English resources

Conflicting perspectives

2009-03-27T06:18:00.003+11:00

Hi there Yr12!
Some ideas to get you started on your holiday homework. Follow the links, and record your thoughts.

Here is the text of George W Bush's speech to the people at Fort Bragg in 2005. It thanks them for their efforts in the War on Terrorism. Consider the connotative words he uses to describe their enemy, and his emotive appeals. How does the composer convey their perspective? Consider also his motives, and position of power. How does this affect your understanding of his viewpoint?

The speech was received in many ways. Consider the many different perspectives available for this situation. What reasons can you give for so many differing viewpoints? Why does the composer of this news article offer so many?

This is Bush's speech on the anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Again, consider the language used to convey his perspective.

Finally, here and here are conflicting viewpoints. What has influenced their viewpoints? How do the composers make you aware of their viewpoints?

Remember, this is not an exercise in historical source analysis, or a study to figure out 'who is right'. You must consider the composer's effect on the portrayal of a perspective - that is, what techniques have been used to get you to see the point of view they want you to see?

This practice essay question, borrowed from HSC Online, is a great way to focus your ideas into a usable form. Put together your research for the texts you have just read, and see if you can write an extended response for it:

Perspectives of an event, personality or situation may be manipulated by the ways in which a composer represents them.
Evaluate the ways in which the composer manipulates perspectives in your prescribed text and in at least TWO other related texts of your own choosing.

Obviously, you will not talk about your prescribed text, just the articles and speeches you have read today.

Have fun!

OMG!

2008-12-17T08:04:00.001+11:00

Just saw your mark, guys!

You TOTALLY rock!

I'm so proud of you!

Advanced English Rap

2008-12-15T09:09:00.002+11:00

This is our rap...
wish we were black.
Bringing Advanced English back
Break it down.

Frontline's the name
They need more dames
Brooke uses the guys
She's really in a date
Marty said to her "add sex and stir"
as usual
Mike is in a blur.

Flicking her blonde hair back
Cher's strutting he stuff like that.
Wishing Josh would come back
That's whack.
But what if Emma
And her dilemma
Wonder where she's at
Oh Knightly, give me some of that!

But what of that "sunny pleasure dome"
What the heck does Coleridge mean?
Bro get rid of that cone.
All doped up on opium
Ha! He's really smokin' um.

Widyan, Renee and Sam

2008-10-16T19:27:00.000+11:00

Best of luck tomorrow, guys! Get lots of sleep!

Article

2008-08-05T16:33:00.002+10:00

Here's that article I was talking about in class today, about truth in advertising. Consider the elements of omission that we see in Frontline as you read it. Feel free to use it as a related text - but consider the handout I gave you today, with the broken-down essay questions. How can you USE this article?

The truth hurts?

2008-07-29T11:02:00.002+10:00

Chaser DVD adverts will not be displayed on buses. What is influencing this censoring of the truth?
I think it's mad. Isn't advertising all about money? Who said advertisers could get morals, principles? What's the world coming to!

Satire is...

2008-07-20T15:42:00.002+10:00

Poking fun at institutions.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/karlg/sets/72157605541055002/

Shaun Tan Rocks

2008-07-17T07:59:00.001+10:00

A short interview with Shaun Tan, composer of the picture book Tales From Outer Suburbia.

The HSC cometh

2008-06-27T05:47:00.004+10:00

Year 12!
Don't forget that SMH runs a special on the HSC - tips for study, reminders to keep healthy, and brief reviews of each course. There only a bit on English so far, and the study tips look good.

I know I said this to some parents the other night, but you need to know too - if the good study habits haven't happened yet, they need to start now! Don't cram the day before - be kinder to your brain and body than that!

Images of Sydney Harbour

2008-06-15T14:25:00.004+10:00

To supplement Yr9's work on Late Ferry by Robert Gray - photos from the web of the Bridge and harbour at night.

