i miss the old class.... :)) But we are year 10 now.. Grown ups. not me though!!! :D

This is Tinhvan from 10B, 9B used to be my class but im older now :D
Yay me! :D

Homework Due Monday

1) Explain how this passage develops from something playful into something horrific.

2) What is shocking and disturbing about the boys’ behaviour in this passage?

3) Select and explain one powerful image of the weather that is used by Golding to enhance the atmosphere of danger and destruction.

4) Why is Simon’s death significant?
-What does it reveal about the boys?
-What has Simon come to symbolise?

Year 9 Homework:

1) Read Chapter 6 (Beast from Air) and summarise the chapter
Due: Next Monday 10th May

2) Read Chapter 7 (Shadows and Tall Trees)
Due: Tuesday 11th May

3) Yellow Books: Write one paragraph which explains how each of the symbols (from chart) is significant in the novel (glasses, fire, pig)
Due: Tuesday 11th May

Enjoy the weekend and happy reading!

Year 9 Homework

1) Read Chapter 5 (Beast from Water)

2) Write a short extract from the point-of-view of Piggy in which he comments on
-The theft of his glasses
-His fear of Jack
-His thoughts about Ralph

3) Finish the Symbolism Chart by finding suitable quotations

Due: Friday 7th May

what is the homework?

Also in my diary can any one tell what the HW is please. :~)

05/05/2010...

What's our homework? To read chapter 5 and.... =| can somebody please tell me? My diary only reads "see blog"...

The Accident Man. The Most Amazing Novel I have read in a while!

The Accident Man,
He works for the law under the law. Samuel Carver can make any accident happen in the right place at the right time. Exploded gas pipe, car crash, poisoning, heart attack. He can make anything seem like the perfect coincidence. But what happens when the very people who employ you turn on you. "Someone wants you dead carver, and there ain't no stop'in them. so i suggest...."
"that i kill them first."

the most amazing suspense, and genius beyond that of any i have read before, The death of lady Diana has never been as thrilling(and thats an achievement.). As well as all the intrigue and romance to feed a hungry fantasist.

I have the book nd if you are smart you'll come ask me for it.

Homework (Tuesday 2nd March):

1) Find an example of a
-news paper report;
-an editorial;
-an information leaflet;
-a set of instructions; or a
-magazine article

2) Glue the article / text (First two paragraphs) into the middle of a blank piece of A4 paper
3) Annotate it according to how it uses language that is appropriate to its purpose and audience

Due: Friday 5th March

SUPPORT GROUP:

Complete your PAF task (blue card) - at least 1.5 pages of yellow book. You will receive your yellow books on Wednesday 3rd March (Due: Friday 5th March)

Homework - Friday 5th February

Finish the questions below - due for Monday 8th Feb.

1) Reread p. 3 from ‘So what…’ to ‘Never step off!’. Why does Travis warn Eckles not to step off the path? Do you agree with Travis’ theory?

2) What is the effect of the following two sentences?
‘Silence.
A sound of thunder.’

3) Re-read the paragraph at the bottom of page 4:
(from ‘It came on great oiled, resilient, striding legs…’ to ‘…It moved into a sunlit arena warily, its beautifully reptile hands feeling the air.’)

Select two key examples of imagery used (metaphors / similes etc) to describe the dinosaur and explain – in detail – why they are effective (PEE)


Don't forget to bring your copy of the story on Monday!

Year 9 Homework - Friday 29th Jan 2010

- Learn Vocab Words

- Plan your own story (10 bullet points maximum), divided into the 5 key stages of a dramatic narrative structure (Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, Resolution)

- Finish the questions from the lesson:

1) How does the author create tension as the story builds toward the climax?

2) What emotions / thoughts does the sniper experience throughout the story? How are they linked to the structure of the story?

3) Comment on the resolution. Do you think it is satisfactory or effective? Explain.

All due: Tuesday 2nd February 2010

Happy Times! Have a good weekend!

chocolate chip cookie murderer (436 pages)

Do you think that there is any connection between chocolate chip cookie and murder?

This book is the first novel of the Hannah Swensen series written by Joanne Fluke. I thought it was a great mystery story with a little bit of romance. (Actually there's no romance in this book but there are hints of a possible love triangle in later series.) I couldn't stop guessing who the killer was until the end and there was a quite shocking ending.

