Sophomores - Work for the Week of October 1st 2012

Due Monday October 1st
Minutes: Steven W., Calvin C., Junjie X., 
Reading: Read the myth of the Sphinx found here.  Take a gander at this painting!
HW: Take notes on the cosmological, social, and psychological functions of this myth.  I will check work on Monday.
---Return Classical Mythology Today

Due Tuesday October 2nd
Minutes: Jean W., Niaz A., Sheldon L., 
Reading HW: Begin to read Sophocles' Oedipus the King through page 7 (you can find the page numbers on the right hand of the page).  We will be using an online version found here and here. We will use books in class so you do not need to print up the entire play.
HW: What is the current environment of Thebes?  How is this an "ordinary" world (as the hero's journey suggests)?  What has caused this state of the land? 

Due Wednesday October 3rd
Minutes: Kasey C., Michael I., Kermit C., 
Reading HW: Begin to read Sophocles' Oedipus the King through page 13.  We will be using an online version found here and here. 
HW:  How can you see the mystical function within this passage?  Who are Oedipus, Laius, Creon, and the Chorus?  What do you think the function of the chorus is?

Due Thursday October 4th
Minutes: Michelle B., Jared M., Umarbin S., 
Reading HW: Read Sophocles' Oedipus the King to page 29 due Friday.  We will be using an online version found here and here. 
HW: Please find 5 examples of dramatic irony in Oedipus the King.

Due Friday October 5th
Minutes: Lily L., Emile J., Robin Z.
Reading HW: Read Sophocles' Oedipus the King to page 29.  We will be using an online version found here and here. 
HW: Continue to notate examples of Oedipus' inherent duality.  Find five examples.  Please note the page and the quotation.

MONDAY OCTOBER 8TH - NO SCHOOL - CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS DAY

Due Tuesday October 9th
Minutes: Girish B., Xiaohan L., Shuxing L.
Reading HW: Read Sophocles' Oedipus the King to page 37.  We will be using an online version found here and here. 
HW: Why does Oedipus accuse his closest friend Creon of treason?  How would you characterize Oedipus accusing his brother-in-law?  Why can't Oedipus recognize that he is the source of his own problem?  Can you think of a situation where one cannot see that s/he is the source of his/her own problems?  Why do we blame others for our mistakes?  

Freshmen - Work for the Week of October 1st

Due Monday October 1st
Minutes: Christina C., Aritri D.
Reading: VII - End of Vol. II
HW: Who is responsible for the death of Justine Moritz?

Due Tuesday October 2nd
Minutes: Belle C., Abby E.
Reading HW: Please read the following article posted here.
HW: Consider the following questions in conjunction with our reading for tonight.  When does a child become an adult?  Do you agree with Nathan Brazill's sentencing?  Was Nathan, a 13-year-old at the time of murder, an adult in his actions?  Do you think that Brazill's parents bear some responsibility for their son's actions?  How much influence can parents have over their child's actions?  When is a child no longer under the influence of his/her parents?  Please write your answers in your notebook.  We will be checking your work.      

Due Wednesday October 3rd
Minutes: Nino D., Sam G.
Reading HW: Vol. III Ch. I - II (Compare Victor's health/attitude to Henry's throughout these chapters and throughout the book).
HW: Draft day!  Please bring in a draft of your perfect paragraph to class.

Due Thursday October 4th
Minutes: Talia G., Elias G
Reading HW: Vol. III Ch. III - IV
HW: 

Due Friday October 5th
Minutes: Alex H., Cindy H.
Reading HW: Vol. III,  V - VI
HW: Perfect Paragraph Due - Find a quote to support your side's argument for our fishbowl!

MONDAY OCTOBER 8TH - NO SCHOOL - CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS DAY

Due Tuesday October 9th
Minutes: Max K., Leon H.
Reading HW: Vol. III,  V - VI
HW: Find a quote to support your side's argument for our fishbowl!

Sophomores - Work for the Week of September 24th

Due Monday September 24th
Minutes: Elise Z., Andy Z., Howard W.
Reading HW: Apollo (185-93), Hermes (236)
HW: Please bring in a typed draft of a different myth for your four functions.

