Weeks 7-11

Mon 9/30 (S): Re-read/review “The Red Convertible," thinking about the following question:

      • "Why does Lyman release the car into the river?"

        • Please don't discuss your answer with other students.

      • Please do a 300-word freewrite on "The Red Convertible" that you'll post on Canvas

        • By "freewrite," I mean just jot down ideas about the question without worrying about grammar, spelling, etc. The goal is to write quickly and fluidly--just "vomit" ideas out onto the screen.

        • Don't use bullet points; write in sentences (but the sentences don't have to be good!)

        • You can use dictation software if you'd like to experiment

      • Time for assignment: 30-40 minutes (no more!)

Tu 10/1 or W 10/2 (L): Writing workshop #2 on "The Red Convertible"

  • Link to the assignment is posted HERE

    • Also, please review the comments I gave you on your "Cell One" para

      • Make sure you understand what mechanical errors you made and that you know how to fix them.

Thurs 10/3 or Fri 10/4: (L) Writing assignment on "The Red Convertible" due

    • Please look at sample paras on "Cell One" for good examples of topic sentence and quotation analysis

      • These are posted on Google Classroom under "Classwork/Sample Essays"

    • Introduction to The Odyssey

      • Please bring the book to class, but you don't have to do any reading today.

Mon 10/7: (S) Introduction to The Odyssey

  • Make sure you have the Fitzgerald translation

  • Please study the character sheet (see attached) for a brief quiz later this week on the main characters of The Odyssey.

      • Click here for link to sheet with background info for The Odyssey.

    • Link to Odyssey character names (you'll have a quiz on these names on Weds/Thurs)

      • Below are the names that got cut off the list

          • Kirke (Circe)—a nymph with magical powers

              • Teiresias—blind prophet, now dead

              • Agamemnon—King of Argos, brother of Menelaos; led the troops to the Trojan War, now dead

              • Klytaimnestra—wife of Agamemnon, who kills him when he returns home from the Trojan War, now dead

              • Akhilleus/Achilles—greatest of the Greek warriors, now dead

              • Kalypso (Calypso)—minor goddess, daughter of Atlas; detains Odysseus on her island of Ogygia for approx. 7 years

              • Nausicaa—daughter of King Alkinoos and Queen Arete, in the land of Phaiakia

              • Aigisthos—Menalaos’ and Agamemnon’s cousin, lover of Klytaimnestra and Agamemnon’s murderer

              • Orestes—son of Agamemnon and Klytaimnestra; killed his mother and Aigisthos

Tu 10/8 (S): Read and take notes on The Odyssey, Book 1

    • Also read the brief handout below that summarizes Books 2-4

      • You can find the handout at the bottom of this page

      • OR here

    • More Odyssey materials to help you out here

Weds 10/9 or Thurs 10/10 (L): Read and take notes on Odyssey, Book 5.

    • QUIZ on Odyssey character names

    • Optional: If helpful to you, click HERE for link to Odyssey recordings.

Fri 10/11 (S): Read and take notes on Odyssey, Book 6.

  • Please mark extended similes in Book 6 (also called epic or Homeric similes) when you notice them (they often include words like "think" or "like" or "just so" or "so")

Mon 10/14 (S): Read and take notes on Odyssey, Book 7.

Tu 10/15 or Weds 10/16 (L): Read and take notes on Odyssey, Book 8.

Thurs 10/17 or Fri 10/18 (L): Read and take notes on Odyssey, Book 9.

    • Please do the attached epic simile exercise (see below)

    • Or click here

Mon 10/21 (S): NO SCHOOL

Tu 10/22 (S): NO SCHOOL

Weds 10/23, Block F or Thurs 10/24, Block C (L):

  • Read and take notes on Odyssey, Book 10.

    • Please re-read your "Red Convertible" mini-essay on turnitin.com

      • Make sure to read my bubble comments.

        • The bubble comments often have long, specific feedback on a line or section of your essay.

        • Sometimes the bubble comments contain links to sites that provide instruction on how to use punctuation or certain grammatical structures. Make sure to click on the links!

      • Also read my end comments. These are actually on the right side of your essay.

      • Note that my comments won't make much sense unless you re-read your essay

    • Do a brief re-write of one of the paragraphs according to the suggestions I made.

      • Note this doesn't have to be a total revision--just light re-writing of the paragraph is fine

      • Make sure all mechanical errors in the paragraph are fixed

    • For the para you do not revise:

      • Fix the mechanical errors and highlight these corrections in yellow

    • Clearly label which para is revised and which one only has the mechanical errors corrected, then...

  • Post the two paras here on Canvas

    • NOTE: sample essay on "Red Convertible" posted here

      • Please read the sample essay to get a sense of what I was looking for in terms of structuring paras, embedding quotations, analyzing qs, etc.

Fri 10/25 (S): Grammar:

    • Please review parts of speech

  • Read about subjects and verbs here

    • Read about direct objects in How Grammar Works (29-30).

    • Bring pink workbook to class on Friday

Mon 10/28 (S): Read and take notes on Odyssey, Book 11.

    • Scenes to focus on as you read:

      • Odysseus' encounters with Antikleia (his mother), Agamemnon, and Akhilleus (Achilles)

Tu 10/29, Block F or Weds 10/30, Block C (L):

    • Practice essay on Book 11 (Please don't look at the question until you're ready to write on it; that way, you'll give yourself better practice for the in-class essay)

    • Please post your essay here on Canvas

Thurs 10/31, Block F or Fri 11/1, Block C (L):

  • Read and take notes on Odyssey, Book 12

  • In-class essay #1 on Books 9, 10, and 12

  • Please bring your computer and copy of The Odyssey to class.

    • Peruse the sample essay on Book 11

      • This sample essay is posted under "Sample Essays" on Google Classroom.

    • Please do a freewrite on THREE of the below scenes to help you prepare for the in-class essay and post your freewrite (or practice essay) here on Canvas

      • Instructions on Canvas

    • Scenes/encounters to focus on as you prepare for the essay:

      • Polyphêmos, the Kyklops (Cyclops): pp. 150-161 (Book 9)

      • Kirkê (Circe): pp. 171-182 (Book 10)

      • the Sirens (Seirenes): pp. 210, 215-216 (Book 12)

      • Skylla and Kharybdis: pp. 211-212, 217-218 (Book 12)

      • Helios’ cattle: pp. 213, 220-222 (Book 12)

    • Optional: In-class essay writing tips