Shape poems

2008-06-14T16:25:00.002+10:00

This is too cute for words. Sadly, you can't save gifs of your poems, and the lines you write don't really fill the shape you pick...but it's a bit of fun for Yr8 one afternoon, I reckcon!

It's times like these...

2008-05-26T13:41:00.003+10:00

I wish I owned a TV.
This sounds like an excellent program. Yr 12, your homework is: watch TV!

Wednesdays, 9m, The Gruen Transfer.
Can someone tape it for me? Publish Post

Australian "history"

2008-05-19T08:41:00.004+10:00

The Founding of Australia, Jan. 26th 1788, by Capt. Arthur Phillip R.N. Sydney Cove
Original oil sketch [1937] by Algernon Talmadge R.A.

Nap tests

2008-05-12T08:10:00.000+10:00

Link to Yr9 sample paper - reading section.

Sorry guys

2008-04-30T07:12:00.002+10:00

I seem to have the plague. Or at least, the flu followed by a throat infection. I'd like to be there so that you had some meaningful work to do, but I can't talk above a whisper.

So Yr 12 - keep reading your Lear, and if you've read it all, read the intro.

Yr 10 - do the Shakespeare activities I've been sending in! And stay out of trouble!

Yr 9, Yr 8 - I'm sorry, we should be preparing for your media work. We'll do heaps when I get back, so in the meantime, be nice to your casuals. It's not their fault.

Rebranding Shakespeare

2008-04-25T20:09:00.002+10:00

It's nothing new. Tate did it, and they loved it. "Kiss Me Kate" is still one of my fave movies. But the way this guy is doing it sounds interesting.
And why feel guilty for laughing? The best comedians use knowledge you already have.

Multi media

2008-04-10T08:48:00.000+10:00

Curse of Were-Rabbit soundtrack cover:

http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2844628480/tt0312004

I. Feel. Dirty.

2008-04-07T18:46:00.003+10:00

I felt so unclean after writing that piece of drivel, that I had to partake in Yr 11's activity - we rewrote part of my original story, and made it better. Just the phone conversation.

Here's what 10 minutes got me. First drafts are always so rough, whatwhat?

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She sat in her room, fingers worrying the torn edge of her jeans. Had she done something wrong, embarrassing, that she didn't remember? Did she smell? She had thought he'd liked her...and she'd tried so hard to get his attention this week. Maybe too hard...
"Mary!" her mum yelled from downstairs. "Phone for you. It's some boy...says it's urgent!" She'd been so caught up in her depressed thoughts that she hadn't even heard the phone ring. She thudded down the stairs, and picked up the still-warm receiver.
"Hi, this is Mary," she said questioningly.
"Mary! Oh! Um, hi!" said a familiar voice hesitantly at the other end of the line.
"Max?"
"Um. Yeah. Um. Look, sorry about the short notice and stuff, but...um..."
"Yes...?" she offered, hoping he would go on.
"Well, the Prom's tonight, and, well, I was hoping you might still be going, and um, be free and...maybe I could come and pick you up...um..." he stammered.
"Wow! Really?"
"Yeah."
"Of course I'd love to go!" She tried to sound calm and confident, but knew that her excitement was shining through her voice.
"You would? I mean, that would be great! Um, cool! I'll be there at 6?"
She put down the phone with a smile. He'd sounded so nervous - maybe that's why he hadn't asked her till now!
Mary bounced up the stairs to her room, two at a time, calling out to her Mum. "I'm off to the Prom! Can I borrow your diamante purse?"

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I think the most obvious thing learned here is that once you expand out the simple story, you end up with real, live characters, not the black and white, cardboard things from my original piece of poo. Here, the audience are invited into Mary's life a little more, not kept at arm's length. By inviting them into the intricacies of the phone conversation, you're making the reader feel important. Readers want to be involved, to stand beside the characters and live their lives too.

Don't just TELL the reader what's happening. SHOW them, involve them, make them feel like they are there. That's one of the secrets of good writing, and it's easy to do.

OMG, I was bored!

