Bloggers of the week!

Well done Dane, Damien, Jake and Christian for finishing all blog tasks so far.

These tasks are designed to help you think about the novel and the theme of growing up - which will be the topic of your essay assessment task. It is worth reading your classmates comments because they might give you some good ideas for your essay.

I enjoy reading your thoughts on the blog posts. It is interesting that many of you thought that Blacky's growing up is similar to the theme 'from little things big things grow'. It is also worth thinking about the connections between Deadly Unna? and the racial issues in the novel and the indigenous land rights battle that the Paul Kelly song is about.

Well done 9.5!

Task 9: Independence and responsibility Monday August 31st

1. At what point in the story do you think Gary starts acting independently?


2. Which relationship do you think teach him to think for himself? Why?


3. In what ways does Gary show a growing sense of repsonsibility?

Task 7: Identity Monday August 23rd

1. Which characters teach Gary about himself?
   


2. In what way does his performance in the Grnad final increase his sense of self-worth?
   


3. What actions or events we have read about so far will be more lasting than the football in developing Gary's sense of identify?

Task 8: Relationships Monday 31 August

1. Which relationship do you think has the most influence on Gary as a person? Why?


2. When does Gary's attitude to his father harden? Why?


3. Does Gary use Pickles or is he a friend?


4. Why doesn't the relationship with Cathy develop very far?

Task 6: Peer Comment Monday August 17th

Read your classmates response to Task 4 and write down your thoughts on their answers. Do you agree or disagree with their views on what is happening in the text?

Task 4: The effect of the football game Monday August 17th

By now you should have read and summarised up to the end of chapter 16. Here are four thought provoking questions. Answer them in one comment.

1) What was the effect of the result of the football game on the town?

2) How do you explain Blacky's feelings?

3) Why do you think Blacky feels uncomfortable about the graffiti on the jetty shed?

4) What is Darcy warning Blacky about? Does Blacky understand? Does Clarence?

Task 5: From Little Things Big Things Grow

Paul Kelly is an Australian song writer and singer. His music often has themes about indigenous issues such as land rights. In Deadly Unna? there are clearly places where white people live and where aboriginal people live.

Submit your responses to all three questions in one comment.

1. One of Paul Kelly's songs is 'From Little Things Big Things Grow'. This could be a slogan for Blacky's life. Do you agree or disagree? Explain why with evidence.

2. Click on the three links below to watch the video clip, read the lyrics and read a transcript of an interview with Paul Kelly.

http://www.paulkelly.com.au/index.php?page=Video (video) Scroll down to the bottom of the page. It's the last video clip.

http://www.lyricstime.com/paul-kelly-from-little-things-big-things-grow-lyrics.html (written lyrics)

http://www.abc.net.au/gnt/history/Transcripts/s1147120.htm (interview)

http://www.paulkelly.com.au/index.php?page=StudentResources (a large list of resources on Paul Kelly. This link is extra information).

3. Think about how you think this song 'From Little Things Big Things Grow' might relate to Deadly Unna and Blacky's life. Write down your thoughts.

Congratulations!

A great job by everyone who has responded to this task. It's good to get feedback on the tasks as well. If you have a suggestion about a task that you think would be more interesting to do, then please let me know.

And a big CONGRATULATIONS to Dane, Damien and Jake for being the first to finish blog tasks 1, 2, 3.

Ms Benson

Blacky's Hopes and Dreams

Great responses 9.5! It was enlightening to read all your hopes and dreams. Some of you have a very clear idea of what your dreams are e.g. play netball for Australia or go to university. Others are less clear but know they want to earn lots of money or live in Queensland (that would be one of my dreams!!)



Thinking about Blacky's dreams, it was interesting to read that many of you thought that one of Blacky's dreams was to play football for the AFL. I'm not so sure this is so. Blacky does not think he is a good footballer and he is not even sure that football is important. '. . . just a game of footy. That's exactly what it is - just a game of footy.' (p102). I think if he really wanted to be a footyball player he'd be more passionate.

Task 1: Hopes and Dreams Monday August 10th

No matter where you live, everyone has hopes and dreams. Click on the link below and print out the hopes and dreams opinionaire. To print it out click on the 'download copy of opinioaire'.

Once you have completed the opinionaire, answer the questions below.

http://wwwfp.education.tas.gov.au/english/fairgo.htm#opinionaire

1. Write down your hopes and dreams for the future.

2. Pick either, Blacky, Dumby Red or Pickles and write down what you think their hopes and dreams might be.

3. List the things that you think prevent people from achieving their hopes and dreams.

Task 3: Peer Comment Monday August 10

1. Read through your class mates responses to todays tasks.
2. Pick two that you wish to respond to.
3. Write a response to their comment by offering your views on responsibility or hopes and dreams.

Task 2: Responsibility Monday August 10

1. How do you think Blacky feels about responsibility? Refer to read how he feels on pp50-51 and 59.

2. Describe a time when you felt an overwhelming sense of responisbility.
How did you feel?
What did you do to help you cope with your sense of responsibility?