3. Define and Describe a character

Before you begin - make sure you have completed the first two posts AND eight comments on your peers' blog. If you have not completed this work - do not start this assignment.
GET CAUGHT UP!!!

This week you will be spending time with a CHARACTER in your current novel.

As always, begin your blog post by identifying your novel - correctly using the MLA format for citations. Many of you have discovered easybib.com - a great tool for creating correct MLA bibliographic entries.

See an example of a properly formatted MLA citation below:

Collins, Suzanne. Mockingjay. New York: Scholastic, 2010. Print.
(You may also choose to add a visual for the novel using the 'Add Image' icon found on your NEW POST toolbar. Be sure to include a citation for your borrowed image.)

Now begin your third post:

1. Select three words to describe the character in your novel. Define each word, and provide two synonyms and two antonyms for each.

2. Answer the question: How do you know that this character has these qualities? Using direct quotations from the book describe how the author has revealed these character traits. Select one direct quotation for EACH trait. These quotations can either TELL (direct presentation) or SHOW (indirect presentation) that these characteristics exist for your character. Use the synonyms you have come up with to avoid being repetitive in your response.

1.

Comment on a peer's blog posts

If your name is not listed under the Blog On! link list in the right sidebar - please see me with your blog's html address.

Each of you should have TWO blog posts complete as of today. If you do not have this done, it needs to become a priority over the weekend to get caught up!!

________________________________________

This week, instead of creating your own blog post, you will be writing comments on four of your peers' blogs. Everyone will write one comment on each of the two posts written by their classmates this week (4 peers x 2 posts = 8 comments in total).

WHOSE BLOGS?: Select the blogs that belong to the four students whose names are listed BELOW your name on the CLASS BLOGS list found in the sidebar to your right.

HOW DO I DO THIS?: You need to comment on what the person has said in the blog post you are commenting on selected. Read the rules below before proceeding......

Do not be rude.
Do not be sarcastic.
Do not just tell the blogger they are awesome or that it is the best blog post you have ever read. Do not make an inside joke.
Do not insult or otherwise demean the writer.

DO. . .
Genuinely look at what they have said about their books and respond accordingly.

Make an intelligent comment on the book, the topic or the ideas presented by the blogger.

Extend the blogger's thinking by linking their ideas to something else (another text, your personal experiences or the world).

Ask the blogger a question about what they have read or what they have said.

Offer a suggestion for another book they might like based on what they have read and the themes and ideas presented in the blog post.

Give the blogger tips for improvement based upon the expectations for each post (using quotations; checking for punctuation, spelling or sentence structure; adding length through further description or support; organization of elements on the blog).

You may also comment on the style or form of the blog itself (the design of it; the visual elements: colour, organization, font style and size; use of gadgets; readability; title and description etc.).

As a blogger, you should read these comments and respond accordingly to what your peers have posted. Fix what they have suggested, start a dialogue.

2. Identify and Sort

Begin by identifying the book or books you would like to address for today's post. Use the MLA format taught last week to create a properly formatted MLA citation. You may also choose to include an image of the book cover to add further visual interest to your blog. You will find the add image icon on your post toolbar.

Today you will be identifying and sorting.

1. First, identify five main elements of your novel. Use your note "Elements of the Short Story" as a reference. (NOTE: Because this hand out is talking about good fiction - we can transfer our understanding from short fiction to longer pieces.)

2. Then, sort these elements according to importance for your engagement in your reading. Put the most important element to you at the beginning of your sorting list.

3. Once you have identified the most important element for your enjoyment, describe how this element has been used (or is lacking) in your novel.

4. Use a direct quotation from a section of your book as evidence. Be sure to include a properly formatted MLA style citation following your direct quotation. Do not leave the quotation standing on its own - make sure that you explain its significance to the element you have selected as your top engagement feature.

MLA STYLE CITATION: (Author, Title page)

1.Your first post - identify

Today you will begin your blogging about your independent reading.

Before you begin, go over the expectations listed below. In your posts, I expect that you will adhere to the qualities of good writing and attempt to write level four answers (as indicated on your performance chart we used to assess "Bread" by M. Atwood questions).

Remember to include all of the five elements listed below if you wish to achieve a level four on this assessment.

In EACH blog post I will expect to see the following:

1. Proper identification of the novel you are writing about (you can do this through an image; at the least provide the title and author; an MLA style citation is preferred).

2. Proper use of language conventions (punctuation, spelling, grammar, sentence structure).

3. Organized responses (topic sentence, body, closing sentence).

4. Use of the text as support for your ideas (direct quotations with proper MLA style citations are preferred over summaries).

5. Short responses (between 60-100 wds).

Many of you have read more than one book already. Today we are going to begin by IDENTIFYING.

One of the skills you will need to use this year is correctly formatting citations using the format described by the MLA guide. Go here to see the updated MLA guide.

Today, we will be using the format for citing NOVELS you should review this information before you begin; it is found here: MLA format for BOOKS.

As your first blog post:

1. In the first part of your blog post, identify three qualities you expect from a 'good book'.

2. Describe whether the book(s) you have read so far has/have contained those three qualities you listed in the first part of your blog post.

3. Use the proper MLA style you reviewed in the exercise above to identify the book(s) you described in 2. (You are encouraged to include more than one book here) but be sure to alphabetize by author.

eg. Collins, Suzanne. Catching Fire. New York: Scholastic Press. 2009. Print.

Welcome

The Joy of Books....

reading matters

....introduction.

Watch and enjoy the following stop motion film:

" The Joy of Books - YouTube ."YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. . N.p., 9 Jan. 2012. Web. 6 Feb. 2012.

Welcome to your ENG 2D independent reading blog!!

Similar to last year in ENG 1D, it is from this class blog that you will receive your instructions for your grade 10 independent reading blog, as well as instructions and support for your Tapestry project (Independent study - worth 15% of your term mark).

Each week this class blog will be updated with specific instructions for you to complete a post on your own blog. You will be given 35 minutes a week on computer to complete the writing necessary for your independent reading (Blog Fridays).

Starting next week, you will be given instructions as to how to begin your Tapestry project. You will then be given 35 minutes a week (Tapestry Tuesdays) to complete exercises that will help you to be successful with your ISP - the Tapestry Project.

Enjoy your reading . . .

check out the book profiles in the sidebar. . .

answer the poll found in the sidebar. . .

we begin today.

Go to the toolbar above and

open the page entitled BLOGGING TIPS.