Imprints 12

Web Links

Essays

Choose a cluster:

• Essay-Writing Contests
• Classic Essays
• Through the Artist's Eye
• What Shapes Our Lives
• Systems and Society
• The Mysteries of Nature

Essay-Writing Contests

• Signet Classic Essay-writing Contest
  This site features a scholarship essay contest, in which five high school juniors or seniors can win a $1000 scholarship award, plus a Signet Classic library for their school. Students have to write an essay on one of four topics about Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein .
• Royal Canadian Legion Writing Contest
  Encourage students to visit this Web site and enter the essay-writing contest.

Classic Essays

• Atwood Essay
  "On Medea" is a good model of a literary essay written in the third person. Print out a copy for students, highlighting specific essay features that you wish them to include in their essays.
• Essay on Women and Storytelling
  This is another good model of a literary essay written in the third person. The essay, by Susan J. Schenk, examines the poetry of Paulette Jiles.
• Essay on Munro
  In this essay, "Alice Munro: The Short Answer," mystery writer Alex Keegan looks at what makes a novel a novel. Have students read and discuss the argument he presents.
• Bacon Essays
  Links to Sir Francis Bacon's essays can be found on this site—funded, unfortunately, through various companies' annoying pop-up ads. Ask students to read one of Bacon's essays and present a summary of his arguments.
• Eliot Essays
  This Web site features some of the essays of T.S. Eliot. Ask students to look through the titles and choose one essay to read. Have them highlight one passage that they think works particularly well.
• Twain Essay
  Visit this Web site to locate an essay by Mark Twain. Read an extract from it to the students and discuss the effectiveness of the question/answer form.
• Emerson Essay
  Read students this essay by Ralph Waldo Emerson. Discuss the use of gender-biased language in this and any other works.
• Edward Hoagland
  Hoagland is quoted in the unit opener of Essays in Imprints 12 . Students can visit this Web site to find out about Hoagland. The site includes an idea for writing an essay or poem about nature.

Through the Artist's Eye

What I've Learned From Writing speech by Shauna Singh Baldwin

• About the Author
  This Web site includes biographical and bibliographical information on Shauna Singh Baldwin. Students can visit some of the links on this site to read an interview, reviews, a story, and other material.
• Publisher's Web Page for Author
  This is Random House's Web page for Shauna Singh Baldwin, and contains links to other new faces in fiction. Ask students to consider the purpose of this site, and how that purpose has affected content.
• Interview With Shauna Singh Baldwin
  Students can read an interview with Shauna Singh Baldwin, conducted after the publication of her novel What the Body Remembers .
• Further Speeches
  Explore the art of speech writing by having students read three speeches on this American political Web site. Discuss the purpose, audience, context, and content of some of these speeches.
• More Speeches
  Students can read other speeches by famous people on this Web site. Ask students to choose one speech and describe the rhetoric it uses to make its argument. Invite students to prepare one speech to deliver in a dramatic re-enactment of its first presentation.

• About the Author
  This Guardian Unlimited Web site provides information on Virginia Woolf's work and life, as well as articles about her writing that were published in The Guardian as long ago as 1922. It's a rich site that includes links to other Woolf works, an audio clip, an interview with Quentin Bell, and so on. (Annoying pop-up ads, however, do interfere with a focused search for knowledge.)
  • Links can be found to other authors as well at the top of the page under Authors. Ask students to explore the information gathered for one other author who interests them.
• Woolf Profile
  This Web page provides a profile of Virginia Woolf. Students might appreciate some of the related links on this Web site, specifically the glossary of literary terms, and the information on how to prepare a term paper.
• Woolf Work
  This Bartleby.com site presents a profile of Virginia Woolf as well as other links. Link to examples of her writing at the bottom of this page and read one excerpt to students. Discuss her writing style.
• Anita Brookner
  A quotation from Brookner appears in a box on the third page of Woolf's essay in Imprints 12. This Web site provides information on Brookner.
• Profile of Clara Clemens.
  A quotation from Clemens appears on the seventh page of Woolf's essay in Imprints 12. This Web site provides a profile on Clemens.

• About the Author
  This Web page includes a short profile on Jensen. Discuss how this information provides some insight into Jensen's speech.
• First Nation Information Project/Culture
  Students can browse through the information on this Web site to find out more about Aboriginal art.
  • You might have students look for other information on Aboriginal art on sites such as the Aboriginal Canada Portal or the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada.

