Hero Synthesis: Drafting Day

Re-Link to the Hero Synthesis Assignment

(this was introduced in class last Friday, 2/10

Don't believe me? Scroll down.)

Link to the Thesis Brainstorming Document

(optional. Possible helpful? But not graded)

Synthesis Rubric

Shout out to Lakethia W. for pointing out (in a spicy comment) that one had been available since January.

This one has been gently tweaked and clarified for this assignment.

Writing Workshop Day 1: Opening Brainstorm

After school today, from 3ish to 4 ish, Freshmen were invited to a Writing Workshop in which they participated in a Group Brainstorming session.

Remember, the central question in the Hero Synthesis Essay is:

Is it more important for a hero to be 

strong?

Or to be

smart?

And so students first had to stake out a position. Then, they got together with like-minded students to collect, on big papers, points for their argumentative side:

There will also be another Writing Workshop held tomorrow, after school, from 3:15-4:15.

Intro to Odyssey (Membean Minutes)

Upon arrival to class today, students took their MB Session 9 Quiz (if you were absent today, please see me to re-set your quiz).

During, and after the Quiz, I shared the following details with students, details specifically concerning the treatment of Dubious Minutes:

This is a link to the Membean Issues powerpoint.

Dubious Minutes Explanation

General Help On Membean

(Searchable Solutions Center)

If you were one of the 7th period students who

was pointedly interesting in seeing Dubious sessions,

I have sent an e-mail to Membean HQ on this very topic,

and will share what I hear tomorrow.

Then, we moved along directly to some notes introducing The Odyssey as an example of the genre called epic poetry.

Link to the Odyssey Introduction & Epic Poetry Terms
(.gslides credit Mrs. Sottek 2017)

And here is the Notes Sheet that accompanied the Slides

HW:

• Read The Odyssey: 1050-1063 The Cyclops, Polyphemous
• 1 DJ Entry to accompany
• 
  
• Membean Session 10 is on: 2/13-2/26

The Hero's Journey: Listening

Students completed a Listening Assignment in class today, on the topic of the Hero's Journey.

This is a link to the audio file from class!

And this is a link to the Hero's Journey Notes sheet from class

Students filled this out, and handed it in at the end of the period

Which means that if I don't have yours, please hand it in

Infinite Heroes. A Singular Journey.

HW: 

• Begin The Odyssey: read pgs 1044-1049
• Complete 1 Dialectical Journal Entry
• Membean Quiz Tomorrow (Session 9 just ended: 1/30-2/12)

Bonus Material: The 17-Step Hero's Cycle Diagram

Quiz #3 & Synthesis

Link to the Synthesis Essay Document
Due Friday, 2/17

Also, Mythology Quiz #3 was given today. If you were absent, please see me to make up the quiz.

Quiz Tomorrow: Study Session

Mrs. Syes hosted a rather well-attended study session over Mythology today after school:

No one got injured. I think.

The focus was basically "Mythology So Far". There was a Kahoot (Shout out to Kahoot Champion BOB Q!). Mrs. Syes then answered, with broad and full explanation, questions donated anonymously by Freshmen in attendance.

Study Tips For The Quiz:

• Refresh your knowledge of the main points of Hamilton's Introduction. Why does Greek mythology matter? What does it mean for us?
• Know the Big 12 (Olympian Gods and Goddesses). Like, really know them. We've been reading myths for a couple weeks - you should know these gods like the back of your hand.
• Here's a helpful sheet that you should've already filled out in class.
• Seriously, you should know all of the information in the above doc by now.
• 
  
• Be familiar with the important figures and stories from the Creation chapter.
• Know how to complete a (high-quality, thorough) Dialectical Journal entry
• Here's a re-link to the Powerpoint that explains this.
• Come prepared to demonstrate knowledge & understanding of the Trojan War, as well as the Fall of Troy (Chapters 13 and 14 in Mythology)
• Questions might be drawn from the chapters, the in-class lectures (see below for powerpoints), the documentary from today, or any combination thereof.

Finally, here is a pic of some of my favorite student questions from this afternoon:

Click to zoom in. Then, in the new tab, right click the image and choose 'Open Image In New Tab' for best viewing.

Fall Of Troy: Fact or Fiction?

Today, students (hopefully) enjoyed a rare English-class opportunity:

We watched a PBS Documentary: "Secrets of the Dead"

This show examined multiple perspectives on whether or not the city of Troy, and the fabled Trojan Horse, were FACT, or just MYTH.

This is a link to the Listening Note-Taking Sheet from class. And just so you know: this document was turned in, for a grade, at the end of class. So if I don't have yours, you don't have a grade.

No, I cannot post the video online. I had to purchase it from YouTube, which means re-posting it for free is copyright infringement.

HW:

• Quiz tomorrow on Mythology. Everything we've covered is fair game, as well as the 4 Major Heroes (Jason, Perseus, Theseus, and Hercules), The Trojan War, and The Fall of Troy.