Term 4 Week 2 Preparation

1. Complete the ACS (Barker) 2014 MYCT Paper 2 distributed on Friday. We will use this for lessons in Term 4 Week 2. 

2. Please find the details for your last written assignment here. The deadline is 27 Sep 1200h. 

Preparation for Term 3 Week 9

Preparation
Please prepare the following in the given order for the week's lesson.
1) Read through the question paper for Situational Writing for your Prelim Paper found here.

2) Read through Text C for your Prelim Paper found here. We will be doing the feedback for Summary in class. The feedback for Section A and all the short questions for Section B and C will be done during the review lecture in Term 3 Week 10.

Your question papers will be returned to you on Tuesday.

Homework deadline
Please redo your Project Beta and submit your essays to your EL Rep on Friday.

Preparation for Term 3 Week 4

Lessons next week will run in the following order

Logic and Fallacies
1. Analyse all the sample paragraphs on the handout distributed in class and identify the fallacies in each sample.
2. Do a self-study for "Types of Support" using the slides found here. Complete the practice mentioned in the slides. The article has been given to you in class.

Feedback for Planning Test
Do a detailed essay plan for each of the 4 questions in the recent planning test done in class. The paper we used was Crescent Girls' School MYCT 2014.

Feedback for Project Beta
Bring your LDs for this lesson. You will need it in class. 
Do a detailed essay plan for the following questions:
1) Choosing a career is one of the most important decisions to be made in life. What factors will
affect your choice? (Cam 2005)

2) Write about some of the things in your country you value most and would miss greatly, if you had to live in another country. (Cam 2007)

Collaborative Content Lesson

Bring your LDs for this lesson. You will need it in class. 

This week, we will be working on the topic "Science and Technology". The intent of this lesson is to collaboratively build up content which will help you in writing your essays for the O-level examination. Each group is to choose one of the areas in the list below to work on. Choose by commenting on this post. First-come-first-served. No two groups may work on the same area. Each student in the group is to independently do the following and bring your preparation to class:

(a) Come up with at least 3 items for the area chosen by your group.

(b) Think of examples for the 3 items you came up with. If you have hyperlinks for your examples, save it on your LD.

List of areas to explore for Science and Technology 

1) Characteristics
2) Applications / Areas of use
3) Impacts
4) Problems caused
5) Solution for
6) Ethical issues

Preparation for Term 3 Week 3

Introduction to Fallacies 

Read the handout on fallacies I gave you in class today. You can also watch the video (which covers the first part of the handout) found here. Complete the required reading before the second lesson of the week.

Comprehension skills lessonWe will continue with the comprehension skills revision using the handout I gave you as holiday homework. We will use one lessons for this.

Essay skills revision (Reflective Writing)
For the first lesson of the week, please come prepared with a detailed essay plan for the following question. We will discuss this in class:

Write about some of your worries and hopes for the future. (Cam 2009)

Essay Planning Test
In addition, there will be an essay planning test during the first lesson of the week. You will be given an actual test / exam paper from another school and be required to write as detailed an essay plan you can possibly manage in 10 min. You plan must include the following:

1) Brief question analysis using some of the tools you have learnt earlier in the year found here.
2) Stand (if applicable) in the exact phrasing as you would have written it in an essay.
3) At least 3 points (not inclusive of the balance point) in the exact phrasing as you would have written it in an essay.
4) Examples you plan to use in point form.

Your plan should look like a much reduced version of the sample plans I made reference to for your holiday homework found here.

You will be graded for this test using the essay grade descriptors found here. I will make an estimate of the Band you are likely to be getting given your plan, assuming you would translate it accordingly into writing.

Preparation for Term 3 Week 2

Comprehension skills lesson
We will continue with the comprehension skills revision using the handout I gave you as holiday homework. We will use two lessons for this.

Essay skills revision (Reflective Writing)
For the third lesson, please come prepared with a detailed essay plan for the following question. We will discuss this in class:

Write about some of your worries and hopes for the future. (Cam 2009)

Essay Planning Test
In addition, there will be an essay planning test some time this week. You will be given an actual test / exam paper from another school and be required to write as detailed an essay plan you can possibly manage in 10 min. You plan must include the following:

1) Brief question analysis using some of the tools you have learnt earlier in the year found here.  

2) Stand (if applicable) in the exact phrasing as you would have written it in an essay. 

