Lesson One - Cooks Brook

Introduction

Lesson One - "Cooks Brook"
Duration - 2 blocks (2 x 80 min + homework)

" . . . and you are surprised always, to find yourself alive . . ." -  speaker, in "Cooks Brook"

The choices an individual makes may reflect that person’s character and often determine the events or direction of that person’s life. In literature, as in life, the individual chooses either to accept circumstances as they are or to take action in shaping events according to his or her beliefs or desires. In this unit, through the studying of various texts - poetry, a photograph, a short story, and a Shakespearean drama, we are going to consider the question,"What idea does the author develop regarding the significance of an individual's choices?"

Resources

Poem
"Cooks Brook"

NOTES
news story structure
how to write a news story

Websites
Calgary Herald
Photos for Class

VIDEO

Lesson

Before you read, consider:

• Why do people dare each other to do things?
• What role is played by excitement, danger, and peer pressure?
• What guidelines would you suggest for accepting dares?
• Have you ever accomplished or witnessed a dangerous feat? Explain.

• Cooks Brook flows into Humber Arm just outside of Corner Brook, the city in western Newfoundland where poet Al Pittman lived from the age of six until he was twenty-four.
• Read the poem, "Cooks Brook", by Al Pittman.

Read the notes on how to write a news story and news story structure.

Read through news stories found on the Calgary Herald website, to get an indication of the kind of objective reporting and inverted pyramid structure that are characteristic of this genre of writing.

Assignment

(50 marks)

Open a new Word document. Label it E101U3L1surname 
In this document, write the good copy of your personal response to text as outlined below.
Submit this assignment using the Dropbox for U3L1 news story

• Assume the role of a journalist assigned by the local newspaper to investigate the death or paralysis of a young person after diving from the top ledge at Cooks Brook.
• The resulting news story should feature a headline, by-line, direct or indirect quotations from police and witnesses, and appropriate newspaper-report style and structure.
• Your news story must be at least 25 sentences long.

• Format your story in two or more columns.
• Write your headline first, so that it flows across the entire width of your document and not just one column.

• Include ONE illustration, using the Photos For Class website.

Conclusion

The choices presented in this text involved dares, risks, and saving face in front of one's peers. In the next lesson, we will consider choices made which affect one's personal relationships.