Essays (to demonstrate various types of writing)
Grammar
Lesson Plans
Rubrics
TED Talks
Writing Prompts
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As I am preparing to teach my first solo class, I have been trying to pull together resources that I know I want to use. There will certainly be too many for my short 6 week course but as I find them I am determined to collect them here. This page will contain a list of resources, assignments, and ideas to use in the classroom. Not filed in any particular order, you are welcome to borrow or steal.
The Politics of the English Language by George Orwell. Even though this essay was written in 1946, Orwell's message about good writing is probably more important today than almost 60 years ago. It is interesting for student's and professor's to see that the problems with the English language are not only a current problem. Orwell points to two essential flaws in much of academic "stale imagery" and "lack of precision" (158). The examples of writing he features in the essay eloquently demonstrate to students how difficult bad writing can be. The essay is easy enough to find. My source is A Collection of Essays by George Orwell published by Harcourt Brace and Co, in 1946.
The Master's Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master's House by Audre Lorde. This powerful speech is a must-read for everyone. Lorde urges women to not only support each other but to embrace our differences and learn to take "our differences and make them strengths. For the master's tools will never dismantle the master's house. They may allow us temporarily to beat him at his own game, but they will never enable us to bring about genuine change" (n.p.). This speech works as a great discussion point or as a reflection paper. The speech was published in Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches by Audre Lorde published by Crossing Press, 2007.
Learning Styles Inventory (free and good): http://www.learning-styles-online.com/inventory/questions.php?cookieset=y.
""You'll Never Believe What Happened" is Always a Great Way to Start" by Thomas King. Another great essay for bringing up discussions about dichotomies and for simply changing our perspective. This essay comes from King's Massey Lecture. He has such a knack of giving us a lesson without being preachy about it. Also a good starting point for a discussion on the power of story and authority, who's authority is correct, and how once we put something out into the world, we can't undo it. Also great for introducing the concept of the conceit (a conceit is a figure of speech comparing two unusual and unlikely things and it's effect comes in the shock when you realize these things really are alike). This essay is from The Truth About Stories: A Native Narrative by Thomas King published by Anansi Press in 2003. This essay is one of my favourites but if time allows the whole book is worth putting on the class reading list.
Looking Past Limits by Caroline Casey. The TED Talk ... there are so many thought provoking TED Talks but the one I plan to use as a writing prompt is Looking Past Limits with Caroline Casey. I can't say too much because the effect of this TED Talk comes from the surprise Caroline shares in the video. Very moving and I plan to use it and have students write about assumptions and preconceived notions.
How I Beat Stage Fright by Joe Kowan ... super short little TEDTalk about the reality of stage fright and embracing it and moving past it. I use this in my discussions about presentations.
A great site for writing prompts from the Poets and Writers website: http://www.pw.org/writing-prompts-exercises.
Learning Journals and Logs, Reflective Diaries by Jennifer Moon, University of Exeter, Centre for Teaching and Learning
Great Example of a Bad Debate: I love CBC's Q with Jian Ghomeshi but this debate, Q Debate: Should We Lower the Bar on Housekeeping hosted in December 2013 is a great example of a bad debate. Jessica Grose simply keeps repeating the same point and fails to address the points made by Stephen Marche. Sometimes the best way to learn is with a little humour and a demonstration of a poor example so that you can reflect on what could have been done better.
The Current: Bad English: Ammon Shea Takes on Language Purists: Great multi-media resource for opening a conversation about proper grammar.
"Two Ways of Seeing A River" by Mark Twain ... great little essay for starting a discussion on perspectives. Twain uses some amazing language which will be useful in discussing figurative language and how to get away from tired old metaphors. The piece can be found in Life on the Mississippi (1883).
Educational Videos by videojugeducation: Two that I have used in ENGL 170: Writing and Communication are: "How to apply exclamation marks"
and "How to apply quotation marks"
More great video content, this time by Smrt English. Jim Clark, founder of Canadian College of English Language, felt that education hadn't kept up with the needs of the community. The philosophy of the Canadian College of English Language provides students with a fully digital, web-based curriculum that embraces the learning and teaching potential of the web. Smrt English videos are professional and comprehensive, like this one on using colons in writing:
A big THANK YOU to one of my all-time favourite groups, the Barenaked Ladies, for your amazing collaboration with RoosterTeeth. Your video for Odds Are made a great writing prompt. I asked the students to imagine they saw this breaking news story on TV, and then write about what you do in light of the end of the world. Great response from the students.
English is Crazy - a little bit of fun in explaining the English language.
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