‘stanched’ have a more powerful effect.

Similarly, imagery is used only once or twice, ‘Wearing a poppy bruise in his left temple’ but the effect of imagery when it is used is very effective and stands out like this quote does, emphasising the colour of the bruise, like a little red flower.

Seamus Heany’s poem can be qualified as a memorable one because of its pace building tension and sadness. The simple language and imagery create a very effective way to emphasise points and words which wouldn’t have stood out otherwise. Mid term break is unforgettable not because of adjective- laden stanzas or multi layered descriptions but because of the great feeling of sadness transmitted to the reader; when the last line is revealed.

Y11/Great Expectations Eng Lit/Mr G

2007-04-24T06:45:00.000-07:00

Here is an essay in answer to a text based question. The question was:

Read the opening of chapter 10 from 'The felicitous idea...' to 'be a design for a buckle.' (a page later)
In this passage how does Dickens amusingly suggest that Pip would have had no chance of becoming 'uncommon' without the help Biddy.

This is the start of this essay. CAN you finish it?

Dickens is a writer who is often full of whimsy and an almost satiric view of some of his characters. He is a master of character creation and his ability to endear the characters into the reader’s heart is where his strength really lies.

(Generic intro, using a couple nice words. Focus on Dickens as a writer.)

This passage is no exception. We are endeared to Pip’s naivety and his paltry attempts to become ‘uncommon’. We admire his enthusiasm and this is highlighted by the fact that his choice of teacher is also someone who boarders on ineffectual. Other characters in the scene also seek to entertain the reader through their clumsiness and vulnerability.

(More focus on the passage/question- still trying to express myself clearly)

At this point in the novel Biddy has moved into care for Miss Joe. Biddy is caring, simple and in many ways honourable. At this point in the novel she is closer to mirroring the child like simplicity of Pip. We respect Biddy as a character and we feel deep respect for her attempts to impress upon Pip.

(Now a clear focus on the characters and also trying to come round to their amusing attributes)

Dickens' style is often characterized by his thoughtful word choice. He uses an almost pompous style of writing for a character such as Pip who is semi illiterate. In the opening paragraph, ‘ pursuance of luminous conception’, ‘the most obliging of girls’, ‘buzzingly passed a ragged book’ ‘staggered at a boy fortuitously’ Dickens' choice of words are often calculated and as well being formalized they are often quite antiquated. However, this achieves something in his writing. It achieves a remarkable ability to set the scene and context that the text was written. But it forms a relationship with an intelligent readership who are not at the same illiterate standard as Pip. This allows Pip’s voice to become entwined with Dickens' voice and allows the author to readily poke fun at whomever or whatever he pleases and he is able to do this through the eyes of a child but the vocabulary of a gentleman.

(Now, on the main body of the essay. Going to work through the plan that is on this blog. Going to talk about Dickens' word choice and how that makes things amusing- firstly, formal word choice then more colloquial choice. From this point I might do another paragraph on word choice then on to refer to sentence structure and its impact on the passage.) HAVE A GO!!!!!!

Even when Pip uses more colloquial language: ‘the chump end of something’ that makes us laugh just as heartily that he is able to fall from this high state of language and use the language of the people-Pip`s real language.

Y11/Travels with my Aunt/ Mr G

2007-04-20T10:48:00.000-07:00

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

"I met Aunt Augusta for the first time at my mother's funeral..."

Described by Graham Greene as "the only book I have written just for the fun of it," Travels with My Aunt is the story of Henry Pulling, a retired and complacent bank manager, who meets his septuagenarian Aunt Augusta for the first time at what he supposes to be his mother's funeral. She soon persuades Henry to abandon his dull suburban existence to travel her way — to Brighton, Paris, Istanbul, Paraguay. Through Aunt Augusta, one of Greene's greatest comic creations, Henry joins a shiftless, twilight society; mixes with hippies, war criminals, and CIA men; smokes pot; and breaks all currency regulations.

Originally published in 1970, Travels with My Aunt gives us an intoxicating entertainment yet also confronts us with some of the most perplexing of human dilemmas. This Graham Greene Centennial Edition includes a new introductory essay by Gloria Emerson.

Review:

"A triumphant comedy....The aunt of Graham Greene's novels turns out to be one of those irrepressible souls, who, like the Wife of Bath...is wise in experience and years but gloriously foolish in all things the English traditionally face with severe prudence." Guy Davenport, National Review

Review:

"Travels with My Aunt is solid, mature, amusing, and disturbing." The New Republic

Review:

"The book...wholeheartedly embraces a Bacchic emphasis on the here and now. It is a remarkable change of emphasis to have made, and...Greene makes it with great wit." The New York Times Book Review

Review:

"No serious writer of [the twentieth century] has more thoroughly invaded and shaped the public imagination than Graham Greene." Time

About the Author

Graham Greene (1904–1991) worked as a journalist and critic, and was later employed by the foreign office. His many books include The Power and the Glory, The Third Man, Our Man in Havana, The Comedians, and Travels with My Aunt. He is the subject of an acclaimed three-volume biography by Norman Sherry.

A former journalist and war correspondent, Gloria Emerson is the author of Winners & Losers, which received the National Book Award, and, most recently, a novel, Loving Graham Greene.

REVIEWS

Plot Summary of Travels with my Aunt
"Recently retired bank teller Henry Pulling is carried way from his settled lifestyle when his long-lost aunt comes to visit him on the day of his mother's funeral. Eccentric and flamboyant, Aunt Augusta has never been a conventional person, and she seems to have decided that Henry needs to have the stuffing knocked out of him. This she does, first by taking him with her on a money-smuggling trip to Istanbul on the Orient Express, and later she talks him into accompanying her on a trip to South America to rescue the love of her life, Mr. Visconti, who has got himself into trouble with his criminal activities. Along the way we learn about her life, Henry learns to relax and have fun and he finds out some startling secrets about his parents and his aunt." Jóhanna, Resident Scholar
"Henry Pulling is a retired bank manager, he lives in London, he meets for the second time in his life his Aunt Augusta, during his mother´s funeral. They get to know and they started to be friends. She tells him that the dead woman (Aunt augusta´s sister)is not his real mother. He likes very much growing his dahlias, it is his only hobbie. He starts knowing his step aunt, and they decide to travel all along Europe and to some parts of Asia and America. They go to france, to Turkey, to Argentina, etc. Time pases and Henry becomes more interested in knowing about his real parents; as he pases most of the time with his aunt, he starts changing dramatically into a very different way from his common life. He starts knowing his aunt, and he notices that she had many lovers as well as money, and that she has many strange friends, or people involved some time with the government or corruption. Although Aunt Augusta doesn´t tell Henry the truth of his real mother, he starts noticing that his aunt had once had a very good relantionship with his father, and that she has sentimental feelings to his father." Tomas Turreiro Manzini, Resident Scholar

Review Analysis of Travels with my Aunt

Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).

Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Tone of book? - humorous
Time/era of story - 1930's-1950's
Family, struggle with Yes
Struggle with: - Aunt
Crime & Police story Yes
Story of - criminals stealing from other criminals
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book

Main Character
Gender - Male
Profession/status: - unemployed
Age: - 40's-50's
Eccentric/Mental Yes
Eccentric: - emotionally unstable
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events? Yes
Ethnicity/Nationality - British
How sensitive is this character? - middling sensitive to others' feelings - mean, arrogant
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence

Main Adversary
Profession/status: - unemployed
Has magical powers? Yes
Eccentric/Smart/Dumb: Yes
Eccentric: - emotionally unstable
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - almost none
How sensitive is this character? - mean, arrogant
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence
Physique - average physique

Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings? - 3 (some)
Europe Yes
The Americas (not US): Yes
The Americas: - South
Misc setting - moving train

Style
Person - mostly 1st
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
Unusual Style: - written like a journal/diary/letters
Is this a play? Yes
Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog

What does Mr Grimshaw think?

'Travels with My Aunt' is an intriguing novel, one which is overflowing with simplicity but at the same time layered with textured characters. It has been some time since I as a reader have felt that such a sudden shift of feeling towards the book´s central protagonist as well as the leading characters.

On the surface the juxtaposition between Augusta's dynamism and Henry's minimalist life is filled with stark but whimsical humour. It is almost dramatic satire that the reader is so much more aware of the humorous tone of the character`s often stoical actions and speech. We love to be the audience to Augusta's colourful vivacious existence but at the same time we are equally absorbed by Henry's inabilities and unfulfilment. They are characters who are pilgrims and pilgrims who we are drawn to and wish to be a part of their journey.

But, and in this case it is a big but. These characters metamorphosise through the novel and not necessarily in a positive manner.

In Renaissance tragedies a tragic flaw is depicted. In present day literature and film all too often we see the protagonist defeat adversity. But the characters of 'Travels with My Aunt' leave a sour taste in the mouth. You subscribe to these charater's eccentricities and yet in the end they seem to let you down. Greene lets you down. He condenses blasts of shocking information into the final remaining pages and these aren´t just narrative plot twists or hangers. They are well crafted metamorpheses that don't shock flagrantly but disperse your securities in the characters previously aimiable natures.

Wordsworth is killed. little or no weight is given to his death. Augusta who we have loved so dearly is listless and completely blinded by Visconti. She has slipped into a coma making the Augusta we came to know through the novel adistant memory. And her lack of care makes us feel the tragedy that we have misjusded- that Wordsworth may in fact be the only genuine character in the novel.

And Henry, dear Henry whose pathetic nature is often so endearing suddenly announces that he is to marry, however we cannot ignore the acidity of the colonial demonisation. He has become the puppet to Visconti and moreover is to become the husband to a sixteen year old- more for business and status than for love. Yes, Henry has grown, he has moved from the stiffling world of Dahlias and Miss Keane, it just seems as though there was a betrayal in that change, a loss. Henry gave away his vulnerability. The part of his character that really is the most flavoursome.

It is no enormous narrative shock that that Augusta is Henry's mother. Greene weaves this ino the final pages with aplomb through an almost Henryesque dismissive sentence. He leaves us wondering just how long has he known? And why is Augusta's response equally bland overshadowed by this dance which should have us pleased for their love but instead just seems selfish.

Overall, I am left with a question. What is it Greene wanted us to feel about these characters? Because as a reader you can't help feel a little cheated.

YR8/AG/FINALDESCRIPTION

2007-04-15T17:56:00.000-07:00

I slowly walk through a dark terrifying path, when I suddenly see a dark, old and terrific house. I could see it looking at me, smiling with an evil, big smile, laughing at me as if I was a big, stupid, funny clown.

I cautiously approach to the silent house, keeping a close look at the door, waiting for it to slam open and for something evil and terrifying to come out. I now am close enough to see what’s after the old, broken, wooden door. I can’t see anything past the door, so I decide to get closer.

I enter the house, actually what used to be a house, a home. I try blink but my eyes would not open again, I try for a few minutes to open my sad yellow eyes, but they won’t react. I suddenly realize they are opened, but there is nothing to see, so I start to drawn in the total darkness. When my eyes are fully used to the dark, I see something move slowly, it’s coming my way. I can not move, I am immovable, I am paralyzed. I can see it clearly now it’s, it’s, it’s not an animal, it’s a human. But not a normal human, it has skin as pale as if it had just seen a phantom, as purple as the sky at sunset. It has eyes as red as blood, it has the eyes of a demon. I can observe him coming nearer; he cautiously gets in front of me of me. I watch him closely while he opens his big mouth, I guess he is going to produce a delicate, complicated sound, more specifically a word, but I fail to guess, instead he breathes out a dense, heavy, golden gas. I breathe in, that was the last thing I ever did, because I fell asleep, an eternal sleep an infinite sleep.

