Homework, 22nd January, 2018

Read the article below and answer the questions that go with it. This is due tomorrow (Tuesday, 23rd January). 

Local Girl Wins X-Factor

Chisby Town resident Emma Sheridan was last night crowned 2016 X-Factor winner in front of a television audience of millions. She beat off stiff competition from the other contestants to win a whopping 62% of the public vote, and received high praise from all of the judges, even the often grumpy Simon Cowell, who described her performance of Whitney Houston’s ‘I’m Every Woman’ as ‘spectacular’.

Shock

‘I’m just shell shocked at the moment,’ she told reporters, ‘but in a good way. I never thought anything like this could happen to me. Not in a million years.’ 

Pride

Sheridan, 17, also talked about her pride at having been born and raised in Chisby. ‘I’m just an ordinary girl from a small town who dreamt big. I think coming from humble beginnings is what made me.’

Friendship

‘I’m just so pleased for her,’ said her best friend Maisie Birch. ‘When we were growing up, she was always singing and saying how much she wanted to be a pop star like Taylor Swift.’ The two girls attended Cooper Manor Secondary School before Birch went to college and Sheridan enrolled at the Brit School in London.

Local girl

Many Chisbians took to the streets last night to celebrate their local hero’s success. ‘It’s great for the town,’ shopkeeper Len Barber said. ‘It’s put Chisby on the map. We’re all so proud of her.’

Plans

Sheridan will be returning home tomorrow afternoon to spend some time with her family, and there are rumours that she will be making a special appearance at the Crowndale Shopping Centre in the evening. One thing is sure: if she does turn up, it will be to a hero’s welcome.

Questions

1. Where is Emma Sheridan from?

2. What percentage of the public vote did she win?

3. What adjective is used to describe Simon Cowell?

4. Who originally performed the song ‘I’m Every Woman’?

5. Did Emma think something like this could ever happen to her?

6. How old is Emma?

7. What is the name of Emma’s best friend?

8. What is the name of the barber who has been interviewed for the article?

9. According to the article, what kind of a welcome will Emma get if she turns up at the Crowndale Shopping Centre?

Extension questions

10. How can we tell that this article was written for a local newspaper?

11. Shell shock is something soldiers sometimes suffer from in wars. When Emma uses it to describe how she feels, it is therefore an example of what literary technique?

12. Why do you think the article includes a paragraph where Emma talks about how proud she is to be from Chisby?

13. Overall, the tone of the article is quite friendly and informal. Copy down three parts from it that provide evidence of this. 

Homework, 15th January, 2018

For the next few weeks, we will be looking at how to write articles. For this week's homework, I would like you to read the following article and answer the questions that go with it.

This is due tomorrow (Tuesday, 16th January). 

There’s a place for everyone at The Moat School!

The Moat School was founded in 1998 by a group of parents in the Fulham area whose children were struggling at school because they were dyslexic. Unhappy with the approach their children’s schools were taking, they took matters into their own hands and the Moat was born!

Humble beginnings

In the beginning, the Moat School was very small, with only four pupils, but due to its popularity has grown over the years to almost five times the size and. In September 2017, it became part of the Cavendish group of schools.

A nurturing environment

Nestling among the trees, away from the hustle and bustle of Fulham Palace Road, The Moat School offers a safe, comforting and nurturing environment for pupils who may have found their needs being ignored in bigger schools. With small classes, a laptop for every student, full-time Speech and Language therapists and teachers qualified to teach learners with literacy difficulties, there is no longer a need for children who struggle with reading and writing to feel that they can’t cope.

Great facilities

As well as all this, though, the Moat School offers everything you would expect from a secondary school, including a playground with football goals and basketball hoops, a Design Technology workshop, a Food Technology room and a Performing Arts suite.

Questions

1. In what year was the Moat School founded? (1 mark)

2. There is an example of personification in the first paragraph. Find it and copy it out. (2 marks)

3. Why did the group of parents who founded the school feel the need to do so? (2 marks)

4. According to the second paragraph, in what way has the school changed over the years? (2 marks)

5. Why might teachers at the school have found it easier to meet with teachers from other schools from September 2017 onwards? (2 marks)

6. Write down one of the words used in the third paragraph to describe the school. (1 mark)

7. Write down three of the facilities that are mentioned in the final paragraph. (3 marks)

8. In what does the writer of the article try to make it seem that the Moat School is not actually that different from other schools? (2 marks)

9. Overall, this article paints a very positive picture of the Moat School. Write down three ways in which it does this. (3 marks)

Extension task

Overall, this is a very positive view of the school which is designed to persuade parents to send their children there. Explain, in your own words, how the writer achieves this. Focus on:

·        The details the writer gives about the school

·        The kind of language the writer uses (including literary techniques) and how the information is presented

Try and write at least 100 words. 

Homework, 11th December, 2017

For your last piece of homework of the term, I would like you to write one more formal letter. It's a kind of letter we haven't looked at in lessons, so this will be a test of how well you can come up with ideas of your own, as well as a test of how well you can remember how to lay out a formal letter and how well you can use formal language. 

The letter I would like you to write is to the manager of a hotel you recently stayed in complimenting her on the excellent experience you had. Things you could mention include:

* The comfortable beds
* The great restaurant
* The politeness of the staff

There might be other things you can think of as well. 

The address you should use is:

Sunny View Hotel
Sunshine Avenue
Perranporth
PE4 8UH

The letter should be around 300 words long. 

Good luck, merry Christmas and see you soon!

Homework, 4th December, 2017

Have a look at the sentences below and, for each one, decide whether it belongs in a formal or informal letter, or is just too informal. 

If you decide that the sentence belongs in a formal letter, you then need to decide whether it goes best in a job application letter or a complaint letter.

The first one has been done for you as an example. 

