Realism: one of the most convincing ways you can add a touch of authenticity or realism to a story is to name the time and place when it supposedly occurred. Readers often respond strongly to stories set in places they know.

Atmosphere: usually the setting is use to reinforce the desired mood. This is most obvious in conventional thrillers where the most suspenseful segments often take place in old, dark houses with wind and rain tearing at broken shutters. Sometimes it is used to provide a contrast with the events. A violent even can be even more surprising and horrifying when it takes place in a peaceful setting. A romance can be more moving when in occurs in an unromantic setting.

Symbolism: sometimes setting is used to convey certain ideas. Some common settings and their symbolic meanings are listed below.

Setting or setting element –> often used to symbolise

countryside –> freedom

window –> the desire to escape

door –> a barrier or a way to something new

bridge –> an important decision

road, railway line –> a psychological journey

sunlight –> hope

wall or fence –> some kind of barrier

a storm –> internal turmoil

Task Sheet

1. What type of point of view is used in the novel?
2. How do you know it is written form this point of view? Provide as many reasons as you can to support your answer.
3. In what ways does this point of view affect the reader’s interpretation of the story? Think about the advantages and disadvantages of this type of point of view.
4. How would the story be changed if told from a different point of view?

27th Oct 2006

Open http://geraldtonsc.wordpress.com

1. Read another classmates review.

2. Leave a well thought out comment- remember, what you leave is readable by everyone in the cyber world, including this teacher. Inappropriate comments are treated the same as if spoken in the classroom- and that would involve a School response. With that ‘threat’ over, enjoy the opportunity to comment. Mr K

3. Review finished, corrections completed? Great. Are you going to go and see the ” Message Sticks Indigenous Film Festival” screening ( for free -with light snacks included) at the Geraldton Orana Cinemas on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at 6:15pm.  ( 26th-28th October 2006). I have seen the first nights offerings and they are brilliant. Funny. Very thought provoking. Affirming of the human spirits need for racial harmony. Very topical and entertaining.  Five Star *****

Web Site  www.blackbook.afc.gov.au/whatson.asp

4. Check out the following hyperlinks to information re your novel.

Have a read; take notes if you want. You can copy/paste into a word doc. and save it into your own school personal file for later references when you commence your essay planning. However, one NEVER, cuts and pastes from the Internet into your essay. That’s called plagiarism.

5. Answer the questions given in class yesterday on the Novel. Leave your response to these in your Blogg. I will read over them. Thanking you. Mr. K

http://www.angelfire.com/journal2/englishresource/savingfrancesca.html

http://www.angelfire.com/journal2/englishresource/savingfrancesca.html

http://www.ccb.vic.edu.au/library/Coolock%202006/subjlnks/subenglish.htm#Saving

http://www.misrule.com.au/savingfrancesca.html

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=A9FJqiQcSUBF3gYAfvhLBQx.;_ylu=X3oDMTE4MWZzYmZyBGNvbG8DdwRsA1dTMQRwb3MDMwRzZWMDc3IEdnRpZANVS0MwMDFfMTI-?qid=20061001015152AAumHZd

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=A9FJqiQcSUBF3gYAfvhLBQx.;_ylu=X3oDMTE4MWZzYmZyBGNvbG8DdwRsA1dTMQRwb3MDMwRzZWMDc3IEdnRpZANVS0MwMDFfMTI-?qid=20061001015152AAumHZd

http://www.penguin.com.au/PUFFIN/NOTES/f_notes.cfm

Character Name

Symbolism of name

• Does the name symbolise anything about the character or novel?

Speech

• Colloquial expressions, formal vs informal language, use of swearing (blasphemy), other.

Appearance

• Clothing, mannerisms, disfigurations, age, sex.

Actions

• How do the characters react to each other?
• What impact does this have on the narrative (story)?
• How do the characters actions relate to  the themes of the text ?(you need to list the page numbers where you have found your examples)

Other

• Describe the stereotypical nature of the characters and how they relate to their peers or society.
• What do you think about the characters and do you know anyone like them?

