Writing: Opinion Essays

When writing an opinion essay, it is important to present your ideas and thoughts in an organized way.This video will help you.




Now look at the example and do the exercises.

HAMLET

The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark

• Publisher: Macmillan Publishers Ltd
• Level: Intermediate 

“Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.” 

as you are about to find out...





Hamlet, one of William Shakespeare's  most famous tragedies, and one of the greatest world revenge stories, was written some time between 1599 and 1602. It tells the story of Hamlet, whose father's ghost urges him to avenge his murder. Interested? Start reading.
Act one



And so, a few weeks later, we have come to the end...

Alas, poor Hamlet!
So something was rotten in Denmark ...

And now that we have finished reading Hamlet, here are some quizzes to test your understanding of the play:  
Hamlet: quiz1
Hamlet: quiz 2

And for those of you with a poor memory, here is a brief summary of the play





Assignments:

• Scenes from Hamlet: 19th Feb
• Test: 26th Feb

MARCO POLO

Marco Polo was a Venetian merchant who travelled to Asia in the 13th century.His travels are recorded in The Book of the Marvels of the World. Here is a map of his route along the Silk Road. 

Find out about his life and travels in the following videos.

Now,for a more musical version of Marco Polo's life...
And you can also visit the following websites:
 Marco Polo and his travels. 

Marco Polo. a brief biography.

????

Epic Journeys

Watch the video and write ten questions about it.

Christopher Columbus, Marco Polo, Livingston, Aphra Behn, Neil Amstrong... they all have one thing in common: their epic groundbreaking journeys.


If you could follow in their steps, which journey would you choose? What traveller would inspire you?




Here are some ideas and some amazing expeditions. Read and be inspired!


Ten Famous Expeditions

Ten Great Travellers

Female Explorers

ASSIGNMENT
Once you have chosen one,  write a report on their journey.

Your report should include:

• the route, countries visited, places discovered, etc.
• their achievements 
• the reasons for your choice
• maps and photographs
• anything else you consider relevant or interesting
• sources

Use your own words as much as possible. DO NOT COPY & PASTE!!
Deadline:  7th November ( written report)
Once your report has been checked by me and returned to you, you will create a poster for the class , which should include photos, maps, etc.

Beowulf

Beowulf is an Old English Epic poem written between the 8th and the 11th century in Anglo-Saxon times. 
 
It is the story of Beowulf, a Scandinavian hero.
Beowulf comes to the aid of King Hrothgar, whose great hall is plagued by the monster Grendel.

Traditionally, an epic poem is a long, serious, poetic narrative about a significant event, often featuring a hero. Before the development of writing, epic poems were memorized and played an important part in maintaining a record of the great deeds and history of a culture. Later, they were written down and the tradition for this kind of poem continued. Epics often feature the following: a hero who embodies the values of a culture or ethnic group; something vital that depends on the success of the hero's actions; a broad setting, sometimes encompassing the entire world; intervention by supernatural beings.  Can you think of any other examples?

Beowulf was originally written in Old English, which would be very difficult to understand.
You can listen to a fragment here.


But don't worry, you can read a short adapted  version here: Beowulf






To learn more about the poem, the Angle-Saxons and the history of English, watch the video





...and have a look at this presentation:

The Anglo-Saxons and Beowulf from k8would


Beowulf has been adapted into film several times. There is even a game!

Watch an animated version here.


 

EXAM PRACTICE

Here are some exercises for you to practice. If you don't have time to finish them in class, you can - and should- finish them at home.

GENERAL

WORD FORMATION

MULTIPLE CHOICE CLOZE 1

OPEN CLOZE 1

WORD FORMATION

TENSE REVISION(GLOBAL WARMING)

Charles Dickens

A brief biography

COMPLETE THE GAPS. USE THE WORDS PROVIDED.

his            along      well          able         appalling               was          from        as              within    from

including               before                       birth       touring                    against                     no

Charles Dickens is much loved for his great contribution to classic English literature. He was the quintessential Victorian author. His epic stories, vivid characters and exhaustive depiction of contemporary life are unforgettable.

His own story is one of rags to riches. He was born in Portsmouth on 7 February 1812, to John and Elizabeth Dickens. The good fortune of being sent to school at the age of nine was short-lived because his father, inspiration for the character of Mr Micawber in 'David Copperfield', 1_____________ imprisoned for bad debt. The entire family, apart 2_____________ Charles, were sent to Marshalsea 3_____________ with their patriarch. Charles was sent to work in Warren's blacking factory and endured 5_____________ conditions as 6_____________ as loneliness and despair. After three years he was returned to school, but the experience was never forgotten and became fictionalised in two of his better-known novels 'David Copperfield' and 'Great Expectations'.

Like many others, he began his literary career 7_____________ a journalist. His own father became a reporter and Charles began with the journals 'The Mirror of Parliament' and 'The True Sun'. Then in 1833 he became parliamentary journalist for The Morning Chronicle. With new contacts in the press he was 7____________ to publish a series of sketches under the pseudonym 'Boz'. In April 1836, he married Catherine Hogarth, daughter of George Hogarth who edited 'Sketches by Boz'.  8_____________ the same month came the publication of the highly successful 'Pickwick Papers', and 9_____________ that point on there was 10_____________ looking back for Dickens.

As well as a huge list of novels he published autobiography, edited weekly periodicals 11_____________ 'Household Words' and 'All Year Round', wrote travel books and administered charitable organisations. He was also a theatre enthusiast, wrote plays and performed 12_____________ Queen Victoria in 1851. His energy was inexhaustible and he spent much time abroad - for example lecturing 13_____________ slavery in the United States and 14_____________ Italy with companions Augustus Egg and Wilkie Collins, a contemporary writer who inspired Dickens' final unfinished novel 'The Mystery of Edwin Drood'.

He was estranged from 15_____________ wife in 1858 after the 16_____________ of their ten children, but maintained relations with his mistress, the actress Ellen Ternan. He died of a stroke in 1870. He is buried at Westminster Abbey.

EUROPEAN DAY OF LANGUAGES

How many European languages can you speak? How many languages are there? Some are spoken by millions, some are spoken by a few hundreds. 

Language quiz