Hello rappers,
It¡¦s now time to launch Rap Point 4.The question is
Was Matthew Flinders fiery or friendly? Use evidence
to support your argument.
This rap point, I guess, you will find reasonably
challenging. The task is to examine the writings of
Banks, Flinders and co. and from the writings try to
draw some conclusions as to whether you regard
Flinders¡¦ as fiery or friendly. Consider also what
his associates thought of him.
How often have you had the opportunity to understand
the way people wrote 200 years ago? There¡¦s quite a
bit of difference, isn¡¦t there?
Can you imagine writing a love letter to your
boyfriend/girlfriend the way Flinders composed to Ann?
Today, I expect it¡¦s either over the telephone, an
SMS message on a mobile phone, on ICQ or email or a
quick note sent around the classroom. All very quick,
casual and full of slang, abbreviations and emoticons!
Have you heard of them ¡V it¡¦s like - ; ), :) , ƒ¼,
to tell others how you feel.
Compare that Flinders¡¦ letter to Ann when he declares
¡§Tell me what thou wearest, tell me thy dreams,
anything, so do but talk to me and of thyself."
Boys ¡V do you think that line would work on the
girls? Which type of communication impresses you more?
How do you go about trying to communicate to someone
that you want something? If you want your parents to
buy you the latest ¡§brand name¡¨ surf wear, game boy
or Harry Potter novel, what do you think is the best
approach? How can you show them that is what you want
without being too obvious? Do you scrawl a long letter
full of praise and grovel to them as perhaps Flinders
did to Bass and Banks?
How do you speak to them? Do you use lots of positive
adjectives, praising your parents? Do you tell them
how wonderful they are? Do you use lots of
complimentary adjectives or verbs? Or similes and
metaphors where your parents begin to believe that
they are ¡§cool bananas¡¨
Think also about how quickly your messages are
delivered. None of this long sea voyage stuff to send
your communication. Now your messages just bounce of a
satellite and you can talk to anyone in the world
almost instantaneously.
There¡¦s lots to think about in the way we approach
people and how they develop opinions about us by the
things we say and write. This week we look at the
letters that Flinders wrote to others and the
correspondence that Banks etc wrote about Flinders to
try and ¡§guestimate¡¨ whether Flinders was fiery or
friendly. Use all the points you have discovered to
date that are positive and negative about Flinders and
weigh up which you think are the most important.
Perhaps have a group discussion where everyone takes
turns to put their opinion forward.
When the group has reached agreement, post your
argument to the rap. Don¡¦t forget to give the
supporting evidence on which you based your decision.
I wonder if all rapping groups will agree. Fiery or
friendly?
Post your response to
matthewflinders_rap@list.schools.nsw.edu.au
Congratulations on your super investigating and
debating
Mandy Kirk
Thomas Acres Public School
Co-coordinator
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