2008-04-07T09:10:00.003+10:00

So, writing creatively and engagingly is hard. But it doesn't have to be. The best thing to remember is NOT TO BORE YOUR READER TO DEATH! Give them lots of descriptions to make them feel like they are there too. A catchy opening, so that they want to keep on reading. Dialogue will make it feel realistic. And don't just recount events - BORING!

Here's a really poor short story for you to edit and make more exciting. Don't copy it out, just adapt it into your books.

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Mary was 17 and had never been kissed. It was the week of the school prom and she was hoping that her dreams would come true. That Max, the hottest guy in the school, would ask her out. Every day for a week she want to school, smiled and was friendly, wore lots of make up and paid careful attention to her hair. But he never asked her.
On Friday, she went home from school, very sad.
It was the night of the prom and Mary was thinking of not going but then the phone rang. It was Max and he asked her to go with him to the prom! Of course she said yes. She put on her best dress and her favorite shoes. She was ready for the night of her life!
She ran downstairs and he said she looked gorgeous. She'd never been so happy. It was the best night of her life.

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Urgh...it hurts to write something this bad!

Creative Writing - Change

2008-04-02T10:21:00.004+11:00

Some past HSC paper questions. This section is always worth 15 marks.

HSC 2001
The school magazine committee has asked students to submit stories on the concept
of change.
Write a story for the magazine.
Use ONE of the following as the basis of your story.
(a) ‘Dancing to a different beat.’
Or
(b) ‘Now it’s their turn to choose.’
Or
(c)

HSC 2003
You are entering a writing competition for young writers. The competition is called ‘Pictures of Change’.
Write a story about a picture of change.
Use ONE of the images as the basis for the beginning or ending of your story. You may write from any point of view you choose.

Get Stimulated!

2008-03-31T08:59:00.004+11:00

Start what, from where?
Use this as a stimulus for a piece of creative writing.
Thanks to my friend TOA for the pic.

javascript:void(0)

Gaiman is teh clever

2008-03-28T16:24:00.001+11:00

Here, as promised, is the vid footage of Neil Gaiman reading his short story 'Orange'.
Enjoy.

Prince of Denmark!

2008-03-14T08:51:00.002+11:00

This is way cool! And here's a picture!

Conformity

2008-02-29T08:16:00.005+11:00

An image that helps to illustrate the idea of urban conformity - Collins Street, 5pm by John Brack.

From: http://uk.encarta.msn.com/media_121627984/collins_street_5_pm_by_john_brack.html

Questions:
1. Comment on the colours used. What does this suggest about the composer's ideas of city life?
2. What do the subjects wear? Account for their clothing.
3. How can you tell that this is an Australian painting?
4. Describe the facial expressions of the subjects. Why are they all facing the same way?
5. What do the buildings tell you about the environment they are in? Is the tree significant?
6. What traditionally happens at 5pm in cities?
7. Using your answers to the previous questions, explain how the composer conveys his views on urban conformity.

How much does a Grecian Urn?

2008-02-05T17:19:00.000+11:00

Boom Tish.
Photos of Greek urns from the Musee de Aquitaine, Bordeaux. Taken through glass, so they're not great. But you can get the idea of what Keats was looking at.

Media Study

2007-11-29T08:07:00.000+11:00

The Big Issue is an Australian magazine that is sold by homeless people to help them raise a (meager) income.

Who do you think buys and reads this magazine?
Have you ever seen the magazine being sold?
What disadvantages do you think there are for the way the magazine is sold?
What are the advantages?

Want a bigger vocab?

2007-11-20T14:13:00.000+11:00

Tired of being teased over the size of your vocab? Want to impress the ladies? Want results fast? Want to donate rice to 3rd world countries?

What?

Check out FreeRice. It's fun, educational AND good for the soul.

Kubla Kahn

2007-11-14T07:58:00.000+11:00

Some images from the web.Mr. Kubla
Painting hinting at the Romantic idea of the Sublime - Caverns mesurelss to man.
A statlely pleasure dome.

Really cool blog - really cool English teacher!

