Nothing. When we realized you weren’t here

we sat with our hands folded on our desks

in silence, for the full two hours

Everything. I gave an exam worth

40 percent of the grade for this term

and assigned some reading due today

on which I’m about to hand out a quiz

worth 50 percent

Nothing. None of the content of this course

has value or meaning

Take as many days off as you like:

any activities we undertake as a class

I assure you will not matter either to you or me

and are without purpose

Everything. A few minutes after we began last time

a shaft of light suddenly descended and an angel

or other heavenly being appeared

and revealed to us what each woman or man must do

to attain divine wisdom in this life and

the hereafter

This is the last time the class will meet

before we disperse to bring the good news to all people

on earth.

Nothing. When you are not present

how could something significant occur?

Everything. Contained in this classroom

is a microcosm of human experience

assembled for you to query and examine and ponder

This is not the only place such an opportunity has been

gathered

but it was one place

And you weren’t here

Original Link

Do Not go Gentle into That Good Night – poem being used for Textual Analysis by S5/6. (13 June 2010)

S6/5Higher Language Unit – Writing Outcomes

Discursive PowerPoint and Climate Change example mind map (15 June 2010)

S3 Folio Pieces – added Critical Evaluation PowerPoint (16 June 2010)

Added ‘Flowers’ additional handouts to “Prose -Jenkins” Page (16 June 2010)

Added PowerPoint to show how to do Critical Essay/add quotations etc (22 June 2010)

As we do ’stuff’ it will be added to the appropriate pages. IF you look in the BLOG PAGES widget at the side you can see the full list of pages or simply rest your cursor on the link at the top and see the subpages drop down (as if by magic…)

]]> http://x9portfolios.co.uk/wpmu/x9english/2010/06/12/site-changes/feed/ 0 http://x9portfolios.co.uk/wpmu/x9english/2010/06/12/programme-for-week-beginning-14th-june-2010/ http://x9portfolios.co.uk/wpmu/x9english/2010/06/12/programme-for-week-beginning-14th-june-2010/#comments Sat, 12 Jun 2010 20:04:16 +0000 admin http://x9portfolios.co.uk/wpmu/x9english/?p=262

@mysqa_sam hints published so far (newest first)

1. Study tips 34: Don’t drink too much coffee, tea and fizzy drinks; the caffeine will make you feel ‘keyed-up’ and your thinking less clear.
2. Study tips 33: Believe in yourself. You are capable of passing – you wouldn’t have a place on the course if you didn’t have the ability.
3. Study tips 32: Always read each question carefully. Don’t just think “I know this” and charge in. You’re likely to make silly mistakes. (Added 12 April 2010)
4. Study tips 31: Revise with a friend if possible, exchanging ideas during revision. It helps both people understand, and builds confidence.
5. Study tips 30: To do well in maths, attempt all questions. Even if you can’t do the harder later parts, the early bits should be easy marks.
   
6. Study tips 29: If you have trouble with specific details, at least try to understand the topic generally – details are sometimes supplied. 
7. App news – the Google android mobile timetable builder now available via www.sqa.org.uk/timetable. Final version coming soon – stay tuned.
8. Study tips 28: Use the same pens etc. you would normally use in class. This can be a small psychological booster – use new pens for spares. 
9. Study tips 27: Don’t compare your prelim performance with your friends’. Set your own goals and work hard to achieve them.
   
10. Study tips 26: Get a good night’s sleep. Do not stay up till all hours revising unless you feel this is vital – in which case, why???
11. Study tips 25: Remember that after the exam you can chill and won’t have any more revision – this will help you relax before the event too.
    
12. Study tips 24: Try to revise one section of notes, or one set of topics together
13. Study tips 23: Practise some past papers under timed conditions, so you can handle the pressure better when the big day comes. 
14. People are LOVING the app – make sure you download your at: http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/my-ex… 
15. Have you got your SQA Timetable app yet? Download at: http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/my-ex… Google and other versions coming soon.
16. Study tips 22: Avoid arguments at school and at home. They will upset you, put you under pressure and affect your studying 
17. Download Timetable app for iPhone and iPod Touch at: http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/my-ex… Google and other versions coming soon. 
18. Study tips 21: Separate revision notes into different folders so you know where each subject is, and it doesn’t look too overwhelming.
    
19. Study tips 19: Eat sensibly – healthy eating can improve your performance. Eating little and often, keeps your energy levels up. 
20. Study tips 16: Make it personal. Find your own deep and compelling reason to learn your subject successfully and pass your exams.
21. MySQA – Delivering Exam Results a Day Early: http://bit.ly/bNrvqY
22. Study tips 14: Be realistic – if you think “anything less than A+ means I’ve failed” then you are creating unnecessary stress for yourself.
23. Study tips 13: If you don’t understand something, getting stressed won’t help. Take action – ask your teacher or your class mates to help. 
24. Study tips 12: Work in 10 min bursts, have a 10 min break and start again. Build to 20 or 40 min bursts, keeping breaks to 10 min. It works! 
25. Big News: Register for MySQA and get your results by text or email THE DAY BEFORE your paper certificate arrives on the 5th August.
    
26. Study tips No 11: Try to think of exam day as just another school or college day – you’ll be more relaxed that waqy.
    
27. Study tips No 10: Different revision techniques work for different people – memorise, summary notes, keywords, diagrams, what works for you?
28. Study tips No 9: If you like to study to music, listen to something familiar that you like – it’ll put you in a more positive frame of mind.
    
29. Study tips No 8: Don’t be late. Do be prepared – pen, check; pencil, check; calculator, check; lucky teddy, checked waistcoat.
30. Study tips No 7: RTQ. ATQ. (Some people put an “F” in these, but as SQA we couldn’t possibly). 
31. Study tips No 6: Know how the exam works – review previous and sample papers. Previous tests prepare you for the next one. 
32. Study tips No 5: You can never study too hard or too much – but you can study too long. Take a break. 
33. Scots sitting Standard grades or Highers – sign up for MySQA to receive your results by test or email. Saves waiting on the postie!
    
34. Study tips No 4: Going over a topic as soon as you learn it will reinforce it more effectively than leaving it to revise at the last minute. 
35. Exam News 1: This year your exam certificates will be sent out to arrive on Thursday 5th August.
    
36. Study tips No 3: Plan your work, but remember planning it doesn’t mean you’re doing it.
    
37. SQA launching a new app in April. Build your exam timetable and get exam info – you could win an iPod Touch. See www.sqa.org.uk/timetable.
38. Study tips No 2: It’s better to understand that to remember.
39. Study tips No 1: Stop putting it off!
40. I’m Sam and I’m here to help students sitting their SQA standard or higher grades, particularly using the MySQA online results service.