3) At least 3 points (not inclusive of the balance point) in the exact phrasing as you would have written it in an essay.

4) Examples you plan to use in point form.

Your plan should look like a much reduced version of the sample plans I made reference to for your holiday homework found here. 

You will be graded for this test using the essay grade descriptors found here. I will make an estimate of the Band you are likely to be getting given your plan, assuming you would translate it accordingly into writing. 

Special Preparation for Term 3 Lesson 1

To ease us into the term, we will do something with your LDs for the first lesson. Please bring your LDs.

In addition, please do a detailed question analysis for the following question and come up with at least 4 points (phrased in the exact phrasing as you would have written them in an essay). I will check your preparation.

As long as people do their job well, does it matter what they do in private? (modified A-level question).

June Holiday Homework

EL is a skills-based subject. Like any skill, you need to practise consistently in order to be good. Anyone can complete the 2.4km run. But to complete it with a good timing, one needs to train for it. In the same way, if you want to do well for EL, you need to train for it. The June EL holiday homework is designed to help you train for your O-level. Do try to follow the given schedule as far as possible for your benefit.

Comprehension Practice
1) Complete Practice Paper 6, 7 and 8 (page 313 onwards) from the book "Distinction in O level English" you bought in Sec 3 and mark your own work. You should do 1 paper per week in the first 3 weeks of the school holidays. Bring your books for checking during the first lesson in Term 3.

2) Complete the handout on comprehension skills given out to you on the last day of school. If you did not receive the handout, there are some extra copies in my pigeon hole. Bring your completed work to class during the first lesson in Term 3. We will be starting lesson using this set of handouts.

Essay Practice
1) Select 12 questions from Project Ace found here. For these 12 questions, do a detailed essay plan as shown in the sample here. You should do 3 essay outlines a week. Start each essay outline on a new sheet of paper. Submit your essay outlines for checking on the first day of Term 3.

2) Redo Project Ace if you have not yet cleared it. You are not allowed to select a question which I have not marked for you. You have to choose one which I have marked and work on improving it. Submit your essay for marking on the first day of Term 3.

Organise your EL file
Organise your EL file. I will call for file check during the first week of Term 3. Students whose files were properly organised during the previous file check will be exempted.

Project Beta and Preparation for Term 2 Week 9

Preparation for Term 2 Week 9
Submit the work your prepared for class for 12 May (Mon). Since we did not manage to have lessons that day, I will mark your work to give you feedback.

For each of your Mid Year Common Test Paper 1 questions (reproduced below for you), do a complete essay plan which includes the following:

(a) Detailed question analysis

(b) Stand written in exact phrasing (for Q1 and Q3 only)

(c) At least 3 points written in exact phrasing

(d) Examples in point form

1) The current generation of youth is often referred to as the “Strawberry Generation”. To what extent do you think this is true of the youth in your country?

2) Describe some of the green spaces in Singapore. How important are these places to you as a Singaporean?

3) Discuss the importance of values in society today.

4) Write about a time when you were treated unfairly. How important is the concept of fairness to you?

Project Beta

Project Beta is due on the last day of school for this term. Please refer to the file here for instructions. 

Preparation for Mon's lesson

Read the article on sport given out in class today. Using examples from the article, write a balance paragraph / show a balance argument for the following question:

Sport divides more than it unites. Discuss.

1. Do a detailed analysis of the question
2. Write down your stand in the exact phrasing as it would appear in your essay.
3. Write down your balance point in the exact phrasing as it would appear in your essay. 
4. For each supporting example you would like to include, summarise the relevant information needed for your point in no more than 3 lines. 

There is no need to write the Elaboration, Evaluation or the Link. You only need to write the point for one paragraph if you are raising and opposing view and refuting it. If you are accepting an opposing view as limitation to your position, you need to have points for two paragraphs to display balance. 

All work must be written on paper or printed and brought to class. 

Preparation for Term 2 Week 5

1) Complete the VS 2013 Prelim paper before the 3rd lesson of the week
2) Analyse the 3 samples of reflective writing handed out in class:
(a) What are the kinds of information included? Why do you think they are included
(b) How are the paragraphs structured? Do you notice any patterns
(c) How are the essays organised? Do you notice any patterns
(d) What make the essays reflective essays? What are some defining features of reflective writing?

There is no Reading Task this week. There will be none until the post mid year Common Test period.