Final Description-SG-8C-Miss Thompson

2007-04-12T20:12:00.001-07:00

Mexico

Every time I wake up, I don’t know where I am. I stand up from my bed and feel a cool breeze hitting my body. I still haven't realized where I am.
I start dressing up for school and afterwards I go down to the kitchen where I meet my mum who is cooking a quesadilla for me it could be considered food of the gods but I still haven't noticed where I am.

The quesadilla was delicious, but I still need to go to school. So I get on my dad’s car. He starts it on. At the ride I see some beautiful ladies that are as exotic as indian spice. But I start getting nervous. I still haven realized where I am.

When I get to school, I meet my friends, we have a laugh, then we go to classes. At class I lose my self, and I get a task that is, to find a thing called ‘learning’.

At the end of the school day, I feel satisfied because now I have a little bit of my task on me. But ‘learning’ hasn't work to tell my self where I am.

“Go up the stairs, get up on the car thats returning me to home, wait for the others to get in, turn it on.” Is my all days journey after two thirty, that by this time is getting a little bit boring. But I still enjoy it, by all the smiling people that I see through the cars window. When I see them I get a feeling, a feeling that tells me that everybody except me, knows where they are.
I reach my house again. Now I'm in a hurry, because at less than an hours time I need to be at the other side of the city, that I havn't reached to the point of knowing whats its name, or where it is.
Finally, I'm on the football pitch made of stones & dirt at the other side of the city. I don’t care if I need to sit two hours in my car to get over there, because when I'm training on that pitch, I start getting a delicious feeling of knowing where I am; but the idea isn’t clear enough to know my location on the urbe.

At the end of the day Im laying on my bed, thinking of my day. “México” my head is saying to me. I didn’t understand the first time. But when I said it again I understood it, and felt a breeze similar to the one that I felt at the begining of the day; the difference was that now I knew where I was.

Shopping centre description-8C-RP-MissThompson

2007-03-29T06:27:00.000-07:00

Shopping Centre Description

You begin to see the shopping centre in the distance. Its light displays flash out to your car like a lighthouse, beckoning all the ships to her nearby port. The parking lot that approaches is a sea of black asphalt filled with many coloured and sized fish. You realize that your car will soon become part of this wide ocean. Of this port that buzzes with different cultures, of adventure, of an indescribable mystery.

You pass through one of the many different main doors and you find yourself in the clothes section in the department store, Liverpool. Without saying a word, you grab one of the fine, soft silk fabrics imported from India and you can feel for a moment the freshness of the lush green jungle. Snapping back to reality you continue your journey, being pushed along by others like a herd of elephants approaching the imminent oasis.

Passing a boutique you can smell the perfumes invade your nostrils and then suddenly, you sneeze. Up ahead of you your eyes meet those of the cleaning lady.

The cleaning lady who day after day does her job, she’s invisible and you have barely managed to catch a glimpse of her. You try to find her again but she’s not there, she has become invisible again, lost in the multitude.

The smell of quesadillas compels you to head to the food court. A million odors invade you, but only one matters to you, that of the quesadillas. As you put it in your mouth you feel that the resistance to the other smells has been worth it. The tortilla slowly melts in your mouth and the salsa heats up your nostrils and you feel miniscule drops of sweat beginning to form on your forehead.

You have to go now, your parents dragging you along, anxious to escape the array of noises that invade their ears. Girls, you see them like a pack of lionesses, hunting for the newest thing in the world of fashion. Something worthy of their ooo’s and aah’s. Meanwhile you see the boys near the fountain with skateboards in hand. Each trying to surpass the other’s trick and then all of a sudden you’re out, back to the black ocean where you’ll find your ship and return home. Where sooner or later, you will long to be back to this world of sounds, smells, and sights.

The Deserted House

2007-03-28T19:30:00.000-07:00

28/03/07 Andres Angeles Yr 8C

Some say it’s star crossed, others say it’s inhabited by ghosts, lost souls, sunk in their own pain and unable to let go of their long lost lives. I say it’s magic.

As I came to the rotten fence, the combination of smells and sounds struck me softly and rapidly. It was so sudden I involuntarily stopped dead in my tracks and enjoyed of the now deserted establishment. It had once been a glorious house, made for a rich family who’s name I cannot recall since it is not mentioned for many years now.
Recovering from the shock I moved forward and pushed the broken door. It flung open with the most subtle push, something which had surprised me the first day I visited the abandoned mansion. The door gave way to the main entrance which was better preserved than the fence itself, but still quite degraded.
As I passed the wooden fence, the golden brilliance of the dried out garden under the sunlight struck my eyes, something which never failed to cheer me up. It was because of the garden that I’d come to think of this place as magical. The plants had suffered terrible deaths because of the lack of water, but they still kept this joyful spirit, like a little puppy waiting for you to throw a rubber ball, a piece of meat or even a simple woodstick, it wouldn’t matter, because the game would be equally fun, and it would be kept in your memory for as long as you lived, for eternity.
I never saw the insides of the house, but I do not regret it. The outside was enough for a thirteen year old, for an eighty year old. It made you stop and listen. Silence. The sound would always be nule but peaceful, pure and profound.
Every time I stopped and listened, I could not help but smile and think about it all, about every hidden detail that I may never unveil, and these was of course, perfection. A simple word which can easily be described, but why perfection? The answer to this is simple, because perfection is not a straight line, neither can it be the roundest of cirlces or by that matter the cleanest of tables. Perfection is the the flower with missing petals, blown out by the wind, but untouched by the harmful hands of those who keep hate in their souls. It is the dried out plant which keeps it beauty within each leaf, worn away by the beings which feed on it.

And that of course is why this place became so special to me, because it’s magic, because it’s peaceful, because it’s perfect.

Y13A2/Approach to comparative/Ed

2007-03-27T11:08:00.000-07:00

You have 2 hrs for the comparative paper and 1h30 if you are Standard Level.

You should have a plan from the start of the exam. Here is my advice on how to approach the paper.

Firstly, Write out the mnemonic that you have remembered. This will serve as an annotation plan and a paragraph planner for the essay. If you follow this plan I think it is nearly impossible to fail

1) CONTEXT
PurposeAudienceWriter´s intention GenreTheme

2) STYLE
Tone Imagery Devices

3) STRUCTURE
Word (lexical field)Sentence (syntax) Paragraph

NOW: USE THIS AS AN ANNOTATION DEVICE USING ARROWS POINTING TO MULTIPLE PRTS OF THE TEXT.

THEN, USE IT AS A PARAGRAPH GUIDE. FOLLOW THE NUMBERS- ALWAYS START WITH CONTEXT

Helpful things to remember:
Refer to line No´s
Clearly quote
Use shotgun quotations
Don´t analyse text A then B do both against each point.
Mix up your sentences a bit- don´t always refer to A and B

Introduction: REMEMBER THIS:

Warm the examiner up with an intro sentence.

Include a fancy word

Use a good sentence structure.

Here´s an example:

"It has long been the craving of writers´ of both non fiction and fiction alike to be able to encapsulate the essence of a destination through the written word. Text A and B attempt to achieve this; albeit, in different forms."

LAST TIP:
AT THE END READ YOUR WORK AND MAKE 5 WORD CHOICE CHANGES AND CORRECT 5 GRAMMAR MISTAKES (YOU WILL FIND THEM IF YOU CHECK)

Yr9/ McPark Commercial/ CR MO AI MC

2007-03-25T15:19:00.000-07:00

Check this out:

Year 10b Monologue Alfonso García A. "Fons"

2007-03-22T19:48:00.000-07:00

Another Day Next To My Best Friend

Mmmmmmmm, oh god, I love sleeping. Come on wake up its 11:00am now, you have to wake up…… Are you there? Yes you are always there; you are a gigantic, sloppy, fat mass in front of my 8 pack stomach (yeah sure). Well anyway we have to get up; I am starting to get hungry. Oh god I hate being fat I should have paid attention to that stupid diet I got from internet a long time ago. The first thing written on that healthy food paper was: DO NOT under any circumstances eat FAST FOOD!

Yeah sure they though that a Mc Donald’s fan like me would stop eating those delicious three floor hamburgers. They don’t know me, not even if I got paid! I wouldn’t abandon Mc Donald’s for any reason. Oh god those fast food restaurants drive me crazy, not fat, or do they?

Well lets return to reality, I’m stuck here in my bed, about to piss my pyjamas because I really can’t walk all the way to the bathroom. It’s too far! I mean it is equivalent to asking a teenager to walk from here to Japan. It’s crazy! Just can’t be done. Oh god, it really gets me on my nerves. I won’t stand a day more with this enormous belly, following me everywhere. (From my bed to the kitchen and back again!).

To finish narrating my successful life, I can add that I am another desemployed fat American. Yeah, you don’t believe me, come on. Nobody wants to hire a fat guy who can’t walk from his chair to the rubbish bin! It’s pathetic! I remember the last time I had a job; it was on the year 1982. I wasn’t this fat and I still walked, at least to the bathroom I did. I believe one of my greatest mistakes was to never exercise.

What, I didn’t heard that repeat it! Oh yeah now you are starving? Yeah and I’m supposed to feed you when you never listen to me! I always have to carry this 200 pounds with me everywhere I go. Well any way, I’ve just pissed my pyjamas again, what else can I do? Let’s get up and, hhhhhhmmmmmmmm!!!!!!! God difficult it is. Oh great now I’m speaking like that little green man named Yoda! What else could go wrong?! God I really have to start a diet, maybe later. Now I need to concentrate on eating this big, extra cheese pizza, I asked for last week. Never mind, I have a coke, not to dehydrate and 7 snickers, just in case I’m still hungry!

Y10...Diego Prazmowski Baczyk....Monologue

2007-03-22T17:46:00.000-07:00

A talk with obesity

For many beautiful years filled with praise and satisfaction, I have lived in Britain. Regrettably my job required me to immigrate to the United States, land of the free racist patriotic fat pricks. You see, I abolish obesity and seeing as the U.S was filled with overweight morons, well, you know. And no, I am not a plastic surgeon…I am of the highest quality, a homicidal maniac with a senseless grudge against people with overweight disorders. Do not inquire as to the origin of my insanity nor the reason for my contempt, for not even I know it. Yet, in a quite perturbing way, I am intrigued by their unusual capacity to devoir a weight greater than their own human body. I guess one of the things that most eminently agitate my vowels is that they are capable of eating healthy, it’s not like we lack healthy food! They can choose what and how much to eat!

I do not wish to be discourteous towards the people who fill their bellies with the filth provided by fast food companies. “McDonald’s” actually stated in a law suit that their processed products may be more harmful than the unprocessed good. It is the fast food companies that force the youth to consume these fat producing goods. Their incessant advertisements and alluring propaganda makes their waste irrationally a necessity. I have been here in the U.S for less than a week and I already feel compelled to satisfy my cravings with a fat-dripping, gruesome ham-burger. I would have already done so if I hadn’t found the selfish slaughter of cows rather lamentable.