• McMichael Canadian Art Collection
  This Web site for the McMichael art gallery provides video downloads of Gu Xiong and Andrew Hunter talking about the Ding Ho/Group of Seven exhibition. The site also has other links to this exhibition. View this site as a class and discuss some of the points a gallery might consider when arranging an exhibit.
• About Gu Xiong
  Gu Xiong's Web site includes a biography plus links to three exhibitions, with images and captions. Ask each student to develop a plan for a Web site that traces early artistic influences on his/her own life.
• The Artist's Sketchbook
  This Web site features work from Gu Xiong's sketchbook. Ask students to choose one piece they think could be added to "Images from the Cultural Revolution."
• The Artist Speaks
  Gu Xiong speaks about himself and about art on this Web page. Students can read the last paragraph and discuss the artist's views on visual arts education.
• The Group of Seven
  To find out more about the Group of Seven, students can explore the McMichael art gallery's Web pages.
  • Challenge students to choose one painting (or incident in the life of the group, like the mysterious death of Tom Thomson) and write a poem, story, or essay in response.

• About the Author
  This Web site includes biographical and bibliographical information on Saskatchewan writer Sharon Butala.
• Butala Review
  This Web page provides a review from January Magazine of Butala's book Wild Stone Heart .
• Living the Creative Life
  This Web page provides Butala's convocation address given in 2000 at the University of Regina on the topic "Living the Creative Life." Ask students to read it and discuss the arguments presented.

What Shapes Our Lives

Making Poetry Pay personal essay by Langston Hughes

• Langston Hughes Tribute
  This site is a centennial tribute to Langston Hughes, including a detailed biography, a painting of Hughes as a young man, some of Hughes's poetry, and numerous other links to information on Hughes.
  • Ask students to choose four poems from this site—they will need to search through various links (or other sites listed below). Challenge them to give a dramatic presentation of these poems, role-playing Hughes giving a public reading in the 1930s or 40s. They should have a clear perception of his presentation style from the essay.
• Author Information
  This Web page gives detailed information about Langston Hughes. Ask students to use this and other information to create a short bio-film about the poet, using a Heritage Minute-style format.
• More Author Info
  This research Web site provides a chapter on Langston Hughes, including extensive bibliographic information. Ask students to compare the information and its presentation with how that information is presented on two sites about Hughes.
• Hughes Bio
  Students can visit this site for biographical information, as well as links to some of Hughes' poems. Listen to Hughes read one of his poems and discuss how hearing him speak changes their response to "Making Poetry Pay."
• More Hughes
  This Web site also provides biographical information on Hughes, as well as interesting tidbits such as the fact that jazz was sometimes played as a background accompaniment to his poetry. Ask students to locate some appropriate music to accompany their reading of a Hughes' poem. They should explain their choice of poem and music.
• Harlem Renaissance 1
  This Web site on the Harlem Renaissance includes links to prominent writers, poets, and painters of the period.
• Harlem Renaissance 2
  This in-depth look at the Harlem Renaissance outlines the central characteristics of artists of this era and important historical events. Ask students to use information on both sites to help them choose another personality of the time period that they wish to investigate.
• Scottsboro Trials
  This Web site on the Scottsboro trials (mentioned in the essay) includes details about a documentary on the subject, a timeline, maps, and a teacher's guide on how to use this site in the classroom.

Only Daughter memoir by Sandra Cisneros

• Sandra Cisneros
  This Web site provides highly readable biographical information on Sandra Cisneros, as well as links to Hispanic heritage, music, quiz, timeline, activities, and other information.
• About the Author
  Ask students to read and share some of the biographical information on this site. The Web site includes links to other Cisneros sites.
• Interview with Cisneros
  Together, discuss the information in this interview with Sandra Cisneros by Reed Dasenbrock. Discuss what she has to say about her writing.
• Hispanic Writers
  This Web page provides a list of contemporary Hispanic writers (including Cisneros). Ask students to investigate and report on one other contemporary writer.

• About the Author
  Ask students to read the information about Richards on this Web site, which includes links to information about his work.
• Author Interview
  Students can read an interview with David Adams Richards from January Magazine . Discuss what the author has to say about the importance of place (setting) in his novels. Ask students to think about what he says as they read or reread "My Old Newcastle." Could Richards have been describing any hometown experience?
• Review
  Ask students to read this brief review of Richards' Hockey Dreams: Memories of a Man Who Couldn't Play . Challenge them to compare this review with those of Richards' Mercy Among the Children or other works. How would they describe Richards?
• Newcastle
  Students can find out about Newcastle, New Brunswick on this Web site.

Pierre Trudeau: He Has Gone to His Grace tribute by Rex Murphy

• Murphy
  Students can read other writings by Rex Murphy, including speeches and book reviews.
• About Trudeau
  This CBC News Web site provides an in-depth article on Pierre Trudeau, with links to other resources.
• Trudeau Home Page
  This site provides links to resources, Justin Trudeau's eulogy, pictures, and other information.
• Trudeau on the Page
  This Globe and Mail article provides a bibliography, a list of books written about Trudeau. Discuss the article's tone and bias, as well as the information it provides.

