1) Does it have a clear introduction and conclusion.
2) Has the writer successfully learned all the key facts within the topic and included them.
3) Does the essay establish an answer to the set question?
4) Is this answer the correct one, ie the one that the teacher has told them?
5) On a scale of one to ten, is the essay above 8 in terms of grammatical accuracy?
Thursday, 1 November 2007
EXCLUSIVE Blog story: "Mirror, Mirror on the Wall...."
This story is set after 'Nemesis' and explains why Ben returns for a while to travelling with the 10th Doctor:
"Mirror Mirror on the Wall....."
Ben wakes up one morning after a particularly unsettled night of broken sleep. He kept dreaming of Nimons and other strange creatures that the Doctor had told him about. Putting it down to an unpleasant evening in 'Zanzer' , the new Cambridge gay club where a teenager in eyeliner had called him a, "sad tosser", Ben drags himself to the bathroom and stares into the mirror.
"Mmmm at least I still look good", he muses to himself, stroking his long, blonde locks and smooth cheeks.
Suddenly he feels himself being pulled into the mirror. Ben struggles in horror, however a strange, malevolent, unseen force pulls him through the looking glass into a strange, black place with silver framed mirrors and still, silent human-size toy soldiers. Ben is alarmed as it isn't normal to be pulled into mirrors. He hears the sound of laughter all around and feels himself floating on a wind of dark heat, yet still standing in this strange, beguiling room.
Suddenly Kyle and Katie Ryan appear. They are writhing in agony and begging Ben to help them. However when he approaches, they vanish.
Eventually Ben sees the figure of an elderly humanoid, dressed in gold approaching:
"I am the cosmic guardian of all who pass through the mirror into the land of eternal dreams" it says. Ben realises that he has been attacked by some occult force playing tricks with his mind:
"You can't fool me magician! I reject your illusion!" He shouts.
Ben finds himself back in the bathroom of his apartment. However he is shaking with fear:
"This is very wrong. Some occult force is trying to kill me." he thinks to himself.
Ben realises that the time is right to contact the Doctor and return to the TARDIS. He wakes up Kyle, who was kipping on Ben's sofa, and texts Katie.
"Something dark and sinister is afoot" he tells them.....
"Mirror Mirror on the Wall....."
Ben wakes up one morning after a particularly unsettled night of broken sleep. He kept dreaming of Nimons and other strange creatures that the Doctor had told him about. Putting it down to an unpleasant evening in 'Zanzer' , the new Cambridge gay club where a teenager in eyeliner had called him a, "sad tosser", Ben drags himself to the bathroom and stares into the mirror.
"Mmmm at least I still look good", he muses to himself, stroking his long, blonde locks and smooth cheeks.
Suddenly he feels himself being pulled into the mirror. Ben struggles in horror, however a strange, malevolent, unseen force pulls him through the looking glass into a strange, black place with silver framed mirrors and still, silent human-size toy soldiers. Ben is alarmed as it isn't normal to be pulled into mirrors. He hears the sound of laughter all around and feels himself floating on a wind of dark heat, yet still standing in this strange, beguiling room.
Suddenly Kyle and Katie Ryan appear. They are writhing in agony and begging Ben to help them. However when he approaches, they vanish.
Eventually Ben sees the figure of an elderly humanoid, dressed in gold approaching:
"I am the cosmic guardian of all who pass through the mirror into the land of eternal dreams" it says. Ben realises that he has been attacked by some occult force playing tricks with his mind:
"You can't fool me magician! I reject your illusion!" He shouts.
Ben finds himself back in the bathroom of his apartment. However he is shaking with fear:
"This is very wrong. Some occult force is trying to kill me." he thinks to himself.
Ben realises that the time is right to contact the Doctor and return to the TARDIS. He wakes up Kyle, who was kipping on Ben's sofa, and texts Katie.
"Something dark and sinister is afoot" he tells them.....
The epic Ben Chatham story "NEMESIS"
OK folks, here it is, the final epic story in the 2008 Annual. I think this may well be my finest Ben story to date:
"NEMESIS"part one:
Ben wakes up in his Cambridge apartment with a thumping headache. On the bedside table are several empty glasses and wine bottles while Katie is asleep in the bed beside him.