2007-11-13T12:45:00.000+11:00

Even though the Mystery Avenger might disagree...

So, in searching for some help for you guys for Coleridge, I came across this site. I've had a small look around - seems to be an older teacher, prolific writer, and a good thinker. This feature article on Journeys is a nice piece of writing - it might not be on Coleridge, but the style, language etc. is good. Learn from it!
Have a look around at the rest of the site too - he knows what he's talking about, and he does it well.

Literary Terms

2007-11-13T12:42:00.001+11:00

Just found a cool list of literary terms on the 'net, thought I'd share it.

My question to you? Can you find any examples of Synesthesia in Coleridge's poems?

Paper One

2007-10-22T20:11:00.000+10:00

So this is what SMH had to say about your first paper. Would you agree?

I don't. I think it was the best paper I've seen for ages. And I LOVED the mosaic stimulus. I'm writing stories for it already...

Year 12

2007-10-19T08:01:00.000+10:00

Good luck today and Monday, guys.

Article pictures

2007-09-12T17:00:00.000+10:00

Hi again Year 9!
I really hope this works for us. I've heard rumours that you can't access my blog through your Department accounts. That's pretty sad, and I'm going to apply to get that changed for the future.
I thought that as part of our newpaper stories, it would be really cool to have some images. I've located some pictures on the web of detention centres, protesters and posters for you to choose from. Have a look through, and cut and paste one of them from my blog into your Word document.
I've taken these from other web sites wtihout permission, but I have included the URLs so I am giving them credit. I would like you to also include the URL of any picture you take - carefully cut and paste it, and convert it to a very small font under or near your picture.
You might also like to use the table drawing tool in Word to create a box, and draw your own picture in once you have printed your article.

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http://www.ncadc.org.uk/archives/filed%20newszines/oldnewszines/newszine37/dungavel.jpg

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http://www.reportage.uts.edu.au/stories/2001/oct01/images/freerefugees.jpg

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http://www.scottishsocialistparty.info/pictures/dungavel/Images/HPIM1773.jpg

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http://uninews.unimelb.edu.au/mediaComms/un0104_DetentionBaxter5750.jpg

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http://toronto.nooneisillegal.org/sites/sanspapier/files/images/Denese%20-%20Detainee%20Art%20(01).jpg

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http://www.gdwg.org.uk/images/image9.gif

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Hi Chloe

2007-09-03T15:19:00.000+10:00

Thursday's work is one post down the page - and it's called 'Welcome to my Blog'.
You don't need to copy it out, but please read it all.

Miss

Yr 11 Revision ideas

2007-09-03T14:59:00.000+10:00

While we’re not doing any real work in class this week, it’s a great opportunity to put your energies into revision. You have less than 2 weeks before the exams start. You need to go back over EVERYTHING!
To whit:
Area of Study – Changing Self
• Re-read Gatsby and notes
• Look back over the stimulus booklet and know your texts
• Re-read your related texts
• Find your chapters assessment task
The extended response for this section will focus on how composers present their ideas of Change in their texts.

Module A: Comparison of Texts
• Re-read Taming, and your notes.
• Read your notes for 10 Things (if you can, watch the film!)
• Find and read assessment task (feature article)
You question will ask you to consider how the texts are valued in their contexts, the similarities and differences between them, and the techniques used to convey messages.

Module B: Critical Study of Texts
• Know your poems
• Know your critics
• Know your readings
The question will probably focus on your knowledge of all these things, and ask you consider how meaning is created and understood though literature.
You should probably spend more time reminding yourself about the AoS and Module A, as Keats should be recent enough for you.

We’ll look in detail at the structure of the papers when the speeches are over. Or, you may like to look at the past papers on the Board of Studies website.

Welcome to my blog!

2007-08-29T08:04:00.000+10:00

Hi Year 9!
This is my blog. I use it to communicate with my students when they are at home. I can put pictures, links and essays up here for them to read, outside of class time.

I have a task for you - Please write this in your books!

