Welcome to Sixth Year English! Here is a recap of the texts we are studying:

Single Text
The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald

​Comparative Studies
​Juno (Film) - directed by Jason Reitman
Foster - written by Claire Keegan (additional resources here)

The comparative modes at OL are:
            - social setting
            - relationships
            - hero/ villain 

*See the post below this one for our poetry*

​

*You can study all poetry below and choose from FOUR printed options in your exam or study all poetry from one list and choose from TWO printed options in your exams.                                     

                                       In common with Higher Level

BISHOP, Elizabeth ...      The Fish
                                        The Prodigal
                                        Filling Station

BOLAND, Eavan     ...     Child of Our Time
                                        This Moment
                                        Love

DONNE, John          ...    The Flea
                                        Song: Go and catch a falling star

DURCAN, Paul         ...    Wife Who Smashed Television Gets Jail
                                         Parents
                                         Sport

ELIOT, Thomas Stearns  ...   Preludes
                                              Aunt Helen  

HOPKINS, Gerard Manley  ... Spring
                                                Inversnaid

KEATS, John               ... On First Looking into Chapman’s Homer
                                         La Belle Dame Sans Merci


PLATH, Sylvia              ... Poppies in July
                                         Child
                                         The Arrival of the Bee Box

                                       
                                        Ordinary Level
​
BRYCE, Colette       ...      Self-Portrait in the Dark (with Cigarette)
GALLAGHER, Tess       ... The Hug
HARDIE, Kerry           ...    Daniel’s Duck
KENNELLY, Brendan   ...  Night Drive
LOCHHEAD, Liz          ...  Revelation
LONGLEY, Michael     ...   Badger
MILTON, John             ...   When I consider how my light is spent
MULDOON, Paul         ...  Anseo
O’CALLAGHAN, Julie  ...  Problems
O’REILLY, Caitriona     ...  Interlude
PERRY, Paul                ...  River of Light
PIERCY, Marge            ...  Will we work together?
SIRR, Peter                   ... Madly Singing in the City
SOTO, Gary                  ... Oranges
STAFFORD, William     ... Travelling Through the Dark
WOODS, Joseph          ... Letting the Cat out of the Bag

​

I hope everyone was pleased with today's paper one. If you've any comments or questions, please reply to this post and I'll get back to you asap. 

It's now time to focus on Paper Two - there is no point learning off 'sample answers', as that will only detract from the actual question in front of you. 

Remember to keep referring back to the question! Look at it several times while you are writing your answer. 

Stick to your timing plan - if you run over on one question, skip the rest of it and move on. If you've time at the end, you can come back to it. 

Use comparative phrases in your comparative answer. 

Watch the Macbeth rap/cartoons! You never know what you'll pick up from them! You can also listen to Macbeth podcasts on this great website. 

You should have any revision notes you need but leave a comment if you're missing anything and I'll put them up here or email you asap. 

GOOD LUCK!

During our final term, we will be focusing on as much writing as possible. Along with other topics covered in class, the following are the assignments to be covered:

1. Imagine you have been sentenced to life in prison. Write a diary entry for each of your first three days as a prisoner. (In class Monday 28th April)


2. Computer Games – do they have a good or a bad effect on young people? Write an article for a newspaper expressing your view on this question. (In class Tuesday 29th April)


3. Write a letter to your favourite pop star or celebrity inviting him or her to come to the launch of a charity to help the homeless. In your letter you should explain how you intend to raise money for the charity. (Homework Wednesday 30th April)


4. Your community has been offered €100,000 for use on any local project. Write the speech you would make to a meeting of your Local Community Association in which you outline the project that you think the money should be spent on. (In class Thursday 1st May)


5. Write a report to your school principal suggesting ways in which more freedom could be given to senior students in your school. (Homework Friday 2nd May)

Apart from this poetry, we have also studied the poetry that is common with honours level. If you click the name of the poem, it will take you to a website where you can do some further reading. 

