Weeks 6-11

Mon 10/1 (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 10/2 or W 10/3 (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 10/4 or Fri 10/5: (L) Writing assignment on "The Red Convertible" due

• Essay topic and directions are posted here

  • • Please note that this is a graded assignment

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

  • Sample "Cell One" para

  • Introduction to The Odyssey

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

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

• Make sure you have the Fitzgerald translation

  • • 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 10/9 (S): Read and take notes on The Odyssey, Book 2

• • 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 10/10 or Thurs 10/11 (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 10/12 (S): Read and take notes on Odyssey, Book 6.

Mon 10/15 (S): Read and take notes on Odyssey, Book 7.

Tu 10/16 or Weds 10/17 (L): Read and take notes on Odyssey, Book 8.

Thurs 10/18 or Fri 10/19 (L): Read and take notes on Odyssey, Book 9.

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

  • Or click here

Mon 10/22 (S): NO SCHOOL

Tu 10/23 (S): NO SCHOOL

Weds 10/24 or Thurs 10/25 (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.

  • Make a list of the mechanical errors you made in this 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 editing of the paragraph is fine

    • Make sure all mechanical errors in the paragraph are fixed

• Post your list of mechanical errors and your re-written para 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 10/26 (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 10/29 (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)

  • Practice In-class essay:

    • Please note that I've moved the practice essay to Tuesday. It is, however, possible to do the practice essay over the weekend if you prefer. If you're confused, however, please know I'll explain how to do the assignment in class on Monday.

Tu 10/30 or Weds 10/31 (L): Practice essay on Book 11

• • Please post your essay here on Canvas

Thurs 11/1 or Fri 11/2 (L):

• Read and take notes on Odyssey, Book 12

• In-class essay #1 on Book 12

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

  • Peruse the sample essay on Book 11 here

  • 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