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Blogs and internet journals
A blog is like a personal web site, that is easy to update. It is a way to stay in contact with friends and family. Most people use their blog as a diary, where they can record information about their day-to-day life. It allows you to have a free internet presence. And you can personalise it too!

Common Features of Blogs
Title
The title of a blog will tell readers a little about what to expect from the blog's content.
Profile
This tells readers about the owner of the blog. it may include age, gender and location, and will often give some information about the owner's interests. It may also include a photo, or icon.
Posts
These are the journal or diary entries. They also have a title, and can include links and photos. The time and the date the post was created is recorded at the bottom.
Comments
Blogs are interactive. If you read a post and want to reply to something that was said, you can leave a comment.
Links bar
Owners will personalise their blogs by creating a list of links to web pages they lke to visit. They might be personal interest, work related, or links to friends' pages.
Archives
This is a list links to posts that were made in the past.
Personalised items
Lots of blog owners personalise their blogs with other items, for example:
Quotes
Local time
Local weather
Pictures
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Activity
In your books, draw up a sketch of my blog, identifying each of the features with a label.
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You can see other blogs here, and here.
I hope you've enjoyed checking out my blog! Now, the next step is to try creating one of your own!

Critical Theory - another perspective

2007-08-22T10:58:00.000+10:00

I'm getting worried that one voice is not enough to teach one class how to attack literary critcism, so I went to see what good ol' Wikipedia had to say about it.
There's some good stuff - lots on the history of where the ideas some from, links to specific theories, and external links to other sites.
Including this one.
It only includes some of the theories we've looked at, but it is such a great resource!

And I love the orange!

Paper One Help

2007-08-13T15:23:00.000+10:00

My mind is turing to revision already, and Year 12 aren't even back from exams yet.
Though if you're interested, here's some reading for you:

I thought this was a very useful summary of what you can expect from Paper 1, Section I. Read all of it!

And this is a fabulous explanation of the differences between a dominant and resistant reading of "Journeys Over Land and Sea", with a reference to 'Mariner'

Austen's sex and sensibility

2007-08-06T05:51:00.001+10:00

A fantastic four-page feature article on the endurance of Austen's popularity, despite the lack of modern topics of interest.
Read it for its ideas for Module A, and consider it's FA elements as you do!

Good luck today, guys.

Miss

Death-moth

2007-08-03T06:03:00.000+10:00

This is a picture of a Death's-head Hawkmoth, taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Acherontia_lachesis.jpg

There is some intersting reading there too. I stole some:

The name Death's-head Hawkmoth usually refers to one of the three species (A. atropos, A. styx and A. lachesis) of moth in the Acherontia genus. Found throughout the Middle East and the Mediterranean region, and increasingly as far north as southern Great Britain due to recently mild British winters, this moth is easily distinguishable by a skull-shaped pattern on its back.
The moth also has numerous other unique features, such as an ability to emit a loud squeak if irritated. The sound is produced by expelling air from its pharynx. It is commonly observed raiding beehives for honey. It is attacked by guard bees at the entrance, but the thick cuticle and resistance to venom allow it to enter the hive. It is able to move about in hives unmolested because it mimics the scent of the bees (Moritz et al., 1991).

Quiz

2007-08-01T08:14:00.000+10:00

Quick Emma/Clueless quizzes.

Here
and
here.

Coleridge Revision

2007-07-31T05:48:00.000+10:00

Doing some Coleridge revision yesterday, I was reminded of this little funny I found last year.

La Belle Dame and Pre-rafs

2007-07-25T11:03:00.000+10:00

Stolen from http://www.cwrl.utexas.edu/~bump/E392M/cp/WindAmongtheReeds/HostingofSidhePreRaphaelite.htm

Have a read - some interesting stuff about Keats and the art movement.

Send in the Clowns

2007-07-21T09:33:00.000+10:00

Lisa Prior thinks we'd rather be watching comedians tell us the news, not journos.

Year12, wanna come up with a reason why?