I found the face that the main character, Hannah, was a baker very interesting and made me want to bake some cookies because in the story, Hannah says the cookie receipe of hers. Also, there were some events that I couldn't expect which let the story more interesting.

Just PICK UP this book and READ IT! I'm looking forward to read the series of the novel!

Memoirs of a Geisha - 428 pages (2 books)

This is a historical novel written by Arthur Golden.

Sayuri, known as Chiyo Sakamoto, lives with her sister Satsu in a poor town called Yoriodo along with her sick mother and her elderly father. One day, her father decides to sell Chiyo to Nitta Geisha house. Since then, her life begins to change. There, she meets the kind Chairman, who buys iced snow-cone for her to cheer her up when she's crying. Inspired by his act of magnanimity, Chiyo tries to become a renowned Geisha to meet the Chairman again. However, her attempt encounters harsh obstacles to overcome, such as Hatsumono trying to destroy Chiyo's carrier and Nobu trying to prevent Chiyo from her way to the Chairman....(I'm not giving away the ending! Read it to find out :D)

[Mr,Ballantine, sorry if this and my previous posts don't make sense because I'm really sleepy right now. I'm trying to finish posting tonight because tomorrow is the deadline (I think?). So I promise to come back to this later and redo it :-S]

I like this book because it gives me profound insights into old Japanese culture. It is quite stunning how a Western author could represent a totally exotic culture with such extremely intimate fine descriptions. I really love his writing-style, the way he overuses similes and metaphors which just put you in that amazing fantasy.

6/10 Because the font is too small and I found it hard to read, although the story is very enthralling.

The Last Lecture - 206 pages (1 book)

It is a very popular book (currently) written by the author Randy Pausch.

The author was a professor of computer science at Carnegie Mellon who was diagnosed with terminal cancer. He was asked by his school to deliver a "last lecture" [in fact, his lecture was taped and spread on YouTube]. These lectures are traditional speeches where a teacher tells the audience what knowledge he'd want to impart if he was going to die soon. Since Randy was in fact going to die soon, it made the meaning much more powerful to him. He was then asked by the avid audience to write a book to add to the lecture - this book.

[This book is hard to explain, so excuse me if my synopsis doesn't make sense :(]

This book is not about dying, it is about living to the fullest by striving to achieve your childhood dreams. Through this autobiography that tells tales of his childhood, he wants to make a point that "you need to have fun in everything you do, you need to live life to its fullest because you never know when it will be taken from you.".

Erm...so that pretty much explains why I like this book. Of course, it is highly recommended! 8/10.

The Silence of the Lambs - 419 pages (2 books)

The Silence of the Lambs is a horror fiction written by Thomas Harris.

Clarice Starling is in training at the FBI Academy. She is a star student in the Behavioral Sciences Division when the Department Chief, Jack Crawford, calls her into his office and gives her a job. She is to interview one Dr Hannibal "The Cannibal" Lecter in order to help get into the mind of a serial killer. There is an open case with a serial killer who has been nicknamed "Buffalo Bill", and Dr. Lecter may be the only chance to solve the case without there being many more murders. Starling is only a trainee, and this may be why Lecter is actually willing to speak to Starling about Buffalo Bill, though he is always holding something back.

[Lecter is a villain of extreme intellect and this comes through in his dialogue. He is a gifted psychologist who killed nine people and ate their body part.]

Meanwhile, Buffalo Bill has captured the daughter of a senator and the clock is ticking as Starling races to piece together the identity and whereabouts of Buffalo Bill using her brains and Hannibal’s insights. Will she be able to save Catherine Martin in time? And what will happen to Hannibal if he gets the opportunity to escape…?

Overall, this is an excellent thriller which is well written. Haunting and terrifying. Exactly the stuff that you can get in your worst nightmares. Fantastic. 8/10 (it scared me so much that I couldn't sleep that night so I can't give it 10/10 :D)

Where the Red Fern Grows - 272 pages (1 book)

This is a novel written by Wilson Rawls.

Billy suffers from a "disease" - an extreme longing for puppies. Helives in the Ozarks and wants 2 hunting dogs. He saves for 2 years, then sends away to get 2 puppies. When he finally brings them - Old Dan and Little Ann - home, they become fast friends and roam around the countrysides of Cherokee hunting for coons and having many exciting adventures and successful hunts. He trains those dogs, making them the best in the valley. They eventually get so experienced with their hunting skills that grandpa enters Billy and his dogs in a coon tournament. Does he win? [You will have to read to find out!]