Due Tuesday September 25th
Minutes: Eddie A., Adirel M., Han Z.
Reading: None
HW: I'd like you to come up with a definition of the word "hero."  Please refrain from using outside resources/dictionaries.  Try to think of the distinguishing characteristics of a "hero" and some examples of who may fit the term "hero."  Is "hero" a fictional term or are there true heroes in our world?  Try to determine a meaning for this term simply using your life experience.

Due Wednesday September 26th
YOM KIPPUR - NO SCHOOL

Due Thursday September 27th
Minutes: Irena P.,Aimee R., Victor C., 
Reading: NO PDF.  JUST READ THE HERO CYCLE LINK.  MY MISTAKE.
HW: Take a gander at the hero's cycle found here As you read the hero cycle, familiarize yourself with each of the steps.  Trace the hero cycle through Harry Potter, Star Wars, the Matrix, the Lion King, or Finding Nemo.

Friday September 28th
Minutes: Cathy P., Abe L., Cheuk W., 
Reading: No reading.  Watch this video on Star Wars's George Lucas and his use of mythology and the hero cycle in his epic saga.
HW: Four Functions paper due.   Take notes on your viewing of the Lucas video for discussion in class.

Due Monday October 1st
Minutes: Steven W., Calvin C., Junjie X., 
Reading: Read the myth of the Sphinx found here.  Take a gander at this painting!
HW: Take notes on the cosmological, social, and psychological functions of this myth.  I will check work on Monday.
-----Return Classical Mythology Today

Freshmen - Work for the Week of September 24th - Freshmen

Due Monday September 24th
Minutes: Pablo B., Steven B.
Reading HW: Ch. VI - VII
HW: Final draft Perfect Paragraph Due (Major Assignment)

Due Tuesday September 25th
Minutes: Camille C., Sean B.
Reading: Read "Commonly Made Mistakes"
HW: Work on your revision of your PP considering the comments on your Sparknotes assignment and your original draft.

Due Wednesday September 26th
YOM KIPPUR - NO SCHOOL

Due Thursday September 27th
Minutes: Janet C., Michael D.
Reading: Vol. II Chapter III
Reading HW: How would you characterize the creature?  Please support your argument using substantial textual evidence.  Please note any Biblical allusions in this paragraph and their significance to the text.


Due Friday September 28th
Minutes: Sabrina C., Ahmet D.
Reading: Vol. II Chapter IV - VII
HW: Why do you think the creature feels such affection for this cottage family?  What does the story so far show us about the role of family in life?  Why does the creature crave to belong?   Please show textual evidence to prove this point.  Why does the monster contemplate the following: “Was I then a monster,” he asks, “a blot upon the earth, from which all men fled, and whom all men disowned?”  Can you think of anyone in society who might feel similar to this?  Is this a common emotion or is the creature an anomaly?  
HW: Perfect Paragraph Revision Due - Bring in with original draft in a folder

Due Monday Oct 1st
Minutes: Christina C., Abby E.
Reading: VII - End of Vol. II
HW: Who is responsible for the death of Justine Moritz?

Freshmen - Work for the Week of Wednesday Sept. 19th

Due Wednesday September 19th
Reading HW: Frankenstein Ch. I-III
HW: Notes tracing our major themes (include the page number and key quotes from the text).

Sparknotes Assignment Due!

Due Thursday September 20th
Reading HW: Frankenstein Ch. IV - V
HW: Find two reasons Why Frankenstein creates the creature.  Please find a correlating quote that proves each of these reasons.

Due Friday September 21st
Reading HW: None
HW: 2 copies of your 1st draft of the Perfect Paragraph due.

Due Monday September 24th
Reading HW: Ch. VI - VII
HW: Final draft Perfect Paragraph Due (Major Assignment)

Sophomores - Work for the Week of Wednesday Sept. 19th

Due Wednesday September 19th
Reading: Hestia (85-86), Zeus and Hera (90-92), Poseiden (121, 126-128), Hades (324-327)
HW: Please take notes on your reading as per class standards.  Trace archetypes!  I will be checking your notes in class.