I remember a Tuesday night in the outside of a mall. I went there actually to make some contemplating on what revolting places malls are, packed with ignorant fiends seeking how to spend the remains of their life-savings; but I digress. I saw a man, bald except for the sides of his head, glasses aiding only to improve vision to observe his own nose and clothes that seemed to have been with him all his life – the fat in his body slipped from above his shorts and dripped towards the ground like a melting ice-cream cone. I waited for it to fall onto the ground but it never did. He had this ridiculous smile, like expressing illogical happiness or pleasure. He had brought a little big-eyeballed child with him and sat him on a trashcan. It was when he grabbed the boy and shook him and his teddy-bear that I had a sudden impulse to grab a nearby pipe and fling it at his self-satisfied head. The pipe bounced off him like a tennis ball as he fell onto the ground. But his fat would not let him hit the floor so he lay supported above the ground like some sort of monument. I asked the boy what it was that the man was doing and he said that he was helping him find his mom. I thought it was a weird way of looking for someone with his pants half way down and a devious glare in his eyes. But anyhow, this might have been what stuck in my mind for so long in one dark corner, I remembered that Tuesday was U.F.O night and ran.

It’s quite irrational that a human being exterminates his race for an aesthetic disturbance but still it is a worthy workout to my body. I doubt you would have guessed my appearance correctly, based on my attitude and form of action against individuals with these particular physical…emmm…detriments. But my dark-skinned 190kg body remains identical, regardless of my opinion or common preconception of people who haven’t seen me. I guess I am the least suspected person of all the possible fat-guy-murderers. It is rare to see an overweight man slaughtering many obese people. But even so, my hatred towards myself is equal to all the past ones, only that in my case the tip of the knife is obstructed by the fat in my body and eludes my heart.

I have tried to rid this world of yet another “victim” to the preliminary judgement and depression, resulting in an exaggerated ingestion of repulsive foods: myself. But my expanded body caused my arms to shrink into my fat; I can no longer reach a weapon and point it at my head. It’s like I’m a ball of fat moving with barely any legs peering from underneath my accumulation of greasy fat. I occupy two lanes on the street for Chrissake!

(I have a little seal friend that hovers around me because I have my own fatty gravitational pull. Thus my little seal friend orbits me like a moon around a planet.)

Due to personal shame and embarrassment name excluded…come on as if you didn’t know whose it was…

Yr 10B/Monolog for obesity/ By Julen M

2007-03-22T17:36:00.000-07:00

Obesity.

There is a boy called Jim, whom is now a big fat slob, or should I say, a big obese slob! Born in 1992, Jim had an ordinary standard body type for various years. It wasn’t until the year of 2003 when Jim started to have an appetite for fast food. You could say that the first thing on the menu was Mc Donald’s. He went there about three times a day and six days a week. It was an outrage, soon he’s body weight began to increase with velocity, to approximate double he’s original size.

Close friends and familiars have tried to stop this obese boy from getting any larger. Their effort was futile; fast food restaurants tend to make their meals addictive, when you have some you cant stop, not only that, but they also make the sizes of the orders ridiculously huge! Jim is now having respiratory and social problems thanks to his “super size” that he has now acquired.

Jim is quite a burden for other people, he has acquired such a state of obesity that he is no longer capable to go through doors with out getting stuck. This is Jim’s fault but even if it doesn’t look like it, the fast food is to blame; not because it makes him eat the food, but the fact that it only makes his ambitions worse and makes him fatter.

Julen Murguia. 10B

Yr 10/ Monologue/ Antonio Maza

2007-03-22T16:24:00.000-07:00

I’m here to speak to you about how I hate fat prick that eat McDonalds every day of their lives with out knowing the damage that it can cause you, I would be one of those pricks. But if there’s someone to blame for the creation of this monstrous body of my it is the people that work at McDonalds who always fry the food to much and always ask you if you want the “big” or the “super size”, I mean they know I would prefer the big one because it has less fat than the super size, put in the other hand I’m a food addict and rather buy the super size.
Here is a photo of me:

( I’m sexy)

Someone else that must be blamed is the master mind creators of World Of War Craft . They are the cause for my lack of exercise, but I rather be playing the game instead of playing football or something like that or even going on a blind date and have to hear all the yibidi yab coming from a female mouth. And there comes something else, blind dates are rubbish. You meet a hot girl on the computer and when you’ve decide to have dinner she lays a eye on you and you will get her to run as if you wanted to eat her. I’ve had the pleasure of this experience about fifteen time, yeah about fifteen time, which afterwards I would get depressed and go to have some chicken wings or something like that.
To finish I would like to congratulate the makers of the movie “super size me” which actually make MacDonald and other fast food companies look like freaking losers, so I guess that I laugh at youu!!!!!!!!!!! MacDonald and other fast food companies
Well I’m of to MacDonald, do you want to come? yes? hmmm but do you want to share the big fries because I would feel fat if I ate them all.

Antonio Maza P 10B

yr 10 monologue fernando guadarrama

2007-03-22T10:24:00.001-07:00

Hello, my name is Willard Smith Scott, I declare myself as and obese person and I really hate it, it has only brought me misery and humiliation.

When I was younger, I used to work for MacDonald’s; I enjoyed it so much that I worked there for like 5 years, I was the first Ronald Macdonald ever, every single child loved me and enjoyed being with me as I enjoyed being with them.

As I worked there, I ate MacDonald’s food 2 to 3 times a week, sometimes 4, I ate mostly big Macs, French fries and coke. And as time passed by, I became fatter, Macdonald’s workers said that if I kept getting fat they would fire me.

I suffered next night because I felt some kind of addiction, and by trying not to eat Mac food I began to feel like hell, I fell tired, depressed and anxious so I decided to eat some French fries.

My boss told me to go to UK because they were opening a new store, when I got in the airplane, I couldn’t fit inside one seat so I had to change to first class, I ate 4 times the menu served in the plane, and I still felt hungry, luckily I had a specially big “Big Mac” in my bag, I opened the paper and ate it in 3 minutes, after that, all my depression disappeared.

When I got to United Kingdom, I got down of the airplane and some children cried as they saw me, they hid behind their mother, only one child did not cried, and that child was fat and had a fat mother, I believe only fat people respect fat people.

I got to the new MacDonald’s in town to see what I had to do and my boss expressed to me in a decent way that if I kept eating MacDonald’s food I would get too fat and he would have to fire me, I felt sad, again, but this time I really decided to stop eating all that food. My boss wanted me to stand in the crowd, dressed as Ronald Macdonald while they inaugurated the restaurant, and while they cut the red ribbon to show that it is officially open to public. I think it was a nice day, but in part it was hard because I was next to the heavy users (MacDonald’s special clients) and I realized that there was not much difference between them and me, I always felt disgusted when I saw them but now I realized that I had became a heavy user too!

All my life I had wanted to be muscular and handsome like an actor or a model, and it is really hard to compare this fat pig with someone like that; it really makes me fell sad and depressed. All I can do is go to work everyday and try to put myself on a diet and exercise.

Next day I went with a nutriologist and she said to me that I really had serious obesity problems and that they could cause lethal sicknesses that could kill me or affect me really bad. She said that Obesity has been linked to: Hypertension, Coronary Heart Disease, Adult Onset Diabetes, Stroke, Gall Bladder Disease, Osteoarthritis, Sleep Apnea, Respiratory Problems, Endometrial, Breast, Prostate and Colon Cancers, Dyslipidemia, steatohepatitis, insulin resistance, breathlessness, Asthma, Hyperuricaemia, reproductive hormone abnormalities, polycystic ovarian syndrome, impaired fertility and lower back pain. I think that’s too many diseases for just eating food. I also talked to her about my mother, she had diabetes and she was slim, at that moment, the nutriologist warned me that it would be really easy to get diabetes and if I kept eating this way I would probably end in the hospital.

I went back to USA, the fattest country on earth now, and as I got down the airplane, I felt at home, about 50% of the Americans were obese and they understood me. There, I saw a big MacDonald’s full of fat people and I said to me “What happens if I eat once more there? Nothing will happen” so I ordered 3 big macs, big French fries and a big coke. It was the best MacDonald’s meal that I ate in years so I ordered 2 more big macs.

Next day I went to work and my boss called me by phone, he said that my supervisor had seen that I had got fatter and he said “ I warned you Willard, im sorry but you are fired, you are too fat.” At that moment, my life got ruined and I was so sad that I went to MacDonald’s to eat some more Mac Burgers, my pain felt relieved but my life was ruined, thank you MacDonald’s.

Y10 Monologue RSDV

2007-03-22T10:20:00.001-07:00

I couldn’t close my eyes. That night was eternal for me, what Lana the preppy, skinny, blond, “lovely”, popular girl of the entire school said to me stayed in my mind all day long. I simply couldn’t believe it, how could she dare to say that! I just cant believe she had the courage to say that in front of me, in front of everyone!

I thought it was a better idea just to pretend I didn’t listen, but I cant cheat myself, I listened, and quite well.

I’m not saying its not true. Because it is. I’m fat! But why cant she say it in a softer way, or not in front of him, in front of the most handsome and popular boy at the whole school! I never said I like him or something like that, no, no, he would never like a girl that has all her thoughts in pizza, hamburgers, McDonalds, burger king or that with the time she might have a heart disease, diabetes, low life expectancy or high blood pressure, I’m not saying I’m going to have someday those problems because I’m not that fat, well, just if you see me besides some other girls at school, you can se the imperfections I have some tummy, big arms ,big legs nothing to worry about, I think I’m not the one with a problem, no, maybe the other girls are way to skinny.

Who am I lying to? I am fat, maybe that’s why I’m alone at break time, or that my first and only kiss was...in a dream. I would love to be one of those skinny girls at the magazines, that have perfect bodies, and they lives seem to look perfect full of love, people admiring them, but someday, I promise someday I will get to be a skinny girl, with a handsome boyfriend full of happiness and love, however that’s in the future but now its simply me.

Y10 Monologue RSDV

2007-03-22T10:20:00.000-07:00

I thought it was a better idea just to pretend I didn’t listen, but I cant cheat myself, I listened, and quite well.

Y 10 Monologue MPG

2007-03-22T10:17:00.000-07:00

I’m not talking crap! It’s real. The problem of obesity is not something that governments use to make proposals and convince you to vote for them. It is a real problem. Is that big and real it even killed me…Right I’m John Smith’s grandma, when I died, I weighted about 595 pounds, right, 270 kilos.

1954 was the year that McDonalds first opened. The date on which I started my addiction? 4^th of December 1954— my first BigMac.

On the very beginning, I didn’t pay much attention to what the doctor said, you know: look for a diet that fits you, exercise more, work out…a bit—a never really listened. And this is how I stand here today, dead, standing on over the grave of me and myself.

Well yes, there’s, on the other hand a good side of it: Soon I’ll be having loads of neighbours why obesity is quickly taking over the race on: “The most “killing” disease.”

