‘You must do as you’re told.’ ‘Let the army make you a man.’ ‘Your country needs your vote.’
Cursing
pressure accountability disappointment disapproval demanding worried expectations standards |
Rank
just another number patriotic concrete jungle toughen strengthen Officer Sinister deceitful hypnotising sincerity |
Against the grain
not conformist individual creative aspired |
Conformity
Childish toys grid paper school bellowing snickering chalk and talk bully barking order Polish Private school |
Guided Reading (20 minute rotations)
Preparing the Brain:
WILF: Making good choices by using your time effectively and giving every task your PB
WWIL: Understand the uses of commas to separate clauses (ACELA1521)
Use comprehension strategies to interpret and analyse information and ideas, comparing content from a variety of textual sources including media anddigital texts (ACELY1713)
WILF: Making good choices by using your time effectively and giving every task your PB
WWIL: Understand the uses of commas to separate clauses (ACELA1521)
Use comprehension strategies to interpret and analyse information and ideas, comparing content from a variety of textual sources including media anddigital texts (ACELY1713)
Engaging the Brain:
Grammar and Punctuation:
Subordinate (or dependant) clauses are extremely useful because they add texture and depth to your writing. A subordinate clause includes a subject and a verb, but it cannot stand alone as a sentence. Instead, it simply enhances the meaning of an independent clause, which is a complete sentence by itself.In order to introduce a subordinate clause, you must use a subordinating conjunction, also known as a subordinator. Some subordinators include when, whenever, if, because, while, and unless.
However, subordinate clauses can obscure sentence meanings when they are placed inappropriately. Be sure that your subordinate clause does not disrupt the logic and flow of your independent clause.
Clear sentences
The flight may be delayed for a few hours, if the snow continues to fall at this rate.
If the snow continues to fall at this rate, the flight may be delayed for a few hours.
Unclear sentences
The flight, if the snow continues to fall at this rate, may be delayed for a few hours.
The flight may be delayed, if the snow continues to fall at this rate, for a few hours.
For a few hours, if the snow continues to fall at this rate, the flight may be delayed.
Stretching the Brain
Rotation 1 ( Teacher)
Comprehension and Discussion Questions (Book Study) :
1. Thomas is the central character in this text, and all those who attempt to influence him are nameless. ‘I am not the child my brother is. I am not the student they all are. I do not walk the streets as they do.’ Discuss the way the characters in this, are objectified as ‘they’, ‘we’ etc. Why are they nameless?
2. The crowd scenes in the book are executed in charcoal colours of grey and black, but Thomas himself is drawn in muted pastel hues, as are the toys and objects which matter to him. Discuss the artist’s use of colour in depicting Thomas. What does this suggest thematically (what does this suggest about the themes of the text)?
3. Each of the objects Thomas collects can be seen to have symbolic resonance. They show, for example: curiosity, adventure, intellectual insight and difference. What do these objects tell us about Thomas?
4. Discuss the use of perspective, the spatial relationships between people, and body language of figures in these images (for example the foregrounding of the leering, threatening figures, and the difference suggested when Thomas is foregrounded ( the most prominent) in the pictures, since he is surrounded by white space).
Rotation 2- Spelling Activities- Raz Kids Independently at your desk ( if complete read some texts in Raz Kids)
Rotations 3: Grammar and Punctuation
Clauses Quiz
Commas Tutorial
Commas
Splice Commas Quiz
Punctuation Play
Opinions
http://www.ziptales.com/ace/56/objectsubject/objectsubject.swf
https://www.studyladder.com.au/learn/activity?id=22766
http://www.netrover.com/~kingskid/Opinion/opinion.html
http://www.netrover.com/~kingskid/Opinion/opinion1.html
Rotation 4: Independent Comprehension- Ruling up in your spiral bound book. Title 'Thomas Comprehension'
5. What do these images suggest about who we are as a society?
6. The final three pages in the text 'I am Thomas' are wordless, first showing Thomas playing with a toy bus, then looking enquiringly into the future, and then in a wordless crowd scene in which Thomas is about to board a bus. Several other figures in this scene are depicted in colour, whilst several others are in stark black or grey charcoal, and are depicted walking away from the bus. What meaning did you take from this sequence of images and open ending?
