little women

is a classic that i'm revisiting for the new Lit paper we are teaching, called Women in Literature. It's a pretty good read and very Dickensian, in some ways. I was so absorbed in trying to finish it that I was caught reading and walking at the same time, making myself a public hazard. I haven't done that in some time so it means Alcott is a pretty compelling writer. :)

the power of words

Newspaper endorsements of US presidential candidates matter--or don't they?

Running tally of endorsements

Stunning Comparison and Contrast

I was doing some research after being tipped off by Mr Cook and found this great bit of political analysis couched as comedy:



Lit students, you don't have to agree with Jon Stewart's brand of humour but you have to admit his staff's ability to sift out such evidence from the mountain of political material out there is simply first-class.

Storytelling and Video Games

cartoon for the Introduction to Lawrence's "Odour of Chrysanthemums"

A fairly reductionist cartoon, to be used AFTER eliciting verbal or written responses from the student. There's lots more to be MINED from the Introduction, especially in terms of IMAGERY, FORESHADOWING, CHARACTERISATION AND USE OF SETTING.

These are some of the things we discussed in class today and please make them part of your everyday usage, if possible. That way, you'll improve in your practical criticism skills VERY FAST. :)

Cartoon on Priestley's Angel Pavement

Very useful Glossary and Literature website

The beauty of Bob's Byway is that it ILLUSTRATES poetic terms using examples from famous poems. To do so for a print version will make the glossary very daunting. On behalf of all Lit students who have no wish to lug a 10-kg book around, I thank Bob.

I've also put up the link to Bob's Byway on the side. The design of the website is not trendy and avant-garde. But for the student who's savvy, there's lots of gold in the site.

Writers' Circle: Glossolalia 08: BE THERE! I'll be there :)

Here's an open invitation to all VJC and non-VJC students, teachers and all people interested in poetry and performance. The writings are original, pretty well-rehearsed and will be thought-provoking.

super good short film

I love this. The offbeat plot, the brilliant characterisation and acting, the pacing and timing. Marvellous. It's a very, very good, short-short story (250-1000 words) brought to life.

F. Scott Fitzgerald and The Great Gatsby: docu clip

Good videos on the Modern women of Jazz Age American Lit

Part I:



Part II:

better YouTube videos on Modernism art movements

Modernism: British Arts and Crafts Movement:



Modernism: American Arts and Crafts Movement:



Modernism: De Stijl:



Modernism: Bauhaus

hilarious YouTube videos on The Great Gatsby, Wilfred Owen and Women/Men inequality

You should take the commentary with a HUGE DOSE of salt in some cases.



Women/Men inequality:

Good link on Early Modern Literature (1600-1800)

Very long list but quite good. Scan with discrimination or you may get overwhelmed.

BBC Somme documentary clips on YouTube

Hi everyone!

Mr Harris saw a very good BBC documentary on the Somme and alerted me to it. Thanks to the wonders of YouTube, you will find the whole series there. Just type in "BBC" + "Somme" in your search terms.

Here's the first clip:

late convert to YouTube

hey everyone,
my colleagues have been teaching me about the wonders of YouTube and I'm now a fan. haha. Stumbled upon this via a few clicks after the One Laptop Per Child video. Portman is an intelligent thespian and I think the examples she gives at the end about the sounds she loves are quite original/literary.

Also, if you want to think deeper, her opening comments are quite useful for thinking about the genres of comedy/tragedy. The Year 2s will be studying Webster's Jacobean tragedy this year. Think about the good tragedies you have seen, and the good comedies (Superbad not included. :)

Free Rice for the World Poor

A really cool vocab game:

www.freerice.com

My current vocab level (without consulting the dictionary) is Level 46 and the server hanged on me so I had to restart! I've donated 1220 grains of rice today. :)
The max. Vocab level is 50.

For those of you taking SAT Verbal, it's good practice too. haha.

latest additions to the charity sale of books

Hi everyone,

I've added quite a few items to the list.
In view of the late additions, I've extended the deadline to 31 Dec for you to make your choices.

Pls login to. docs.google.com

Username: (get from your lit rep or you should know)
password: (get from your lit rep or you should know)

to access the booklist.

Have a productive and good time with what's left of the holidays!

:)
Ms Chia

more books in the charity book sale

the entries highlighted in yellow are from mr teo gene-en's collection. some great pickings there! book your book early!

Lit H3 holiday supervision reminder, update contact list and additions to charity book sale

Hi everyone!

Hope you have been enjoying your holidays AND doing some reading. Year 2 will ZOOM past, so pls get your H2 reading for 2008 DONE when term STARTS.

For H3 Lit applicants, we have already stated at the briefing on 29 Oct that you are to contact your lit tutors if you want us to check if you are going in the right direction. the list of supervisees and supervisors has been uploaded on VJC blackboard. We understand that you may not use the vjc.sg email address that has been given to all of you, so pls update your email address / mobile no in the Google Doc that can be found at the Gmail accout of VJClitrocks. You should know the userid and password, or get it from your lit rep.

Last, but not least, I have uploaded new entries in the charity book sale. For those who want to see if you can get cheap critical readings for your H2, H3, pls look there asap. Will update the final list tmrw. the Sale closes on 20 Dec and the list can be found at the Google Doc that can be found at the Gmail accout of VJClitrocks too.

:)
Ms Chia