Category Archives: Grade 9

English 9

Never-Ending Chances; Inquiry Poem

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https://youtu.be/Gsxtmm3IptI

The poem “Never-ending chances” By Viktoriya Klishina is a piece of insight into the human condition. It describes the theme of second chances using many metaphors and the comparison between people and sunsets. It can be used to answer the inquiry question “why is it important to practice forgiveness?” As we can see that the author was trying to portray the importance of allowing second chances in life; “but if sunsets are worthy (of chance after chance), so are those of us living” the poet is describing how allowing second chances to people is important because we have the chance to create beauty and happiness if forgiven of the past. This is why the use of the sunset comparison is beneficial; a sunset is something beautiful, but even on days that it’s not so nice, we know that tomorrow is always a chance for it to thrive even more than the last. Therefore the question is answered because forgiveness is important in order to let people become better than they were and make amends for the past.

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English 9

Interconnection

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Person drawing a People Network illustration with chalk on a blackboard.

The Whirligig by Paul Fleischman is a novel in which the main character, Brent, takes us with him on his journey through America after he kills a girl while drunk driving; after a party one night, Brent lets his anger get the best of him and he goes on a driving rampage. This leads him on a journey to the 4 corners of America to place Whirligigs built by him in honour of the girl, Lea, as requested by her mother. Brent embarks on his trip, trying to help himself as well as right his wrongs with Lea and her family.
“Ones’ actions may impact others’ lives greatly, even without the intention of doing so.” This theme statement demonstrates one of the main themes of the book; the idea of interconnectedness.  Only one action is needed from a certain person to connect others in ways they might not even know of.  As demonstrated in the novel, Lea’s death was a result of a series of ongoing actions before; Brent going to the party resulted in Brianna yelling at him, causing his temper-filled drive, which caused the crash. If it weren’t for Brianna, it’s very possible that the crash wouldn’t have happened, which shows that Brianna and Lea are somehow connected without ever even have met before. On another scale, Brent, Lea, and Steph, for example, are also connected; on page 32 of the novel, Steph says “I haven’t become a mush-headed dreamer. But just in case unseen forces do exist, I pay my respects to them by keeping the whirligig painted and repaired.” Here she is talking about the whirligig built in honour of Lea by Brent, which impacted Steph’s future life. This shows us a direct example of interconnectedness between these characters, therefore the book and theme statement can be used to answer the inquiry question, “How does the influence of others impact our own lives?” They show us how people have been influenced both negatively and positively all across the country throughout Brent’s actions, whirligigs, and journey, and how none of the characters intended to cause the events that happened with the help of their doings.

English 9

Whirligig Introductory Assignment

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The teenager years are arguably the hardest while growing up; I think it’s no surprise that many teens across the world find themselves vulnerable, going to drugs and alcohol. We’re at a point where we’re just starting to slowly figure out our identities. Unfortunately, a lot of factors make this process even harder; teens are very often pressured into doing something they’re not comfortable with, and they give in from fear of alienation, or possibly because they think whatever it is they’ll do will make them better in some way…it’s almost like our self-worth is determined by whether or not we drink/do drugs. Most of us struggle with self esteem issues while transitioning through the teen years, and therefore it’s possible we believe that drinking or drugs will help our social lives, making us feel significantly better about ourselves. Not only are we prone to experiencing peer pressure, but drugs and alcohol are practically glorified in media all around us; for example, its inevitable that we’ll see at least one movie in our lives that show teens at a party, drinking and having an amazing time. What the movies don’t usually show, though, are the kids after the fun parties who turn to substance abuse instead of just substance consummation. They don’t show the student who needs to go to school high every day just to be able to function properly. While it’s true that not everyone’s experiences will result in situations like this, some definitely will, because of a number of different factors (stress, depression, peer pressure, trauma, etc). It’s a very common and serious problem that circulates from country to country, and it’s important that teens are self-aware as there is a thin line between occasional partying and addiction.

English 9

Technological Destruction (summarative assignment-The Veldt)

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Technological destruction

All of these ‘advancements’ are just giving me a migraine
As a society, we have let technology control us with its mind games
We always need, always want, what we have is never enough
But consumerism is a disease that will turn our planet into dust
Give the kids their iPads, their computers, and their phones
We’ll help the corporations train them into being mindless drones
Apple, Microsoft, and Windows will soon hold more importance
Than our families and friends who were always there to hold us
Because who needs people, really? Well, nobody of course!
Why would I need mom or dad when electronics can run their post?

English 9

Sylvia Plath poem-Mushrooms

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Mushrooms ​​Sylvia Plath

Overnight, very
Whitely, discreetly,
Very quietly

Our toes, our noses
Take hold on the loam,
Acquire the air.

Nobody sees us,
Stops us, betrays us;
The small grains make room.

Soft fists insist on
Heaving the needles,
The leafy bedding,

Even the paving.
Our hammers, our rams,
Earless and eyeless,

Perfectly voiceless,
Widen the crannies,
Shoulder through holes. We

Diet on water,
On crumbs of shadow,
Bland-mannered, asking

Little or nothing.
So many of us!
So many of us!

We are shelves, we are
Tables, we are meek,
We are edible,

Nudgers and shovers
In spite of ourselves.
Our kind multiplies:

We shall by morning
Inherit the earth.
Our foot’s in the door.

 

Sylvia Plath Poem

I think the poem is a metaphor for gender inequality and how Sylvia, as a woman, feels in society. In a bigger context, though, she could also be talking about all opressed people, not just women. She compares the mushrooms to the way the opressed are treated; “Nobody sees us,
Stops us, betrays us.” Here I think that she is saying how certian groups of people (like women) feel neglected and voiceless, as they’re there but no one pays much attention to them (like small mushrooms growing on the ground).  This relates to FEC very well in the way that the main context in it was also gender inequality in society, and how change won’t occur overnight by it will happen little by little if people are willing to inspire it.
“Bland-mannered, asking
Little or nothing.
So many of us!
So many of us!” Here I think she’s expressing how all people ask for is to be seen and treated as equals; they’re asking for so little. Slowly, society will change and the opressed will finally be able to thrive to their fullest extent;
“We shall by morning
Inherit the earth.
Our foot’s in the door” Like mushrooms growing overnight, the opressed will make a change and ‘inherit the earth’.
She also might be comparing people to mushrooms in the way that mushrooms grow in big clumps together, and so she’s saying how everyone is in the same boat together; they have to stick together and inspire each other as one big group in order for them to create change and thrive together.