The document provides an overview of class activities for an English literature course, including a novel quiz, reading response, group work and discussion on assigned novels, a grammar study plan, and homework assignments. Students will write a reading response analyzing a philosophical statement from their novel, discuss novels in groups, evaluate their group work, and prepare for an upcoming grammar quiz and literature exam through review and study.

1. Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Novel: Quiz, Reading Response, Group
Work (including Self and Group
Evaluation)
Grammar: Sentence Skills Study Plan

2. Housekeeping
• Exams – to be handed back at the end of class
• Registering for next term
– Permission to register early = average > 70%
• Study Sheet
• Christmas Party next Tuesday, 12-2

3. Novel Quiz/Reading Response (Part 1)
15 minutes
1. Multiple Choice Quiz /5 marks
• Close your books
• Circle the best answer
• When you are done, hand in your quiz and get
the “Reading Response” handout from me
2. Reading Response – see handout /5 marks

4. Reading Response (Part 1)
Throughout both novels the protagonist and other characters often
make serious or profound statements about people or life. For
example,
Junior: “I think the world is a series of broken dams and
floods, and my cartoons are tiny little lifeboats.” (p. 6)
Christopher: “. . . loving someone is helping them when they get into
trouble, and looking after them, and telling them the
truth. . .” p. 87
Charlie: “P.S. please tel prof Nemur not to be such a grouch
when pepul laff at him and he would have more
frends. Its easy to have frends if you let pepul laff at
you. Im going to have lots of frends where I go.”
(Charlie`s last Progress Report)
Take a few moments now to see if you can locate one or more of
these. Write them down on the paper provided. [10 minutes]

5. Philosophical Statements
True Diary / Curious Dog / Flowers [5-7 min.]

6. Reading Response (Part 2) 15 minutes
Pick one of these philosophical statements from
your novel and write a brief personal response
or reflection. You may choose to agree,
disagree, explain how it relates to the
character’s experience in the story, or how it
relates to your own experience.

7. Group Work – Part 1
1. True Diary p. 169-230 / Curious p. 155-221/ Flowers PR 15-17
• Vocabulary and clarification (5 minutes)
• Key Events (5-7)
• Conflicts
Time: 30 minutes – Do not get stuck on arguing points; Keep moving –
there is more to come!
2. Wrap up
• Most important event(s) in the novel (1-3)
• Most important conflicts in the novel
(and how they were resolved)
• Was the ending appropriate? Satisfying? Discuss.
Time = 30 minutes

8. Group Work – Part 2
• Meet with the group studying the same novel
as you
• Share and compare
– the most important conflicts
– the most important events
Make sure you explain *why* they are
important!

9. Group Work Evaluation
• Follow the instructions to evaluate yourself and
your group members
– Privately
– Honestly
– Fairly
• I will review the sheets and calculate each
student’s total mark
• I will ask you to justify discrepancies (differences)

10. Sentence Skills Study Plan
To prepare for your personalized grammar quiz
on Wed. January 18th, you should:
• Study the recommended text pages and
complete practices (answers to be uploaded asap)
• Review grammar slides (to be uploaded asap)
• Review grammar links (to be updated asap)
• Post any questions you have on the forum (with a
clear title like “Question about Misplaced Modifiers”)
• Make notes of questions to bring up in class

11. Study Sheet for Wed., Dec. 14th
• Grammar Quiz ( /10 marks)
– S-V Agreement
– Prepositions
– Count/Non-Count Nouns
– Articles
• Novel Exam ( /100 marks)
• Three literary analysis questions (see handout)

12. For the Exam
• For any question
– explain your answer clearly
– then, provide support by referring to the story
– it is not enough to “memorize” what was discussed in
your group; you need to understand and be able to
explain your own ideas and any ideas you got from
group discussions
• For conflict
– who/what is it between
– cause/why
– how it develops
– is it/how it is resolved

13. For the Exam
• For Theme (See “Theme” handout)
– You will given a theme statement
– You will be asked to explain how this theme is
shown in the novel
– You should refer to specific story elements and
details that show or reinforce this theme

14. Homework
For Monday, December 12th – In-class Character Assignment
• Make notes on your secondary character and bring to class
• Be prepared to show me these notes if I ask to see them
• You will use your book and notes
• No other sources may be used
For Wednesday, December 14th – grammar quiz + novel exam
• grammar review links on website
• review your notes and group discussion notes
• complete the handouts “Judging Characters” and “Theme”–
no marks – for study purposes only.