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?

Homework, 16th October, 2017

This week I can post the text I would like you to read as it is a short story I wrote myself! Once you have read it, answer the questions that follow. The formatting is a little off due to it being copied and pasted across from a Word document, but it should make sense anyway. 

This is due tomorrow (Tuesday, October 17th). 

Nightmares

I wake with a jolt, as if someone has just switched me on. I am drenched in sweat, I ache all over, and my heart is racing. I sit for a few seconds, desperately trying to calm down. This is the third morning in a row this has happened. Before I have time to think about it anymore, however, Sam floats into the room, arms outstretched, holding a tray with my morning cup of coffee sitting, as always, in the dead centre. I take it and drink.

                ‘Thanks Sam,’ I say.

            ‘You’re welcome,’ she replies. I say she; she’s actually an ‘it’, genderless, but to me there is something feminine about her compassionate manner. I know it is compassion that has been programmed and is therefore not real, but I am convinced that, over the years she has been with me, she has started to develop her own personality. Perhaps I should be scared by that, but I’m not. I can always switch her off if I need to.

                I finish my coffee, then hoist myself out of bed and rub the sleep from my eyes. For a second I am calm, but then I remember the nightmare and begin to worry. The same bad dream three nights in a row can’t be good.

                Sensing my anxiety, Sam enquires, ‘shall I make an appointment for you to see Doctor Wells?’

                ‘Um … yes, actually,’ I reply, ‘thank you.’                                                             

*     *     *

               ‘So, three nights in a row,’ says Doctor Wells. He has a kind face, sandy blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. His voice is soothing, although the soft lighting and comfortable chair with its embracing arms all contribute as well. And then there’s the animated artwork on the walls; there’s something strangely calming about it which I can’t quite explain.  

                ‘Yup,’ I reply.  

                ‘And what happens in this dream?’ he asks.

              ‘It’s scary … people suffering, explosions, people fighting … politicians arguing with each other. It’s like a whole world which is different from ours but somehow familiar, like it’s from a time long ago.’

                ‘Hmm.’ He takes a deep breath.

                ‘What do you think?’ I ask after a few uncomfortable seconds of him not replying.

               Without him saying anything to me, he picks up his telephone. ‘Trisha,’ he says into the receiver. ‘Could you cancel my next appointment please?’ There is a pause while Trisha says something back to him, but I can’t quite make out what it is. ‘Yes,’ he eventually says. ‘The fifth one this week.’ He hangs up. ‘It’s okay,’ he replies, turning to me. ‘Stay calm and look at the painting on the wall opposite you. You feel sleepy. Your eyes are heavy …’

*     *     *

I am coaxed gently out of unconsciousness by the comforting voice of Doctor Wells. ‘It’s okay,’ he says. ‘You’re going to feel slightly disorientated, but that’s normal. Everything is fine.’ His room gradually comes into view.

                ‘What happened?’ I ask, yawning. I feel a little groggy.  

                ‘You came to see me about some bad dreams you were having, but it’s all fine now. Everything is fixed.’

                ‘Oh, right …’ I have a vague memory that I was having nightmares, but I can’t remember what they were about. I sit there for another few minutes while he types on his computer.

                ‘How are you feeling now?’ he asks.

                ‘Fine,’ I reply. ‘Great, in fact.’

                ‘Good. You can go. Just book a follow-up appointment with Trisha on your way out for … let’s say, a week’s time, just so I can make sure you’re still okay, which you will be.’ He smiles.

                I thank him and leave.

*     *     *

When I get home, Sam is waiting for me with dinner on the table. Pasta. Good old Sam, I think to myself. I sit down and begin eating. As always, it’s the best food I’ve ever tasted. But then, something strange happens … an image … in my mind …

1. What is the narrator drenched in when she wakes up?

2. How many mornings in a row has this happened?

3. What does Sam bring for her?

4. What does the narrator say she probably should be scared of, but isn’t?

5. What is the name of the doctor Sam makes an appointment for the narrator to see?

6. What colour is the doctor’s hair?

7. What word is used to describe the arms of the chair in the doctor’s office?

8. Write down one thing that is scary about the dream that the narrator describes.

9. What does the doctor do to make time to hypnotise the narrator?

10. When she wakes up from having been hypnotised, the narrator yawns, then says she feels what?

11. What do you think this word means, based on how it is used in the story?                           

12. After telling the narrator to book a follow-up appointment, what does the doctor say to reassure her?

Extension questions

13. This is a Science Fiction story. Write down one thing about it that fits with the Science Fiction genre.

14. Look at your answer to question 4. Why do you think the writer says she should probably be worried about this?

15. What particular theme does this address?

16. How does the writer create suspense at the very end of the story?

17. There is an example of personification somewhere in the story. See if you can find it and copy it out.

18. This story is deliberately vague about what is actually happening. Why do you think this is?

                                                                                                                                           

19. What do you think is going on? 

Homework, October 2nd, 2017

This week I would like you to read another extract from War Horse. This time, it is a description of Corporal Samuel Perkins, the soldier who trains Joey before he goes to France to fight. 