• About Richler
  This Canadian Web site provides a biography, bibliography, and list of awards won by Richler. Ask students to consider the scope of his work and how he has influenced Canadian literature and other Canadian authors.
• CBC and Richler
  This is a CBC Web site on Richler, with numerous interviews of the late author and his friends and colleagues by CBC journalists.
• Another Photo Tribute
  Ask students to visit this Web site to compare its photo tribute to Richler with the one in the student book.
• Font Tribute
  Students can read about the typeface designed in memory of Mordecai Richler.
• What's a Photo Essay?
  This Web site provides a New York Institute of Photography article on what a photo essay comprises. Ask students to use its suggested criteria to assess "Mordecai in Memoriam."
• Other Photo Essays
  Students can view other photo essays on this site, which provides a choice of Time magazine photo essays from different countries under the heading "Asian Journey."
• Animated Photo Essay
  Ask students to view this animated photo essay of the Lewis & Clark Trail. Discuss how technology can be used to create a more interesting presentation of a photo essay. Discuss the disadvantages and advantages of an animated photo essay.
• Spectacular Photo Essay of Africa
  This Web site provides photos taken from the book A Day in the Life of Africa . Ask students to choose six images that they think would make a suitable photo essay for inclusion in a grade 12 anthology.
• Photo Essay by Keita
  This Web site provides Mali photographer Seydou Keita's black-and-white photo essay of people. Students can click on each image for a larger version and then click on "article" for an interview with the photographer. Small groups can choose and discuss one photo.

• Kahlo's Works
  Students can view colour slides of Kahlo's work on this commercial site. Note that some of her images on this and other sites contain mature subject matter.
• Frida Kahlo
  Students can read about the house in which Kahlo was born, now the Frida Kahlo Museum. The text also provides interesting details about Kahlo's life. The site has a link to Kahlo's self portraits.
• Kahlo Tribute
  Ask students to investigate this Web tribute to Kahlo, with an easy-to-read biography, some of Kahlo's paintings, and photos of the artist.
• Frida the Movie
  Students can check out this Web site relating to the 2003 movie about Frida Kahlo. The site includes links to an interview with the actress playing Frida.
• The Diary of Frida Kahlo
  As a class, read and discuss the review by Tai Moses of The Diary of Frida Kahlo: An Intimate Self-portrait .
• Diego Rivera
  Students may want to research Rivera, who is mentioned in "Reviving Fridamania." This site includes an interesting article on Labor Day and the Pan American Unity mural in San Francisco. The mural shows the fruits of people's labour and was painted as part of the "Art in Action" project of the 1939–40 Golden Gate International Exposition on Treasure Island. A link allows you to see the whole mural—students can scroll across to see the entire work.

• Margaret Atwood
  This is called the Margaret Atwood Information Site. Choose the table of contents for easy navigation. Ask students to consider why Atwood would be an appropriate choice to compose a tribute to Purdy.
• About Purdy
  This Web site provides an in-depth Canadian Encyclopedia entry for Al Purdy (Alfred Wellington Purdy). Do a search for Al Purdy. Use this Web site to give a mini-lesson in using the Internet for research purposes.
• More on Purdy
  This University of Calgary Web site provides lots of information on Al Purdy: biography, bibliography, links, and so on. Ask students to use this information to write their own tribute to Purdy.
• Purdy Review
  This Web site contains a review by Jay Currie of Beyond Remembering: The Collected Poems of Al Purdy . Have students compare what this reviewer says about Purdy's poetry, with what Atwood says. They can then read several of Purdy's poems and discuss their own opinion of his work.

Systems and Society

Thoughts on Education argumentative essay by Susanna Moodie

• About the Author
  This Web site provides a biography and photo of Susanna Moodie.
• Moodie Poems
  Five of Susanna Moodie's poems are included on this Web site; they can be found by scrolling down the first page to "Moodie." Read several of the poems to the students. Ask: How do these poems reflect the views she expresses in "Thoughts on Education"?
  • Encourage students to read poems by some of Moodie's contemporaries.
• Roughing It in the Bush
  This Web site provides a bibliography of Susanna Moodie's work, with links to the full on-line text of Roughing It in the Bush . Print out a suitable excerpt for students to read and discuss the contextual information about Moodie's life.

Rink Rage magazine article by James Deacon

• 2002 News Article 1—Hockey Death
  
• 2002 News Article 2—Hockey Death
  
• 2002 News Article 3—Man Jailed
  
• 2002 News Article 4—Charges Laid
  Have students read these newspaper articles (from the CNN Web site, Canoe News, and The Observer ) about rink rage. Discuss the articles.
  • Ask students to find any recent articles on the subject (if any—one hopes the problem will get better, however) by using the search words rink rage . Challenge students to research the current status of the situation and write an article about how the situation has or has not improved.
• Rink-rage Solution
  On this commercial Web page students can read about the proactive solution the Canadian Hockey Association is suggesting to deal with rink rage—a good conduct contract. Discuss the effectiveness of its suggestion.
• Edna Ferber
  A quotation from Ferber appears on the third page of the article on rink rage in Imprints 12. Students can find out more about the Pulitzer Prize-winning author on this Web site.