"Oh no, what have I done again",
Ben thinks to himself and he drags himself to the bathroom and stares vacantly into the mirror. His beauty is undiminished, although his dark, dreamy eyes are slightly hazy .
"I must stop doing this to myself. I need a proper relationship." He thinks to himself.
He hears the door buzzer go and , thinking it must be the postman with a parcel, forces himself into the lounge and to the door. However he is shocked to open the door and see Kyle:
"Awight mate, good ta see ya."
Ben is puzzled, "Er, hello Kyle."
"Thought I'd surprise ya. Well like, ya said that I should visit you in Cambridge sometime."
"Oh ehm right. Ehm, you'd better come in."
Kyle bounds in and looks around the flat enthused:
"Ere lovely pad this. An you got your own little bar area."
Katie is emerging from the bedroom rubbing her head.
"Oh hello. Ben said he'd been having problems with one of the taps in the bathroom. Its through there, probably the washer gone."
Kyle looks bemused. Ben steps in: "Oh no, he's not the plumber, Kyle's a friend".
Katie is confused:"You mean to say that you know this person socially? Hang on... no.... you idiot Ben, you mean to say that you're seeing rent boys? And you slept with me you ****"
*throws a cushion at Ben*.
Kyle is offended:"Whats she mean rentboy & plumber? Stuck up cow."
"Well I can see that Ben hasn't invited you here for the intellectual conversation." Katie retorts: "Still I suppose you need the money for glue & plastic bags."
Ben steps in again:"Look he's someone I met in London. I said he could stay if he was ever in Cambridge, I didn't actually think he'd take me up on it...."
Kyle is furious:"I ain't stoppin' ere. **** you!"
He strides out, slamming the door behind him .Katie elegantly sits herself down on Ben's sofa:
"Its for the best. Foul mouthed . *wiping a speck of dust off her knee* I knew you were confused Ben but this is very sad".
Ben turns on her:
"That was awful. He isn't a rent boy and I shouldn't have said that last thing. Look just go Katie, ok."
Katie gets up:"What you need is to sort your head out. You need a good woman to straighten you out and you know it!"
"Just GO".Ben holds the door open while Katie gathers up her things and flounces out.
After a shower and a poached egg , Ben puts on some nice clothes and heads off into town. He has an appointment with Professor Hoffman, one of his old lecturers, to discuss some research work he'd been doing for the university at Avebury. As he walks down the road, he spots Kyle waiting at the bus stop. He goes over:
"Hi, look, I'm sorry about Katie."
"**** off".
"Ok I'm sorry about saying that I didn't really want you to come. Its just a surprise thats all, I mean it must be a long way for someone of your.. means to fork out for."
"You and your bird just think I'm filth. Actually I didn't cam ere because of you, I'm in a spot of bovver an this just seemed an easy way outa Landon for a bit thats all. An I hitched most of the way."
"Katie isn't my 'bird'. Its complicated. And you're in trouble? What kind of trouble?"
"Whats it to you?"
"Are you on the run from the police?"
Kyle is angry:"As it 'appens no. My mates, well kinda mates, thought it'd be a larf to rob some bloke in a car park camin' out of this flash motor. Turns out he worked for Des Hutcheson."
Ben is confused:"Des Hutcheson?"
"Don't you know naffink? He owns 'alf of the protection rackets in Sarf London".
"So lets get this straight. You were out with your lowbrow so-called mates when they mug a man who works for one of London's top gangsters. And you had to get out of there fast for a while, so you thought you'd come here as no one would know where you were. Good grief!"
"Well you needn't worry, I'm goin' back."
Ben takes a reluctant sigh:"No you're not. Look I'm sorry for what Katie said. You can stay for a while. I have an appointment at noon, lets have a bit of breakfast in town first."
Later that morning, Ben & Kyle are punting down the Cam.
"I haven't done this since I was a student", Ben muses, "I don't suppose going to Cambridge was ever part of your life expectation."
Kyle is looking all around at the buildings and students sitting by the river.Suddenly, as they pass under a bridge, the punt hits something hard. Ben looks down and is shocked to see....... a body in the water!
- to be continued
"NEMESIS"part one:
Ben wakes up in his Cambridge apartment with a thumping headache. On the bedside table are several empty glasses and wine bottles while Katie is asleep in the bed beside him.