7. Where do you think this story is set? What evidence do you have to support this?
8. The idea of the ‘journey’ or ‘rite of passage’ is conveyed in Armin Greder’s illustrations in the opening pages as the toys illustrate and trace the boy’s progress from the childish things which he is told he must ‘put away’ in order to be considered an ‘adult’ or a man. What did you enjoy or still enjoy as a younger child? do you still value or treasure them? Do we have to change as we get older? Can a man or woman still enjoy childish things, or is this a sign of immaturity, in your opinion?
9. Thomas might be described as a non-conformist, a free thinker, or even as an iconoclast. Use a thesaurus to find words which relate to his character. Discuss the meanings of such words and whether some give an extreme or misleading impression.
10. Do you think Thomas has a life full of happiness? What evidence do you have to support this?
Should Military Service be Mandatory?
Here are some opinions from an online forum...
Here are some opinions from an online forum...
NO
No they shouldn't People on the yes side are dumb, You can't put some random person that doesn't want to be in war out to war. What's the point your only as strong as your weakest link, and if he holds you back, it can cost a life nor a war. People who should be in the military are the ones who want to fight for their country. But I still got to total respect for the people who want to do that because they risk their lives for us, god bless them. Even if this provides benefits many will still perish in the war. Many lives will be wasted that could have otherwise changed the world. War is never constructive many lives will be thrown away. Families will outlaw and vote against this detrimental law. This could be detrimental to society and increase racism and patriotism to the point of Nazism. Many people could become criminals because of the fact that they were forced to kill in the war. There Are Enough Volunteers No, military service should not be mandatory. There are still people who remember Viet Nam and the draft. War is never an easy decision, but military service should not be mandatory. The rules and regulations of the military do not suit everyone. If a person is forced to go into the military and eventually finds out they just can’t make the grade, they end up with a dishonorable discharge that is an embarrassment for the rest of their lives. As long as the military provides free training and schooling there will always be people enough who will volunteer. Your freedom is taken away, either by military......Where you follow orders or get shot, or by sending you to prison, which is nearly identical fate. There are enough war-crazy nutters in this world who think they're gonna get a decent paycheck/pension, who will willingly sign up, that a draft is totally unnecessary. Besides which, you get sentenced to a life of isolation, moving from place to place, and crazy discipline for stupid reasons (nobody cares that your shoes are shined). To make matters worse, there are religious groups that are exempt. To make matters worse, only men have to sign up for selective service, making it completely sexist, and essentially a form of slavery to the state. To make matters worse still, this sick and inhumane thing is voted 61%, meaning roughly 2/3 of the population are controlling jerks who are okay with sentencing the population to be murdered or become murderers. You guys should feel horrible. Not all of us are cut out for war. Not all people are built for fighting in a war environment. Why should a scientific mind die fighting for the people he could be helping scientifically? I understand a war draft in a time of great need, but save people who could have better use off the front for the low priority on the draft. Plenty of Volunteers The U.S. military has plenty of volunteers who sign up for duty. With enough benefits due to military service, plenty of Americans sign up willingly every year. Military service in the United States should never be mandatory. If the war is justified, enough people will join the force of their own volition. Family/ Lose/ Mistake. They shouldn't have it mandatory because what if the have kids? What is the country going to do, they would basically be taking responsibility of taking kids moms or dads away from them and they probably wouldn't feel bad if the kids lost them at all. DON'T MAKE IT MANDATORY!!! |
YES
Yes, it should There's no reason as to why able men shouldn't be obliged to serve their country in times of warfare crisis and/or be prepared for hypothetical wartime. Not only that, but it provides a gargantuan amount of benefits, such as: physical conditioning, mental toughening and a chance to help promote equality between young and old men alike. There's so many immature, feeble-minded, snobbish pretty boys nowadays who need to be whipped into shape and grow up, and I believe that compulsory military service/temporary military training should be implemented as soon as possible. I think that military service should be mandatory. Some countries like South Korea is now resting during the war. They do not know when North Korea would invade them so many countries should prepare for the wars they don't know when would happen. Also countries with less population should make people come to the military compulsory since there would be a little number of people asking for military service. Get your head in the game and help fight for what you love. There is to many people hiding behind problems that many don't even have. They just want freedom but they don't want to fight for it. If you want something so bad you have to work for it. So if