Experimental Facebook page

Dear all,

When someone you haven't heard from suddenly writes, you can almost expect that he's trying to ask you for a favour. Unfortunately, this isn't an exception, and I hope you guys can help me with one simple thing.

I've created a Facebook page, Prometheum Flame, and I hope that you guys can 'become a fan' of it. Right now, this will mainly allow you to conveniently access the 'events' tab and take a peek at upcoming EL competition deadlines and department-organised events, but I will also be posting recommended reads every now and then (hopefully about exciting things like... body pillows in Japan?) for you to browse and comment on.

It's my hope that eventually a student-powered community will form and we can expand it even further, but in the meantime, please just add the page to your fan list - you can always remove it later if you find you don't like it. Feel free to suggest it to your friends, too!

In-class compre answers

Here are the answers for the comprehension we just did in-class.

Just a repeat of information regarding the EOYs, plus some extra tips...

• Like this paper, your EOY will be a 40 mark paper, with compre - 17 marks; vocab - 5 marks; summary - 18 marks
• Summary - need to give 8 content points, 10 marks will be for language/own words
• Marks will be deducted from the compre side for poor language use
• Take note of mark allocation as a clue to what kind of answer is required
• Don't be lazy in the vocab section - check how the word is used in the passage

2008 CCT answer scheme

Please see here for the comprehension answer scheme.

You are encouraged to try the comprehension out on your own, but if you really lack the time, please try to look through the passage and the answers at the very least.

All the best!

Comprehension answer scheme

Hi all,

Here are the answers for the optional holiday assignment. If you have attempted it, you can evaluate yourself on how you have done. In addition, below is a short presentation with 2 alternative strategies you can use for paraphrasing.



Feel free to email me if you have any specific questions about this.

Sample debate videos

Hi all,

Do take a look at these clips (extracted from a training video from the Debate Association Singapore) - if you don't have time to look through them all, you might want to just take a look at the relevant speaker's role that you are preparing for (click on the left/right selection buttons on the embedded video player). The format of the debate is closer to what we'll be doing, just that they have a lot more time with their speeches than you will.

If you are really short on time, I would advise you just take a look at the first video for examples of how Point of Information is offered at 3:30 and 5:45. She is actually first offered one at 2:05, but rejects that (and quite a few others) - take a look at how this is done rather fluidly.
--

Motion: This House believes that the media has become too powerful.
Courtesy of the Debate Association (Singapore)

Debate lineup

Please remember to bring your 'What abjudicators are looking for' set of handouts (with attached assessment rubrics and debate judgement sheet).

I am still open to mutually-agreed swaps and suggestions for the motion (you might want to check Google for some suggested motions), but keep in mind that if you change it later, you will essentially have less time to prepare for it. Please remember to CC the opposing team if emailing me about this.

W8 Mon (17/8)
Motion: This House believes government by a benevolent dictator is preferable to a democracy.
Proposition: Bryan Seethor, Seo Ka Chih, Wu Kunfeng, Wu Tianyi
Opposition: Pao Jung, Amos, Zi Xiang, Shaw Shiuan

W8 Wed (19/8)
Motion: This House would allow parents to smack children.
Proposition: Zexi, Jiehui, Danial, Dong Heng
Opposition: Danish, Muhaimin, Kenneth

W8 Thu (20/8)
Motion: This House supports the death penalty.
Proposition: Joel, Marcus, Fabian
Opposition: Richard, Tangsheng, Lih Khuang

Debate assessment clarification

Please take note of the rubrics for the debate attached to 'What adjudicators are looking for'. One will be used by me to assess each individual speaker (Debate Rubric, 25m), and the other will be used by the student judges to decide which group wins the debate (table with 'Chairperson:____________ near the top left).

The teachers are still in discussion whether or not to amend the assessment mark to include the team strategy component, but as previously stated, the emphasis is primarily (or solely) on your own performance.

In addition, for the three-speaker groups, the choice of having a reply speaker will be optional. The reply speaker's role is actually not as easy as it seems - he will have to condense the 6 previous speakers' points into a rather short summary, as well as explain why his team's case is stronger than the opponent team's.

