Build Your Own Blog- Be Heard

December 15th, 2009

Like what have you been seeing around the site? Well you too can write a blog.
Anyone can start a blog, but the trick is actually producing content people will want to read. To do this you have to write passionately about an interesting subject. To begin writing a blog you need to plan things out.

Before you can do anything you need to know about your target audience. If you are writing a blog about texting your target audience probably isn’t going to be elderly people. You need to write something that will interest your readers.

Now you need to get a topic that will interest that audience. Do some research! Your audience will probably be people a similar age to you, so write about things that interest you. An interesting topic that people like will have them coming back for more.

The first thing people will read will be the title. If it isn’t interesting then they probably won’t waste the time reading your blog. Spice some things up a bit with the title, but remember to keep it on topic. Most people will “read a book by its cover” and if your title isn’t any good, the will think the blog isn’t really that good. Remember to add a interesting flashy title to draw people’s attention..

Once you know what you are writing about, you actually have to write it. You have to be passionate about your writing. Put effort and thought in what you are doing. Let it come from the heart and be honest! The most important thing is you are writing things you want to write about.

If you follow all these steps you should be on your way to writing a blog in no time. Some tips though when you are writing is keep paragraphs short. A HUGE paragraph with tons of words will be stressful and seem to long for anyone to bother with. Using shorter paragraphs makes things easier for people to read and understand.

Now you know what and how to write a blog, the next step is actually posting one.
There is many sites all around the internet were you can post blogs. You can even do it on our own. Go to courticesecondary.ca and register for the forums. You can join in to the discussion and if your stuff is good enough, you can even send it in for review and it may even be posted on the front page. A great website to get started is www.wordpress.org . It is a free open source website that you can publish your blog on and it can be viewed by millions.

Week 15 – ENG 4U1 – Matthews

December 11th, 2009

Hello ENG 4U,

Here is our schedule for your final week of class before the holidays!

Monday: Today we will be in the library!
-Ms. Nelson will be introducing the system you will use for reviewing your ISU novel and play. (both reviews are due by FRIDAY!)
- You will discuss your ISU novel and play with 5 of your classmates and complete the discussion template. This is to be submitted today.
- You will create a group of 2-4 people that have the same theme in the ISU novel and play.

Tuesday: Today we will be in the library.
You will be working as a group on the Thematic Media Product portion of the assignment. Remember that you must complete an individual written response to this creation (must be handed in by FRIDAY).
- REMEMBER – This product is to be presented tomorrow!

Wednesday: Presentations of TMP with your group!

Thursday: TBA

Friday: Last day to hand in your Novel and Play reviews (online) AND Last day to hand in your Individual Written Component. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Looking ahead to next year: We will be talking about your culminating task for the course when we return and we will be doing a poetry and media unit!

Week 15 – ENG 1D1 – Matthews

December 11th, 2009

Hello ENG 1D1,

Here is our schedule for our final week before the holidays!

Monday: Romeo and Juliet Memory Work Presentations
- Starting to Prepare for our In-Class Essay on Thursday
- We will also be looking at how to quote from Shakespeare.
- Movie Activity Introduced (due Thursday)

Tuesday: MOVIE

Wednesday: MOVIE

Thursday:
Movie Assignment due today!
Romeo and Juliet In-Class Essay.

Friday: Shakespearean Feast!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Looking ahead to the new year:
- We will be doing a poetry and media unit as well as a culminating task before exams!

Cancellations and Rescheduling due to weather

December 9th, 2009

Due to the weather today a few school events have to be rescheduled.

Math help for tonight has been Canceled. This will resume on its regular schedule.

The girls hockey game has been Canceled and will be rescheduled to a later date To be announced.

The outdoor education trip to Joe Rock head’s has postponed until next week hopefully. More details to follow

School Bus Cancellations

December 9th, 2009

Student Made Flash Games round 3

December 8th, 2009

Have fun trying out this new version of the classic game. Feel free to post comments and maybe even your high scores. This game was developed in ICS4M Computer Studies in Mr. Vaughan’s Class. This game was designed by Jeff Reed.

Hit space bar to fire and use the arrow keys to control your ship, click to play again.

[kml_flashembed movie="http://courticesecondary.ca/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/Space-invadors1.swf" width="400" height="350" allowfullscreen="true" /]

Trans Youth Resource

December 7th, 2009

I thought I would post a link to an awsome resource for trans youth. The LGBT Youthline has awsome blog posts and resources, so check out the rest of them if you have a chance.

http://www.youthline.ca/blog/?p=261

Week 14 – ENG 4U1 – Matthews

December 4th, 2009

Hello ENG 4U,

Here is our schedule for this week:

Monday:
Finishing the movie if needed.
Reviewing famous quotations from the play to prep for our in-class essay.

Tuesday:
Hamlet Monologues today!

Wednesday:
Preparation for In-Class Essay

Thursday:
Preparation for In-Class Essay

Friday:
Hamlet In-Class Essay

Reminder: Next week we will be completing the remainder of your ISU. It is essential that you attend all classes!

Week 14 – ENG 1D1 – Matthews

December 4th, 2009

Hello ENG 1D1,

Here is our schedule for this week:

Monday:
Act 3 Study Guide due today!
Also, please hand in the power of soliloquy activity if you haven’t already.
Act 3 Quiz today!
Discussion of Plot and Themes in the play so far…
Reading Act 4, Scenes 1-3

Tuesday:
Reading Act 4, Scenes 4 and 5
Discussing Tragedy
Working on Study Guide for Act 4

Wednesday:
Tableau Activity
Reading all of Act 5

Thursday:
Study Questions for Act 4 due today!
Discussion of the end of the play.
Some time to work on memory work.

Friday:
Study Questions for Act 5 due today!
Quiz on Acts 4 and 5
Time to work on Memory Work

Looking ahead….
Memory Work will be presented on Monday. We will also be watching the movie next week and completing our unit test!

World AIDS Day

December 3rd, 2009

I would like to thank everyone for donating their time and money to this amazing cause. Because of our efforts, we are helping many people infected with HIV/AIDS in our community.  That should make everyone’s lollipops taste a bit sweeter! If you would like more info about The AIDS Committee of Durham Region, or how you can get involved, please visit  http://www.aidsdurham.com/