So now you know. Obesity killed me and will probably kill any other guy who eats 19.000 BigMacs’ in a lifetime [Don’t think I’m talking on the skinny-“goat-beard”-southern guy—no way.]

yr10/english monologue/Ana Sofia Rodrigez

2007-03-22T06:38:00.001-07:00

What?! I am absolutely not fat at all. I mean, I may weight 120 pounds but that is only because I’m big, you know? I am 1.65 meters tall! You have to agree that with a height like mine's one has to eat to feed every inch of the body right? I sometimes get to think that that the daily super size mac I eat, even with its 600 calories isn’t enough for someone with my height.

And maybe these places that can be considered having some “extra” fat are actually my curves. That’s right, I must have curves because my great grand mother was Puerto Rican and everybody knows that those physical aspects are inherited. Extra fat what all those Houston elephants have covering them as quilts. Compared with them I am a toothpick, compared almost with anyone actually… Well, I guess you could leave Giselle Bundchen out of the list but it must be only for a few pounds.

And believe it or not it is hard to be so thin; I am usually discriminated by jealous people that call me fat everywhere.

But I think that mostly I owe my body to the amount of exercise I do everyday. Not only I walk up and down the stairs a considerable amount of 10 times a day but I also have to walk the long 12 meters to get to my car. Thank god a new lift is about to be built in the office 'cause if I continue with this amount of exercise I will soon get an ulcer for the effort. And thinking about it, I definitely don’t want that to ruin my healthy body. I guess I'll start eating more to avoid that, yeah I am sure that must reduce the risk.

Fat Monologue-Santiago LS

2007-03-22T06:38:00.000-07:00

Thinking in the life I had just 5 years ago, I remember so many things. Feelings and people that I could pay anything to turn it back as it used to be.

For no reason my life has changed dramatically: I can’t sleep without it. I can’t be awake without it. I can’t dream without it…I love eating….I hate looking me facing a mirror after eating.

Ooooh yeah, I am fat! Actually obese would be the exact word to describe me. I am so fat that when the “pee time” arrives I have to suffer standing up, so that at the end, I can’t even look my pennies. That is really depressing and embarrassing. Look, my wife left me and my friends hate me. I could blame Mc. Donald’s about it, however, at the end I have to accept that I am the only one to blame.

When I walk in a public place, people stare at me as if a am a walrus or something. I understand them; they don’t see often such a big belly. But anyway I smile to them. It doesn’t matter is my smile is not honest, I really smile to them. They just look at me and make my shame change to anger.

The only thing that makes me change to a happy guy again is imaging them with their common “family problems” with drunk children. Just by the look on their faces I can say many times that some of them cry at night. Yeah, that makes me happy again. And well, obviously eating.

I am sure that someday someone will try to help me. What am I saying? Help us! We are millions all around the world! Just imagine that in Manhattan, there are more than 80 Mc. Donald’s! Where some people eat even everyday! That’s amazing, even for me!

The only thing I really want is someone to help me. Someone to listen me. Someone to hug me.

I hate me!

Yr 10 Monologues/Mariana G

2007-03-22T06:22:00.000-07:00

Deep into the fat

It's always the same remarks.
"Dude, looks like the whale just lost her ocean."
"Shouldn't she be back in the zoo with the rest of the elephants?"
"Looks like the dinosaurs are no longer extinct."
It's always animals. Why animals? Do they think I'm stupid and I don't understand? Just like a silly beast?
I hear remarks everyday of my life. Especially when I'm entering McDonald's. Well, I mean, I don't buy McDonald's often, you understand. Only once a week! And, I just get a salad, and water, and that extra order of french fries! I do the same in Burger King and Wendys, it's this new diet I'm trying out.
I do break the diet when I go to Taco Bell, beacuse I buy a big taco. But it has plenty of lettuce! And, I only go once a week or so.
I've been feeling really depressed lately. I don't want to get out of bed and see the world.Sometimes, I can fix that with a good pail of Chunky Monkey, or any other Ben & Jerry's flavour.
It's just...everywhere I go I always see skinny girls. In magazines, in TV, in movies, in the street. I feel like a monster when I see them. I wish I could model myself to be the perfect body.
Take off some of that, smooth that over, curve here, less there...
If I were thinner I could do anything I want. Be whoever I want.
Right now, I'm just the fat girl.
I think I'll go get a burger.

Yr10 Monologue-Diego Guerrero

2007-03-21T22:46:00.000-07:00

I hate it, it is always so hard. Everyone make prejudges of me. I always end up apart from the society because of my weight problems. I don’t find it fair in any kind of way. Not just because someone has weight issues means that they’re less important in this community. We all have the same value among this weird civilization that we live in.

I never get to play any kind of sports. I always try my best, but still no one see that in me, that I try as hard as I can, they only call me by offensive nicknames related with my obesity. I wish I could be thinner so I could not worry about being some type of freak between this atmosphere of insults and pranks.

I just sit there at the same old spot at break time watching everyone enjoy this 45 minutes, which for me could be considered as the worst part of my day, at least where I get more offenses for eating. How could this be possible, just for making an action that everybody execute through out this 2,700 seconds of pretended fun?

Everyone takes advantage of me, but when they find it convenient to treat with a little bit of respect. At the end of the day, when I realize all of this, a reflective thought of all this comes into my head and makes me identify that this a really sad fact.

But the worst part of all of this, is that at the end of the day you realize you don’t have friends, no one to support you, except of course your family.

Yr. 10/ monologue/alejandra turbay

2007-03-21T20:57:00.000-07:00

Mmmm… I’m feeling hungry, but I’m to lazy to prepare my breakfast. I’m just gonna go to get some doughnuts and some coffee. Look all those kinds of doughnuts; I can’t decide whether to take sugar, chocolate or vanilla flavor. I think I’ll just take the three of them. And the small coffee would not be enough for the three doughnuts so Ill just take the big cup. They are taking out some hot chocolate muffins; I guess I will take one.

And now here I am sitting in my old couch, I can’t believe that it has a whole in the middle of the seat. The strings are not that resisting I guess. Let’s watch some TV. Look my favorite drama show. How come the girls are so skinny, but let’s face it Ill never look like that. It’s depressing how can they just eat a piece of cheese? And talking about that Im hungry again. I want some nachos with cheese on top, and ill just drink a diet coke to avoid sugar. It makes me fatter.

And now just a few hours later its lunch time. I’m thinking on taking a Mc Donald’s burger with extra cheese, a coke and why not? A sundae too. I mean is hot outside and I deserving a dessert after too much walking. Two blocks. That’s too much, next time Ill just ask for home service. I feel full, but I need to get home, Ill just take a taxi. And now Im here standing in front of the mirror, my belly has grow 8 cm and my legs 6 cm. My face looks like a balloon. Now I’m just not a 16 size its two or more sizes, I’m not fitting my pants anymore. I need to go to the gym, make some exercise, but not today. My friends are inviting me to starbucks and to get some doughnuts at Krispy Kreme, and I just can’t reject that offer.

One week later, Im sad, my boyfriend broke up with me. He says Im too Chubby to fit in his car. I MEAN what does he thinks!!! It’s not easy being FAT!! That’s why I just bought this slender shape apparatus. Its fantastic, while you watch TV you are exercising. Im getting hungry Ill think Ill order a pizza and then just go to sleep.

Y10/I am not a Super Model/Millaray Carranza

2007-03-21T16:47:00.001-07:00

This is the worst day ever! First of all, oh my God, how could my parents think of such a horrible name, Gertrude! Ugh!

I hate my mum, she´s so fat and always eating horrible and fatty things, and her fatness is hereditary! Poor me! The worst part is that I love all those fatty types of food. When all of my friends go out to eat they order salads and soup and other healthy things. They never eat junk food. I am always the only one eating junk, and I blame my mother for all of this! What´s wrong with junk? I only go to McDonalds once a week! There shouldn´t be anything wrong with that…should there be?

I hate my mum, but, I hate Super Models even more! Perfect girls, they´re all thin and looking perfect all the time. I wish so much that I could be like them. My friends laugh at me, but nobody ever laughs at a Super Model! Even my dad laughs at me! Why does everyone think they can tell me that I look fat or that I should be on a diet!? The worst thing is that they all think that I eat healthy things too, that I must be just like them. Everytime I come home after school I go running straight to the closest McDonalds, Taco Bell, Burger King, anything! Then, by the time I get home I decide that maybe I don’t really want it… maybe, I will just nibble a little bit, just one fry.

Anyway, my mum, I hate her, she´s fat and she has suffered all of her life with the same problems that I am having now. Why didn´t she ever warn me? All of the people laughing and joking and always eating healthy around her, and now it is happening to me, does she even care? She has never once helped me to eat healthy.

What´s wrong with her? Should I blame her, or should I just blame heredity? Oh, I don´t know, I am bored of this…and so hungry! I should go get something to eat. Junk food anyone?

Millaray Carranza
10 B

I am not a Super Model

2007-03-21T16:47:00.000-07:00

Y10/Monologue/Maurice E

2007-03-21T14:41:00.000-07:00

(Fat guy speaking to his belly)

Good morning fat joe. How are you today? Growing? Yep, Guessed so, but don't worry, we'll go the bathroom.First let's eat something.
What do you want to have for breakfest? A hamburguer or a pizza? Neither!? I don't care if you want something healthy, it doesn't taste good.
So regarding your opinion we'll go for the pizza. Did you know they have home service? It's wonderful! This way we don't have to walk.
What do you want, Coke or diet coke? Let me guess, DIET COKE! You see, I take good care of us. Let me call them from the bathroom phone. A good way to eliminate fats.

(10 minutes later still in the bathroom)

Finally I finished. I feel thiner. Like if we lost 20 pounds.
Why isn't that pizza here? I'm the costumer of the month so they should give me a better service.
Let's wait in the T.V room. Power Rangers is starting

(10 minutes later)

Yeah!! the pizza is here. Finally someone understands me. Joe could you open and get the pizza for me? Jaja you're right, you don't have legs. You should be thankful because you can eat thanks to me so don't bother me with your health issues.
Hey I have an idea, let's order fried chiken.

Yr 9/Formal Letter/ASL

2007-03-21T08:18:00.000-07:00

Las Lomas Tepito

15/3/07

To who it may correspond to,

I am writing to complain about the “fantasy room” I just rented.
I am really disappointed with the quality of the room because first of all it dosen’t look at all like the one in the brochure you gave me, and second of all, the room’s quality is quite appalling.
It is unbelievable, I can’t believe your not ashamed of yourselves, I can’t believe you even have the guts to put this piece of rubbish in the market even though it’s a rubbish tip!
First of all I’d like to say that the “second floor” you mentioned is not a second floor. It is just an image of clouds on the ceiling, the bathroom that you mentioned had hot water all the time just has worms and dirty water in it, there is no high quality TV or entertaining center, why did you even mention it in the first place!?
Another thing I’m disappointed with is that the neighbors are always making thousands of noise and partying all the time, I thought the brochure said it was a relaxing room, a place were I could have peace and harmony whenever I wanted to! I can’t even sleep at night time! I hope you do something about it or else I’ll have to take my million dollars back and go from this place!

