Author: Mr. Kertes

Quiz 1

by Mr. Kertes

Quiz 1 will be at the start of class on Monday February 10.

The questions are:

  1. What is the purpose of the class?
    • Any of the following answers would be correct…
      • The purpose of the class is to learn to read, write and think.
      • The purpose of the class is to get smarter, more powerful, and more attractive.
      • The purpose of the class is to learn how to write at the high school level.
      • The purpose of the class is to learn how to write at the pre-university level.
      • The purpose of the class is to learn how to be a scholar, or to how to produce knowledge using theoretical thinking.
      • The propose of the class is to learn how to pass and graduate high school, so you can attain a high school diploma and learn what a high school education has to offer.
  2. How will I achieve the above purpose?
    • I will achieve the above purpose by writing.
  3. How do you make your thinking visible?
    • I make my thinking visible by writing.
  4. What level will I work at?
    • Any of the following answers would be correct…
      • I will work at the passing level.
      • I will work at the high school level.
      • I will work at the pre-university level.
  5. Define theory.
    • Theory explains how or why using rigorous and systematic thinking.

Quiz 1

by Mr. Kertes

Quiz 1 will be at the start of class on Monday February 10.

The questions are:

  1. What is the purpose of the class?
    • Any of the following answers would be correct…
      • The purpose of the class is to learn to read, write and think.
      • The purpose of the class is to get smarter, more powerful, and more attractive.
      • The purpose of the class is to learn how to write at the high school level.
      • The purpose of the class is to learn how to write at the pre-university level.
      • The purpose of the class is to learn how to be a scholar, or to how to produce knowledge using theoretical thinking.
      • The propose of the class is to learn how to pass and graduate high school, so you can attain a high school diploma and learn what a high school education has to offer.
  2. How will you get yourself smarter, more powerful, and more attractive?
    • I will get myself smarter, more powerful, and more attractive by writing.
  3. How do you make your thinking visible?
    • I make my thinking visible by writing.
  4. What are the three levels of learning for this course?
    • The three levels of learning for this course are passing, high school, and pre-university.
  5. Define theory.
    • Theory explains how or why using rigorous and systematic thinking.

Notes – Preparing for Nov. 25 to Dec. 13

by Mr. Kertes

Plan to have work days on (to work on Essay 2, which is due Dec. 20):

  • 11/15, 11/27, 11/29, 12/4, 12/6, and 12/11
    • Read R&J, The Outsiders, or The Giver
    • Prepare, Plan, Draft, Revise, and Edit Essay 2

Plan to read and view plays and films to prepare for the final exam:

  • 11/26 or 11/28 (listen to Measure for Measure)
  • 12/3 or 12/15 (view Measure for Measure)
  • 12/9 and 12/10 or 12/12 (prepare/view SGaawaay K‘uuna)

On 12/2 plan to briefly start the Future of Writing Project. Once this is done, plan to correct Key Concepts Test from attempt 2. You will work on the longer questions on 12/2 for Key Concepts. You will also copy your correct answers onto a short version of the test, which is what you will use for 12/13.

The Key Concepts test is on 12/13. This will be a short version of the test. You will prepare for this on 12/2.

The week before Winter Break is a busy week. We will complete Quiz 7 and Learning Story Test 2. Essay 2 is due on 12/20. Thursday 12/19 is Gym Riot Day. Expect a reduction of instructional time. This will be made up on 12/16 (meaning that period 2 and 4 will start the learning story test on 12/16 and will also do quiz 7 on 12/16).

Friday 12/20 has some other holiday traditions. Essay 2 is due on 12/20. If you are not finished, expect to be required to work that day to finish. If you are finished, and you want to do other activities that day, ask for permission and if all caught up and what you want to do is okay to do (allowed by the school and/or other teachers) I will likely sign off on it. (Meaning, I will sign a hall pass or permission slip.) 12/20 is a work day. Get your work done, and there is no more work and therefore you may have free time.

When you come back from break, plan to focus on the Future of Writing Presentation and the Final Exams. You will:

  • Present on the future of writing
  • Complete the summation test
  • Do part 1 and part 2 of the Final Exam
  • Complete Learning Story Part 3

    The future of writing assignment may be excused if you are late on Essay 2 or have other make up work. The most you can earn for the term grade if you miss doing the future of writing presentation is Emerging. Everyone is expected to at least watch the presentations.

    Essay 2 and the summation test, final exam, and learning story part 3 are all required. Most assessment is based on these tests and assignments. (Learning story 2 and key concepts are also required.)

    Nov 21 Notes (from Board)

    by Mr. Kertes

    Today we covered lessons learned from Quiz 5. Many students did not demonstrate that they understood the key concepts. Based on this, I changed from definitions to lists and categories. I also went over the main point: Textual analysis is using theory (systematic thinking and rigorous thinking) to explain how a text is written.

    Theory – A systematic explanation of how or why, using systematic and rigorous thinking

    Systematic – Breaking some down into parts, show how the parts work together, describe and explain this

    Rigorous – Deep reading and listening (researching)

    Scholarship – Production of knowledge (using theory and evidence and/or logic)

    Thesis – The point of a paper (must be theoretical, must be systematic, must be rigorous)

    Deep reading – The point is to know/understand: scan (reflect: the point of the text), skim (reflect: what you will focus on), uninterrupted read (focus on your focus), notes/read (take notes, but only your focus) (4 readings in total, meaning: read it four times – at least)

    Text – A system for sharing knowledge (others share knowledge with you)

    Essay – A system for making your thinking visible (you share knowledge with others)

    Knowledge – True understanding, facts, accurate/valid theories (which can be wrong, the point is to try to be right, as close to what really is – as possible)

    The point

    1. You will write Essay 2 (textual analysis essay on R&J, The Giver, or The Outsiders), Learning Story 2, Key Concepts Test (3rd try), Learning Story 3, Summation Test, Final Exam Part 1 (essay on how to write an essay), and Final Exam Part 2 (reflective analysis essay on Measure for Measure)
    2. For all of the work above, you will:
      • Use textual analysis
      • Explain how and why you used textual analysis
      • Apply the research process
      • Explain how you and why you used the research process
    3. The point of all (of the above) is to learn how to think, how to read, and how to write at the high school level (deep reading, reading to know and remember) (writing, making thinking visible and using theory to understand and explain)

    The 2 systems – Essay System and Text System

    Notes from Nov. 19/21 (Part 2)

    by Mr. Kertes

    Today we read a chapter (your choice) from “The Truth About Stories” by King and a chapter (4) from “Potlatch as Pedagogy” by Florence Davidson and Davidson. We took notes and wrote reflections. These will be on the tests and exams later in the term. You may also use both sources in the Essay 2 assignment.

    Mr. Kertes is a Language Arts teacher in Prince Rupert, in the territory of the Ts’msyen, at Charles Hays Secondary School - home of the Rainmakers.

    Tom Kertes Resume and CV

    2024-25 Term 2 Courses