Once you have read it, you will need to answer the questions that go with it. Everything you need is in your homework folder. 

This is due tomorrow (Tuesday, October 3rd)

No homework this week due it being Founders' Day weekend!

Hooray!

Homework, Monday 18th September, 2017

This week I would like you to read the extract from War Horse and answer the questions that go with it. Unfortunately, I can't publish the extract here as I don't own the copyright, but everything you need is in your homework folder. 

This is due tomorrow (Tuesday, September 19th). 

Welcome to Mr. Quillfeldt's year 9 English blog!

Hi!

For those of you who are new to the school, or who have never had me as a teacher before, this is where you can check each week to see what the English homework is, as well as find other details about what is going on in English. 

Wherever possible, I will make copies of worksheets and resources available, but, in cases where someone else has created the resource, I might only be able to provide a link to it for copyright reasons. A hard copy of everything will always be provided in the homework folder though, so this blog is more of a backup. 

Homework will start next week, once we have chosen which novel we are going to study as a class, as most of the homework tasks will be reading comprehension activities based on it. In class we will be studying creative writing up until October half term, so hopefully, by the end of the unit, you will be able to write a short story of around 400 words. 

That's it for now. Make sure you check back next week. 

Homework, Monday 8th May, 2017

After a break of a couple of weeks, homework is back!

This week, I would like you to read the report below and answer the questions that go with it. 

This is due tomorrow (Tuesday, 9th May). Good luck!

A report to the local council outlining suggestions for facilities for the new youth club

Introduction

The local council is planning to build a youth club in the area. I have been asked to speak to young people in the area and find out their suggestions for facilities that could be included in the youth club. I will outline my findings below.

Athletic facilities

·        A five-aside Astro-Turf football pitch – this was a very popular suggestion and would be a great way of encouraging young people in the area to stay fit, as well as learning skills such as leadership and teamwork.

·        A basketball court – this would be cheaper than an Astro-Turf pitch as it can be put in what is currently the car park and is another way to encourage young people to stay fit and learn new skills.

Leisure facilities

·        A pool table – this was another very popular suggestion as young people in the area love playing pool. There would be space in the building, according to the plans.

·        A bar serving non-alcoholic beverages – obviously alcohol could not be served, but many of the young people I spoke to suggested this as a way to make them feel grown up.

·        Vending machines – several people suggested this and it would be a good way of making extra money, which could be used to pay for other things.

Recommendation

Overall, I would recommend all of the above as they are all very popular suggestions and would all come within the budget set out by the council.

Now answer the following questions:

1. Who is the report being written to?

2. What is the purpose of the report?

3. Does the report use formal or informal language?

4. What are the two categories that the facilities have been divided into?

5. Which of the two athletic facilities mentioned was a ‘very popular suggestion’?

6. What is one of the advantages of a basketball court over an Astro-Turf football pitch?

7. How do we know that there would be space in the building for a pool table?

8. Why do you think alcohol cannot be served at the youth centre?

9. Vending machines would be a good way of making extra what?

10. Which of the suggestions are recommended at the end of the report?

Extension questions

11. How can we tell that the title is the title?

12. Find and copy out the sentence which means the same as ‘Underneath, I’m going to write down what I found.’

12. Why do you think the information is broken into short sentences and paragraphs?

13. What is the purpose of the subheadings?

14. Why do you think the writer has used formal language?

Easter holiday homework, 2017

There are two tasks I would like you to complete this Easter:


1. Read the speech and answer the questions (it is from a textbook so I can't post it here but everything you need is in your homework folder).


2. Complete the end of term quiz (which is included below), which is based on speeches, reviews and articles.


Everything is due the first day back after Easter (Monday, 24th April).

End of term two massive English quiz!

 

1. What should always go at the top of an article?

 

2. List three things you could comment on the quality of when writing a review, e.g. acting.

 

3. Which technique is the following an example of:

 

          ‘He was as strong as an ox’?