Homework and Preparation for Term 2 Week 4

Reading task
Refer to the Directed Reading Package (DRP) on the Environment found here. This is an example of how you can do your own research and gather information on a topic you are passionate about. Having the necessary content knowledge is important for expository writing.

For your reading task this week, scan through the DRP and select an issue raised in the DRP which you feel strongly about. Describe the issue briefly (in no more than 1 paragraph) and explain why you feel so passionately about this issue.

Preparation for lessons
Before the first lesson of the week, do a brief question analysis and come up with at least 4 points for each of the following questions:
1) How far is technology the solution to environmental problems?
2) Women will never enjoy the same rights as men. Do you agree?
3) Given the limited land available in Singapore, is it wise to set aside some areas as nature reserves? (Cam 2006)
4) ‘Modern technology gives us hope for the future.’ What are your views? (Gan Eng Seng School Prelim 2013)

Feedback for Reading Task on beauty (Term 2 Week 1)
Here are some possible points you could discuss:
1) People go to great lengths and huge cost to make themselves better looking (P1 Para 1).
2) Some of the methods / products used to improve one's appearance are unproven (P1 Para 1).
3) The search for beauty is frivolous and leads to a shallower society (P1 Para 3).
4) The beauty business deceives people into spending money uselessly or harmfully (P1 Para 3).
5) Until their bodies stop growing, teenagers should not be allowed to change them in permanent ways that may turn out to be harmful (P1 Para 4).
6) Big beauty companies play on people's hopes and fears (P1 Para 5).
7) Techniques and technologies of plastic surgery are more widely available than ever before (P2 Para 2). 
8) All this tinkering with facial and body types may be changing the way our brains perceive beauty (P2 Para 3).
9) Illegitimate practitioners turn out as many beasts as beauties (P2 Para 4).
10) Beauty industry turn out many same-looking standardised young people, depriving people of their individual characteristics (P2 Para 4). 

Preparation for Term 2 Week 3

Reading Programme
Read the two passages on sport handed out during assembly. Choose one point from each passage and argue if you agree or disagree with the author, citing your own examples to support your view.

Note: You should not restrict your examples to your own country. You also need not answer the question printed with the passages.

Preparation for lessons 1 and 2 of Term 2 Week 3
Look at the pictures on the handout containing the 3 oral examination papers. Based on what you were taught in the previous lesson for oral, write down 3 possible conversation questions. Prepare brief answers to the questions you have come up with in point form.

As a practice, read the passages on the handout.

File check
There are students who still have not submitted your EL file for checking. Please do so on Mon or Tue.

Homework and Preparation for Term 2 week 2

For the reading programme this week, please read the two sets of readings given out during assembly and answer the application question as well as all the comprehension questions.

Some of you have also not submitted your EL files for checking. Please bring them during the first lesson of the week.

We have not completed the feedback for your Mar holiday homework Unpacking the text compre exercise. Please bring it for lesson.

March Holiday Homework

All holiday homework will be checked (except the optional item) and those who do not do the work will be dealt with. 

Reading Programme
Deadline - 20 Mar (Thu), submit response on Facebook
I have shared the following two documents on the SST 2014 Sec 4 group on Facebook.
1) Identity
2) Courage

Read the passage in each document and respond to the application question given. You are only required to write one paragraph in response to each file. You are to write your response as a comment to my post. In your response, you must refer to one idea from the text as well as one idea from one person (need not be from your class) who posted before you (Exception: The first person who comments will not need to refer to another person's idea)

File Check
Deadline - 1st lesson of Term 2 Week 1
Bring your EL file for the 1st lesson of Term 2 Week 1 for file check. Organise your file based on the instructions found on the Admin Guide (Use the link at the sidebar on your right or click here). Look under the section "Blue Ring File.

Comprehension skills revision
Optional:
For those of you who often have difficulties understanding comprehension texts and overall meaning, please work through this exercise on Unpacking the Text at the Global level. It comes complete with a video explanation. The skill taught is for an exposition text, but you can come up with your own tool after you have gone through it.

Compulsory (Deadline - 3rd lesson of Term 2 Week 1):
Either print or work on your LDs (you will have to bring your LDs to class if you work on your LDs) the document found here on Unpacking the text for details. We need this for the 3rd lesson of Term 2 Week 1.

