Presentations That DON'T Suck! (SMALL)

This assignment/lesson is open to anyone taking ENG3C or ENG4C. When you get to college, and when you get into the real world, from time to time, you will likely have to make presentations. 

You might want to take a look at the Skills/Resources tab on the BLOG, there's a whole section dedicated to presentations. It's pretty good (thanks to slideshare, I didn't make it, I just found it) - so take a look. 

HERE'S THE ASSIGNMENT

As for this assignment...

Here's what I want. Click through this slideshare presentation (it's like a powerpoint - and it's 50 slides, I'm sorry - it really goes quikly). It's a little dated (two years) - but it's effective. 

2014 and We're Still Using PowerPoint Wrong 

OK. What do you think? Now it's your turn. I would like you to choose a topic. I would like you to make a powerpoint that presents this topic. 

Here is site with a long list of topics you might like to choose if you're stumped.

Potential Topics for a Presentation

The PowerPoint should be no more than 15 slides, should have no font smaller than 32 pt., and should be nice looking and not be too busy. 

Finally, be sure to take a look at the slide show rubric before you submit your presentation so that you know what I'm looking for. 

NOTE: If you're doing all that the slideshare presentation says (i.e. using lots of pictures to tell your story) you may need/want to supply a 'script' that gives me the speaking points (stories) you would say during the presentation. Since you're not actually delivering the presentation this may be necessary to ensure your slides make sense. Get it? Good. 

HOW TO Write a Summary (SMALL)

OK. So if you're keeping track, in addition to essay writing and slide show creation, writing a summary is one of the more important skills for Grade 12 English. You need them for good research, you need to do one for your skills passport, and you need to do one as part of your Timed Writing assignment (part of the culminating) - so it's a good idea to figure them out.

So here is a short 'lesson' on how to do one - for the assignment part I'd like you to find at least two articles on a topic of your choice. These can be from your favourite newspaper

And if you're doing one for marks - you might as well take a look at the summary rubric here.

Wikipedia is Wonderful! ...isn't it? (MEDIUM)

OK. So in this assignment we're going to discuss a controversial research tool that we've ALL likely used. Wikipedia is world-renowned for it's ability to answer questions quickly and (relatively) painlessly. However, does that mean it's a good tool for research?

This assignment will walk you through one of the most used knowledge databases in the world - wikipedia. More specifically, we'll discuss how you can use wikipedia effectively, and what to avoid and why.

You will work on three specific skills with this assignment - Research, Summaries and Slide Shows.

You can find the assignment itself here.
Also, you might want to take a look at the slide show rubric before you create one for me.

Ghost in the Shell (MEDIUM)

Wow. A new assignment - it's been a while I know. But I wanted this one to be good (if you believe that excuse I have some swamp land in Florida you may be interested in).

Anyway, here we are. Ghost in the Shell has been a favourite film of mine since I was a teenager - it's cool, it's different, and when it came out at least it looked great. It's about cyborgs, and the internet (the Matrix creators claim it as a MAJOR influence) and espionage and lots of fun stuff. It is dense, and it may take you a few viewings to understand completely (or talk to me, I love to talk about this film).

You SHOULD know that the film does have some nudity and some violence. The nudity is innocent (no sexy time) and the violence is cartoon-style - but it's there, so make your own decision.

Without further ado, here is the assignment.
And here is the rubric for the essay.

Oh yeah, you can find this film on our iPads - #11 and #12.

The Re-Essay (SMALL)

HERE IS THIS ASSIGNMENT


Alright!!!! This is probably the most exciting moment in your entire high school life! In fact, this may be the most exciting moment in your life altogether! Are you ready for it? I want to talk to you about...(wait for it) PROPER ESSAY FORMATTING. Right?!

Whatever. I can't make this exciting, but I don't have to make it important - college and university professors everywhere have already done that for me.

The bottom line is that in addition to the way your essay READS/ARGUES (very important) - the way your essay LOOKS can have a large impact on your final mark. So let's spend some time on this assignment.

Essentially, I want you to learn how to properly format a paper for your college classes. This won't earn you many marks at college, but having a paper that is not properly formatted will often cost you marks.

So, first off, we're going to be talking about "style guides" for this assignment. A style guide is simply a set of rules you must use when formatting your paper. Basically, Universities and Colleges want papers to look the same - no flashy title pages on some, no fluctuating margins on others, no fancy fonts...it should all look the same. That way the content of the paper is the only thing being judged. Make sense?

You may or may not already know that there are multiple "style guides" used by different disciplines at post-secondary school. The two main ones are the Modern Languages Association (MLA), and the American Psychology Association (APA).

I want you to take your already written essay, and format it to fit these two different ways.

All you need for this assignment is:

- an essay you've already written for me - from any grade, on any topic. But it should be relatively recent, and imperfect (don't worry about the last part, they all are imperfect).

 - these links - Proper APA Style Guide and Citation
                     - Proper MLA Style Guide and Citation

Marley (MEDIUM)

For this assignment you will be asked to watch the 2012 film Marley. You will examine the life and death of this international icon and will have the opportunity to learn more about Jamaica, about what music can mean to some people, about Bob as a father, and lots of other things.