 

4. What should you do in the first paragraph of a review?

 

5. What should each paragraph of an article have above it?

 

6. When you write down something someone said in speech marks, this is called a what?

 

7. Write down an example of a rhetorical question.

 

8. Re-write the following sentence so that it has the correct spelling, punctuation and grammar:

 

          i was speaking to a young lady just the other day she said it’s just so           tough being a single mum i wish someone could help me

 

9. Which technique is the following an example of:

 

          ‘I’ve told you million times that chewing gum is bad for you!’?

 

10. In which of the three text types we have covered this term (reviews, articles and speeches) would you expect to find the following sentence:

 

          ‘The plot moves along at breakneck speed, and the directing is             

           great.’?

 

11. Write down an example of a metaphor.

Homework, Monday, March 20th, 2017

Read the speech extract below and answer the questions that follow. This is due tomorrow (Tuesday, March 21st). 

The following is an extract from a speech by the human rights activist Malala Yousafzai delivered to the youth version of the United Nations on July 12^th, 2013.

…

I don't know where to begin my speech. I don't know what people would be expecting me to say. But first of all, thank you to God for whom we all are equal and thank you to every person who has prayed for my fast recovery and a new life. I cannot believe how much love people have shown me. I have received thousands of good wish cards and gifts from all over the world. Thank you to all of them. Thank you to the children whose innocent words encouraged me. Thank you to my elders whose prayers strengthened me.

…

There are hundreds of Human rights activists and social workers who are not only speaking for human rights, but who are struggling to achieve their goals of education, peace and equality. Thousands of people have been killed by the terrorists and millions have been injured. I am just one of them.

So here I stand: one girl among many. I speak, not for myself, but for all girls and boys. I raise up my voice, not so that I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard. Those who have fought for their rights: their right to live in peace, their right to be treated with dignity, their right to equality of opportunity, their right to be educated.

…

Dear sisters and brothers, we realise the importance of light when we see darkness. We realise the importance of our voice when we are silenced. In the same way, when we were in Swat, the north of Pakistan, we realised the importance of pens and books when we saw the guns.

The wise saying, “The pen is mightier than sword” was true. The extremists are afraid of books and pens. The power of education frightens them. They are afraid of women. The power of the voice of women frightens them. And that is why they killed 14 innocent medical students in the recent attack in Quetta. And that is why they killed many female teachers and polio workers in Khyber Pukhtoon Khwa and FATA. That is why they are blasting schools every day.  Because they were and they are afraid of change, afraid of the equality that we will bring into our society.

I remember that there was a boy in our school who was asked by a journalist, “Why are the Taliban against education?” He answered very simply. By pointing to his book he said, “A Talib doesn't know what is written inside this book.” They think that God is a tiny, little conservative being who would send girls to the hell just because of going to school. The terrorists are misusing the name of Islam and Pashtun society for their own personal benefits. Pakistan is peace-loving democratic country. Pashtuns want education for their daughters and sons. And Islam is a religion of peace, humanity and brotherhood. Islam says that it is not only each child's right to get education, rather it is their duty and responsibility.

1. Where does Malala think she should begin her speech?

2. Who does she thank first?

3. Complete the sentence: ‘I have __________________ thousands of good wish cards from all over the ____________.’

4. What word in the second paragraph means the same as ‘striving’ (you may have to look ‘striving’ up in the dictionary)?

5. Who, according to the third paragraph, does Malala speak for?

6. Complete the sentence: ‘I raise up my ____________, not so that I can shout, but so that those ________________ a voice can be heard.’

7. What four rights does she list in third paragraph?

8. Find the sentence in the fourth paragraph which contains the word ‘Swat’ and copy it out.

9. Based on how it is used in the sentence, what do you think ‘Swat’ means?

10. What saying does she mention in the fifth paragraph?

11. What word is used in the fifth paragraph which means ‘not guilty’?

12. How does she describe Pakistan in the final paragraph?

Extension questions:

13. Why do you think Malala refers to the people in the audience as ‘brothers and sisters’?

14. In the final paragraph, she mentions a boy from her school. Why do you think she does this?

15. How does Malala get across a sense that she does not consider herself to be special?

Homework, Monday 13th March, 2017

The following is an extract from the acceptance speech Barack Obama gave when he was nominated as the Democrat Party's candidate to run in the presidential election in 2008. Read it and answer the questions that follow. 

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

You can watch the speech here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fe751kMBwms&t=52s

I want to congratulate Senator Clinton on a hard-fought victory here in New Hampshire.

A few weeks ago, no-one imagined that we'd have accomplished what we did here tonight. For most of this campaign, we were far behind, and we always knew our climb would be steep.

