Introduction

Welcome to the ‘second’ lesson!

Syllabus

Office Hours

After class, or by appointment, or post your questions on Google Classroom (once active).

Homework

Doing work at home is an integral part of the class and is essential for a successful learning outcome. Concerning literature, you are strongly encouraged to discuss the texts with your friends and family. You are learning a language that is (thanks in large part to the internet) ridiculously easy to come into contact with. This means a “standing homework assignment” to expose yourself to the English language. The type of exposure could be: news reports, YouTube, books, podcasts, video games, music, TV/films, comics, self-compositions, TikTok,  fanfiction, etc. From lesson ’three’ onwards, please start to keep a log of your interactions with English (the file can be found on Google Classroom, again once active) with further instructions.

Recommended Text and Other Readings

This is a restricted list of various interesting or useful books that contain topics that will be touched on during the class. You may wish to consult them for further learning. I would not recommend you purchase them, as you can likely find copies in the library or through other non-permanent sources.

• Jen Haberling, Everything You Need to Ace English Language Arts in One Big Fat Notebook, Workman Publishing, 2016. 
• William Sabin, The Gregg Reference Manual, McGraw-Hill, 2011
• Richard Baush, Norton Anthology of Short Fiction, W.W. Norton & Company, 2015
• Shirley Taylor, Model Business Letters, Emails, and Other Business Documents, Pearson Education, 2012.

Academic Honesty

You are responsible for your own work. Group discussion of class topics and material is strongly encouraged. However, your arguments, in-class assignments, and quizzes/exams should be your own. Any instances of plagiarism (including the use of sources without appropriate citation) or other forms of cheating will be reported to your mentor.

Grammar¹

I have added the punctuation explanation in details as some seemed confused by the genitive form. If you still need clarification on that or any other point please let me know!

1. Capitalization

cable cars were used on cottage street in chicago in the 1890’s.

Cable cars were used on Cottage Street in Chicago in the 1890’s.

2. Punctuation

Madisons first birthday party was held at noon on January 6 2000

Madison’s first birthday party was held at noon on January 6, 2000.

Here we have added an apostrophe to Madisons > Madison’s. This change makes it singular possessive, that is to say the first birthday party was hers, not that there were many Madisons. There is a comma added after January 6, as is common convention for writing dates and of course we’ve added a period as it is a sentence, though you could have added a question mark or exclamation mark if the context suggested that was a better fit (i.e. Two parents fighting about when her birthday part was 22 years ago)

3. Parts of Speech/Word Class: Verbs

Circle the correct form:

• This letter was (wrote, written) by Abraham Lincoln.
• Have you ever (drunk, drank) sasparilla?
• Your soap (sunk, sank) to the bottom of the pail.
• The batter must have been (threw, thrown) a curve ball.
• Our balloons had (busted, burst).

4. Parts of Speech/Word Class: Adverbs/Adjectives

Circle the correct word:

• For a beginner, Ama twirls her baton (good, well).

5. Sentence Combining:

• Lee is from Korea.
• Lee is an exchange student.
• Lee enjoys horseback riding.

Lee, the Korean exchange student enjoys horseback riding.

Kite Runner

Great work! You’ve now read half of the book!

Today we played a Kahoot to revise what has happened so far in the book. If you want to play it again by yourself (as a method of revising for the exam) you can click here.

Exam Details

Your summative assessment for this unit will take the shape of a group discussion about the book and a written paper. While you can’t know the questions or discussion topics ahead of the exam, I have written below some questions from another book (Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson) to give you an idea on how the questions might look.