Seems like a logical conclusion to me. At least comedians like The Chaser boys tell us they're joking right from the start. Journos tell us they're serious. What's more entertaining?

Model Feature Article

2007-07-20T08:06:00.000+10:00

After reading a couple of draft FAs I've realised that we've given you a very tricky task. After 2 years of telling you that techniques are important, we want you to write a FA where a detailed analysis of techniques has no place.
Talk about rude.
So I thought I'd try it myself.
I sat for a little more than an hour to write this first part of my FA. It's not good, and it's not the answer, it's just the way I would begin to tackle it, given an hour. There are many good answers possible for this question. The best thing to remember is to take on the persona of a journo - be ruthless, cut-throat, opinionated and determined. You need to keep your reader's attention for the enterity of your article - don't let them get bored or they will flick over to the nudie shots of Posh and Becks. Which, granted, might be more entertaining, but far less educational. Teach your audience something, make them think about the world they live in in a new light.
Don't forget that the question asks for related TEXTS (ie. more than one).
Also, the HSC Online site reminded me that you should try and differentiate between the two Frontlines. For the satire produced by Sitch et al, underline (or italizise) the title. If you are talking about the current affairs show hosted by Mike Moore, you should put inverted commas around it, as it is a smaller text within a text.

This is just a draft. Be kind.

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When representation becomes misrepresentation:
Who can we turn to for the truth?

The information age has truly begun. Yesterday, Blogger registered its 1 000 000th user. The internet-based computer game WoW has been part of court cases and probably broken up more relationships than (insert stupid comparison here). Surveys of Australians’ leisure time shows that while over 10 hours a week is spent in front of the television in the average home, the internet steals us away for an average of 20 hours a week. The one hour a week we used to spend on religion has now shrunk to a big fat zero, and I can guarantee that there is no time left in the working week for personal reflection.

We make usernames, profiles and icons to show the world who we are but what is the truth? We tell people what we want them to believe. Is DaisyBell99 really an 18 year old girl from Texas? Or is some 50 year old pervert taking advantage of the internet’s anonymity and your cluelessness?

When we do this as individuals, we’re only misrepresenting ourselves, and lying to a handful of people.

But what about the media giants, who lie to us on a daily basis? Who tell us what’s important, who deliver the cold, hard facts – are they to be trusted?

In the 1990s, a group of comedians brought the faults of the media to the attention of millions of Australian viewers. Frontline’s satirical expose of a fictional current affairs television show helped audiences to understand that ratings, money, public image and selfishness are often what drive news stories. The truth is often left behind.

The satire uses hand-held cameras and a documentary style to bring the audience into the very realistic episodes. We see inside private meetings, personal chats and reporter’s interviews. We also get the opportunity to view parts of the finished product, ‘Frontline’

The contrast between the two is startling. Reporters snark and snarl at each other in the office, but smile and swap pleasantries on air.

As a mindless, slack-jawed viewer of the idiot box, what are we supposed to believe?

The media’s tricks of production are shown through the documentary. In ‘Add Sex and Stir’, reporter Brooke Vandenburg changes the whole focus of an interview by rerecording a question, and tapping her ‘noddies’. The truth behind the interview becomes distorted, manipulated though the editing process, and without the interviewee’s knowledge. Not only is this entirely unethical, but it causes the audience to question the integrity and motivations behind real current affairs.

Misrepresentation of the sports woman’s case is further emphasised through a dramatization of the event – a technique frequently used by current affair shows for the sake of all-important visuals.

The sinister music used in this dramatization helps to stress Vandenburg’s point – this news story is all about sex...

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Recycling

2007-06-27T10:32:00.000+10:00

How cool is this! They have found a way to microwave plastic objects, returning them to their oil and gases!

http://environment.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn12141

HSC Heckler

2007-06-27T08:36:00.000+10:00

There's been lots of Heckler articles written by HSC students lately - I think they might be feeling a bit pressured, or something. Don't know why.
This one made me smile - a nice piece of writing.

