This is ENG4U!

Well, you've found it - this is where you earn your ENG4U credit. I just want to clarify something before we get started, something that is often misunderstood about C vs. U credits. I want you to ask yourself something - "what do I want to do when I graduate High School?" If your answer to that is attend College - then why are you taking a U level course? It will NOT give you a better chance to get into college. If you want to go to University DIRECTLY from high school (and have/will have 6 M/U level grade 12 credits upon graduation), then let's get going, but don't take this course if you think it will give you a better chance to get into College. 

OK. With that off of my chest - WELCOME! This is the site for ENG4U and it is a one stop shop for any and all of your curriculum needs. All of the units are required but the order in which you do them is up to you.

Now, as of yet, there is no 'instructor gadget' on Blogger - so until then - talking to me (your teacher) is the best way to get clarification on something. So please don't use this site as your sole attachment to school. You will do MUCH better if you actually come to class occasionally, or at least ask me questions via email/cell regularly.

All of my contact info. is listed above, so don't be a stranger.

Good work and let's get started.

#1 (a) - Essay Writing, Research and Proper Citation - 10%

So, I understand you're ready to start ENG4U? If so, this is the first unit. I warn you, it's boring - but it's not supposed to take you too long, so it shouldn't be that bad. The rest of the course is better - I promise.

Essentially, this first unit (and the second one, really) is sort of a 'boot-camp' for English class. When you're done this unit you should be ready to write something at the appropriate level.

It's broken up into 4 modules. Each module builds on the one before it until you reach the end and should be able to then write a good research essay. Get it? Great. Let's get started.

Module 1 - The Building Blocks
Module 2 - The Thesis
Module 3 - The Essay (Plan)
Module 4 - The Research

#1 (b) - University Level English Skills - 5%

So you want to go to University?! Are you sure?! Just kidding, go for it if it's what you want - but there are some specific skills you will need to master before you can hope to excel at this level of instruction. Two of these are:

• Close Reading 
• Summarizing

Close-reading is the act of carefully scrutinizing a text (story, play, film, song, painting, etc.) and digging for its essential elements - namely, themes, symbols, character developments, etc. It's one of the most important English skill as it is used for nearly every analytical act. Practice it to get better, that's all there is to it.

Here's the assignment sheet for the Close Reading Assignment. (20 marks)
And here's the reading I'd like you to read closely.

Summarizing is another marco-skill. Crucial to good research, summarizing is a general purpose skill any student requires for things like studying, researching and collating notes. The basic skills involves a few steps, but essentially you're going to read, re-read, select main ideas, support with details, and re-write in your own words. Since summaries are often used to synthesize your learning into a format that is not only smaller but also easy for you to understand, putting it into your own words is essential.

Here's the assignment sheet for the Summarizing Assignment. (40 marks)

Got it? Bring any questions to me - it's my job!

#2 - Hamlet UNIT - 15%

Alright, let's get into this. This will be your first full unit for this course, and we might as well start with a BANG!

You're going to study one of Shakespeare's most important plays - the story of the Prince of Denmark.

Now don't worry too much - I am not going to ask you to read this play. Plays aren't meant to be read, they're meant to be watched and listened to - so that's what you're going to do. You'll finish the unit doing a study of Kenneth Brannaugh's version of Hamlet (we have it on iPads #15-20), but I feel the best first look at the play is tobe found in an app called Shakespeare in Bits (or Hamlet in Bits, in this case). It's an animated version of the action, and what's nice is it is loaded with extra features including scene summaries, character analysis, and modern English translations. Use it and enjoy the drama!

Step 1. 

Once you've watched/listened to the play (perhaps while you listen/watch) I want to check your understanding of the events - so please answer these content questions. Your answers don't need to be long, but they need to be complete. Talk to me if you're unsure.

Step 2. 

Great, so now you have some context - you know the story, so now we can dig a little deeper. I would like you to use your creativity gene - first for a 'creative' character analysis, and then with a 'creative' personal response. Find that assignment here.

Step 3. 

Finally, I would like you to watch Kenneth Brannaugh's 1996 version of Hamlet. It's one of the most expensive and beautiful versions of the story ever put to film, and it has a star studded cast. Brannaugh, being an interesting artist in his own right couldn't help but make his own directorial decisions in creating his own sketch of the Danish drama. As mentioned above, the film is available on the iPads #15-20.

Watch it, and then write about it.

 No whinning, this is a University prep course - and you will write a lot of essays if you choose to go to University, so you need some practice. Here's the assignment sheet for this essay which explains what I'm looking for.

And here's the rubric for the essay. Enjoy!