1. Have you ever been bullied by someone? How did you handle the situation? Did you stand up to the bully or did you ask for help? Looking back, do you wish you had handled it differently?
2. Choose from one of the two below:
   • Write your responses: How would you describe the friendship between Amari and Ashton? How are Amari and Ashton similar? How are they different?
   • With a partner, act out the dialogue between Haley and her father or Esteban and his father. What do you learn about the feelings between the two characters?
3. Is there anything else you would like to say or ask about the story? If so write it here.
4. There are many different types of relationships. There are family relationships, relationships with friends, even relationships with pets. With a small group of classmates, discuss the relationship between Amari and Ashton and compare it to a friendship you have had with either a person or an animal. Make sure each member of the group has a chance to speak. Take a moment to write down ideas you have gained from the discussion.
5. Divide your group into two sides for a debate. The question for the debate is: did Amari deal with the other bullies in the best possible way? One side should argue that he did, and the other side should argue that he did not. In the space below, plan your arguments and rebuttals.
6. Choose from one of the two below:
   • An old saying states: “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” This means that people, like some old dogs, get set in their ways and find it hard to change. How does this statement apply to Amari? Write a response to literature in which you explain your thoughts.
   • Have you ever had someone do something nice for you that you didn’t expect? Perhaps it was someone you knew or perhaps it was someone you never really noticed before. Did your perception of the person change because of this kindness? Write a personal narrative describing the experience.

Vocabulary²

Term	Definition
Bedevil	To trouble
Pulsate	To vibrate
Lethal	Deadly
Insinuation	Indirect reference to something
Simultaneous	Occurring at the same time
Interminable	Endless
Dismay	Alarming
Arthritis	Inflammation of the joints
Amiable	Friendly
Legitimize	To make legal
Certified	Licensed
Brood	To worry
Malaria	Disease carried by mosquitoes
Phlegm	Mucus
Pulmonary	Relating to the lungs
Stethoscope	Instrument used to test heart and lungs
Pathology	Study of nature of diseases
Reticence	Reserve
Furtive	Stealthy secretive
Prognosis	Projection of the future
Convulsion	Involuntary spasm
Metastasize	To spread disease
Oncologist	Cancer doctor
Geranium	Large flower
Pirouette	Whirling motion

Prompts

  As you read or listen to chapter twelve take notes surrounding these points:

• Soraya replies to Amir “Sad stories make good books,” do you agree?
• Who is Jamila and why is she described as having a “heartbreakingly eager, crooked smile and…barely veiled hope in her eyes”?
• What is the General’s reaction to Amir’s giving Soraya a short story?
• Why does Baba refuse chemotherapy? What does he order Amir to do?
• What significant thing does Amir ask of his ill father? What is the result?
• What is Soraya’s secret?

Individual Extension

If you have finished reading the book already. Select one even and one odd numbered article to read. When you have finished reading them please prepare a visual presentation on the two articles with accompanying dialogue (you may either record audio or write a script). If you need help getting started don’t hesitate to “shout”.

Article 1	Article 2	Article 3	Article 4
For Afghan boys and men, kite flying is a way of life	Afghanistan profile	The Outsiders	A Life Revealed

Preliminary Reading Schedule

Oct.						Nov.
12	13	19	20	26	27	2	3	9	10	16	17
Ch 11	Ch 12	Ch 13	Ch 14-16	Ch 17-19	Ch 20-21	x	x	Ch 22-23	Ch 24	Ch 25	Kite Runner Exam

If you are behind the reading schedule (that is to say you have not read up to chapter 11) it is your responsibility to come to me, either in person or email, and let me know so we can come up with a plan to get you caught up.

Homework

Due Wednesday, 19 October, 2022

Your letter should serve as an introduction of yourself to me beyond the short index card we did earlier in class. Therefore, it would be useful to include the following:

• Your academic rigour (are you aiming for an A, did you take the course for fun, how have you done on previous English courses), study habits, any academic goals, strengths and weaknesses at school
• Your interests when it comes to reading, what you think of Kite Runner so far, and any type of text you dislike (graphic novel, autobiographies, poetry, fiction, etc.)
• Your hobbies, current interests, any other personal details or background you feel comfortable sharing

The body of your letter should be at least ½ an A4 paper long.

If you are unfamiliar with how to write a letter this may help guide you. The first two pages are all that is of importance, the remaining pages are just there for interested readers. Please note that some of the text and guidelines may be archaic, if you have any questions please email me or ask during class.

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