Notice to anyone who has not yet taken the vocabulary test, chapters 10-12: You have until Wednesday after school to do so. After that it will be recorded as a 0. I have been able to remind two of you, but there are others who were also absent. You are still responsible.
The tests will remain in the testing lab until Wednesday afternoon. If this is a problem, contact me ASAP. I will be here Wednesday morning, but not Wednesday afternoon. The test, however, will be there--in the testing lab until Wednesday.
Monday/Tuesday
Reading quiz on books 15-20. We will finish "O Brother Where Art Thou" if we have not yet done so. Work on projects. You will also have time to consult with me about your individual projects. Read books 21-22. Finish "The Odyssey" over the weekend. I will NOT give you a quiz on Wednesday/Thursday because your projects are due. There may be one, however, on Monday/Tuesday--one covering the end of the book.
P. S. Bring your vocabulary books to class on Wednesday/Thursday.
Wednesday/Thursday
Get ready to share what you have done, to explain the visuals and to read the letter.
Next, we will go over the vocabulary words in chapter 13. You may start that homework after that (because vocabulary will be due on Friday), or you may continue reading in "The Odyssey." Remember: you must finish "The Odyssey" over the weekend.
Friday
I will check to see that you have done your vocabulary. Continue assigned reading.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Week of February 18, 2008
You get a break on Monday--but here goes
Tuesday and Wednesday
Reading quiz on "The Odyssey" up to book 14.
Turn in. Anyone who still has to take the vocabulalry test may take it in class that day unless you have made other arrangements with me. If you need to make other arrangements, e-mail me at home: seelosen@comcast.net.
Work on projects, which are still due on Feb. 27/28 or continue reading "The Odyssey." For Thursday/Friday, books 15 & 16 will be due. Expect a reading quiz then or on Monday/Tuesday, when you should have read through book 20.
If you are good, and I mean, really good, you will begin watching "O Brother, Where Art Thou," a Coen Brothers-directed movie based on "The Odyssey," the Bible, and the American myth of the anti-hero/rebel. It stars George Clooney and the music is awesome. Look for the following elements: Elements of "The Odyssey." There is an Odysseus (with his other name, Ulysses--Ulysses Everett McGill, to be complete), who, like our hero, considers himself a great tactician. He is also obsessed with his hair and a hair product called Dapper Dan, a kind of hair gel that cannot be found any more, probably because its primary ingredient was seal oil. It probably stank. Everett and two other buddies escape prison for a supposed treasure that Everett has buried at the old homestead, a house that will soon be under water because the country is doing this in order to make all of America have access to electricity.
There is a Poseidon figure, one who is part Poseidon, part devil.
Everett is married to a Penelope, called "Penny," and she has a lot more spirit than the Greek version. She is played by Holly Hunter.
Early in the movie we meet a blind seer. Do you remember his name in Homer's version?
We also meet a Cyclops (played by John Goodman, wearing an eye patch), and some Sirens/Kirke seductresses. There are also cows. Remember Helios. And there's a guy named Menelaus. He runs a radio station, which looks a lot like a real one here on the south side of Richmond (off German School Road). Now, Odysseus in this story has daughters, rather than a single son, but it's still important for him to get back to them.
In terms of American mythology, we first meet a character called Tommy Johnson, modeled after famed blues guitarist, composer, and performer Robert Johnson, a brilliant musician who died before he was thirty (killed by a jealous spouse). Rumor has it that Robert Johnson received his great musical gifts because he met the devil at the crossroads and sold his soul in exchange for the gift. Many contemporary musicians acknowledge Johnson as their inspiration and there have been several tribute albums done in his name.
Another Amercian archetype is the gangster that we sort of root for--the anti-hero. We have a long history of this--Butch and Sundance, Jesse James, Billy the Kid, Bonny & Clyde. In this case, and because the movie takes place in the 1930s (during the Great Depression and Prohibition), it's Baby-Face Nelson.
Pappy O'Daniel is a real historical figure, based upon someone by that same name but also (probably) on famous Louisiana politican, Huey Long.
Thursday/Friday
Possible quiz on the two chapters--but more likely, finish the movie and then work on your projects--still due on the 27th and 28th (or whatever the last Wednesday/Thursday is of the month of February). There will definitely be a quiz on Books 15-20 on Monday/Tuesday, so make sure that you keep up with your reading.
Tuesday and Wednesday
Reading quiz on "The Odyssey" up to book 14.
Turn in. Anyone who still has to take the vocabulalry test may take it in class that day unless you have made other arrangements with me. If you need to make other arrangements, e-mail me at home: seelosen@comcast.net.
Work on projects, which are still due on Feb. 27/28 or continue reading "The Odyssey." For Thursday/Friday, books 15 & 16 will be due. Expect a reading quiz then or on Monday/Tuesday, when you should have read through book 20.
