Personal and Social Responsibility
Summary Explanation of Assignments
Here is a quick overview of the assignments for this unit. However, be sure you read over the specific assignment instructions that follow for each one. Review the marking rubrics for the assignments before you start.
ASSIGNMENT 1: Random Acts of Kindness
Collaborate with a partner to make our world a better place just by performing random acts of kindness. Then write about them.
ASSIGNMENT 2: This is Just to Say
This is just to say that it is time we are aware of the crimes humanity commits against our earth. Why don't we accept responsibility? Or do we?
ASSIGNMENT 3: "I Lost My Talk"
Your task is to write either a poem/song or a short piece of fiction or non-fiction from the point of view of a person of indigenous descent who has communicated their thoughts on disempowerment, just like poet Rita Joe. You might consider doing some background research on residential schools and other Canadian Aboriginal writers after watching the video on Rita Joe. This assignment shows the potential of putting powerful words to beautiful and expressive music.
ASSIGNMENT 4: Public Service Announcement
Demonstrate your personal and social responsibility by developing a public service announcement to raise awareness, change public attitudes and behavior towards a social issue that is important to you. It is also a good opportunity to further develop your expository and persuasive writing skills.
ASSIGNMENT 5: Editing FORUM
Go through the 3 Grammar Resources listed under Course Resources. These sites are from an online Grammar textbook called The Bare Essentials. There are examples, practice exercises, and practice tests.
Do the practice tests in Unit 1 (WORDS) and Unit 4 (PUNCTUATION). If you are not achieving 100% on these tests, review the lesson in the EXAMPLES and the do some practice EXERCISES to review.
In this forum, comment on which of the tests you found easiest. Which one was most difficult? Was there a concept in these practice tests that was unfamiliar to you? How might you begin to apply these learning lessons into your own writing? Can you see where you might use some of these conventions of language? Provide a discussion of your results and their applications into your creative writing.
ASSIGNMENT 6: PROJECT: Persuasive Podcast
Develop a piece of writing (poem, short story, essay, speech) that reflects your sense of social responsibility as you respond to the prompt: "People's lives are enriched by connections with other generations". Review the key components of social responsibility as discussed in the introduction:
1. Contributing to community and caring for the environment
2. Solving problems in peaceful ways
3. Valuing diversity
4. Building relationships
and then create your very own persuasive podcast. Don't overthink the technology part of this assignment. If you're having difficulties, ask your teacher right away.