Friday 30 September 2011

Our Next Class - Application and others

I am going to have meeting with you all on Monday at 9.00 am The class lasts for one and a half hours. Our chief topic will be "Application."

I am sure that you are going to do well tomorrow.


Thursday 29 September 2011

Prelude to Saturday


Today’s Mock exam paper was taken from 2007 October Real Test. A total of 25 students out of a possible 32 students attended the Mock. Following are essays and comments. As all have noticed that it is an easier test compared what we saw in the previous two Mocks. There is NOT a single word that will create confusion. I am sure that you have noticed that it is the level of concentration that matters more than your skill.
What you should NOT forget on the exam date.
1.        Take 12 Faber-Castle pencils – all 2B grades – all sharpened. No sharpening in the exam hall. Buy your pencils TODAY or Tomorrow – not on Saturday!
2.       On Saturday wake up at 5.45 am sharp – you have to be at the Test-centre by 7.45 am.
3.       If possible take bath [semi-warm water]
4.       On Saturday morning take Good Breakfast that shall keep you satisfied till at least 4 pm.
a.       My favorite menu: 4 pieces of Kings/Coopers/California Fried BREAD
b.      Spread little butter on the bread.
c.       2 eggs [one sunny side up – another scrambled – fried with minimum cooking-oil]
d.      One sausage [for the Gluttons – 2 sausages]
e.       A tea-cup full of milk [drink semi-cold]
f.        Tea [No biscuit]
g.       Brush your teeth after the breakfast.
h.      Take around 1 hour to take breakfast.
i.        No deep-fried food on the previous night or Saturday morning.
j.        Carry a bar of MARS to the exam hall.
5.       Comfortable clothes (absolutely NO shoes/snickers and NO socks)
6.       Starting from tonight, avoid taking ANY food that causes indigestion.
7.       Sleep well on the night prior to Saturday.
8.       You MUST carry 12 pencils [2B Grade] and Passport/AS-A level statement of entry.
9.       NOT more than 250 ml of water should be consumed during the exam
10.    During exam DO NOT go to the wash-room – if you can avoid it.
11.     The exam may start as late as 11.00 am. So, be mentally prepared.
12.     Once you are in the Test-centre AVOID any discussion about the Test.
13.     Feel happy [like Meursault] – that one day we shall all die and that not a speck of our sweat shall ever remain on earth in a recognizable way.
14.    Believe that this is not the end of the world – it is just the beginning of what lay ahead.
15.     In essays: Writing about historical persons can be too risky. Unless you know significantly about a historical character, DON’T write about him/her. Everyone is requested to write about fictional characters.
16.    STAY Calm


Name
Essay
Comment on Essay
1.         
Akila
10
Strong arguments, limited range of references. Much better expected.
2.        
Maliha
9
Extremely poor range of references. Imagine “Chefs” as example! Essay length fine.
3.        
Farhan Tanveer
9
James Joyce is too heavy for you. Limited range of references.
4.        
Syed Farhan
8
Extremely limited reference range. Harry Potter!!! But almost 2 pages!
5.        
Mehreen
12
Perfect writing! 2 essays in a row.
6.        
Romana
11/12
Strong argument in simple language.
7.        
Anika H.
10
“Luck plays huge role in life”!!! Unimpressive argument. No reading item example. Otherwise good flow of sentences.
8.        
Akif
8
Too many small paragraphs. Example of Einstein is too childish. Weak argument development.
9.        
Akil
08
“Once I watched a movie called …” is a poor start for an example. Better is – In the movie called “Blow” we see how … No reading item example.
10.     
Rakin
07
This time you wrote about being ‘judgmental’ and ‘courageous’. Clearly off-topic. But still you wrote more than one page – so you get mark.
11.      
Akib
11
Mixture of sports and personal anecdote, one reading item. A bit weak in argument development. More reading item reference can do the magic.
12.      
Durdana
10/11
Problem with graphology of the essay. A little weak in argumentation.
13.      
Abanti
10
Too DARK pencil!!!
14.     
Lamia
7
Volume not enough – reference to Tagore forbidden. Refer to no 15 above.
15.      
Sarah
11
Strong issues with volume still persist.
16.     
Prianka
11
I am not VERY convinced about the strength of the essay because there are forced connections between references and arguments.
17.     
Rinat
10
Writing about Shakespeare must be supported by a sound idea of his biography. Spell “Playwright” not “play writer”. You could have used so many good examples from reading items. Refer to no 15 above.
18.     
Saif
10
“Death of a Salesman” is NOT a novel. STOP giving further examples of Abraham Lincoln.
Refer to no 15 above.
19.     
Mehruba
7
Your essays are getting better. Now try to increase your volume of writing.
20.     
Sukanya
7
Volume problem. Refer to no 15 above
21.      
Shanzat
7
Lack of volume – lack of examples.
22.     
Zami
8
Do you really think that you have argued the topic? Refer to no 15 above – there are so many examples you could borrow from reading items.
23.     
Riasat
6
Two different graded pencils used. No examples from your reading items.
24.     
Asif
10
Never spell “play writer” – it is “playwright”. Refer to no 15 above. However, Huck Finn example is OK.
25.     
Sadia Majid
9
Not very happy about large handwriting, wrong titling of Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man. Argument there – but where are examples?
26.     
Sadia Jeny
9
Not strong examples.


