Hello all!

This week I posted 2 versions of the reading, to both help those of you who struggle with the reading and to satisfy the craving for a more poetic version that some of you seek. You only need to read ONE version. Both will get you the information you need. 

I will also post some fun videos that explain specific aspects of the epic poem. The videos are NOT required; they are a resource you can choose to use.

DO REMEMBER TO WRITE 2 JOURNALS this week (10 min each).

Finally, there will be a new NoRedInk assignment opened on Tuesday. This is also supplemental. Yes, most of you need grammar instruction. However, you have a lot of other things to manage, so if you have to skip something, you could always go back and "master" any topic you choose later (or even in the summer).

REMINDER: review the calendar every week, to keep you on track (just like when we were in the classroom!)

This week: there is an OPTIONAL review sheet, for those of you who like to organize your thoughts on paper, for Books 9-12. Don't submit it, but you can ask questions via email if something occurs to you that you need to clarify.

Begin your JOURNALS. These are meant to develop personal connections to literature and to help you stay in the habit of writing reflectively on a regular basis. READ THE DIRECTIONS. It saves you a lot of time, in the long run, if you read carefully the first time (life lesson!!). If you have further questions, once you have tried a few of the prompts, email me. I won't post the Reflection until May 11. WRITE TWO ENTRIES PER WEEK (it's only 10 minutes per time).

We have been doing a lot of reading, analyzing/marking of text/answering questions. All this has led up to the ANALYSIS PARAGRAPH assignment that is posted on the left. Just as we do in class, I am giving you several options (6) and asking you to write on a few (2). Write them as analysis, not summary. Have a clear topic sentence and ALWAYS cite your evidence. Between Friday and Monday, revise the best of your two paragraphs, and submit ONE paragraph to turnitin.com.

There is no reading this week, only writing. I expect that you can write a paragraph in about 30 minutes at this point, which is what we were doing in class. If you are spending significantly longer than this, you need to contact me so we can talk about your process and work to reduce that time.

Clarification for Book 12 paragraph:
Write a paragraph comparing Margaret Atwood's portrayal of the Sirens with the original story. Compare and contrast paragraph with evidence. Your topic sentence should make a judgment about which is more accurate to their fearsomeness, or irony versus bewitching songs, or which is a more monstrous description, or which version is trickier, etc. It's your opinion on the two versions.
DUE 4-17

Don't forget to submit (via email) a picture of your completed hero cycle worksheet for your hero book by MONDAY, April 13. I do not expect you to have completed The Odyssey hero cycle. We will do that together later. For now, to be on track, you should submit only the book you read at home. Please remember--some books will have all 12 stages, but most will skip one or two. That is fine. You must have at least 6 clearly detailed stages to fulfill the expectations.

I have graded (given feedback in turnitin) Book 9 questions in turnitin.com and will transfer those "grades" to the gradebook on Monday or Tuesday. I am working on Book 10. Remember, the best answers always include specific details or quotes from the text to support your answer. These questions are meant to be the prewriting for paragraphs and essays we will write later this term.

WARNING: DON'T COPY YOUR FRIEND'S ANSWERS. I am getting some thinly re-worded answers that are the same. I won't call you out on it for Book 9, but I can guarantee I will not accept it for paragraphs and essays. You only learn when you own the thinking.

Hello. At this time you should be done reading Book 9, and your answers to the questions should be submitted in turnitin.com. HERE IS WHAT TO EXPECT OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS:

This week, read Book 10, and submit the questions (last page, questions 2-4) to turnitin.com by April 7. DON'T FORGET TO DO YOUR NOREDINK ASSIGNMENTS!

At this point, I have marked up the text for you on Books 9 and 10. It is YOUR turn. Show me your understanding of the character interactions and their flaws/heroic qualities.

There are two versions of Book 11 for you to read. You will mark up one version.

• If you can print, print version 1 and mark up the margins, then take pictures with your phone and email them to me. Be thorough.
• If you do not have a printer, I uploaded a second version. Make a copy of the googledoc (name it Book 11 +your first and last name) and use the highlighter and comment tools in googledocs to "mark the text." When you are finished, share your document with me via email. This is due APRIL 10. 

When we finish Book 12 next week (by April 17), we will make sure you can complete the first half of Odysseus' hero cycle (through Stage 6)--I will post an example.

I will also post a couple fun, short videos about The Odyssey. We will then take a week to review your understanding of the Odyssey story and write paragraphs.

You will be submitting written paragraphs for a grade at the end of that week.
As always, read the directions thoroughly, then ask me questions via email if you get stuck (sooner is always better!). Don't give up and don't wait until the last minute. I am here to help.