“Mountainous regions are labeled, in many languages, as wild, remote, “backwater” zones. The paradox is that this label can be both used disparagingly as an indication of social inferiority and with reverence to refer to sacred zones at the heart of cultures and religions. Mountain ranges are often the sites of violent contestations of national……
HIGH FLIGHT Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth Of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there, I’ve chased……
In Chapter Three, the Capitol is promoted as an ecological marvel – self-sufficient and sustainable. However, what evidence do we have that this is actually true, rather than an illusion created by the ruling military elite? What resources would you need to realistically sustain a city with several hundred inhabitants? Several thousand? Could the terrorists……
For any discussion of power, privilege or identity, it’s important to establish that the lesson is a workshop or open discussion, rather than an opportunity for indoctrination. While this may seem obvious to teachers, it still needs to be stated, as in many cultures the student-teacher relationship is itself a power dynamic. Teachers take on……
[Even]before the invention of the airplane, some people imagined flight as one of mankind’s potentially greatest achievements. Flight would not only free people from the tyranny of gravity and its earthly chains, but it would liberate them mentally, socially, and spiritually. This linkage of the airplane and freedom was prevalent in much of the literature……
With any book, the setting in the first chapter, often holds clues to character traits, themes and plot lines. Test your observation skills, with these questions: Observation 1) What are the key words used to describe this world? 2) What type of government is featured in this book? What clues do you have? 3) How……
Rebuilding Arcadia, Book 1, gives students the opportunity to practice steampunk world-building, either through art projects or creative writing. The series spans several decades but Book 1 focuses on the limited perspective of one teenager. The term After Fallout in the subtitle of each chapter implies a nuclear disaster and the illustrations imply that the……
Rebuilding Arcadia is set in a steampunk universe. This means that history has taken a different course. Events in the past have led to a radically different future. Take a moment to examine historic events, organizations and political entities. Use reasoning, logic and your imaginations to explore how this world may have developed. Answer those tricky……
A warm welcome to teachers and students! The Study Questions in this blog, are designed for classroom discussions, study groups or book clubs. If you have extra questions to add, please contact us. We welcome all suggestions. Students – please note that all your comments are public. Comments are moderated. Let us know, if you’d like…
Professional writers, university students, ESL students – regardless of their background – everyone struggles with writing at some stage. These problems are often called ‘writing blocks’. Sometimes they can be so daunting, they become a nemesis rather than a simple block. They stop you every time you try to be creative, or enjoy the writing…
Where I’m from ~ this is the title of a poem written by George Ella Lyon. The poem captures moments in the poet’s life that begin to tell us something about her history, her values, her cultural background. You may not understand all the terms she uses, because they come from a particular time and……
The Teacher -Writer by Christine M. Dawson, Robert P. Yagelski. For those teachers struggling to add creativite writing into their lives, this book is invaluable. Very much a professional development resource, it describes the writing journeys of five colleagues and makes practical suggestions for developing your writing practice. Here’s an opening quote from Chapter 3:……
Define the phrase imperial nostalgia (in your own words). Read Chapter One – Utopia. How might a preoccupation with security connect to this concept? Suggested Readings: The Rule of Empires by Timothy H. Parsons To access this post, you must purchase Student Membership Plan.
I can’t create believable characters – they seem to lack their own voice. Here’s a practical exercise that can help you get started: Picture the last time you felt a strong emotion. Now write for 15 minutes about that experience. Don’t correct your writing. Don’t criticize yourself. Don’t change words to make yourself sound smart,…
I’m terrible at managing my time. I don’t know how to get started and I don’t have a writing routine. Time management and motivation are learned behaviors. There are many ways to build these habits. Here’s something you can try: Block off large spaces of time in your week, so you can re-center yourself and…
What will people think? I’m not a good writer, never got A’s in English and I’m constantly making mistakes. Writing is hard work. There’s no magic pixie dust that settles on the author’s desk, signalling a period of inspiration. Hang on there! Are you saying there’s no such thing as talent? Not at all. But……
What is implied by the subtitle of Chapter One – 10 Years after Fallout? Define the term ecotopia. Write a short descriptive explanation linking the two terms. Explore how one reality would lead to the other. Suggested Readings MATHISEN, W. (2001). The Underestimation of Politics in Green Utopias: The Description of Politics in Huxley’s……
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