Wednesday 28 September 2011

Art and its Legitimacy


Dearest Anika [Anlophiles student 2009-2010],

How are you dear. I miss my conversations with you.

Thanks a lot for inviting me to the Sadhana Tasher Desh show. I wanted to see this show last time but could not make it.

But this time another problem surfaced. You see all my life I have been trying to make theatre accessible to everyone. One of our strategy is to keep the cost lowest of the low. If I want to see a play with my family, I can buy 5 best seats with just 500 Taka. But with the Shadhana show the price will be so high that I am left with no other option but to revert my decision.

I am sure there are so many 'reasons' to keep the price high. But SHadhana claims that they have already received generous support from "Corporate" Masters. It seems that the whole show has been created "of the [Corporate] slaves, for the [Corporate] slaves, and by the [Corporate] slaves". The whole project smacks of elitism, anti-populist feeling, and a fallacious thinking that propaganda-infested Art entails the highest value.

Therefore, in spite of my all desires - I can not attend the program. However, if Sadhana offers me any ticket at a reduced rate [500 taka for 5 best seats] - I will be happy to attend.

My best wishes and blessings for all your personal achievements in the world of Dance and Creativity.

PS: I am posting this message on our blog - expecting a debate shall ensue.

Shahidul Mamun

Tuesday 27 September 2011

Mock Results Today and Tomorrow


I do not know why nobody checked their answers for today's MOCK!


Following students are requested to appear their MOCK from 1.00 pm Tomorrow. If there is any problem please let me know through an SMS.
  1.  Farhan Hussain [as per request]
  2. Asif Hossain [as per request]
  3. Shanjat [as per request]
  4. Sukanya
  5. Sanjana
  6. Durdana
  7. Zarat
  8. Sadia Jeny
  9. Sarah
  10. Rinat
  11. Nazir 
  12. Radh
  13. Shafkat
  14. Lamia
  15. Mehruba
THOSE who gave their MOCK today morning shall also give the MOCK tomorrow morning.

Today's Mock was attended by the following.

  • 1.         
    Name
    Essay
    Comment on Essay
    2.        
    Maliha
    12
    Pencil too light
    3.        
    Sadia Majid
    11/12
    Better examples advised
    4.        
    Farhan
    8
    Not full 2 pages
    5.        
    Lamia
    10
    Only example [not very relevant] is Merchant of Venice – WHY?
    6.        
    Mehreen
    12

    7.        
    Romana
    11/12

    8.        
    Anika H.
    10
    Merchant of Venice–mismatch
    9.        
    Zami
    00
    Not submitted
    10.     
    Prianka
    11
    Can do better
    11.      
    Abanti
    12
    Too dark pencil
    12.      
    Akif
    8
    Not full 2 pages
    13.      
    Akil
    07
    Less than 1½  pg.
    14.     
    Saif
    10
    Finer examples expected – avoid too many superlative adjectives about historical figures
    15.      
    Protik
    12 [A Man for all Seasons]

    16.     
    Rakin
    06
    Less than a page
    17.     
    Riasat
    00
    Not submitted
    18.     
    Akib
    10
    Shorter than expected
    19.     
    Shafkat
    00
    Exempted
    20.     
    Tahsina
    00
    Not submitted
    21.      
    Mehruba

    Exempted
For tomorrow's MOCK timing is -

Morning 9.00 am
Evening 1.00 pm

Please keep to the time.




For the extended essay I have so far received only 2 essays from Sadia Jeny, Akila, and Sarah Iqbal.  

Please do NOT mark this post as funny. I really feel diminutive. :(