you want your freedom join the military or stop complaining about what the military is doing. Too much complacency. Americans are too complacent, and think the government will take care of them. Now, certainly not all Americans are this way, but far too high of a percentage is. People need to learn to take care of themselves. I don't believe that everyone should be forced into combat (only on a volunteer basis), but everyone should take basic training and serve for at least a year. It would drastically lower crime, increase maturity, make people smarter, more fit, and more appreciative. Although, there would have to be exceptions for those with disabilities or those who are too overweight. We can't force all Americans to be fit. Yes Military Service should be Mandatory Military service should absolutely be mandatory. Everyone enjoys the benefits of living in a country where people are risking their lives to save them. If you and everyone you knew had to serve in the military you would have a greater respect for what it means and more understanding and concern for what the country involves itself in. It would increase love of country. Yes It should I think mandatory military service should be something that every individual or citizen should experience. It can also teach us a set of skills that WILL come in handy. I think everyone should go through it once. Service in the U.S should be 1-2 years. We get a lot of freedom from this country we should repay it by fulfilling a military service. yes it should If you want to live in the country why cant we fight for it? If you can sit there and say "oh I live in the united states of America" but if I were to ask you would you fight for it and you say "no way" then you need to get out of this country because we are lucky we aren't all social media slaves and labor workers supported by some dictator. We are one of the few country`s that has freedom of speech and all our rights, why cant you defend those rights? |
Resources
http://net-worxs.com/network/welcome videos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROOw1wd_y9E women and conscription
Firing up the Brain
http://www.ziptales.com/ace/56/objectsubject/objectsubject.swf
https://www.studyladder.com.au/learn/activity?id=22766
http://www.netrover.com/~kingskid/Opinion/opinion.html
http://www.netrover.com/~kingskid/Opinion/opinion1.html_
Vocabulary specific to the topic
fatalities, divorce, mortgage, mental illness, hardship, broken,demoralised, immoral, casualties, harsh, financial hardship, mentally unstable, depressed, anxiety, democratic right, un-Australian, absurd, patriotic, forceful, conformity,
War can have detrimental consequences on soldiers bodies and minds.
Financial hardship can ravage families
Conscription is absurd and would strip away Australian citizens freedom of choice
fatalities, divorce, mortgage, mental illness, hardship, broken,demoralised, immoral, casualties, harsh, financial hardship, mentally unstable, depressed, anxiety, democratic right, un-Australian, absurd, patriotic, forceful, conformity,
War can have detrimental consequences on soldiers bodies and minds.
Financial hardship can ravage families
Conscription is absurd and would strip away Australian citizens freedom of choice
diverse politics defend Soldiers harsh army ownership foundations freedom dismemberment disabled appalling un-Australian exposed ravaged broken
Around the world there are many ________ regimes of politics in different countries. Each regime of politics has a different way to control, to manage and to ________ the country from other countries. In order to defend or protect the country, Australia has to have a military, including all branches of the Army, Navy, and Air ________. Soldiers going to war _________countries are often underprepared for the _______ circumstances. They are faced with __________ conditions, exposed to diseases and often come back mentally and physically _________. Conscription is immoral. Joining the army should be a personal choice. Forceful enlistment of Australian citizens is __________and un-Australian. Conscription assumes that the state has ownership over its people rather than the other way around. This is a perversion of the _____________ Australia was built upon: A government, of, by and for the people. Citizens must be provided with __________ of choice. Would you like your son or daughter to be shipped off ill-prepared to witness_______ dismemberment and have the high __________of coming back permanently disabled. I THINK NOT!
Around the world there are many diverse regimes of politics in different countries. Each regime of politics has a different ways to control, to manage and to defend the country from other countries. In order to defend or protect the country, Australia has to have a military, including all branches of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Soldiers going to war ravaged countries are often underprepared for the harsh circumstances. They are faced with appalling conditions, exposed to diseases and often come back mentally and physically broken. Conscription is immoral. Joining the army should be a personal choice. Forceful enlistment of Australian citizens is shameful and un-Australian. Conscription assumes that the state has ownership over its people rather than the other way around. This is a perversion of the foundations Australia was built upon: A government, of, by and for the people. Citizens must be provided with freedom of choice. Would you like your son or daughter to be shipped off ill-prepared to witness death, dismemberment and have the high probability of coming back permanently disabled. I THINK NOT!
Persuasive writing examples