welcome
I am Jade, a senior student at Jacob Hespeler Secondary School. Throughout the semester the academic English class discussed a variety of enriching topics. This year revolved around the theme of human rights. During this time we discussed violations of rights and the causes and effects of discrimination. In Shakespeare’s Macbeth we studied the effects of lust for power, and compared those to Attila the Hun, a past ruler of the Hunnic Empire. For our independent novels we analyzed the effects of breached rights and how to heal those who have had theirs infringed upon. Our study of Indian Horse brought attention to Canada’s scarred history with its aboriginal peoples- giving us a first-person view of the horrors of residential schools. This website holds the projects and assignments completed for each topic respectively. Enjoy!
Course review
This course was intriguing to me. I enjoyed learning about Canada’s past that had been extremely glossed over during history class. With that being said, I found it peculiar that such a topic would be studied in English rather than, say, Canadian history. Although the discrimination of aboriginals left a deep scar within Canada’s culture I think it crucial that we study it, and I wish we had learned of this treatment starting in elementary school. Conversely, with such a broad topic it is impossible to include all who have been discriminated upon in the past. We mustn't forget the St. Louis, or the Japanese Canadians, both of which were crucial in shaping Canada’s current state. Not to mention the discrimination of women, both native or otherwise, that resulted in the breaking of countless barriers to obtain our rights today.
My favourite assignment of the course was for our independent novels. I cannot explain the depths at which Stolen speaks to me, although I have developed a summary-style of writing in place of analysis, and used this on my essay which was not favourable. Additionally, I was surprised at my interest in the blog posts, specifically “Sustenance”, where I wrote about what sustains me. I found writing about myself was surprisingly simple, and I quite enjoy my choppy and informal style of writing. The hardest aspect of this course was the workload. It is obvious that as an academic class there would be a heavy amount of work to accomplish within the curriculum, but I found meeting the due dates nearly impossible, especially at the end of the semester. If I were to alter one thing about the course it would be the order in which we complete our units in. I would have preferred we read our independent novels before Macbeth. This way, there would not be two essays back-to-back.
For myself, there are a handful of alterations I will make in order to become a better student. This includes choosing a quiet group of people with similar interests in classroom learning environments. Additionally, I will attempt to better myself at time management. This year has been inconceivably difficult and stressful for me, and I have felt forced to focus on the act of finishing assignments rather than finishing them well, with my full and best effort. If this persists it is possible I will quit my job in the upcoming year.
Regardless, this was an enlightening semester with a wonderful teacher and a supportive class, and I will treasure this year and the hardships that came with it.
My favourite assignment of the course was for our independent novels. I cannot explain the depths at which Stolen speaks to me, although I have developed a summary-style of writing in place of analysis, and used this on my essay which was not favourable. Additionally, I was surprised at my interest in the blog posts, specifically “Sustenance”, where I wrote about what sustains me. I found writing about myself was surprisingly simple, and I quite enjoy my choppy and informal style of writing. The hardest aspect of this course was the workload. It is obvious that as an academic class there would be a heavy amount of work to accomplish within the curriculum, but I found meeting the due dates nearly impossible, especially at the end of the semester. If I were to alter one thing about the course it would be the order in which we complete our units in. I would have preferred we read our independent novels before Macbeth. This way, there would not be two essays back-to-back.
For myself, there are a handful of alterations I will make in order to become a better student. This includes choosing a quiet group of people with similar interests in classroom learning environments. Additionally, I will attempt to better myself at time management. This year has been inconceivably difficult and stressful for me, and I have felt forced to focus on the act of finishing assignments rather than finishing them well, with my full and best effort. If this persists it is possible I will quit my job in the upcoming year.
Regardless, this was an enlightening semester with a wonderful teacher and a supportive class, and I will treasure this year and the hardships that came with it.