Due Thursday September 20th
Reading HW: Demeter (275-288), Athena (131-133, 135-8),
HW: Begin your Four Functions Paper (Due Friday Sept. 28th)

Due Friday September 21st
Reading HW: Hephaestus (93-97), Ares (100-101), Artemis (173-4, 182-4)
HW: Please pick a myth we've read and create a draft of your four functions paper.  Get started on those drafts!

Due Monday September 24th
Reading HW: Apollo (185-93), Hermes (236)
HW: Please bring in a draft of your four functions paper.  An outline is fine, Vincent.

Sophomores - Work for the Week of Sept. 10th

Due Monday September 10th
Reading HW: None
HW: Please answer the following question: "What is a myth"?  This will be discussed in class.  No written work is expected.

Copies of Classical Mythology will be distributed today.

Due Tuesday September 11th
Reading: 1-13
HW: Which explanation of myth best matches your own?  I would like you to focus upon three ideas in this reading that strike your interest.  Please write down the page number and idea that will help us understand the importance of myths and explain why you selected this idea.

Due Wednesday September 12th
Reading: None.
HW: Visit this PDF that presents a variety of archetypes.  Then, try to identify two movies that are rich with archetypes.  Write down the two films and try to show anywhere from 6-10 archetypes in that film.  (Look for movies that have some sort of quest or journey, or follow a hero's story).  I don't require full sentences, just identification of the archetypes.

Due Thursday September 13th
Reading: 43-52
HW: Your reading includes the Greek creation myth.  Please research another culture's creation myth.  You are free to explore any culture you so choose.  Here is a wonderful list of a variety of creations myths.  Please do not simply read the Wikipedia page/web page you find.  Paraphrase the creation myth and find common archetypes.

Due Friday September 14th
Reading: 52-67
HW: Take notes on your reading.
Remember, no school Monday and Tuesday for the Jewish New Year. 

Due Wednesday September 19th
Reading: Hestia (85-86), Zeus and Hera (90-92), Poseiden (121, 126-128), Hades (324-327)
HW: Please take notes on your reading as per class standards.  I will be checking your notes on Wednesday.

Freshmen - Work for the Week of September 10th

Due Monday September 10th
Reading HW: None
HW: Please answer the following question: "What is literature?" (Please note, I did not announce this in both classes and do not expect any written homework).

Due Tuesday September 11th
HW: Read "Fat" by Raymond Carver.  If you didn't get a full copy in class you can find the reading here.

Due Wednesday September 12th
HW: Read "Popular Mechanics" by Raymond Carver.  What is the lesson of this story?
Copies of Frankenstein to be distributed today.

Due Thursday September 13th
Reading: Letters I-III
HW: Characterize three of Walton's characteristics.  Use textual evidence to support your claim.


Due Friday September 14th
Reading: Letters IV-VI
HW:


Remember, no school Monday and Tuesday for the Jewish New Year. 

Due Wednesday September 19th
Sparknotes Assignment

Welcome New Students! - The Week of Sept. 3rd - 7th

Welcome to my blog!  This website will be your source of pertinent information about our class.  This blog will include:

Nightly reading assignments

Homework assignments

Extra credit discussions

Important class announcements

PDFs of readings to be printed for class

Links to important materials

It is ESSENTIAL that you check this blog on a regular basis.  Join the site by using Google contacts (there should be a link on the top right of the page) so that you can participate in our discussions.

Your first assignment includes creating a name placard, exploring this website and posting a response to this post.  

Please include:

-Your full name (if you have a nickname or a name that you prefer that differs from my roster, please let me know)

-Three musicians/artists/bands that you enjoy listening to

-Two of your favorite televisions shows

-The last book you read

Keep the responses professional.  No room for profanity or inappropriate language on this blog.  I look forward to working with each and every one of you!  Explore the website and get a feeling for what to expect in the upcoming school year.