Yours faithfully,

Ana Sofia Lara

Yr9/Formal letter/CR

2007-03-20T22:09:00.000-07:00

Col.Peanut #123 Av.Fuccia #987
Shalala Street Cholo Street
Toronto,Canada Mexico City, Mexico

Dear Sir,
I’m really sorry to inform you that I was extremely disappointed in one of your rooms; it was nothing like he brochure.
For starters the “very espensive music kit” didn’t work very well, it kept turning on and off.
The wardrobe was too small, the internet too slow, and the cushions weren’t comfortable at all.
I really hope you take my complint into account.
Yours faithfully,

Camila Rodriguez

Yr9/Formal Letter/CS

2007-03-20T21:12:00.000-07:00

Av. JOJO Street Street
#111 Sansi #123 Lolo
Mexico 23933 Canada 34682
31/12/07
Dear Miss or Mr.
I would like to complain because the room I stayed on was disturbingly ugly (not like the brochure said at least) and the service provided was extremely bad. Joust because it was New Year’s the charged me 4 times the normal amount and I got worse service than what someone that came on a normal day would get for the normal price. I wanted some water and when I called the kitchen none answered, so I went down to see if I could suit my self but what was outrageous was that nobody was there. Well yes it is 2007-2008 so what I pay I should get better service than anyone ever because I paid 4 times the price. The worst thing of all was that the TV wouldn’t stop saying “NEW YEAR” “NEW YEAR”. I want my money back!!!
Yours faithfully the complainer.

Yr9/Formal Letter/EA

2007-03-20T19:24:00.000-07:00

Ernesto Elorduy 58-2
Col.Guadalupe Inn
Delg. Alvaro Obregon
Mexico D.F

Amores 44-C
Col. Del Valle
Delg. Benito Juarez
Mexico D.F

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Dear: Sir

I writing to you and your company to inform you that your "rent a room" service is despicable. During my stay I found several problems with room, which you call an oasis. First the bathroom doesn’t work how are you going to please customers if they have to be cleaning the bathroom at 2 AM.

Secondly, the TV has no channels what good is a TV if you can’t watch it.
Third when you are trying to have a nap you will notice that there is a clicking noise under the king sized, This soft but constant noise will torment you the rest of the night and not letting you have any decent sleep and last but not least your nice and comfortable couches are plastic! How you suppose to relax when you sit down and all you feel is solid, ice-cold plastic. This is outrageous. I really do hope that you improve your services greatly and not only for me but also for all the other customers that you are letting go when you provide such a poor service.

Yours Faithfully,

Esteban Alvarez

yr 10/Monologue/ANP

2007-03-20T19:04:00.000-07:00

Hy my name is Keith, I’m 32, I’m Virgo I love chocolate and I love children. Yes I have worked with children before and I have excellent recommendations (yeah right), yes and I prefer little children. Well I charge $8 per hour. No, no it’s not too much because I am excellent at what I do. I promise you won’t regret it. Oh yeah but be careful when you see me because you will not be sure if I’m woman or a man but I’m a woman and my name is Keith, oh and I’m pretty big so I might scare your children. Oh the kind of big that…. weights,…about mm….200 pounds?

Well tell me, how am I supposed to introduce myself? Even if I lie I will get fired the following day because children cry as soon as they see me come into their rooms and parents don’t trust me. When I travel, I need to buy two seats because I don’t fit in one. I mean I don’t occupy the whole two seats, it’s only that some of my fatty stomach slims down to the neighboring seat and I used to get a lot of complains from my next-seat passengers so I decided to end that thing.

I weight 222 pounds and trust me it is not easy to live with. People nowadays are pretty harsh with their comments and little kids, they are the worst. One day I was walking in the park to try and lose some of this excess weight and this kid, not even 7 years old screams at the top of his voice to his little brother “look peter, that old lady looks like the elephant we saw in the zoo the other day, except she ain´t grey”. Okay, a) I’m not that old and b) for gods sakes I’m not that fat.

I have had weight problems all my life. When I was little, one night after dinner my mom asked me if I was puking up my food. At first I was mad because she had asked me that question but I didn’t know what to say to her. I mean I didn’t actually puke all of it, just some of it, but it’s not what you think. I was just thinking ya know, if I didn’t eat so much bad stuff then maybe I would loose some of this excess weight. All my life I have tried to loose weight. I’ve gone to nutriologists who made special diets depending on what I liked to eat, I went to doctors who told me the problem was my slow metabolism, I tried gyms and special workouts to loose weight fast, and I even once tried these “super pills” that “burned up your fat in only a month”. They never worked; the only thing I got from them was a “super” headache.

I´v given up all of that now. I gave up my dreams of becoming one of those super skinny, super hot, awesome body popular girls. Boys never looked at me, less even now. The only looks I get are those that look me up and down as if I were an animal, and those looks hurt. The thing that hurt me the most was when I realized I would never meet my true love. I used to dream about him, my perfect guy, how he would give me my first kiss, how he would hold me and how he would look at me with those loving eyes, regardless of my appearance. My first kiss was in our graduation party (yeah! I was that old) but it was only because this guy Timmy dared his best buddy Tom to kiss me, in front of his girlfriend. So he did and he got $100, and he probably got his girlfriend back at the end of the day. But common, was it that bad to kiss me?

I’m 34 now, and I’m broke. I’m broke because no one will give me a job, partly because I didn’t go to college (I couldn’t face the pressure) and partly because they don’t appreciate the sight of my gross body.

I’m feeling sorta week right now. It must be that horrible fried chicken I practically stuffed in my mouth last night because it is all I can afford. I can't believe this. It’s getting harder and harder to get up the stairs to my humble flat each time. I can’t even do simple things like eating my burger or reading the newspaper without falling asleep. Maybe I will move to Huston Texas, the fattest city in America and I will not be criticized. Maybe I will even find my better half. But I won’t be too positive about that because as some very wise guy I read today on the newspaper said “love is like magic, although magic can sometimes be an illusion”, and I’ve never been in love so what can I know? Oh and one more thing: I look like a WHALE! So I don’t think may looks will be coming my way. But hey,even a girl with a weird name (like Keith) can dream right?

Yr 10/Monologue/JK

2007-03-19T12:09:00.000-07:00

My Story

Hello, most of you might not know of me, this is because I happen to be an ordinary person, just another person who accomplishes its daily routine at work.

I happen to be here to tell you my story, they took me out of work at 7am and dragged me all the way here because Mr. Simon said that my complaint better be terribly good. Ready to hear my version? Ok then, here we go…

It happened three days ago, 21 Jan 2007, I was at my office getting ready for field work and suddenly an urgent call came in, John was shot, apparently local gangsters shot him down. I ran out to the parking lot with the mug of coffee in hand and dragging my jacket as if it were a broom of some kind. I firmly took the keys, left the cup and began trying to put my jacket on as I ran towards the car.

I quickly left the parking lot towards the Bronx. New York is one of the world cities with most traffic; I could barely pass with my entire siren thing going on. That fat guy in front of me was actually sleeping, he didn’t move aside, it took him about 30 seconds to wake up from the noise of my siren and move aside, GOD!

I finally reached the hostile area, there were three other units and an ambulance taking John away to the nearest hospital, there was five of us and only two of them left, they naturally began running away, I chased them, only I ran after them. The four other fatsos couldn’t run they were so fat that their legs were actually one eighth the size of their body; well at least they could shoot!

Those guys knew the neighborhood better than I did so they got away. I (fully depleted) return to were those other “cops” were and asked them, “Why the hell did you not run after them?!” “Oh, it’s because my doctor said that my cholesterol was way too high, so if I did a lot of effort I would probably have a heart attack.” Well, maybe that was because “little” Robert couldn’t resist devouring Mac Donald’s almost every day. You should see inside their cars, the back seats only have empty boxes of Krispy Kreme doughnuts, Mac Donald’s and gallons of “Diet” Coke.

The cumbersome corpulence of these guys really affects me, I cannot patrol the streets correctly knowing that my only support is a bunch overblown “cops”. Just seeing them makes me feel completely sick, it looks as if their whole life is based on food, they can barely pass the physical test and have been given several warnings about their magnitude. Come on, I mean can at least someone give me a slim partner?

The obesity of these guys is simply a nuisance that’s why I have been complaining the whole time until finally you guys decide to listen to what my complaint is about, take me out of my “daily” routine and make me sit in front of you to tell you the whole story of why I want you to get me a new partner or get me into SWAT, because I simply can’t work like this, I just can’t. So if you would be very kind by putting my name in the list of those who want to take the exam for SWAT. Now, am I able to go? I gotta go catch the guys who laugh at the police department for recruiting fat policemen to go and arrest them. Thank you lieutenant…

GCSE/REVISION-essays/GRIMSHAW

2007-03-16T12:23:00.000-07:00

CRIB SHEET GCSE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
Extended. Sentence collocations that you should be using in the examination.

• This conveys…
• The style is indicative of…
• Evidently….
• Primarily the text focuses on…
• In addition to...
• Exposing metaphorical facets of the text is simple…
• In drawing our attention to…. The writer evokes a feeling of….
• By looking closely at…
• Despite the fact that…
• It´s possible to deem from the text/article/adj/Adverb use/Word choice
• A sense of… ……is projected through…. …..
• An effective use of…
• It highlights that….
• They appeal to the senses…
• Given the nature of… one would expect..
• It creates a … atmosphere/ambience by…
• By analyzing…
• The fact that the… reinforces…
• Conveys/ portrays/ shows/ illustrates/ highlights/ demonstrates/ implies/ indicates/ suggest/ expresses/ depicts/ reveals/ evokes/ provokes/ invokes/denotes/outlines
• Try these in past tense.
• The effect of…
• In conclusion…
• The overall idea…
• Finally,
• This means…
• Consequently/as a consequence…
• Drawing together all the points…
• Effectively, the piece of text is…
• The final response to…
• TRY ADVERBIALS
• Stylistically/ Structurally/ Narratively/ Lexically/ Figuratively/ Literally/ Visually(only for poems and newspapers)/ exponentially/

“Pontsy words”

• Nevertheless
• Hence
• Therefore
• Moreover
• Albeit

• Plethora
• Abundance
• Paucity
• Several
• Smattering

All/Competition/Grimshaw

2007-03-15T18:56:00.001-07:00

y8/school description/AG

2007-03-15T14:50:00.000-07:00

When I enter the edron I feel a welcoming breeze full of joy and laughter of all the kids leaning while they play.
The edron is like a jungle full of radiant different creatures learning how to survive, to fight, to win.
Kids push each other through the line of the kiosk they are beasts trying to get to their preys, but when they get tired they are like little kittens playing with a ball of string.
They are like little lion cubs learning from their young mother, how to survive in this beastly jungle.
The edron is a wonderful place full of new things to learn and full of magnificent teacher who guide you through the right way. The edron is a place were you will have fun no matter what and you will have very good teachers who guide you through the right track, that is the EDRON

Y11/REVISION-LIT/GRIMSHAW

2007-03-15T13:42:00.000-07:00

So Year 11's. A dreadful turn out of zero to the revision session on Unseen papers. Well, I lie, there were two people who came 20 mins late and then didn´t want to stay.

We will run another one next week in the hope that you come along.

Being the nice guy that I am. I will post a couple of revision sites to show you how to improve your essay writing.