Emily Dickinson
- I Felt a Funeral, in My Brain
- I Heard a Fly Buzz - When I Died

W.B. Yeats
- The Wild Swans at Coole
- An Irish Airman Forsees His Death

Elizabeth Bishop
- The Fish
- The Prodigal
- Filling Station

Philip Larkin
- Ambulances
- The Explosion

Thomas Kinsella
- Thinking of Mr D.
- Mirror in February

Sylvia Plath
- Poppies in July
- Child
- The Arrival of the Bee Box

Seamus Heaney
- A Constable Calls
- The Underground
- A Call

Derek Mahon
- Grandfather
- After the Titanic
- Antarctica

Below are all the exam questions that have come up on Macbeth at Ordinary Level. 

Want to be a journalist when you leave St. Oliver's? You could earn a fast-track Diploma in Journalism! Enter this competition to get your place. The course usually costs €5,000. 

This is the link for the Macbeth rap that we watched in class. Feel free to watch it a few times at home!

Interested in law? Feel free to enter this competition in UCC! It is open to TYs, 5th and 6th years. The closing date is November 26th 2013. Good luck!

Hot Press has launched an exciting new competition THE WRITE TOUCH, in a nationwide search for writing talent among 5th and 6th year students. The winning entries will be published in Hot Press - a significant achievement that will enhance the CV of any young writer! This is a brilliant opportunity for you to gain invaluable experience in Ireland's legendary Hot Press magazine.

The prizes?!
- an internship at Hot Press next spring or summer
- a cash prize
- Alcatel One Touch smartphones.

Have you got what it takes to become a top journalist or music writer?
Do you want to get a head start in the writing game? 

All you have to do is write up to 300 words about any music subject - 

Your favourite artist
Review an album or live gig
Discuss trends
Vent your views about any aspect of music you like or dislike. 

Submit your entries here.

This is the poetry we are studying for Ordinary Level Leaving Certificate 2014. Click on the links to find out more information about the poem and the poet. 
You can download the actual poems too - please excuse poor quality of scans!


1. Daniel’s Duck – Kerry Hardie
2. The Net – Julie O’Callaghan
3. Madly Singing in the City – Peter Sirr
4. Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night – Dylan Thomas
5. This is Just to Say – William Carlos Williams
6. The Voice - Patricia Beer
7. Valentine – Carol Ann Duffy
8. The Collar – George Herbert
9. The Hug - Tess Gallagher
10. Night Drive – Brendan Kennelly
11. Kidspoem – Liz Lochhead
12. Wolves in the Zoo – Howard Nemerov
13. Will We Work Together? – Marge Piercy
14. Chronicle – David Wheatley
15. Poems for Breakfast – Enda Wyley
16. Zoo Morning - Penelope Shuttle

The teacher, Mr. Keating, in 'Dead Poet's Society' encouraged his students to "sieze the day". 

In the comments section, write a personal response to the saying "sieze the day".

What is your understanding of this saying?
Do you agree with this philosophy? 
Has it ever affected your decisions in life?
Is it appropriate advice to give a teenager?

For homework, you have questions to answer on the movie 'Dead Poet's Society'. This is the link to the website if you have not yet seen the movie...

Write an application letter for your dream job. The content of the letter is important, not the layout. 

I want you to post your response in the comments section. Then I want you to critique every else's work. Leave a comment under their post telling them what you liked or what you think could be improved upon. 

Make sure you hit 'reply' under their comment if you are replying to their post. 

For the past couple of weeks, we have been studying poetry in class. So far, we have read:

Madly Singing in the City
Daniel's Duck
Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night

The themes of these poems vary from death to celebration to perseverance. In the comments section, I want you to compare and contrast any ONE poem to your life. 

Below are the character sketches that we made in class. We did them using Microsoft PowerPoint. Click on the name of the student to see their presentation. 

Andy K
Andrew S
Algirde
Alison
Dannielle
Eimear
Janet
Kaitlin
Karina
Keeva
Lauren
Neil
Niamh
Rachael
Stephanie
Tara

Ever notice how in the movies, couples ALWAYS kiss in the rain?!

Why is this?
What does it symbolise?
Do you think that writers and directors use the weather for dramatic effect?
Can you name some movies where this happens?