The aims of undertaking an individual program and keeping a journal are to develop your abilities to:

* Identify and reflect on the ideas and experiences offered by texts

* Understand and use the conventions of different types of texts

* Use comprehending strategies appropriate to different types of text

* Recognise how the use of conventions in a text can affect your responses and meanings a text has for you.

Written and Visual Texts.
Written and visual texts that you choose to include in your journal must include a VARIETY of the following:

WHAT DO I WRITE ABOUT?
There are a number of different ways of responding to written and visual texts:
The story. 

• What happens in this story?
• What did you think of the story?
• Did it keep you involved?
• Which part(s) did you enjoy the most and why?
• Were there any parts that you think could have been changed? Why?

The characters 

• Which characters did you have a strong response to?
• What was the nature of that response?
• Which characters, did you believe to be the most or least realistic? Why?

The themes and issues 

• What messages did the narrative try to persuade you to accept?
• Were the issues raised controversial or looked at differently in any way? What impact did this have?
• What was YOUR response to the themes/issues? Why do you think you reacted in this way?
• Did you disagree with any of the ideas raised? Why?

The style, structure and language 

• What genre is the narrative?
• Does the narrative use persuasive, descriptive or technical language? For what purpose does it use this language?
• Is the narrative ‘reader friendly’? Does it use headings & sub-headings, chapters, small paragraphs?

Finally, this reading and viewing journal is intended to help you enjoy not only what you read, but all that you view as well. It is designed to ensure you read and view, not only for entertainment and pleasure, but critically and analytically too.
Good luck, and I look forward to reading some insightful entries.
Mrs B

1. Discuss what the documentary was about.

2. Describe your prior knowledge of this subject – did the documentary teach you something new, or show you a different way of thinking about a topic that you already had some background with?

3. Does the documentary present fact and/or opinion? Provide evidence to support your ideas.

4.Does the documentary present a version of reality? Whose point of view does it present?

5.What conventions does the documentary rely on to promote its version of reality? 

6.What values are being presented, supported or challenged and why?

7.What facts are selected? What facts are omitted? Is this selection of detail important?

8. What is your response to this documentary? Why do you think you have responded in this way?

2. Do not link to your personal blog/journal from your school blog; you might reveal information on there that you don’t want to reveal on your school blog.

3. If you want to write your opinion on a topic, make sure you’re not going to be offensive as you write it.

4. Always make sure you check over your post for spelling errors, grammar errors, and your use of words. Paste your post in a word processor and run spellcheck, or download a spellchecker for your browser.

5. Never disrespect someone else in your blog, whether it’s a person, an organization, or just a general idea. You don’t want someone making a stab at what you are passionate about; don’t do it to someone else. Again, your blog is a public space. And if you put it on the Internet, odds are really good that it will stay on the Internet. Always. That means ten years from now when you are looking for a job, it might be possible for an employer to discover some really hateful and immature things you said when you were younger and more prone to foolish things. Be sure that anything you write you are proud of. It can and will come back to get you if you don’t.

6. Don’t write about other people without permission; if you can’t get their permission, use first names only. Never share someone else’s last name.

7. Watch your language! This is part of our school community. Language that is inappropriate in school is also inappropriate in your blog.

8. Make sure things you write about are factual. Don’t be posting about things that aren’t true. Link to your sources. Never link to something you haven’t read. While it isn’t your job to police the Internet, when you link to something, you should make sure it is something that you really want to be associated with. If a link contains material that might be creepy or make some people uncomfortable, you should probably warn them by using a parenthetical note or some other word of caution.

9. Keep it education-oriented. That means that you probably shouldn’t discuss your plans for the weekend, the last dance etc.

sources:
http://intheknow.edublogs.org/rules-for-blogging/http://mccyeareight.learnerblogs.org/2006/05/01/rules-for-blogging/