Remember I can point you in the direction of an A* but you have to walk there. Happy times!
HERE ARE SOME REVISION SITES ON UNSEEN TO HELP!
file:///E:/l file:///E:/lesson%20plans/GCSE%20Poetry/poetryunseen.pdf esson%20plans/GCSE%20Poetry/gcseunitPOETRY%20UNSEEN.pdf
http://www.englishbiz.co.uk/downloads/examessayskills.pdf

All Yrs/Recommendations/Grimshaw

2007-03-15T13:07:00.000-07:00

Check out Britain's Best sellers. Not surprising to see Harry Potter.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/bestsellers/books/ref=sv_b_3/026-8132759-697 0847

My favourite Poet. Check him out:

http://www.geocities.com/soho/8454/eec.htm

Prefer to listen: You might think this is a bit dull. i find it wonderfully relaxing. My poet. Reading his poem:

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

WANT SOME INSPIRATION? A Sports Fan?

Two of my favourite things: poetry and sport. This is Des Lynam- a fantastic footy presenter. That's his beautiful face above. Des is reading the famous poem by Rudyard Kipling "If".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjuihw2q_Ts

Y8/ descriptve edron/ HL

2007-03-15T07:36:00.000-07:00

English

I’m entering to a extraordinary school. I’m tired and we must meet at the top court to sing el hymn national. Then we walk to PSE where we talk about contamination and the problems that the world has. Suddenly the bell goes on and all children pack away and go to their next classes. In my case it was Maths. It is very boring but you learn lots of things like equations graphs simplify factorise and so on. I mused go to the ugly, smelly and rusty bathroom where every 5 minutes people flush water down.

I learned lots of people like Don German; he is like spring making plants grow all around hem.

Or Miss Heathcote; she is like a rabbit bouncing around the classroom.

And finally Mr Loftus; he is like a power plant giving energy to everyone.

Now it´s break time. This is very important for everyone; it’s like an oasis in the middle of the desert.

But at the end of brake the kiosk ends like the football stadium after the match ends. Trash is every where.

In geography we went to visit the green water at the secluded pond that evades you to look down on its mysterious deepen.

2:30 and it`s time to go home. The end of school is like an African wilderness where all animals run for a bit of water.

Y8/ Description Edron/SP

2007-03-15T07:34:00.003-07:00

The break began they ran like furious animals searching for food until they get to the very top, the top court. They ran like beasts, they sweat like pígs. They try to score and catch there prey.

While others like if their were in a race their so excited for the bell to ring. Like cheetah's all runing to the kiosk. They go like a stampede of elephants to the supposing "queu" which is a massive amount of kids wanting to order their food while others are pushing and screaming. At last they get their food and go to the other side to prepare their chipsthey add: maggie, lemon, pepper, chilli etc. 5 mins till the break ends they have to devore all the food. Some order chilaquiles other quesadillas other tortas and beans. The smell is so delicious everyone wants to eat it.

Others dying of bordness in DTN room looking at their diaries switching all the pages till they get to the end trying to fin something interesting to do. Looking how the clock hands every second they till one minute has passed.

Everyone desperated to leave that room full of tension.

Y8/ Description Edron/FP

2007-03-15T07:29:00.000-07:00

English

the librery is silent old and with books everywhere. it can be as siletn as an animal looking for his prey

pens and pencils going around the classroomthey are ready to have some fun painting and drawing in the class

in the top court everybody goes to have some fun in the break and in the end they finish sweatingand drinking some water starring at the sun

the pond is very green it has many nature so you can feel you are in the jungle

the kiosk is full of smells everithing you want:

candies

chips

spagetti

burritos

and even lollipops

the barranca HAS AN UGLY SMELL!!! you cant even enjoy plaing because of the bad

smell

the moms corner is small because it is only for moms but all kids at the end of the day play happily and enjoy bthe time when the class finishes

Y8/ descriptve edron/ AL

2007-03-14T19:47:00.000-07:00

Sat between yellow walls hearing secrets fron school and beyond. Every break, every time the kiosk queue is full with two scrambled lines pushing from everywhere you like. playing all break, the small court is full of year 8 boys screaming, tackling and laughing. The girls sat at there corner at the kiosk like every day talking of things god doesnt even know. At the barranca all the little kids (pitufines) yelling and playing in the muddy place.

Y9/Direct Speech/AI

2007-03-14T17:41:00.000-07:00

I wrote this like two years ago or even more when I had a huge crush on Orlando and I decided to use the piece at the beggining of this year. Don't think I am like crazy or something LOL Please leave me some comments and I hope you enjoy it.

Unexpected Sightings
By: Andrea Mariana Islas 9B

It was something extremely horrible.
She was in front of Kate and such animal , such hideous creature was helping her get up.

"Tha...thanks Kate." Jenny said in an unpleasant tone.

"No problem Rose." Kate answered, convinced she was talking to the right girl.

"But I am not Ro...

"Rose Byrne! Come here right now and stop talking!" Kate demanded inpatient.
"What is going on?" Jenny asked with a fake friendly face.

"I've got a huge problem with Orlando." Right then, Jenny realized the advantage she had on her lifetime enemy. And, by the way, she did look like Rose but not that much.

"What's wrong sweety?" When she said sweety she felt nauseaus but continued. "Come, tell me."

"Orlando caught me flirting with Brad Pitt AND kissing with Tom Cruise and got so mad!" Kate screamed at Jenny like a crazy person."He said he never wanted to see me again! He said I'm too mean!

Kate was as red as a big, fat apple and her giant cheeks weren't helping her at all. Rose was just about to laugh. I order to hide her enourmous smile she hugged Kate (increadibly disgusted) so she wouldn't notice.

"Orly hates me!" She shouted even louder this time. "How could I be so stupid!"

"It will work out fine." Jenny slipped, hoping it would never happen. "Oh, and by the way, where is he?"

Kate pointed vaguely to the right while Jenny fell once more, but now because of the laughter of watching the little dramatic scene that had just taken place. Jenny looked to the right and saw him.

It was a God drinking orangeade. It was an angel fallen from Heaven, it was Orlando Bloom. She walked through the crowd and, when she got to his table, he was gone! She began to look for him when someone placed a hand over her shoulder.
It was officially the happiest moment in her entire life. The best thing ever had just happened. There she was, staring at the most beautiful man on Earth.

Y9/Short Story/AMI

2007-03-14T15:49:00.000-07:00

Crash Point

By:Andrea Mariana Islas 9B

Just when she was about to get to shore, she heard it. She felt it coming, she could picture it perfectly. The best wave of the day was waiting for her and it started to build up as she rushed to catch it. The girl loved to surf more than anything in the world and the ocean was the one place she could think clearly. She adored the way the tide whispered to her giving away all the answers she needed.

The day was coming to an end and all the peace was interrupted by the one person she could not stand. Thinking there was no one near, that the wave was all hers, she smiled. But when she looked around, it was almost impossible not to see him. He was so handsome and yet, Jenny hated him. Always so proud and in his “search for adrenaline”. She didn’t understand why everyone liked him when he was so avarage for her. Blue eyes and blonde hair, big deal! That did not give Colin the right to be so... horrible!

A long time ago, he had had a crush on her best friend and she helped him to catch her friend's eye. The romance lasted about a month and Jenny and Christine promised to hate him forever. He cheated on her.

Jenny went inside the wave’s tunnel and so did he. She shot him an enraged look while he gave her a mocking one.

"Watch it J!" He shouted as he got nearer and nearer.
"Get out of my wave!" She screamed back. "Now!"
"You go down and I go up! Got it?"
"You wish stupi..." She began to say.

And they crashed. Both of them swallowed like a 100 litres and spinned underwater until the beauty was gone. The 15 year olds swam back to shore, to that paralel universe that was awsome, but never as great as the one they spent the most time at, the ocean. An entire world so different they would rather not be living in. When they gave their first steps on the warm sand she pushed him.

"What is your problem?" Colin asked with that annoying expression on his face he used so often.
"You!" She replied angrily. "You are my problem! Can’t you just disappear?"
"Hey! You are the one who gets in my way all the time."
"Get lost, all right?" She said even more angry than before. "Stay away from me!"

She ran home and placed her flowered board next to her flowered bed in her flowered bedroom. All flowers made everybody else dizzy exept for her. The Hawaiian flower was one of her favourite things in the world and it made her remember home wherever she had to leave. Living there was the one thing she was more grateful for because Kona, Hawaii was a paradise. Just as she was the only one able to stand all the flowers, she was the only one who had never been in love and only fancied the waves. She didn’t believe in love. Why bother? or Where can I throw up? she thought whenever something romantic was brought up. Her mother had left her father and her a long time ago and she'd watched her dad suffer. She'd also been there for Christine when she cried every night for terrible Colin. She had sworn to herself to never fall for anyone and she'd been running away from boys since she was 11. She was gorgeous but she'd rather be ugly so no guy could ever approach her. Or so she thought.

"Try to rest!"She said to herself. "Tomorrow is your big day." Saying that made no difference and that night she didn’t sleep enough, it normaly happened when she was very exited about something. Jenny was determined to beat him this time.

"Who’s the best?" Colin had said the year before. "I’m sure is not you!"

During the few hours she slept, she dreamed with the competition and getting a perfect score on each move. But there was someone with her and she didn’t like it. There he was laying on the sand. For some reason his skin was blue and she was screaming like crazy. Then there was this weird alarm.
She woke up with the sound of the flowered clock on the shelf. After turning it off, she put on her best fitting bikini and her pink shirt, shorts and flip-flops. A nice ponytale and her lucky anklet gave the final touch and now she was ready. She hugged her dad for more luck and ran out the door.

When she arrived to the beach it was already full of reporters, photographers, competitors and fans. When she stepped into the “runway” formed between the tents, they all turned to look at her to get at least a glance. Being a superstar was not easy and a legend as herself had dozens of photos taken and time-waster interviews to give. She tried to make it quick without blocking the feeling of power and started to warm up. Everything was going perfect until he showed up. Ruining the day again: Colin! Girls screamed desperate to see him and wanting to touch his hand. Then Jenny heard a reporter say that they were all wishing for a first place again and remind the audience that she got a second place the year before.

"Dont let it get to you." She thought, trying to focus on the ocean which was already starting to whispper.

"Welcome to the XXXVI Hawaiian surfing tournament. We are expecting great waves today and even better tricks on this final! All competitors please present at the yellow tents. Now lets all thank this year’s sponsors Adidas and Vodafone!!!"

The waiting seemed endless and watching the other’s tricks and wondering if yours were going to be as amazing was plain torture. Nothing was worse than being one of the last persons to participate and this year she was second last. The last one was the horrible person so she wasn’t as nervous as she would have been if he had came before her.

"Let’s give a warm welcome to Jennifer Peynetti!!!!"

That was it, the moment of truth was there and the waves called to her like gold to a pirate or flowers to her room. She got far enough to catch the best ones and waited for about a minute. Then, she felt it coming and prepeared herself for the experience. It all lasted 4 and a half minutes and it was enough for her to leave behind every single boy or girl by far. She gave them all she had to offer and the crowed cheered as soon as she came back from her daily adventure. When the results came in, she was speechless.

"Elements 9.7 and Style 9.9 ladies and gentleman! She just broke her own record and she’s now ahead for more than 6 points!"

There was a rain of flashes from the cameras and the sun seemed brighter and the ocean bluer to her. The satisfaction the shouting and cheering and clapping gave her was overwhelming. Feeling confident turned into nervous again when she realized something bad, very bad.

"He wont win!" She thought. "He cant! I am the best!"