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Please look upon this small indulgence as an HSC task
Vicki Copeman
June 27, 2007

DEAR Higher School Certificate,

As I write this, I feel guilty. I know I could, and should - judging by recent marks - be studying for assessments and exams (do they ever end?), but I find myself here, writing away my guilt (at least until I press SEND).

Our relationship over the past nine months has been tempestuous, and I couldn't account for one student of yours who is happy with you. As much as I know you will contribute to getting me into university (hopefully) and maybe scoring me a job in the big bad world one day, I'd really like you to put on the brakes for a few weeks and remind me it's OK to put my feet up and relax sometimes.

I'm often reminded by well-meaning adults that the HSC is not a sprint but a marathon. Blame my genes, but I'm not cut out for long-distance running.

I'm grateful to be one of the luckiest young women in the world, who can benefit from the gift of an education; however, the constant battery of assessment tasks, examinations, reports, parent-teacher interviews - need I continue? - does little to make me appreciate my final year of school.

My enjoyment of fine publications such as the Herald (or even Who Weekly) has been put on the back burner. I feel guilt overwhelm me every time I reach for said texts instead of set texts. There's only so much Huxley, Shakespeare and Coleridge I can take before I see a blur of letters that resemble H, S and C.

It appears that I'm not the only 2007 HSC student looking for inventive ways to procrastinate: Heckler has already featured disgruntled students feeling the pressure; however, apparently notenough pressure to propel us to study as opposed to grumpily vent our feelings to the only source we feel will listen. I, like previous writers, I presume, naturally figure this is good practice for the many English essays we will (attempt to) write in the next five months, and therefore count the minutes spent creating this as valuable study time.

I hope, for my and the rest of the class of 2007's sake, that this guilty feeling will exponentially (thank you, mathematics) increase our feeling of joy and satisfaction come early November.

Now, after almost half an hour of essay-writing skills put into practice, my (non-existent) study timetable is informing me that a well-earned break of 15 minutes is due. In these 15 minutes I will attempt to watch Grey's Anatomy on fast-forward, or perhaps have a quick conversation with my family while drinking my dinner (it's the fastest way).

Yours (for eternity, it seems),

Vicki Copeman

http://www.smh.com.au/news/heckler/please-look-upon-this-small-indulgence-as-an-hsc-task/2007/06/26/1182623911400.html

Something to look forward to!

2007-06-20T10:30:00.000+10:00

The Chaser guys (well, one of them) seem to be starting a new website!

The SMH reports that it knows very little.
Must be another slow news day!

http://www.smh.com.au/news/web/chaser-mans-manic-attack/2007/06/19/1182019102580.html

The Chaser

2007-06-15T08:47:00.000+10:00

The Chaser's web page is way-cool.
http://www.chaser.com.au/

This article is also way cool.
http://www.chaser.com.au/content/view/3410/72/

Characher work

2007-06-14T14:05:00.000+10:00

In case my other plan doesn't work!

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Taming, Ten Things
Character questions

1. Describe in three words each of the following characters in The Taming of the Shrew:
Katherine, Petruchio, Bianca, Hortensio and Gremio
2. Describe in three words each of the following characters in Ten Things I Hate About You:
Kat, Pat, Bianca, Joey, Cameron
3. Relate one incident from the play that reveals the personality of the character:
Katherine, Petruchio, Bianca, Hortensio, Lucentio
4. Relate one incident from the film that reveals the personality of the character
Kat, Pat, Bianca, Joey, Cameron
5. Describe the references to clothing that are made in The Taming of the Shrew. What does this clothing shoe you about the characters and the society that they are a part of? (3-4 references)
6. Describe the clothing worn by the characters in Ten Things. What does this say about the place of these characters in this society?
7. How have the characters changed by the end of the play?
Katerine, Petruchio, Bianca, Hortensio, Lucentio.
8. How have the characters changed by the end of the film?
Kat, Pat, Bianca, Joey, Cameron.
9. Find two quotes that reveal the personality of each character in the play:
Katherine, Petruchio, Bianca, Hortensio, Lucentio, Baptista
10. Find two quotes that reveal the personality of each character in the film:
Kat, Pat, Bianca, Joey, Cameron, Mr Stratford

SMH goes downhill

2007-06-04T09:12:00.000+10:00

Beowulf manuscript

2007-05-30T08:05:00.000+10:00

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/08/Beowulf.firstpage.jpeg

SMH article: do you agree?