Essay skills revision
Deadline - 1st lesson of Term 2 Week 1
Take a look at the sample essay plan found here. Using exactly the same format, complete with all the sections, do essay plans for the following questions.
1) Some people say that the Internet does more harm than good. What is your view? (Cam 2010)

2) “Singapore has turned into an intolerant nation.” Do you agree? (St Theresa’s Convent Prelim 2013)

Homework Due in Term 1 Week 10

There is no reading task this weekend. Instead, please do the following:

1. Crescent Girls' School 2013 Prelim Paper 2. Deadline: 10 Mar Monday

2. Project Ace (Click here for instructions). Deadline: 14 Mar Friday 12 noon

Homework and Preparation for Term 1 Week 9

Reading Programme
Deadline: 3 Mar (Mon)

The files you have submitted this week will be returned on 3 Mar (Mon). Please take 5 min to get ready this week’s reading tasks for submission by the end of the day.  You are to read the article given out in class on Meritocracy for this week's reading task and complete the question at the end. 

 

A  student's response for last week's reading task has been posted on the cohort Facebook page for your review. If you are not sure how the reading task should be done, please read the response.

 

Writing Introduction and Conclusion
After we compete the feedback for the CHIJ Comprehension Paper, we will be working on writing Introduction and Conclusion. You will need to bring your LDs to school for these writing lessons. Please analyse the samples in the handout given to you a few days ago before coming for lessons. In addition, please familiarise yourselves with the materials you worked on for the following essay questions:
1) Should the media be completely free?
2) Discuss the problems and benefits of hosting major sporting events.

3) Parents often believe that it is better to be safe than sorry. Do you consider young people to be too protected?

4) 'The way we dress reveals who we are'. What are your views?

Lessons on Speaking
After our lessons on writing Introduction and Conclusion, we shall move into lessons on speaking. As a group, you are to choose the following which we will work on in class:

(a) 1 speech found here (no 2 groups may choose the same speech)
(b) 1 photo from here (no more than 2 groups may choose the same photo. NOTE: This instruction is different from the one above!!)

Make your choices as a group and put it as a comment to this post. First-come-first-served.

For the speech, each student is to consider the Purpose, Audience, Culture and Context for the speech and write down the expected features of such a speech which will aid you in delivering the speech.

For the photo, each student is to come up with possible discussion questions which might be asked for the discussion section of an oral examination.

Homework and Preparation for Term 1 Week 7

Reading Programme

Deadline: 25 Feb (Tue)

The files you have submitted this week will be returned on 25 Feb (Tue) during assembly. Please take 5 min during your recess to get ready this week’s reading tasks for submission by the end of the day.  You are to read the articles found here for this week's reading task and complete the question at the end. 

Feedback for CHIJ Secondary Preliminary Examination 2013 Paper 2

We will be doing the feedback for this comprehension practice this week. You have submitted the work to me a few weeks ago. Please re-read the passages to prepare yourself for the lesson and bring along the passages.

There is no other preparation required this week. 

Follow-up for Feedback Lesson on Proposal Writing

Please post your responses to the questions I put up on the board during lesson today as comments to this post.

Preparation for 3rd English lesson in Term 1 Week 6

Please see this file and make your choices as comments to this thread.

Homework and Preparation for Term 1 Week 6

Make up lesson on 14 Feb Friday
I am not going to be in school on 17 Feb (Mon). As such, a make-up lesson has been planned on 14 Feb (Fri) from 1245h to 1345h. The venue will be your regular classroom. Attendance is compulsory. Plans for your regular EL lesson on 17 Feb (Mon) will be confirmed in due course as I am asking if any of your teachers would like to take over that slot.

Reading Programme

Deadline: 10 Feb (Mon)

The files you have submitted this week will be returned on 10 Feb (Mon) during assembly. Please take 5 min during your recess to get ready this week’s reading tasks for submission by the end of the day.  You are to read the following two articles given out in class today and do the tasks found at the end of the articles for this week's reading task:

(a) How important are dreams

(b) The busy trap

Preparation for lesson
Ready for lesson on 10 Feb (Mon)
Read the handout on Paragraph Development found here. 
(a) Make a copy of the document on your own google drive. 
(b) On your own copy, analyse the sample paragraphs based on the given instructions.
(c) Use the comment and highlighting functions to do your analysis

You are required to bring your LDs to class and load your analysis before lesson for checking. Please arrange your tables in the required seating arrangement for English.