1. I am writing to apply for the position of teacher at the Moat School. This goes best in a formal job application letter. 

2. Wassup bruv?

3. I can't wait to see you next week. 

4. I am writing to express my disappointment at the pair of shoes I bought from you last week. 

5. How are Mike and Julie?

6. She's bare peng innit. 

7. I feel I would be the ideal candidate for the reasons listed below. 

8. In addition to this, I have three years' experience working in retail.  

9. I hope you will make this up to me by giving me a full refund. 

10. I recently started taking swimming lessons. 

11. I was, quite frankly appalled at the service. 

12. Fam, it was bangin', you feel me?

Homework, 27th November, 2017

You recently read an article in a magazine which argued that school uniform should be scrapped in schools in the UK. 

Decide whether or not you agree with this point of view, then write a letter to the editor (the person in charge) of the magazine giving your view. Use the guidelines below to help you. 

It should be around 250 words long. 

Generic letter to the editor structure

Your address, e.g.: Mr Quillfeldt 12 Bishop’s Avenue London SW6 6EG

The date in long form, e.g.: 15th September, 2015

The address of the person you are writing to, e.g.: The Editor Education Today Magazine 567 Brooke Avenue Barnsley BR4 8YG

If you don’t know the name of the person you are writing to, start Dear Sir/Madam. If you do know the name of the person you are writing to, start Dear Mr if it is male, or Ms if it is a female.

In the first paragraph, explain why you are writing the letter, e.g.: I am writing to you to express my views on … Give the opposite view first: Some people believe that …

Then give your view: My own view on this topic is that …

Sum up everything you have said: For all of these reasons, I believe …

Sign off. If you know the name of the person you are writing to, use Yours sincerely. If you don’t know the name of the person, use Yours faithfully.

Write your name

Homework, 13th November, 2017

Read the following letter and answer the questions that follow. 

This is due tomorrow (Tuesday, 14th November). 

Dear Sir/Madam

I am writing to apply for the position of infantryman in the British armed forces. Below I will outline the reasons why I feel I would be ideal for the job.

Firstly, I am a passionate patriot who believes in his country and is absolutely committed to the war effort. I believe in the greatness of our nation and, like so many other young men, I want to do my bit.

Secondly, I believe I have the skills required to be one of the best soldiers the British army has ever seen. I am physically fit, having worked on a farm since a young age, and am able to adapt quickly to using new tools and pieces of equipment. I am also an excellent team player, working well with others, respecting their opinions and acquiring new skills quickly.

                                                                                                    

Furthermore, I always follow instructions first time, without hesitation, something which is very important in a battle situation, where the enemy is around all the time and won’t wait for you to make your mind up.

I am sure you will agree that all these factors make me the ideal candidate to be an infantryman in the army and I look forward to hearing your response in the near future.

Yours sincerely,

Albert Narracot

Questions

1. What three things are missing from the top of the letter?

2. What position is Albert applying for?

3. Based on how it is used in the letter, what is a passionate patriot?

4. Complete the sentence: ‘Secondly, I believe I have the skills ______________ to be one of the best ______________ the British army has ever seen.

5. Which of the following is this an example of:

a)      Simile

b)      Alliteration

c)       Hyperbole

d)      Metaphor?

6. Write down one of the skills Albert claims to have.

7. When does Albert hope to hear a response?

8. There is something not quite right about the sign-off. What is it?

Extension activity

The following is a list of words which are quite informal. Find the more formal version of each in the letter and write it next to the informal one. The first one has been done for you.

Job – position

Perfect ___________________

Enthusiastic _________________

Totally _________________

Needed ______________

Change ______________

Really good ______________

Getting/picking up _______________

What’s more _________________

Things _______________

Reply ____________________

Homework 6th November, 2017

Read the letter from Captain Nichols to Albert and answer the questions that follow.

This is due tomorrow (Tuesday, 7th November). 

Dear Albert

I hope this letter finds you well. I am well myself; we have been on manoeuvres, getting ready for the first big push against the Germans, which will be happening in a few weeks’ time, and whilst I feel that we are in good shape, I am having trouble with the idea that this is going to be easy and the war will be over soon. I worry that we may have underestimated the enemy.

Anyway, I’m sure you are wondering how Joey is doing. Well, I don’t think it’s too much of an exaggeration to say that he is the finest horse this regiment has ever seen. Even Corporal Perkins admires him, and believe me, he is a very hard man to please. I will certainly feel confident, or, at least, as confident as I possibly can, riding Joey into battle.

I wish I could tell you that everything will be okay and that Joey will return to you in one piece, but at the same time, I don’t want to set you up for disappointment. This is war, and the reality of war is that there are casualties. I will make this promise to you, however: I will do my utmost to make sure that Joey is looked after and protected as much as possible and that you are reunited with him one day. I know you miss him, and he misses you, I am sure of it.

I have to go know; it’s dinner time and I don’t want to miss out! I’ll need all my strength if we’re going to beat those Germans.

Warmest regards,

Captain Nicholls

Questions

1. What is missing from the top of the letter?

2. What has Captain Nicholls been getting ready for?

3. Complete the sentence: ‘Anyway, I’m ______ you are _____________ how Joey’s doing.’

4. What compliment does he pay Joey in the second paragraph?

5. What will make him confident?

6. What does he wish he could tell Albert?

7. Why does he not tell him this?

8. Complete the sentence: ‘This is ____ and the ____________ of war is that there are _________________.’

9. What does he promise?

10. Why does he have to go?

Extension questions

11. What does Captain Nicholls think about Britain’s chances of winning the war?

12. How can we tell this?

13. What evidence is there in the second paragraph that he is not totally confident of winning his first battle?

14. How can we tell from what is written that Corporal Perkins is a tough man?