I like this book really much because there are several intense parts of the book that would keep me reading. Also, it is well written with great characters. The story flows well too and there aren't any clunky spots. Highly recommended. 7/10.

Private Peaceful - 208 pages (1 book)

This is a stunning novel of the First World War written by Michael Morpurgo.

The story begins with Private Tommo Peaceful reflecting life from the battlefields of the First World War. He reminisces back to his childhood fondly - memories of his late father, his loving mother, his much respected older brother Charlie, his slow but gentle brother Big Joe and his childhood love - Molly. His memories are those of innocence and friendship, hard-luck and love.

As his story progresses, Tommo and Charlie join up to fight in the Great War - Tommo is only 15. They fight side by side and look after each other all the way. Each chapter is full of Tommo's memories, but each chapter also brings the reader closer to the present time - and to the life-changing moment that leaves you breathless.

I borrowed this book since it was recommended by Ms Cohen - and have never regretted reading it. It is truly one of the best books about war I've read, tackling a tough topic in a beautiful way. It really inspired me to learn more about World War One!

I love this book. It's and the characters are well developed and interesting. I love the way we follow the family growing up, with all their differences and challenges. Although the ending is stark, brutal and tragic, I still enjoyed it from beginning to the end. Very powerful, and worth a read! 7.5/10

Before I die - 336 pages (1 book)

It is a novel written by Jenny Downham.

The book is about a British teenager named Tessa, who is sixteen or seventeen, and dying of terminal leukemia. She only has months left to live.

Though she has come to terms with this, and is never panicky or hysterical, she just isn't ready to die yet. There are so many things she wants to try and do and experience before the cancer kills her, and this book chronicles her attempts to do a life time's worth of living in only under a year.

The list that she comes up with - the list consisting of things that make her feel ALIVE while her body fails beneath her - is gradually crossed out throughout the book with the help of her best friend Zoe, a wild college student. It consists of minor things, such as saying yes to everything and everyone for a day and learning to drive a car. It also consists of major things, including doing drugs, becoming famous and sex. Although along the way, the girls encounter many hindrances, Tessa keeps living to her fullest, no matter what. Then she meets Adam, the mystery garden boy who lives next door...

[I'm not going to ruin any more of the story, so read it to find out yourself :)]

The book is beautifully written, and brings about a number of emotions. What I especially like about this book is its the fact that despite her cancer, Tessa never gives up living like some people would do. The book shows all of the courage and hope that a person can hold. Also, the characters are well established (Tessa's father particularly) and this makes the story realistic and believable. It's interesting to learn about the relationships between the characters - we'd imagine that most kids would turn to their parents in a situation like this, however Tessa has a slight resentment towards her father - she thinks he's holding her back and being too overprotective. The ending is maudlin, sentimental and predictable from the very beginning, yet it never gives the thrill of the book away.

Overall, I highly recommend it :) Very worth reading. 8/10

Stunt Monkeys (191 Pages)

Hi this is Richard again and this is a book that I cant find a Picture for, so dont blame me blame the internet. The Book that Im Talking about (if you cant see it in the title already) is stunt Monkeys. This book is the craziest thing you will ever read, Its about Little Kids who do stunts, STUNTS!!!!!! WHAT?! Its Crazy!!!!! I dare you to read this book.

A little bit more on the sane side here, I liked it, even though it was CRAZY, it was also hilarious with tons of jokes that will make you giggle. Its about those little kids who do stunts and since they are so good they end up on a T.V show called Stunt Mania but there is an evil Mayor who hate these kids and wants to take down the show and take away the mayhem but the show to too popular to take down so he finds other ways to ruin the boys.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (309 Pages)

Hi this is Richard and this is the first Harry Potter book that I have ever red. I thought this book started the whole 'Harry Potter' thing pretty well and If you haven't been living under a rock for 10 years then you should know who Harry Potter is. But Just for the sake of this Blog I will explain. Harry Potter is a dorky looking boy with glasses who has magical Powers but a evil magic lord called lord Voldemort killed Harry's Parents when he was a baby so he now lives with a family that hates him (lucky Boy). I thought the book was OKAY but there were some times where I just got lost but other than that I enjoyed it.