January 2014

The Odyssey

The Odyssey Essay (40 Points) is due on Thursday, January 9, 2014 by 11:59 PM.  The assignment is listed below.

You will choose one of the topics to use as an essay topic.  Your response must be typed in MLA format and should  be approximately three pages in length.  You must have a Works Cited page as the last page of your document – This is not part of the three page limit.  The paper is to be submitted to turnitin.com.  Please attempt to upload your document in order to keep the MLA formatting.  If you use the cut and paste option, you must also print out a copy of your paper. 

• Some readers contend that Odysseus is not truly heroic because of the ample assistance he receives from the Gods, especially from Athena.  In a well-developed essay, be prepared to write about whether or not you agree or disagree with this assertion.  Use specific evidence from the epic to support your position.

• The hero Odysseus often relies on duplicity, guile, and deceit to achieve his ends.  Thus, a message of The Odyssey is that tactics which involve dishonesty are valuable if used to achieve desirable outcomes.  In a well-developed essay, be prepared to defend, challenge, or qualify the validity of this message.  Use evidence from your reading, observation, and experience to support your position. 

• Some works of literature present a clear picture of the values and attitudes of culture.  From reading of The Odyssey, what can you infer about the personality traits that were admired and valued in ancient Greek culture as embodied in the hero, Odysseus?  In a well-developed essay, write about at least two of these traits, and explain how they contribute to an understanding of the Greek culture of Homer’s time. 

Format:

• 12 Font, Times New Roman, Double-Spaced
• Your Name, My Name, Period, Date in upper left-hand corner
• Approximately 3 pages in length
• 1 inch margins
• Formal Language – No “You,” No Contractions, No Conversational Tone
• Examples from The Odyssey must be used to support your thesis statement! Remember the proper documentation format! Yes…that means quotes are to be used in the response.  If you paraphrase a scene in your own words, you must also properly document.  
• Always have an appropriate blend of quotes, paraphrased material, and analysis/commentary.   
• Documentation format for this poetic form of the epic is as follows:  (Homer Book. Line #) à (Homer X. 10-15).

Vocabulary

 

Unit 3 Vocabulary Test (20 Points) will be given on Tuesday, January 14.  Please prepare for it by studying the words.  This includes synonyms, antonyms,  definitions, etc. 

http://www.sadlier-oxford.com/vocabulary/iwords.cfm?sp=student&level=D

http://quizlet.com/206838/sadlier-oxford-vocabulary-workshop-level-d-unit-3-flash-cards/

 

World Mythology Presentation

 

Instructions for this project will be given to you upon your return from break.  You will be working on this presentation during the week of January 6th and will begin presenting during the week of January 13th.  This presentation will  be the last grade of the marking period. 

 

Exam Preparation

 

I will be giving you a review sheet on Friday, January 17.  In the meantime, you should begin to gather your notes and PowerPoint presentations from the first two marking periods.  I will be returning old tests and quizzes in order for you to use them for studying purposes.