Coffee process analysis by Alan Durning

• Review of Durning Book 1
  This Web page includes a review of Durning's non-fiction book This Place on Earth: Home and the Practice of Permanence . The review highlights Durning's environmental concerns.
• Review of Durning Book 2
  This Web page includes a review of another of Durning's non-fiction books, How Much Is Enough?: The Consumer Society and the Future of the Earth . Students can find out more about Durning's environmental perspective in this review.
  • Discuss the Web site each review appears on, and any agenda such a Web site may have. Interested students could find either book, and then read and review it.
• Suzuki Essay
  On this Web page, students can read this Suzuki essay on overpopulation and over consumption. Challenge two students to role-play a discussion between Suzuki and Durning on the subject.

Blue Gold argumentative essay by Jim Hightower

• Hightower's Home Page
  Students can browse through Hightower's home page. Ask them to share one item, idea, or quote with their classmates.
• Hightower Commentaries
  Students can listen to other Hightower commentaries on this Web site.
• Review of Hightower Book
  On this site, students can read a review of Hightower's book If the Gods Had Meant Us to Vote They Would Have Given Us Candidates . Discuss what the review reveals about the radio personality and writer.
• Johnson Quotations
  A quotation from Samuel Johnson appears on the second page of this essay. Students can browse this Web site and read other quotations from Johnson. Ask them to choose one they think might influence their life.

The Mysteries of Nature

Hunter of Peace photo essay by Mary Schäffer

• Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies
  This Banff museum Web site rounds out the profile of the hardy explorer, with two portraits of Schäffer in her other life: Philadelphia high society.
  • Links from the site lead to the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies. Ask students to explore some of the other exhibits and create their own photo or visual essay called "Hunter of Peace."
• Three Intrepid Ladies Defy the Rocky Mountains
  This Web page offers an article on Mary Schäffer and other female explorers, part of a local history of Peace River, in Alberta and British Columbia. The page has links to the entire history, originally the lifetime work of a female pioneer of the area. Encourage students to read some of this information to increase their understanding of Schäffer's life in the Rockies.
• Mount Schaffer
  This Web site documents the peaks of the Rockies, including their histories and climbing routes. On this page, the story is told of Schäffer's adventurous search for an unknown lake. Students can role-play the decision by Schäffer and her companion, Mollie Adams, to embark on their search for the lake, despite the opposition mentioned.
  • Links contain suggestions for teachers on how to connect the Rockies with language arts and other areas of the curriculum.
• A Time of Discovery
  This site contains a 1996 exhibition of photos of nature at the Whyte museum. Artists include Mary Schäffer, Mary Vaux—an artist who was with Schaffer on her first visit to the Rockies—and others. Links on the site give biographical and bibliographical information for these women as well as other artist/explorers.

Worms and the Soil expository essay by Charles Darwin

• BBC Education: Evolution
  This site features books, links to other Web sites, and other resources "for budding Darwins of all ages." There's a good selection of material, from an illustrated guide to The Origin of Species to an interactive artificial life environment. Some of the material, however, such as the debate on Darwin's theories, may be too sophisticated for students at this level.
• The Five Paragraph Essay
  This Web site includes a simple explanation of expository essay that some students may find helpful.

• Candace Savage
  The site gives biographical information about the Alberta author, as well as a partial bibliography. Challenge students to find and read one other work by Savage.
• Aurora
  This Web site contains a review and an excerpt from Savage's book about the Northern Lights, Aurora . Students can compare the excerpt with "Night Spirits," discussing which approach they prefer.
• Rocket into the Aurora
  This Web site documents the follow-up rocket in Norway mentioned in "Night Spirits." Through photos, a timeline, and a diary of the launch, students get a detailed look at the next chapter in the Aurora exploration story.
• Brenda Ueland
  Ueland is quoted on the fourth page of "Night Spirits" and this Web site describes the archival collection of her works and correspondence. It also gives some biographical information about the author.

• Annie Dillard
  This Web site examines Dillard's book Pilgrim at Tinker Creek and includes biographical information about the author. Encourage students to link to "Mystical Themes" and discuss Dillard's and their own views on the "unanswerable" question she asks: Why must there be pain and suffering?
• Henry David Thoreau
  Dillard makes a reference to Thoreau's Walden in this selection. This Web site provides links to information about Thoreau's life and works.
  • One of the links from the "Walden" page is to an essay called "One Less Accountant." Encourage students to read this essay and discuss whether they agree with the point of view of the author. Students might also discuss, or write about, any book that made a great change in their life.