Jenny had always believed that her only love was surfing and she was surprised when she found out it wasn’t like that. In the middle of Colin’s performance a giant wave came from behind and knocked him terribly. The crowd grew silent but didn’t stay like that for long. He was missing.

Her friends liked to describe love as being more than happy to risk your life or giving anything to keep your loved one from danger. They told Jenny that it was when you can’t think of anyone else, including yourself, and when you know your world would come to an end without that special friend or, in this case, enemy.

She ran as fast as her legs aloud her and began to look for him. He wasn’t there. A minute passed until he finally washed up on shore.

"There he is!" Jenny shouted as she ran towards him.

She knelt beside him and helped him to sit down and get the water out of his lungs. When he took his first breath after a long time, his head fell flat on her knees.

"Don’t worry" He managed to say. "By the way, you look cute when you are worried."

"Shut up" She said with a smile and kissed him.

Please leave some comments ;)

Mr G/Monologue.Teachers/Y10

2007-03-14T13:19:00.000-07:00

Mrs Devonshire sits alone in the staff room. She drinks a well earned cup of tea on a free period. She’s not used to having a free period. They normally work her like a plough. She likes to churn, it’s her way of making a difference.

Mrs Devonshire is 67. She has taught for 32 years. She tried going by her real name: Margaret, but it has never really sat well. She wishes Terrence, her husband would call her Mrs Devonshire but it has never really sat well with him.

Today, Mrs Devonshire has been conscripted to Our Lady of the Mount RC School to defend the literary realm against the invasion of Set 4 year 9, Set 2 Year 10 and set 3 year 7. She often forgets that the 7 is not their age but when you are 67 numbers are considered in terms of what’s left not what you have accumulated.

Mrs Devonshire looks at the wrinkles on her hands and remembers. She holds her tea affectionately, as though it’s a cure for an illness. ‘Supply’ is an important word she thought.

I said to Terrence this morning, ‘Don’t worry Terrence, they’re Catholics, they go to church, read the Catechism and aspire to wearing white.’

Terrence: he’s such a funny one, he just looked at me from over the top of the headline ‘School boy stabbed to death’. Yes, Mrs Devonshire, he poo pooed... whatever you say but those azaleas won’t plant themselves.

I assured him, that unless he was thinking of planting a money tree out there with his Civil Service pension then it would be ill advised for me not to go and work. It’s funny that... he thinks everything is so simple, that’s his problem I said, ‘Listen you may want to stay home and unleash ‘Gardener’s Weekly’s’ top tips but I don’t want to just wither incarcerated.’

I even used an allusion to that advert: ‘I can make a difference, I said.’

From a mouthful of toast and Bovril came some trite retort about working for forty years- but by that time I already had my glasses case entrenched in my purse and my copy of Doestoevsky and I was out the door with a spring in my hop.

It’s hilarious really.

I was wrong about them being Catholics. We had to say a prayer this morning (School policy). One young scamp who had a disposition of dirty underwear piped up and said. ‘Miss, do you believe in God.’ I told him that I thought it was important to believe in something. He asked me if I watched ‘The Bill’ last night he said that there was a gay that got ‘twatted.’ I politely requested that he not use pejorative terms. He protested that teachers always use words that nobody understands.

A young girl with pretty eyes then asked me how old I was. I said it was impolite to ask a lady’s age. She said that her Grandma was 46 and that I looked greyer than her. There was a titter around the room but I held my head high and said that her grandma may not be wise enough to have silver shading. The girl snarled and told me that the silver meant I was going to die soon, so, I asked her to leave the room and pray for enlightenment.

Later I heard she evacuated the school claiming that she ‘Couldn’t be bothered listening to an ‘Old bat.’ And that, ‘ I freaked her out with my freaky eyes and glasses that only had half lenses becuase I couldn’t afford to buy whole ones.

Thankfully, the Year 10 lesson passed without major incident. They were working on the power of advertisement. They had to design advertisements to sell a product of their choice. There were some quite splendid designs although David Tylson, a boy with some difficulties (I was told at the beginning of the day) produced a rather conceptual drawing of male contraception. With the the slogan of: ‘Let’s get Rubbery!’ I congratulated him on his catchy style but suggested that he may get in some trouble with the headmaster with that particular design. He assured me that it was the headmaster’s head that he was using as inspiration.

Year 7 were a bit more of a challenge after break. There was a great deal of chatter going on in the classroom. I quoted Nietzche saying ‘talking about oneself can be a means to conceal oneself.’ One boy, when I asked him to relinquish his name said that he was called, Wendy, much to the amusement of his peers.

I blame the parents. (Ensconced in a conversation with Terrence) I said, It’s the parents. A lot of them don’t read to their children. Although Terrence has never been one for the for the flourished incarnation of literature, he did nod in agreement, although he claimed that drugs and sex were to blame. He’s such a sensationalist. He has never really recovered from the girl from No. 24 telling him to ‘fuck off’ after he told her that he was going to shoot her terrier if it piddled on his Petunias once more. He is funny like that... and very protective of his garden.

Period 3, Mrs. Turnstal (the Head English) came and inquired as to how the day was going. I said that there was a lack of resources and that I couldn’t find a dictionary in the classroom. She quipped that the hairdressing class weren’t making dictionaries this week but the GCSE class are writing letters of complaint so maybe I could suggest that they write to the Head who as she put it: had the budget as tight as the pope’s underpants. I was a little aghast at her comment and wondered whether she went to the same church as Georgina, my Catholic friend. She’d be quite appalled. She regards the pope as quite a figure. She had German parents.

Still I was quite pleased that she offered me her Rye bread sandwich at lunch time. I’d forgotten my salad because Terrence got me in a tiz. The staff are very pleasant really. They were unsurprised about the usurping of Jane Hatfield from my registration class. Mr. Larson said he taught her mother. She was pregnant by sixteen and he reflected that he should have inserted more Bronte on the course to numb her hormones.

I’m glad I have a free straight after lunch. It gives me a chance to regroup. The Year 9 will be studying ‘Lord of the Flies’ this afternoon and I am told that there aren’t enough books to go around. Trapped on an island with a shortage of books and some tribal children. I will need to employ a strategy. Mrs Turnstal assured me that I could send any ‘of the little bastards’ to her class if they ‘played up’ I said I was sure that they would be fine but I thanked her for her support. She finished her Rye sandwich and marched with vigour in her eye to the head’s office. She claimed that he should try some teaching before announcing the third after school meeting this week. She was abounding with energy. I just had to admire her.

I hope Terrence got a nice bottle of chardonnay for supper. I could quite manage a tipple with a little Farmhouse cheddar. As D.H. Lawrence once said: ‘I will sit and wait for the bell.’

I hope this helps Y10 Good luck with yours. ed

Y9/Poetry-Sonnets/AMI

2007-03-13T14:54:00.000-07:00

Inpatient

by: Andrea Mariana Islas 9B

I wish all day I could stare at the sea,
Lay on the sand and take in summer heat.
It would be awsome, I’d love to jthere be,
Listen to waves and to my own heart’s beat.

Paradise ain’t far but go there I can’t.
Minutes there are so beautiful and nice.
Watch that perfect sunset is all I want,
I like to see how a perfect day dies.

The way the wind blows and makes my hair fly
And the moon and stars smile on me at night...
I want that right now! I feel like I’ll cry.
Should I run away? I feel like I might.

Waiting until I go back is so hard,
Almost as hard as it’s healing a heart.

I just put this on the blog because Mr Grimshaw told me to but I personally believe this is a terrible sonnet ;) Please write a comment and tell me if it is as bad as I think.

Y9/Discursive Writing/AMI

2007-03-13T14:51:00.000-07:00

By. Andrea Mariana Islas 9B

Should Boxing Be Banned?

One out of every hundred thousand boxers dies, yet there are millions of fans all over the world who follow boxing religiously.
Should boxing be banned due to it’s violent nature and the dangers boxers are exoposed to? Or should it be permited against all complains?

Boxing is a very dangerous sport. Boxers receive punches to the stomach, the chest and the head every day and they may suffer internal hemorraging, paralysis, and brain damage from these apparently routine punches. If boxing is so terrible for it’s contestants, why not ban it?

I believe boxing should not be banned because it is a profetional activity that, eventhough is dangerous, has rules and it’s controled. Boxers do suffer serious and even fatal injuries but, when they decide to take part in a boxing match, they know what they are getting themselves into. They know that they are going to get hit and it is their choice to practice this sport. We all have free will and if someone wants to box there is nothing we can do about it, we can’t stop the dreams of those who want to box.

Is true that sometimes people in need are desperate enough to try anything that might save them from their situation. Many boxers come from very poor families and they make fortunes by boxing, but the chance of becoming famous is minimum.
Some boxers do make it, take the movie Rocky as an example, he was very poor, started to box and his money problems were gone. Someone could decide boxing is the best way to make money fast but there are many other things that person could do. Individuals tend to feel obligated to do something they don’t want to do by the circumstances they are facing, but there are many more options besides boxing to get out of poverty.

Boxing incites viewers to more violent behaviours and causes the development of less sensible human beings. Kids and teenagers who watch boxing tend to believe that hitting other kids is acceptable and even correct. Men who watch this sport are sometimes more agresive. If it promotes violence and barbaric conducts, why not ban it?

It is the parent’s resposability to make sure their kids are not watching or doing anything that might affect them or other kids psycologicaly and physicaly. It is the parent’s fault if their children are watching boxing matches because they either allow this or do not give the proper supervition to their kids. Teenagers might sneek around just to watch it but it is the parent’s job to teach them how to difference right from wrong.

Adults who become agresive because they watch boxing are responsible for their own actions and if they can’t be controled society should react by treating this person not by bannig a sport.

If boxing became a banned activity all other martial arts and every sport would have to be banned too.

In gymnastics, for example, you face the posibility of breaking a leg, an arm, a finger, a hand, a toe, getting bruises, scratches, scrapings and tearing muscles. You could even break your neck or your spine! Girls go anorexic and bulimic and boys could be pushed into taking steroids!
Football is the world’s favourite sport but you can break a leg, get kicked and pushed or get bruises which makes it dangerous. Banning boxing could also mean banning football.

Golf is an apparently safe sport. Apparently. Imagine you are enjoying an afternoon with your beloved family at the golf course and suddenly, you get hit on the head with one of those very hard, little, white balls. You lose consciousness, get into a comma and your beloved family decides to disconect you! God forbid!

All sports are somehow dangerous but, nowadays, everything is. You can get killed by an earthquake while peacefully sleeping at home. If an athlete is aware of the risks it is his or her problem to practice this sport or not and it is not our choice to make. Everyone has free will and we can do whatever we want with it as long as we don’t affect anyone. If a boxer died, the family would be devastated but that is something the boxer knew could happen and decided to take a chance. It was the boxer’s decition to box so, why should we care what he/she does with his/her life? We shouldn’t interfere.

I personaly don’t like boxing but I don’t think it should be banned. Maybe you don’t agree with it but we all have to respect other person’s opinions and things they like. If someone doesn’t like British food it doesn’t mean that it can be banned. The only way to be respected is to respect and we should all at least tolerate things like boxing eventhough we don’t like them or disagree.

