Sumários

May 6th-Discussion Ted Relph's Autobiography of Place

6 Maio 2026, 09:30 • Kathryn Gray Craven

Returned In class Compositions
Discussed "Autobiography of Place" by Ted Relph 
Described the at home composition 

First Viewpoint - Storytelling! - Oral Exam Rules, Instructions, & Success Criteria.

5 Maio 2026, 12:30 • Hilda Alexandra Prazeres Eusebio

Today, TP6 went through the DOs and DON'TS of the upcoming first viewpoint stortyelling oral exams.


DOs
  • It must be your story, not someone else’s – and it must be true.
  • Make sure it’s on topic and addresses the theme.
  • Make sure it lasts a minimum of 6 minutes and no longer than 12.
  • Make sure it has a beginning, middle, climax, and conclusion – no Ted Talks or standing on a soap box.
  • Do use cue cards or paper with BULLETS (i.e. topics)
  • You must hand these over to me if requested.
  • You cannot consult your phone or any technology.
  • Feel free to use casual language.

DON'Ts
  • Don’t read or memorize your story.  This will result in a 0.
  • Don’t tell a story you’re not ready to tell (nothing too heavy or emotional or graphic).

  • Please don’t be offensive to minority groups – no stereotyping, no ‘funny accents’ or inappropriate language that can cause offence.

  • Don’t milk the conclusion (i.e. don’t drag it on for too long). 

  • I will cut you off when I think you’ve reached the perfect ending.


TP6 then went through the Success Criteria for the Storytelling Oral Exam

English - 10 points

•Consistent correct use of Verb Tenses
•Advanced Vocabulary
•No Missing or Extraneous Words  i.e. sentences must not omit necessary words or include unnecessary words that do not belong in English.
•Appropriate Word Order, i.e. use natural English sentence structure (no calque).
•Correct use of Articles (a, an, the).
•Correct Pronunciation.
•The 3 Cs: speaking that is clear, concise, and coherent. 

Content - 10 points

  • The story must have…
    • an Introduction
      • Exposition
      • Background information about yourself, other people, and/or the situation.
    • Development
      • Conflict
      • What happens that creates a problema for the main character.
    • Rising Action
      • Sequence of events due to conflict that gets more intense.
    • a Climax
      • The most exciting part in your story.
      • It is here where the question must be answered:
        • Will they or won’t they?
        • Will it or won’t it?
    • Falling action
      • What happens after the climax?
    • a Resolution
      • How things have changed, benefits, loose ends that need tying up.
  • The theme
    • Does their story match the theme they have chosen?
  • The time
    • Did they meet the 6-minute minimum? Did they exceed the 12-minute maximum?
The teacher then modelled a former student's story to a) demonstrate the success criteria, and b) demonstrate how a treasured story of the student's can be adapted to a variety of themes.

We then watched the following YouTube video featuring a young person telling a simple story very well a Moth event in Brooklyn, New York.  

Students who missed this class are encouraged to watch this video at home as soon as possible so they understand how to tell simple stories (from the perspective of a young person) to great effect.

Please note that today's PowerPoint has been uploaded onto the shared drive.


Next class: we will be watching more samples of storytelling from The Moth channel.

Reading: Second Viewpoint - 'The (Other) You' by Joyce Carol Oates

30 Abril 2026, 12:30 • Hilda Alexandra Prazeres Eusebio

Today, TP6 finished reading and analyzing Joyce Carol Oates's 'The (Other) You', learning vocabulary as we went along.  Students who missed today's class should read the rest of the story at home, ensuring that they look up all vocabulary and expressions with which they are unfamiliar.

Next class: First Viewpoint - Storytelling!  Students should endeavour to come to this class as we will be looking at the instructions, rules, and success criteria in relation to the oral exam, which will consist of storytelling in the first viewpoint.

April 29th

29 Abril 2026, 09:30 • Kathryn Gray Craven

Teacher was ill. Students practiced speaking activities at home. 

Feedback on Grammar Test

28 Abril 2026, 12:30 • Hilda Alexandra Prazeres Eusebio

Today, TP6 got their grammar tests back and we went through these addressing the trickier questions.  Students who missed this class must email me requesting their grade for the grammar test.


Next class: we will finish Joyce Carol Oates's 'The (Other) You'.