Week 6 Syllabus: April 29

LAST WEEK WE WRAPPED UP OUR READING of Homer’s Odyssey with a careful analysis of book 23, the reunion of Penelope and Odysseus. I collected and graded your annotations. We also practiced acting techniques (especially oral performance), emphasizing projection, pace, and pitch—performing aloud their “bed scene,” wherein Penelope tricks Odysseus into thinking she has destroyed their marriage bed. This week, scholars will finish planning for an essay on Homer’s Odyssey, and will finish filming their performance of a children’s play that explains a key ancient Greek myth (Pandora & Cupid, or Eurydice & Orpheus).

TUESDAY, April 28

• Starting class with our 20 minutes of SSR.

• Right now, we have several moving parts, or projects that we are completing prior to finals. They include:

  • Finishing worksheet on book 23;

  • Completing a writing assignment on Homer’s Odyssey;

  • Studying and performing in Instagram-fashion a short children’s play about a myth;

  • Planning a short, oral presentation about your independent reading.

• Moving into acting troupes and then performing/recording your play. Some tips:

  • When recording, get close. The most difficult part of recording is getting the audio right. Getting close solves this problem.

  • When possible, have performers jump into the action, instead of stopping-and-restarting. Recording line-by-line will become an editing nightmare.

  • Remember, fun > perfection. This is not a polished, memorized performance. You can rely on your scripts like Professor Wilson does.

  • Costuming and props should contribute to the fun, not get in the way of it. It does NOT have to be done in one way. Get creative!

• In partners, reviewing your annotations and homework for books 13-18.

• HW: Study for the quiz tomorrow. It will cover books 13-18, and will be twice as long as our previous quizzes.

WEDNESDAY, May 1

• Today actors will finish shooting, re-shoot, and edit their instagram-esque performances of their assigned Greek myth.

• HW: Obtain your copy of “Romeo & Juliet” to class on Friday. We may have time to read the prologue and start our work on the play.

FRIDAY, May 3

• Silent reading.

• Returning graded homework on Homer’s Odyssey. The only outstanding assignments for the epic poem are 1) the worksheet on chapter 23, and 2) the writing assignment we’re working on in class.

• Writing reasons and quotes for your 2¶ essay on Odysseus, and whether he is or is not a hero worth emulating.

• Finishing re-shooting and editing your Instagram performance.

• HW: Write both paragraphs for class on Tuesday. Have the PRINTED on PAPER for class, so we can proofread, out loud.