"Oh no, what have I done again",
Ben thinks to himself and he drags himself to the bathroom and stares vacantly into the mirror. His beauty is undiminished, although his dark, dreamy eyes are slightly hazy .
"I must stop doing this to myself. I need a proper relationship." He thinks to himself.
He hears the door buzzer go and , thinking it must be the postman with a parcel, forces himself into the lounge and to the door. However he is shocked to open the door and see Kyle:
"Awight mate, good ta see ya."
Ben is puzzled, "Er, hello Kyle."
"Thought I'd surprise ya. Well like, ya said that I should visit you in Cambridge sometime."
"Oh ehm right. Ehm, you'd better come in."
Kyle bounds in and looks around the flat enthused:
"Ere lovely pad this. An you got your own little bar area."
Katie is emerging from the bedroom rubbing her head.
"Oh hello. Ben said he'd been having problems with one of the taps in the bathroom. Its through there, probably the washer gone."
Kyle looks bemused. Ben steps in: "Oh no, he's not the plumber, Kyle's a friend".
Katie is confused:"You mean to say that you know this person socially? Hang on... no.... you idiot Ben, you mean to say that you're seeing rent boys? And you slept with me you ****"
*throws a cushion at Ben*.
Kyle is offended:"Whats she mean rentboy & plumber? Stuck up cow."
"Well I can see that Ben hasn't invited you here for the intellectual conversation." Katie retorts: "Still I suppose you need the money for glue & plastic bags."
Ben steps in again:"Look he's someone I met in London. I said he could stay if he was ever in Cambridge, I didn't actually think he'd take me up on it...."
Kyle is furious:"I ain't stoppin' ere. **** you!"
He strides out, slamming the door behind him .Katie elegantly sits herself down on Ben's sofa:
"Its for the best. Foul mouthed . *wiping a speck of dust off her knee* I knew you were confused Ben but this is very sad".
Ben turns on her:
"That was awful. He isn't a rent boy and I shouldn't have said that last thing. Look just go Katie, ok."
Katie gets up:"What you need is to sort your head out. You need a good woman to straighten you out and you know it!"
"Just GO".Ben holds the door open while Katie gathers up her things and flounces out.
After a shower and a poached egg , Ben puts on some nice clothes and heads off into town. He has an appointment with Professor Hoffman, one of his old lecturers, to discuss some research work he'd been doing for the university at Avebury. As he walks down the road, he spots Kyle waiting at the bus stop. He goes over:
"Hi, look, I'm sorry about Katie."
"**** off".
"Ok I'm sorry about saying that I didn't really want you to come. Its just a surprise thats all, I mean it must be a long way for someone of your.. means to fork out for."
"You and your bird just think I'm filth. Actually I didn't cam ere because of you, I'm in a spot of bovver an this just seemed an easy way outa Landon for a bit thats all. An I hitched most of the way."
"Katie isn't my 'bird'. Its complicated. And you're in trouble? What kind of trouble?"
"Whats it to you?"
"Are you on the run from the police?"
Kyle is angry:"As it 'appens no. My mates, well kinda mates, thought it'd be a larf to rob some bloke in a car park camin' out of this flash motor. Turns out he worked for Des Hutcheson."
Ben is confused:"Des Hutcheson?"
"Don't you know naffink? He owns 'alf of the protection rackets in Sarf London".
"So lets get this straight. You were out with your lowbrow so-called mates when they mug a man who works for one of London's top gangsters. And you had to get out of there fast for a while, so you thought you'd come here as no one would know where you were. Good grief!"
"Well you needn't worry, I'm goin' back."
Ben takes a reluctant sigh:"No you're not. Look I'm sorry for what Katie said. You can stay for a while. I have an appointment at noon, lets have a bit of breakfast in town first."
Later that morning, Ben & Kyle are punting down the Cam.
"I haven't done this since I was a student", Ben muses, "I don't suppose going to Cambridge was ever part of your life expectation."
Kyle is looking all around at the buildings and students sitting by the river.Suddenly, as they pass under a bridge, the punt hits something hard. Ben looks down and is shocked to see....... a body in the water!