Y8/ descriptve edron/ SG

2007-03-13T07:35:00.001-07:00

School Description

When I enter the doors, you feel a cool breeze hitting my body. That breeze makes me remember of all the hardwork, laughs especially smiles, that come from the inside. Then I start to go down tthe stairs, that seems like they were infinite, I pass the first class and the legendary top court, that gives you a feeling as if it was a profesional football pitch.
I keep going down the stairs, and a very hard smell of wisdoom hits me: its the sciense laboratories and the maths rooms, just how I thought.
I keep walking down, I pass the kiosk and pass some classrooms, go up the stairs of the main building, turn left nad finaly; there it is, the lion, the golden and smilling lion called Miss Thompson, always happy and teaching all the year 8 students by the best way. The lion is always giving awards and detentions to evry body.
Then I stop go to my seet and wait untill the class starts.

Santiago Gomez
8C

Y8/ descriptve edron/ Anon

2007-03-12T19:31:00.000-07:00

It is a peaceful place in which the trees in the barranca, fresh with the constant rains, grow high over rooftops. Where birds grow their younglings, making graceful tunes and melodies, singing to the evergreen forest. Yet, everyone of it´s aspects includes learning, because learning is the way of life, the life of living beings is based upon it. Like a rose flower blossoming after each rainfall, youre knowledge blossoms each day, slowly but surely. Each time it brings a convination of boredom and joy, a brand new experience. The endless stairs, the teachers, the classrooms. All of this making one single body, as wild as a jungle and endlessly changing like the deserted sand dunes, keeping hold of the secrets with a bran new disguise.

Y8/ descriptve edron/ RP

2007-03-12T16:07:00.000-07:00

My car drives in to the car park just outside the school.I glance at the outside of the school just before I pass through the gate.Deceiving.That's the word I would use to describe the outside part, I remember when I first looked on it and thought the school must be quite small, foolish me.How I felt like Alice in Wonderland, going down and down the rabbit hole.
As I enter the reception area I look around,I arrive early as usual.I feel the frosty air penetrate me like a thousand little pins,shouldn't have worn shorts today is my minds obvious answer.The reception area is empty now but I think of how in the next half hour it will quickly fill up like a nesting ground of bees.
My descent leads me to the black sea of asphalt, also known as the top court.Even now I can imagine the sounds of the almighty kicks that will later be heard hear, like the waves crashing against the rocky coastline.I continue going down the stairs stopping a while to gaze at the little garden, of how Don German later on the day will be spring, making the plants rejoice around him, waving their leaves in utter glee.
I walk a little bit enjoying the little bit of the sunrise that I can see until the view is interrupted by the new Science labs.Most of the times you can see Mr. Anderson in their or in the I.T.His presence early in the morning is as sure as air.I continue on quickening my pace as I hear faint footsteps somewhere in the top court,I avoid when possible any encounters in the morning.As I finish stepping down that flight of stairs I gaze in the direction of the Boys Secondary bathrooms. The reminder of the unpleasant smell drifts like a vapor into my mind.
I continue my descent thinking if I did all my homework.Wait.I see a black cat up ahead, it meows at me,warning me to keep away.I continue moving on secretly hoping that it will have a bit of confidence in me. It runs away. Obviously I'm not an animal guy. Now I find myself at the entrance of the kiosk,the oasis in middle of the burning desert. Behind me is Mr. Loftus' room, he is a nuclear power plant he can give out a large amount of energy but you don't want to be there when it explodes so I hear.
I continue my journey down,passing my tutor room, deciding that I'll take a little peep at the pond today.The few times I've started at that pond I feel its' green water inviting me to look down on its' mysterious depths, on mysteries you may never unravel. I take a glance at the new building but just as the thought pops up in my head so does that of the "barranca". The disgusting repulsive odor quickly takes out of my head any idea to go down there or a while. I make my way to my tutor room and wait.Wait for the day to begin,the red sunset heralds the coming of the day, as does the baying of the dogs in the distance.
Rodrigo Ponciano 8C

Yr 9/Poetry-sonnets/CR

2007-03-11T21:42:00.000-07:00

Don't Turn Around

Tell me how can I describe your rare self?
There's no one as careless and arrogant,
untouchable with a cold heart of stealth,
and you receive but hate to grant.

Searching for other girls whose heart to break.
Yeah you go about with your strutty walk,
and hiding behind a white smile, so fake,
you think you can impress with your smart talk.

Behind someone's silentlye calling.
When you come and go can't you feel her stare?
She could be crying, she could be falling.
You keep going on, you don't even care.

With deep brown eyes, and a far, grey look,
don't turn to see the poor girl's heart you took.

By: Camila Rodriguez

Yr9/R&J Funny Vid/CR SL

2007-03-11T19:21:00.000-07:00

Check out our english Romeo and Juliet Bloopers at YouTube!! It's very funny.

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

Y9/ Brochures/AS

2007-03-11T16:17:00.000-07:00

Nice one:

Hello Mr. reader! My name is Arturo, and for today's sale I'm selling this brand-new high tech room also called a bathroom. It has a sacred place in the one you can take good, old, nice and hot showers (This place is called a shower, in case you're not intelligent enough to guess what it is). If you ever feel dirty just turn it on and get ready to be the most popular (and clean) kid in school.
If you think this is not enough, well check this out; IT ALSO HAS A SACRED PLACE IN THE ONE YOUR HANDS CAN TAKE MINI-SHOWERS! Whenever your hands feel dirty, just turn it on and get ready to become the most popular kid with the cleanest hands in the whole world!
If you still think this is not enough, well... get ready for the most exciting pooping experience of your life!!! This invention was designed by the NASA'S most intelligent monkey (I can't metion his name or he will kill me with his lame brain powers). This brnd-new invention is called a toillete. Whenever you eat too much, just sit on the toillete and get rid of whatever you have to get rid of (poop, in case you are not intelligent enough). When you're done, just wipe you're bottom with your hand, floor, etc... and press the nice shinny button at the top left corner of the toillete. Look back at the water and... WHAT!?! where did my poop go!?! Well, it's simple (and fun), pushing the button makes the toillet absorb whatever you had to get rid of. This process is called "flushing the toillete" (Congratullations, you just flushed the toillete, in case you did not notice). Whenever your poop is too fat to get absorbed by the toillete, just use this new invention designed by the least intelligent monkey in the street (I can't mention his name or he'll hit me with his stick... Rawl. Ooops! I just mentioned his name!). This invention is called a "scooper", you can use it to... I forgot how to use it, but you can use it the way Rawl does.......................................................As a nice fancy hat.
If you think this isn't enough, well... I hate you. OREDER NOW!!! Just dial
555-MONKEY-NASA and get it for a reasonable price; your house, your wife, your sister, your dog and your life.
PLEASE DON'T NOTE: Walls not included.

Bad one:

Hello, I'm selling you a toillete. It has a shower, a hand-washer thingy, a toillete and a scooper. Just call 555-MONKEY-NASA. PLEAS DO NOT NOTE: walls not included.

BY ARTURO THE GREAT

Y9/ Brochures/CS

2007-03-11T10:51:00.000-07:00

Bad one:
A room with a lot of things like: games, electronics and a carpet. Joust rent it for the day because it is nice.

Good one:
Is your dream coming to a room were a very expensive music kit could play your music and charge your iPod™*. An enormous wardrobe, many games for portable consoles, a heater which will keep you warm from those days in which the temperature is at 4°C/ 40°F, a colorful king size bed with the choice of how many cushions you want, like stuffed animals? I hope so because there is a great variety of those from you to choose from, you do have a laptop because if you don't we will lend you one for 10 US Dollars p/hour with free internet 24/7. Make your dreams come true with this expensive room so call 1800-droomt from 12:15-12:16 p.m. to get the best of the best stay in you life and make your life long dream come true call!!!**

*You have to bring your own iPod™ unless you want to hear our awesome selection
**You may not stay for more than 5 hours, meal is not included
Carlo Sanabria 9B

Y9/ Brochures/AMI

2007-03-09T09:46:00.000-08:00

Brochures

Description of my bedroom using persuasive language.

Are you tired of the same old stuff that makes your bedroom look so dull? Do you daydream of staying at a beautiful bedroom? You can have everything you've dreamt of now! Stay here and have the time of your life.

Spacious and big, the Girly Bedroom is perfect for you to hang out with your friends, relax after a rough day and have tons of fun.
The Girly Bedroom has a super comfortable bed with 400-thread Egyptian cotton sheets, wonderful pink quilt and fluffy pillows that will make you sleep like a baby. On each side of the bed there is a night stand, on one of them you will find zillions of lipsticks and sparkling, pretty jewerly, and on the other one there are great-smelling perfumes, delicious body creams and all you will need for the perfect bath. There is everything you desire for a pleasant stay! The Girly Bedroom includes an enourmous closet filled with gorgeous clothes and the cuttest shoes.
It also includes a complete entertainment center with high definition telly, home theater, stereo, Nintendo 64, Nintendo Game Cube and iPod with its comfy, pink, heart-shaped cushion-speaker. Play harmonious music on the Girly Keyboard, watch a movie from our special collection or listen to the best music.

Everything you need and want can be yours for as long as you like! What are you waiting for?

With the luxurious artwork, fun pictures, tropical calendar and highly exclusive decorations and details there is always something beautiful to look at.

You know you want! Register by calling 01-800-girlyrm and have a dream vacation! Stay with us and have a holiday you wont forget!

Description of my room with no tecniques

My bedroom is big, pink and nice. It has a bed, 2 lamps, 2 nightstands, a closet, a keyboard, a desk, posters, photos, a painting, a telly, a stereo and many other things like videogames. I realy like it I hope you do to.

Andrea Mariana Islas 9B

Y9/ Brochures/RR

2007-03-09T09:42:00.000-08:00

Bad brochure:

Visit my room: It is a room with privacy and peace. The walls are painted white and it has a very comfortable bed, it has a stereo and beautiful views. It includes a big closet and a very confy bathroom with a tub. It also has a nice couch where you can lay down to read. Come and see it!

Good brochure:

Do you need some peace? Do you want some privacy? I’ve got the perfect place for you! That’s right! Come to my room.

It has panoramic views; walls are painted white so they give you the feeling of peace and tranquillity. It includes a fabulous, comfortable bed; a magnificent couch next to one of the windows so you can lay down to rest or read there while the sunlight illuminates the bedroom. My room has a full-size closet and a gorgeous bathroom with a spacey bathtub that has hydro-massage. This bedroom includes impressively high standard audio equipment with a marvellous wooden shelf to keep your stuff! Imagine yourself resting in my room listening to a fragment of serene music while the sun sets and you enjoy of the panoramic view thanks to the glass wall next to the wonderful bookshelf!

So come to my room and you will understand the meaning of the words calmness, peace, serenity, privacy, tranquillity, space, and all the kinds of things you look for in a place to stay!

Rebeca 9b

Y9/ Brochures/Anon

2007-03-09T09:27:00.000-08:00

Buy this bedroom its super cool and you have all included in this picture. Imagine you in this room standing and playing wii all day. Also watch T.V. and do whatever you want. Buy this for only 300 000.99 US dollars. Isn’t this the best price? You can pay with cash or credit card. Buy this before the 1^st of May.

Buy this bedroom for just 3 blanc checks. It measures 6msquared (no roof top). There are no outlets and no bed. Its in Tepito and just for one person and a half. Call now and we will charge you another blanc check and you’ll get a shovel and a bucket.