13.4.09

Here is the text for the first class - download it, and bring it with you:

Climate change

21.4.09

Here are copies of the verses we looked at:

Verses 1

23.4.09

Next Monday we'll have a look at the following newspaper article, so please download it and bring it with you!

Nepotism in the UK

7.5.09

Here are a couple of things for next Monday! Be sure to download and bring them!

Rubaiyat
Green planning

5.6.09

We've finished our thought on the Rubaiyat, and I think that "Green planning" article is getting a bit tedious. We'll finish it off on Monday, and then begin something else:

North Korean crisis

Be sure to bring it with you!

21.6.09

I was rather puzzled at some of your thoughts on the Rubaiyat, so I want to concentrate on it tomorrow, 22nd June. If you can print it out in time, please bring the following poem with you too. It doesn't matter if you haven't got it, though - it will be for homework rather than class. I'll explain the homework tomorrow.

Playground blues

28.6.09

I hope the explanation of "Playground blues" went well. Tomorrow we'll finish off "North Korean crisis", and also look at the following text, which I found rather odd and interesting. I'll bring some copies, if you don't have time to download it.

Conan Doyle and the paranormal

3.7.09

As well as the Conan Doyle article, don't forget to bring "Playground blues" with you too, as we'll probably go through it.

15.7.09

Here are the Rupert Brooke poems. We'll finish them in our last class on the 27th.

Rupert Brooke poems

Assignments

Your first assignment is to write a brief description of yourself. What kind of person are you? What are your interests? How do you want other people to regard you? And so on. The most important thing is to write your description in the best English style you are capable of!

The title and the due date of further assignments are shown below:

Revised version of the "climate change" article	11.5.09
Critical summary of the Johann Hari article, including the following idioms (and, of course, their grammatical variants): wangle smack into a wall pick the juiciest plums skivvy fall at that hurdle back-scratching drip with mediocrity pull strings	25.5.09
Re-revised version of the "climate change" article. Be sure to give me back your previous version too, so that I can easily see what changes you've made!	8.6.09
Your critical thoughts on Omar Khayyam (Rubaiyat)	15.6.09
Explain the meaning and language of "Playground blues".	29.6.09
Revised version of the Johann Hari summary. Give back your original version too - that is, what I gave back last Monday. Then I can see what you've changed, and decide whether to upgrade you mark or not!	6.7.09
Summary of "Conan Doyle and the paranormal"	20.7.09 (as close to that date as you can manage, either post in my office door or send email.)