- to be continued
Wednesday, 31 October 2007
Its OFFICIAL relaunch night folks!
OK, this blog is now being relaunched. Expect exclusive Doctor Who fiction, incisive social commentary and historiographical work.
All you need to contribute is a blogger account. Keep the comments refined.
All you need to contribute is a blogger account. Keep the comments refined.
EXCLUSIVE Ben Chatham Story: "CURSE OF THE VAMPIRE SKULL"
Ben wakes up slowly, rubbing his neck and moaning. Slowly he remembers what has happened, he was being driven back to Cambridge from an archaeological dig in Hampshire by Katie Ryan when the car skidded off the road on some oil and into a ditch. He pulls himself up and sees Katie struggling to open the crushed door. The darkness has descended and they are alone in the middle of nowhere.
"You OK Katie?" Ben asks. Katie winces:
"Of course I'm not Ok, we've just crashed".
"Well you were driving Katie, and too fast as usual."
"Oh **** off Ben... ahh my ankle... and my phone's smashed"
Ben helps her out of the car and sets off for help,his phone being damaged as well, leaving Katie by the car and none too pleased. As he walks down the narrow lane in the dark, the trees seem to close in from all sides. Ben hears the eerie sounds of owls and a strange, sinister whispering sound coming from the musty trees. He senses a presence, something dark, foreboding, menacing......
Ben has a Fox's Glacier Mint to calm down and his mind begins to float in a state of euphoric bliss. As he moves forward, his foot kicks something. Looking down, Ben sees a skull, its eyesockets full of soil with worms crawling out. As he stares at the skull he feels a presence behind him. Turning he sees a woman, dressed in a black shawl with strange hypnotic eyes and protruding fans. Ben starts to run, but the woman transforms into a large black dog and leaps at Ben, sinking its teeth into his leg. Ben gasps with pain as the creature's Master appears before him, a tall, undead creature in a large cloak:
"Give me the skull" it whispers in a menacing tone......
Suddenly the vision fades, and Ben finds himself alone in the woods. He puts it all down to a combination of the crash and tiredness and walks to the nearest Little Chef to phone for the AA.
"You OK Katie?" Ben asks. Katie winces:
"Of course I'm not Ok, we've just crashed".
"Well you were driving Katie, and too fast as usual."
"Oh **** off Ben... ahh my ankle... and my phone's smashed"
Ben helps her out of the car and sets off for help,his phone being damaged as well, leaving Katie by the car and none too pleased. As he walks down the narrow lane in the dark, the trees seem to close in from all sides. Ben hears the eerie sounds of owls and a strange, sinister whispering sound coming from the musty trees. He senses a presence, something dark, foreboding, menacing......
Ben has a Fox's Glacier Mint to calm down and his mind begins to float in a state of euphoric bliss. As he moves forward, his foot kicks something. Looking down, Ben sees a skull, its eyesockets full of soil with worms crawling out. As he stares at the skull he feels a presence behind him. Turning he sees a woman, dressed in a black shawl with strange hypnotic eyes and protruding fans. Ben starts to run, but the woman transforms into a large black dog and leaps at Ben, sinking its teeth into his leg. Ben gasps with pain as the creature's Master appears before him, a tall, undead creature in a large cloak:
"Give me the skull" it whispers in a menacing tone......
Suddenly the vision fades, and Ben finds himself alone in the woods. He puts it all down to a combination of the crash and tiredness and walks to the nearest Little Chef to phone for the AA.
Monday, 29 October 2007
This Blog will be formally RELAUNCHED in two days!
The blog has been going through a dry spell due to low quality replies, and therefore a formal relaunch is in order on Halloween.
Includes an exclusive Ben Chatham Halloween special.
Includes an exclusive Ben Chatham Halloween special.
Sunday, 7 October 2007
The Lords of Ancrazar
The Lords of Ancrazar
part 1
Ben has been visiting London in order to consult with Professor Dixby Leam of Royal Holloway on some archaeological finds he has discovered. Sitting in his hotel room that night he decides to check out the area's gay club , the Pink Dragon, which he'd discovered via the internet before making the trip.
Leaving the hotel, Ben is walking through the dark London side-streets when he is confronted by three hoodies with knives who push him against a wall:
"Wallet"
One of the hoodies mumbles in a mono-syllabic way. Ben is infuriated:
"No, I'm not giving you my wallet. And if I were you I'd put those knives away and shove off."