2007-05-29T10:41:00.000+10:00

This article in the SMH in 2004 covers some public concern over the HSC syllabus.

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/09/27/1096137168782.html?from=moreStories

Do you agree with John Bell? Is it ridiculous to make a Marxist reading of the play, seeing as Shakespeare had never heard of Marx?

Funny AC Bradley poem

2007-05-28T15:40:00.000+10:00

I found this while looking for a bit of background info on Bradley at Wikipedia:
I dreamt last night that Shakespeare’s Ghost
Sat for a civil service post.
The English paper for that year
Had several questions on King Lear
Which Shakespeare answered very badly
Because he hadn’t read his Bradley.

(Hawkes, 1986 as cited in Taylor 2001: 40)

You can read more about how great Bradley was here.

Taming Family Tree

2007-05-24T17:00:00.000+10:00

Found this on 'net. Not sure if it makes things clearer, or more confused. You should be able to click on it and bring up a larger picture, that is easier to read.

Sadly, I've done the thing that I will always tell you NOT to do - I've lost the URL of where it came from originally.

More Lear reviews

2007-05-24T12:01:00.001+10:00

Continuing from the last post.

Kevin Kline as Lear? I see him as being too young - to me he is a comedic actor, not a figure of pity.
1. What are the two differeing ways to play the opening scene? Which does this review prefer? Which do you prefer and why?
2. "A little humor and some pockets of lucidity help speed the story’s route into the abyss, of course." Is this something you agree with? Did you like the humour in the Bondi production?

Germaine Greer's review of RSC's Lear is very well written.
1. Where do you think Lear (McKellen) drops his trousers? Why that scene? What might a naked Lear add to the play?
2. Is this a feminist reading of the play? why?

The idea behind reading all these reviews is so that you can consider the many different interpretations, productions, of the play. Once you have a good idea of the many ways is can be performed, you can assume a well-rounded opinion of your own.

And yes, Dr. Who was very good.

Lear Productions - reviews

2007-05-21T17:45:00.000+10:00

Here are some reviews of King Lear from around the world, from the last few years. Have a read, consider some questions.

Director Robert Falls gives a Balkan setting to his Lear.

What do you feel this interpretation would add to the themes of the play?
Do you feel that a raped Cordelia is a justifiable interpretation?
How do you feel a change in set, from wealth to destruction, adds to the audience's understanding of Lear's downfall?
Do you feel that this kind of interpretation allows a modern audience to interact with the text more, or less?

Forward Theatre's Lear uses a new culture to tell its story.

Do you feel that a 'viking' theme detracts too much from the issues of the text? Or does it highlight them?

I'll gather some more tomorrow - right now, I HAVE to watch the new Dr. Who.

Or the world will end.

Commedia dell'arte

2007-05-17T05:45:00.000+10:00

It's the name of a certian kind of comedic theatre, which used stock characters and very simple plots, so that the pratfalls, slapstick, puns and jokes could be the focus.

Check out the Wikipedia description for starters.

Life in Elizabethan England sites

2007-05-14T18:53:00.000+10:00

Some sites that help explain the way people lived in Shakespeare's time. Feel free to do a google search of your own - focus on pages that discuss family life.

Life in Elizabethan England: A compendium of common knowledge
I would suggest that you read over the parts on 'Household', 'Occupations', 'Masters and Servants'. The others might be intersting too.

Peasant life in Elizabethan England
A short account, easy to read, but not too informative of the whole social structure.

Everyday life
Some interesting headings, but not much on family life or women.

Transformations - intro text

2007-05-07T17:16:00.000+10:00

The Conciliation