Ira Cooper
Vancouver Tech Secondary
February 2016
Email: iratheenglishteacher@gmail.com
The World in Words
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A Grade 11 Unit on Short Stories
In this unit we will be exploring the world around us and beyond through short stories. Many of these stories talk about distant lands and lives that may seem unfamiliar to us. What we will try to do continually focus on through the course of this unit, are the connections between these short stories and our individual lives here in Vancouver, Canada.
Class Structure
Short stories are all about the reader’s response to it, meaning that the reader, which in this case, will be yourselves, must talk about how the poem makes him/her feel, why does it make him/her feel this way, what does he/she think the storyteller is trying to say and what literary devices help the writer say these things. There will be a lot of discussion in this classroom, which only works if we DISCUSS. I ask that everyone tries to speak at least once every two classes. Of course, you can speak more, but I would like to hear everyone’s voices, as it fuels this class, as well as the assignments that go along with it. It also tells me that you are following what is being said in the class and that you understand what is being taught.
Taking Notes
Taking notes about key terms is important for doing well on later assignments, quizzes and participating in class discussions. But it’s not just a pointless high school activity. In your future careers, in filling out future applications, in university or simply making a grocery list, taking notes is crucial. You are out of milk, pickles and dog food, but instead you bought Oreo Cookies, Sour Keys and a DVD of Frozen. Why? Because you didn’t take notes!
Short Stories on the Internet
http://www.gutenberg.org/
Just a great source of many free e-books. Over 50,000 and counting. Digitizing and archiving cultural works to give them a greater global audience.
http://www.eastoftheweb.com/short-stories/
Short stories that are sorted by ages. From professional to amateur, from classic to not-so-classic, you’ll find it all here.
http://www.short-story.net/
A place where you can publish your own stories and read other user published short works. A great place to get critical feedback on your work or read up and coming writers.
Marks
Comparative Essay on Themes – 35%
Personal Response Journals – 20%
Speaker Assignment -20%
Quizzes – 15%
Participation – 10%