The hoodies snigger:
"Dude thinks he's clever yeah. How bout we cut 'im?"
"Yeah man . Slash 'is pretty face up"
However Ben leaps forward and makes some clever judo moves, knocking knives out of their hands and decking one of them. One hoodie pushes back at Ben and they both crash into a door, smashing it open and falling through. Looking up, Ben sees that they have fallen into a room full of men dressed in strange robes and hats, with long-flowing gowns. Incense is burning and there is an altar with chanting men kneeling beside it.The other hoodies run off as Ben and his attacker are surrounded by the figures in the room, who seem to hold Ben in awe. They close the broken door.
"It is Johannan. He has returned from the dead".
One shouts,
"No. But the resemblance is almost perfect" another says.The hoodie rubs his head as Ben gets up and and asks who they are:
"We are the exiled knights of Lord Johannan of Ancrazar. Our planet is being ruled by the usurper King Ansol , cousin of Johannan. When we came to this planet, our teleport machine malfunctioned and Johannan was killed. However we can now return to Ancrazar and free our world from the tyrant."
"Er how exactly?" Ben asks bemused:
"Because you well make a perfect substitute Johannan. We have repaired the teleport and can return and prepare for battle. We offer you the chance to be King of Ancrazar. And your associate can become a Lord of the Round Table.
The hoodie groans and says he wants to "naff off arht of 'ere".
"And what if we refuse your 'offer'?"
Ben asks:"We would have no choice but to cut your throats"
the medieval garbed alien replies coldly.
Ben is angry but conceals this and has a Fox's Glacier Mint to calm down. He offers one to the disconcerted hoodie who snatches it and shoves it in his mouth. The hoodie feels the room start to swirl and a strange sensation of floating bliss sweep over him.
- to be continued
part 1
Ben has been visiting London in order to consult with Professor Dixby Leam of Royal Holloway on some archaeological finds he has discovered. Sitting in his hotel room that night he decides to check out the area's gay club , the Pink Dragon, which he'd discovered via the internet before making the trip.
Leaving the hotel, Ben is walking through the dark London side-streets when he is confronted by three hoodies with knives who push him against a wall:
"Wallet"
One of the hoodies mumbles in a mono-syllabic way. Ben is infuriated:
"No, I'm not giving you my wallet. And if I were you I'd put those knives away and shove off."
The hoodies snigger:
"Dude thinks he's clever yeah. How bout we cut 'im?"
"Yeah man . Slash 'is pretty face up"
However Ben leaps forward and makes some clever judo moves, knocking knives out of their hands and decking one of them. One hoodie pushes back at Ben and they both crash into a door, smashing it open and falling through. Looking up, Ben sees that they have fallen into a room full of men dressed in strange robes and hats, with long-flowing gowns. Incense is burning and there is an altar with chanting men kneeling beside it.The other hoodies run off as Ben and his attacker are surrounded by the figures in the room, who seem to hold Ben in awe. They close the broken door.
"It is Johannan. He has returned from the dead".
One shouts,
"No. But the resemblance is almost perfect" another says.The hoodie rubs his head as Ben gets up and and asks who they are:
"We are the exiled knights of Lord Johannan of Ancrazar. Our planet is being ruled by the usurper King Ansol , cousin of Johannan. When we came to this planet, our teleport machine malfunctioned and Johannan was killed. However we can now return to Ancrazar and free our world from the tyrant."
"Er how exactly?" Ben asks bemused:
"Because you well make a perfect substitute Johannan. We have repaired the teleport and can return and prepare for battle. We offer you the chance to be King of Ancrazar. And your associate can become a Lord of the Round Table.
The hoodie groans and says he wants to "naff off arht of 'ere".
"And what if we refuse your 'offer'?"
Ben asks:"We would have no choice but to cut your throats"
the medieval garbed alien replies coldly.
Ben is angry but conceals this and has a Fox's Glacier Mint to calm down. He offers one to the disconcerted hoodie who snatches it and shoves it in his mouth. The hoodie feels the room start to swirl and a strange sensation of floating bliss sweep over him.
- to be continued
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