To complete the assignment you'll need the film (iPads 11-15) or find a copy of the film yourself.

LINK to the Marley Assignment

As you read through the assignment there is a question that asks you to make a mind map. It also says that you should "WATCH EDUCREATIONS Mind Mapping Video FIRST" - do that here.

What's Happening?! (SMALL)

This assignment asks you to read some magazine articles and answer some questions about them. But you'll do more than that. You'll think about the way media is changing. You'll try some new ways people are using media and determine if it's useful or not. Ultimately, you're going to do what you always do in English class - you're going to read, you're going to think, and you're going to write/report. 

To complete the assignment you'll need either an iPad (#1-10) or a computer connected to the internet. 

LINK to the What's Happening Assignment

Now THAT'S Interesting (SMALL)

This assignment is designed to give you practice an ESSENTIAL college skill, taking notes. It may sound boring, but it's really not that bad. You will use a collection of very interesting (and possibly short) video lectures to practice some note-taking strategies I have outlined for you. In the end you will need to explain to me the 6 steps of taking good notes, and practice taking notes for 3 different talks.

Here's a link to a site with some short forms/abbreviation tips for note taking. If you find more, let me know and I'll add them here.

LINK to the Now THAT's Interesting Assignment

Pop Music! (SMALL)

This assignment looks at the music industry, and in particular, at POP Music! You will talk about your favourite grenre, read and summarize an article from Rolling Stone and create a Top 5 Songs/Albums ppt that you think EVERYONE should know/listen to/own.

LINK to the POP Music! Assignment

You'll also need the following article to complete the assignment.

Finally, if you want to see an example of the Top 5 ppt, or if you just want to learn about some GREAT music, take a look at this ppt.

Being Super (BIG)

For this assignment you'll need a few things. First of all, you'll need a school iPad (#1-10) so you can read the story. You'll also need a few other things.

For one, you'll need to build a presentation as part of this assignment - using PowerPoint, Keynote, Prezi or any other presentation software you like. BUT, in my opinion, no one knows how to do this properly.

Watch this slideshare presentation to get some badly needed tips/tricks.

Try going to this URL. It will show you what's up with Presentations.

Now that you've seen that you should be able to start the assignment. Good work (luck has nothing to do with it) and remember to ASK ME if you have any questions. IT'S MY JOB! AND I LOVE IT.

LINK to the Being Super Assignment

You'll also need these other two documents to complete the assignment.

LINK to the Comic Book Grammar and Tradition sheet
LINK to the Types of Characters in Fiction sheet

The Walking Dead (MEDIUM)

For this assignment you will need a copy of The Walking Dead Vol. 1 (we have it on the iPads) and this assignment sheet.

NOTE: The Walking Dead is not meant for young people. If you are under the age of 18 or if you are offended by coarse language, violence, gore and adult situations you should NOT do this assignment. You've been warned.

LINK to The Walking Dead Assignment
LINK to the Essay Rubric

Paragraph, Essay and Research Review (MEDIUM)

Alright, so this is the mandatory assignment you need to do before you graduate with Turning Point. If you're a Grade 11 English student you should do it for your Grade 11 course (and then you won't have to do it for Grade 12) - if you didn't do grade 11 with us (and therefore didn't do it for Grade 11) then you will do it for your Grade 12 mark. Either way - you have to do it. There are 5 modules - read through each one and complete the tasks attached to each.

As usual, if you have any questions be sure to let me know.

Module #1 - Writing the Sentence    (5 marks)
Module #2 - Writing the Paragraph  (20 marks - don't do the PDF worksheets - lucky!)
Module #3 - Writing the Thesis        (20 marks)
Module #4 - Planning your Essay     (20 marks)
Module #5 - Doing good Research  (30 marks)

Bias and Baloney (SMALL)

For this assignment all you need is the following document:
LINK to Bias and Baloney Assignment

The Strangers that Came to Town (BIG)

For this assignment you'll need the following two documents:
LINK to The Strangers that Came to Town Assignment
LINK to The Strangers that Came to Town STORY

Searching for Justice (MEDIUM)

For this assignment you'll need the following two documents:
LINK to Searching fr Justice Assignment
LINK to Acquittal Case Fuels Debate Article

Identity Crisis (SMALL)

For this assignment you only need this one document:
LINK to Identity Crisis Assignment

Outlasting the Fickleness of Fame (MEDIUM)

LINK to Outlasting the Fickleness of Fame Assignment
LINK to Outlasting the Fickleness of Fame Article

Themes of Our Lives (MEDIUM)

LINK to Themes of Our Lives Assignment

The Skills Employers Want (SMALL)

LINK to The Skills Employers Want Assignment
LINK to The Skills Employers Want Article

What a Good Boy (MEDIUM)

Everything you need for this assignment can be found with this link.
LINK to What a Good Boy Assignment

If you want to listen to the song as it was released (and watch the video) click this
link and enjoy BNL! LINK to What a Good Boy Music Video