ENGLISH 9 INFORMATION AND ASSIGNMENTS

The ninth grade course of study has the longest continuity of the courses offered in the high school.  Special emphasis is placed on writing skills.   I was hired for ninth grade English teacher at Northwestern in 1969.

FILM STUDIES AND COLE'S FILM REVIEWS THESE REVIEWS ARE THE RESULT OF THIRTY YEARS OF TEACHING FILM STUDIES, OF VIEWING COUNTLESS FILMS, AND CONTINUING RESEARCH. THE INCEPTION OF FILM STUDIES AT BLACKHAWK IS CREDITED TO, AND I OWE MY INTEREST, TO JOE DONIA, AN ENGLISH TEACHER, WHO LEFT BLACKHAWK FOR THE SILVERSCREEN IN 1974.

CONTEMPORARY STUDENT FILM REVIEWS

On this page the reader will find outstanding student film reviews, written by enthusiastic young writers, from the silent era to  the new millennium. Be sure to read  MR. COLE'S "AWESOME TRIPLE SELECTION": BLANK CHECK BY MELISSA FOLEY; AMERICAN HISTORY X BY MICHELE YOUNG; MARY POPPINS BY  MICHELLE MCCAULEY

      Pittsburgh  Lisbon and Western Railroad

RAILROAD HOTLINE In the 1960s I could catch a freight out of New Castle at any time. My first long ride was a hotshot through the Ohio night, crew changes in Willard,Garret,Ind.,and then into Chicago. Three of us rode old dirty face. I recall a huge derailment in Akron as we passed through on a shoe fly track. Immense cranes lifted twisted cars in the mechanical night.

1974,KEDDIE,CALIFORNIA,OVER SPANISH CREEK
CATCHING OUT OVER TRESTLE AND BETWEEN TUNNELS
WITH DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION OF STATE MENTAL HOSPITALS
THOUSANDS OF UNKNOWNS MADE THE RAILS HOME

TEENAGERS AND MENTAL HEALTH

ADAIR GWILLIAM'S STORIES These are treasured stories written by my grandson Adair.In the photograph is Adair and life long friend Bob Selby at Mr. Selby's farm.

POETRY

Running a draw bench in the winter of 1966-67 at Union Draw Steel in Beaver Falls,I began writing poerty on the 12-8 shift: "who can run number fourteen draw bench/if you can here is your mic and wrench". I was influenced at Geneva College by Doctor Bass, his wife Jeri, Doctor Paton, and Miss Cowmeadow.

PENNSYLVANIA WRITING ASSESSMENT  On this page are five student essays manifesting the five  characteristics of successful writing.   Several of the compositions exhibit fine usage of transititional words.   Scores are rated from 1-6, six being the best. How would you grade these student compositions?