As mentioned before, a speaker who chooses to double as a reply speaker will not be penalised if he performs poorly for one role.

GEB Literature Seminar

Brochure (Link expires after a week)

The Gifted Education Branch is holding the annual Literature Seminar soon and our Secondary Two and Three students have been invited to attend, as well as showcase any projects or drama performances that they have.

The details are as follows:

Date: 29 August 2009
Time: 8.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.
Venue: Nanyang Girls' High School

If you are interested in attending or showcasing a project/performance, please let me know by this Wednesday.

Presentation rubric

The mark allocation is 15m for individual, 5m for group. The rubric shows how you will be graded, but not how the marks will be allocated.

You can see that PowerPoint is meant to be optional, so I will not be deducting any marks if you don't use any (or if they are not good), but good visual aids will possibly net you extra marks.

Link to rubric (expires after a week)

ERP information

The upcoming ERP assignment (Wed 8 July) will be an expository piece comparing a specific idea in your two books. The details will only be unveiled when you get the questions on the actual day.

This assignment will be marked in a similar manner as the commentary assessment you did last term - I've uploaded the Expository Writing Rubric from that assignment as a quick reference. The actual rubric will differ slightly, but should be pretty similar.

You may bring in your books and refer to them while doing the assignment, but no extra notes will be allowed.

Summary Exercise Answers

Here are the answers for the summary exercises. They're currently set to go offline after a month, so please save/print them now if you'd like to keep a copy.

The first one (Ex 3 Answers) demonstrates the method I'd suggested about writing each point you identify in your own words prior to writing your actual summary, which is an approach you might find useful, depending on your style.

Summary Ex 3 Answers
Summary Ex 4 Answers

Incentive for winning essay competitions

International Competitions / Prizes:

-Full marks to be given to 1 assignment (of a similar nature to the competition piece) for any kind of accolade received on an international platform. For example, if a student wins a poetry competition, one of his creative writing assignments or portfolio pieces may be given full marks. If he wins a speech competition, one of his oral presentation assignments may be given full marks. Special Mention / Commendations (e.g. Commonwealth Essay Competition) should also be given similar credit.

-No bonus marks should be awarded for participation.

Local Competitions/ Prizes:

-Students winning any of the top 3 prizes in a local competition will receive full marks.

-Commendations or merit prizes will be rewarded with a GP of 4.0 (80%) for 1 assignment of a similar nature.

-Certificates of participation will not be awarded any bonus marks.

UNSW English / Writing Competition

-If a student wins a medal for either the English MCQ or the Writing competition, he will be awarded full marks for 1 assignment of a similar nature.

-Students receiving a High Distinction for either the English MCQ or Writing will be awarded a GP of 4.0 for 1 assignment of a similar nature.

Note: Teachers of each level should decide and agree on which pieces of assignment to reward with full marks or 4.0.

USP-Piper Introductory Creative Writing Workshop

This workshop counts as 12h towards your DMP requirements.

Calling all writers!

The USP-Piper Introductory Creative Writing Workshop is here! This is a 3-day workshop that will be held during the holidays, from 8-12th June, 9am -1pm.

We have been sending our writers there for the past 2 years and everyone has enjoyed it tremendously. There will be chances to meet other writers and to learn from each other.

If you are interested, please do these 2 things:
1. prepare a portfolio and apply via the portal (details linked below)
2. send an email to me to let me know that you are applying (include your class and full name please)

Deadline for application:
Tuesday 28 April

Click here for more details
(scroll down for application/payment procedure)

TH National Creative Writing Competition

I understand that each of you is meant to take part in at least one writing competition this year. I will post details of such competitions here and you may want to consider participating in them.

For competitions that only allow a certain number of entrants per school, or those that require an entrance fee, you should submit your entry to the teacher. For those that can be submitted directly (such as this one), you may send it in by yourself - just remember to email/CC a copy to your teacher as well (for record purposes).

Temasek Hall (NUS) is organising a creative writing competition and is seeking short stories (max 1500 words) featuring main characters grappling with current socio-educational issues in the Singapore school setting. Cash prizes include S$500 for distinction works and S$250 for merit works. More details here.