G's Help Desk for English Core

Thursday, 15 August 2013

Chapter Wise Values for Literature

Following are the values my students have identified for the first six chapters and a sample value-based answer.
Once you have gone through them, go ahead and find values taught by the other chapters
and challenge yourself to answer questions about them.
GOOD LUCK!!

1) The Portrait of a Lady

1.1) Grandmother: piety, devotion, affection, love, kindness, benevolence, acceptance, sensitivity to animals

1.2) Chapter: respect for elders and all values mentioned above

2) We’re not afraid to die

2.1) Narrator: courage, diligence, resourcefulness, initiative, spontaneity

2.2) Children: optimism, support, love, affection, understanding, empathy, tolerance

2.3) Mary and the crew: diligence, team spirit, diligence, courage, unity

3) Discovering Tut

3.1) Chapter: sensitivity to heritage, cultural preservation, respect for antiquity, spirit of curiosity

4) Summer of the Beautiful White Horse

4.1) Boys: freedom, innocence, sensitivity to animals, curiosity, wonder, passion

4.2) Garoghlanian Tribe: honesty, truth, integrity, pride, morality

4.3) John Byro: simplicity, understanding, tolerance, forgiveness

5) The Address

5.1) Chapter: empathy, understanding, tolerance, acceptance, forgiveness, unity, humanity

6) Ranga’s Marriage

6.1) Ranga: progressiveness, traditionalism, respect for heritage, respect for elders

6.2) Narrator: affection, traditionalism, intelligence, strategic acumen, subtlety

Sample value based question (solved)

Q.1. Discuss the effect of war on the lives of civilians with reference to the instances and values

in the chapter ‘The Address’? (3m/4m/6m)

Ans .1. War leads to loss of life, property, sense of identity and peace. This has been aptly implied in books like ‘The Diary of Anne Frank’ as well as the chapter ‘The Address’ by Marga Minco.

The narrator of the story was the survivor of a war. Simple things such as the view from her window, the colour of the bread and a safe bed seemed like gifts after the atrocities of war.

Rejection and disappointment met her attempt to reclaim her mother’s belongings. Eventually, she realized that the items seemed unfamiliar in new surroundings, unsuitable to her new life and were a part of an innocent young girl’s childhood. Among all the atrocities of war the narrator had to forget, it seemed easiest to leave behind the painful memories of a connection that no longer existed.

This foray onto the path to recovery, the narrator demonstrated the values of empathy, understanding, tolerance, acceptance, forgiveness, unity and humanity.

Sunday, 28 April 2013

Research Based Essay Diagrams 2013-14

Dear Students

In order to polish your research, analytical and documentation skills, we have introduced research based essays as an important part of your curriculum. These are marked as a seprarate, hundred-mark subject in your report card and form an essential part of the internal assessment.

The guidelines, topics, vocabulary and references have already been provided to you. Following are web diagrams that might help you structure your essays.

Good luck and remember, deadlines are challenges waiting to become achievements!

Tuesday, 19 February 2013

Practice Paper - The Tale of Melon City

Bluebells School International

Practice Paper – The Tale of Melon City

Time: 60 minutes

Name: ____________________ Date: __________________

Class: ____________________ Teacher: Ms. Geetanjali Kumar

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Q.1. Please answer the following questions briefly: 2m x 20 = 40 m

i) Comment on the note ‘After Idries Shah’ left by the poet?

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ii) What did the king want in the beginning of the poem and why did he want the same?

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iii) Which incident perturbed the otherwise just and placid king?

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iv) Which poetic device has been used to call the king ‘just and placid’? Discuss.

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v) Trace the chain of blame from the beginning to just before the wise man was brought to counsel.

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vi) Why did the king ask for the wisest man in the city? What all do we come to know about this wise man?

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vii) Why did the king decide to hang any man who fit the noose? What was the outcome of this decision?

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viii) Discuss the irony in the line, ‘Long live the king! The King is dead.’

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ix) How did a melon become the next king?

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x) Did the people accept him as their ruler? Why or why not?

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xi) What do you understand by the term ‘satire’?

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xii) What do you think Seth is satirizing through this poem?

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xiii) What is meant by ‘Laissez Faire? Do you think it an effective governing system? Why or why not?

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xiv) This is a story narrated in verse. Comment on the style of the poet.

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xv) According to you, which are the ways to maintain peace and liberty through a nation’s governing body?

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Practice Paper - The Birth

Bluebells School International

Practice Paper – The Birth

Time: 30 minutes

Name: ____________________ Date: __________________

Class: ____________________ Teacher: Ms. Geetanjali Kumar

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Q.1. Please identify the following statements as true or false: ½ m x 4 = 2m

a) Dr. Andrew Manson was a qualified and experienced doctor. ________________

b) Dr. Andrew Manson had grown up in the mining town of Blaenelly ________________

c) Dr. Andrew Manson was a qualified doctor fresh out of medical school ________________

d) Dr. Andrew Manson was complacent about his status quo at the time ________________

our story opens.

Q.2. Justify Andrew’s thought at the story, in about 80-100 words.

Justify the title of the story in about 80-100 words 3m

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Q.3. Please answer the following questions in about 35-40 words: 2m x 10 = 20m

i) Why was the baby extraordinarily precious for the Morgan family?

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ii) What was Dr. Andrew Manson’s state of mind at the beginning of the story?

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iii) What was Andrew thinking of when waiting in the kitchen with Joe’s mother?

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iv) Why did Joe choose to wait outside while Dr. Manson helped his wife?

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v) Why did a ‘shiver of horror’ pass over Andrew as he gazed at the baby?

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vi) Whom did Andrew choose to save first? Did he make this decision after careful consideration?

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vii) Where did the midwife place the baby when Dr. Manson handed it to her and why?

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viii) Briefly describe the shock-method Dr. Manson tried at first?

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ix) Why did Andrew not heed the nurse during his attempts to help the baby?

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x) Why has the author described the baby’s mucus as ‘a joyful iridescent bubble’?

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