But in record numbers, you came out and spoke up for change. And with your voices and your votes, you made it clear that at this moment - in this election - there is something happening in America.

There is something happening when men and women in Des Moines and Davenport; in Lebanon and Concord come out in the snows of January to wait in lines that stretch block after block because they believe in what this country can be.

There is something happening when Americans who are young in age and in spirit - who have never before participated in politics - turn out in numbers we've never seen because they know in their hearts that this time must be different.

There is something happening when people vote not just for the party they belong to but the hopes they hold in common - that whether we are rich or poor; black or white; Latino or Asian; whether we hail from Iowa or New Hampshire, Nevada or South Carolina, we are ready to take this country in a fundamentally new direction. That is what's happening in America right now. Change is what's happening in America.

You can be the new majority who can lead this nation out of a long political darkness - Democrats, Independents and Republicans who are tired of the division and distraction that has clouded Washington; who know that we can disagree without being disagreeable; who understand that if we mobilize our voices to challenge the money and influence that's stood in our way and challenge ourselves to reach for something better, there's no problem we can't solve - no destiny we cannot fulfil.

Questions

1. Who did Barack Obama run against in the election?

2. What did no-one imagine a few weeks ago?

3. Complete the sentence: ‘For most of this campaign, we were far _____________, and we always knew our ______________ would be ___________.’

4. What, according to the third paragraph, did people come out and speak up for?

5. Which three place names are mentioned in the fourth paragraph?

6. What does Barack Obama say in the fifth paragraph instead of ‘turn out in large numbers’?

7. Which particular group of people does Barack Obama mention in the fifth paragraph?

8. What, according to the fifth paragraph, is happening in America right now?

Extension questions:

9. Why do you think Barack Obama congratulates Hilary Clinton at the start, even though he fought against her in the election?

10. In the second paragraph, there is a metaphor. What is it, what image does it put in your mind, and why has it been used?

11. There is an example of alliteration in the third paragraph. Find it and copy it out.

12. In the sixth paragraph, what does Barack Obama do when he talks about ethnic groups and American states, which technique does he use?

13. What does Barack Obama want people to think he represents more than anything else? How does he get this point across?

Homework, 6th March, 2017

Read the three speeches below and answer the questions that follow. 

This is due tomorrow (Tuesday, 7th March)

1

Ladies and gentlemen, I stand here before you today to talk to you about a very important issue: food in schools. I think you’ll agree with me when I say that it’s time for a change. For too long we’ve been served unhealthy meals packed full of fat and sugar, and we’ve had enough! Everyday we queue up in the canteen only to have fatty muck splattered onto our plates. Well, I think it’s about time the school started caring about our health and well-being and gave us fruit, vegetables, and low fat options so we can lead healthy lives. So I say to you: no more fat! No more sugar! No more carbs! 

2

Hello everyone. I’ve been thinking that the food in the canteen is quite unhealthy. I think we should probably think about changing and having more stuff like vegetables, bananas, apples, beans ... you know, stuff like that. Healthy stuff basically. So come on, let’s ask if we can get better food. That’s basically all I have to say.

3

Alright? In the canteen, they serve food like chips, burgers, hotdogs, deep fried chocolate bars. The other day I had this hot dog that was covered in cheese, and then for dessert I had another hot dog, but covered in ice cream. Tomorrow, apparently they’re going to have bacon wrapped in more bacon, and there’s no fruit. Anyway, have a nice day.

1. What are all three speeches about?

2. What is the purpose of the first speech?

3. Complete the sentence: ‘For too long we’ve been served unhealthy meals packed full of _______ and ___________, and we’ve had _____________.’

4. What, according to the first speech, do the students have ‘splattered’ onto their plates everyday?

5. What three healthy alternatives are suggested in the first speech?

6. What three things should there be no more of, according to the first speech?

7. Complete the sentence from the second speech: ‘I’ve been thinking that the __________ in the canteen is quite ____________________.’

8. What four things, according to the second speech, should the school canteen probably think about having more of?

9. According to the third speech, what two things were used to cover hot dogs?

10. According to the third speech, what is there none of?

11. In your opinion, which is the best speech and why?

Extension questions – have a go at these if you’re feeling especially brainy:

12. There are three examples of direct address in the first speech. What are they?

13. What is the effect of the use of the term ‘fatty muck’ to describe food in the first speech?

14. The first speech uses a list. Find it and copy it out.

15. Copy out the sentence from the first speech which includes repetition.

16. One of the speeches contains a rhetorical question. Find it and copy it out.

17. Which particular word in the second speech tells us that it has been written in quite an informal way?