Author: Mr. Kertes

Overview – Nov. 4, 5, 7

  1. Themes
    • Money, Money, Money (in a rich man’s world….)
      • Power to get the things I want…
    • Power of Love
      • Power to belong and build community
    • Justice! (An eye for an eye….)
      • Power to survive
  2. “Silence = Death”
    • Power to survive is life and death, speaking up and being heard to get what you and your community need
  3. Martin Luther King Speech
  4. Shakespeare
    • Why did he write?
    • How did he become so famous?
    • How to read his work
    • Understanding the history of the times, context
  5. Romeo and Juliet
    • Learn about changes in meanings of the words
    • Act 3, Scene 2
    • Why double meaning?
    • What can it mean?
    • Why do you think that?
    • How does this connect to modern communication?

Auden Poem – Read the entire poem here

Essay 2 – Textual Analysis Essay

Write a textual analysis essay on Romeo and JulietThe Outsiders, or The Giver (your choice of play or novel).

  1. Choose one of the three texts.
  2. Develop a plan. Start with your focusing question. Write it out. Write your focusing question in your journal.
  3. With the focusing question in mind, read or re-read your choice of text. While reading, take notes. The notes should focus on details related to the focusing question. Take 10-15 pages of notes (bullet point form or outline form). (Fewer pages are required for a score of 1, 1+, or 1++. (Write the notes in your journal.)
  4. As you are developing your thesis and supporting ideas, write at least five reflections in your journal. These are speed writes. As you do this, read other texts that are related to your inquiry. Take notes in your journal of these sources. (Be sure to record the source title, author, page number, date of publication.)
  5. Once you have read or re-read the text, write your thesis statement and at least three supporting ideas. Then write the outline – for Proficient and Extending plan a 3-section paper (10-15 paragraphs, under 2000 words) and for Emerging and Developing plan a 5-paragraph paper (at least 25 sentences). At this point, you will have your literary element or literary element in mind as well. Write these in your journal.
  6. Once you have a thesis statement, at least three supporting ideas, and outline, write your first draft. Focus on FILLER and FOCUS – do not focus on FORM or FLOW. Just write out your thoughts in support of the thesis, supporting ideas, sources, and literary devices/elements. Your first draft should include development of your own thoughts and development of your own theory in relation to the text. Draft 1 should go in your journal.
  7. For draft 2, use lined paper and double space. Revise draft 1 by reflecting on how to be more focused, clearer, and better at explaining and supporting your idea. Be sure to go back over the evidence, examples, sources, quotes, etc. At this point, follow the outline and be sure to use correct format for your in-text citations. Play attention to FOCUS, FORM, FILLER, FLOW, and FEELING. Apply all the LOAs. Use systems thinking. Be sure to check over the English 9 rubric as you write the draft.
  8. For draft 3, you have a choice. You may type it or write it using lined paper and blue or black ink. Revise, improve, refine, and edit. Apply MLA format.  Be sure to check over the rubric as you work on the draft. (If using lined paper and pen, spelling errors are not marked down but you should use correct capitalization, indentation, and punctuation – and you should use white out, not cross outs, for this essay.)

Essays are marked according to the English 9 Essay Rubric – using these marks: Insufficient Evidence (0), Initial Understanding – Passing (1), Partial Understanding – On Track (2), Complete Understanding – Complete (3), and Sophisticated Understanding – Extending (4). 

Quiz 5 Study Guide

Quiz 5 is on Shakespeare, Measure for Measure, and textual analysis and draws on All Is TrueRomeo and Juliet, and the review/overview lessons from Nov. 5 to Nov. 14.

We will take notes on the following (see below) in lessons on Nov. 5/7, Nov. 6, Nov. 12/14, and Nov. 13.