If you are good, and I mean, really good, you will begin watching "O Brother, Where Art Thou," a Coen Brothers-directed movie based on "The Odyssey," the Bible, and the American myth of the anti-hero/rebel. It stars George Clooney and the music is awesome. Look for the following elements: Elements of "The Odyssey." There is an Odysseus (with his other name, Ulysses--Ulysses Everett McGill, to be complete), who, like our hero, considers himself a great tactician. He is also obsessed with his hair and a hair product called Dapper Dan, a kind of hair gel that cannot be found any more, probably because its primary ingredient was seal oil. It probably stank. Everett and two other buddies escape prison for a supposed treasure that Everett has buried at the old homestead, a house that will soon be under water because the country is doing this in order to make all of America have access to electricity.
There is a Poseidon figure, one who is part Poseidon, part devil.
Everett is married to a Penelope, called "Penny," and she has a lot more spirit than the Greek version. She is played by Holly Hunter.
Early in the movie we meet a blind seer. Do you remember his name in Homer's version?
We also meet a Cyclops (played by John Goodman, wearing an eye patch), and some Sirens/Kirke seductresses. There are also cows. Remember Helios. And there's a guy named Menelaus. He runs a radio station, which looks a lot like a real one here on the south side of Richmond (off German School Road). Now, Odysseus in this story has daughters, rather than a single son, but it's still important for him to get back to them.
In terms of American mythology, we first meet a character called Tommy Johnson, modeled after famed blues guitarist, composer, and performer Robert Johnson, a brilliant musician who died before he was thirty (killed by a jealous spouse). Rumor has it that Robert Johnson received his great musical gifts because he met the devil at the crossroads and sold his soul in exchange for the gift. Many contemporary musicians acknowledge Johnson as their inspiration and there have been several tribute albums done in his name.
Another Amercian archetype is the gangster that we sort of root for--the anti-hero. We have a long history of this--Butch and Sundance, Jesse James, Billy the Kid, Bonny & Clyde. In this case, and because the movie takes place in the 1930s (during the Great Depression and Prohibition), it's Baby-Face Nelson.
Pappy O'Daniel is a real historical figure, based upon someone by that same name but also (probably) on famous Louisiana politican, Huey Long.
Thursday/Friday
Possible quiz on the two chapters--but more likely, finish the movie and then work on your projects--still due on the 27th and 28th (or whatever the last Wednesday/Thursday is of the month of February). There will definitely be a quiz on Books 15-20 on Monday/Tuesday, so make sure that you keep up with your reading.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Week 2, Quarter 3 (with revisions from last week's post)
Monday/Tuesday (week of February 11/12)
Complete books 11 & 12 from the in-class sets of Norton Anthologies. Homework: study for the vocabulary test.
Wednesday/Thursday (February 13/14)
Vocabulary test. When finished, write out and sign a pledge and turn it in.
Then begin reading books 13 & 14 from "The Odyssey." If you finish, you will have no homework or you may start considering how to approach your "Postcards" project.
Friday
Catch up on "The Odyssey." There will be a reading quiz on Books 8 - 14 on Monday/Tuesday.
Complete books 11 & 12 from the in-class sets of Norton Anthologies. Homework: study for the vocabulary test.
Wednesday/Thursday (February 13/14)
Vocabulary test. When finished, write out and sign a pledge and turn it in.
Then begin reading books 13 & 14 from "The Odyssey." If you finish, you will have no homework or you may start considering how to approach your "Postcards" project.
Friday
Catch up on "The Odyssey." There will be a reading quiz on Books 8 - 14 on Monday/Tuesday.
Friday, February 1, 2008
Week 1, Quarter 3
Monday/Tuesday
Vocabulary 12 due. Check and go over.
Review "The Odyssey" so far.
Begin reading book 8.
Hand out postcard project. Students will sign up for certain books. Explain.
Finish for homework.
Wednesday/Thursday
With the in-class copies of the Nortons, students will read chapters 9 & 10.
Homework: Vocabulary review unit--due Friday.
There will be a vocabulary test on chapters 10-12 on Wednesday/Thursday, February 13th & 14th.
Friday:
Check vocabulary homework (review unit). Go over. Begin studying for your vocabulary test.
Vocabulary 12 due. Check and go over.
Review "The Odyssey" so far.
Begin reading book 8.
Hand out postcard project. Students will sign up for certain books. Explain.
Finish for homework.
Wednesday/Thursday
With the in-class copies of the Nortons, students will read chapters 9 & 10.
Homework: Vocabulary review unit--due Friday.
There will be a vocabulary test on chapters 10-12 on Wednesday/Thursday, February 13th & 14th.
Friday:
Check vocabulary homework (review unit). Go over. Begin studying for your vocabulary test.
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