  1. Shakespeare
    • Why Shakespeare is so famous
      • The role of theatre (its popularity) in 1500s London and England
      • Making money as a shareholder in a theatre
      • Looking at inner emotion, connecting with everyone, human motivation and psychology
      • The expansion of English power and influence (right time, right place)
    • How Shakespeare shaped so much of English literature
      • Literary devices
      • Narrative structure
      • Characters – inner motivations and human psychology
    • Narrative theory and Shakespeare
      • Shakespeare’s innovations and contributions
      • How Shakespeare used existing models and conventions
    • Literary devices used by Shakespeare
      • Allusion
      • Hyperbole
      • Alliteration
      • Foreshadowing
      • Sensory imagery
      • Pun
      • Personification
      • Dramatic Device
      • Dramatic Irony
      • Monologue
      • Soliloquy
      • Symbolism
    • The life and time of Shakespeare
      • Government and law
        • Queen Elizabeth and King Edward
      • Economics – class and status
        • Colonizing Ireland
        • England’s status in Europe
      • Status of women
        • Examples from All Is True, Romeo and Juliet, and Measure for Measure
      • History English language and literature
        • Greek and Roman influences
        • Indigenous (to England) influences
  2. Measure for Measure
    • Plot overview
    • Characters
    • Theme
  3. Textual analysis
    • How to research for a textual analysis essay
    • Taking notes while reading the text
    • Identifying themes, patterns, literary devices, interesting passages
    • Sources and citations
    • Development of your theory
    • Focusing question, thesis statement, and supporting ideas (writing an outline)
  4. All Is True
    • Themes
    • Life and times
    • Use of literary devices in the film
  5. Romeo and Juliet
    • Textual analysis of the play

Quiz 5 will use the same format as Quiz 4. Answers are not provided this time (same format as Quiz 4 but you must do this on your own for Quiz 5). The quiz is open note (max. one sheet of notes, using the paper provided, both sides of the paper may be used). You should study for the quiz at home in advance of it.

A score of at least 75% is required for a “completed” mark, which is required for an overall grade of Proficient or Extending for the term. You may retake the quiz during Homework Help with Mr. Kertes (M/W/F from 7:45 to 8:45 AM in room 308 – be sure to confirm the day before if you want to attend Homework Help to make up the quiz).  

Mid Term, Report Cards, and Make Up Day

The end of the first quarter was on Friday Nov. 1. Informal progress reports were emailed home to all parents/guardians on Friday Nov. 1 and Saturday Nov. 2.

The Mid Term Report Cards for CHSS will be entered this week and then sent home. I will post grades for the report cards on Monday Nov. 4 at 3:00 PM.

The Make Up Day for the first quarter is Monday Nov. 4. Students with missing work should attend to complete the work. Late work is accepted without penalty. The next Make Up Day is Monday Jan. 27.

The 2nd Quarter starts Tuesday Nov. 5. An updated calendar, overview of assignments, and other information about 2nd Quarter is now posted on the course page for each class (A1, A2, A3, and A4) for this term.

Student Led Conferences

Student Led Conferences are this week. You can sign up at this link. Plan for 10-15 minutes.

Monday Nov. 4

  • 2:00 PM – Student Led Conferences with a Peer
  • 3:15-5:00 PM – Student Led Conferences with a Parent/Guardian (sign up)

Wednesday Nov. 6

  • 5:00-9:00 PM – Student Led Conferences with a Parent/Guardian (sign up)

Friday Nov. 8

  • 3:15-5:00 PM – Student Led Conferences with a Parent/Guardian (sign up)

Mid Term Week

This week is Mid Term Week.

Monday 10/28

  • Start on the Mid Term Exam Part 1

Tuesday 10/29

  • Mid Term Exam Part 2 (A3)

Wednesday 10/30

  • Mid Term Exam Part 3 (A3) or Part 2 (A2, A4)

Thursday 10/31

  • Mid Term Exam Part 3 (A2, A4)

Friday 11/1

  • Finish Mid Term Exam Part 3
  • Learning Story Test
  • Conference Report

Progress reports will be provided on 11/1 and emailed home over the weekend.

Assignments/Major Texts – Thru Nov. 4

Readings and notes (the password was in the email):

Films:

  • Romeo and Juliet (1996 Version)
  • The Outsiders
  • The Giver

Assignments/assessments:

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