March 31st- Tuesday

1. After we take our Oedipus Rex quiz, we will be working on some specific EOC skills where we are demonstrating some weakness.

2. Go to USA Test Prep. http://www.usatestprep.com

Log in to your account. Under your assignments, you will see the assignment "EOC practice skills 3.31.15". Please complete these four blocks of questions before class on Thursday.
Remember, they report back to me.

Class today... March 30th

We will be practicing EOC writing in combination with Oedipus Rex. 
1. First examine the writing rubric/scoring guide for the test. Writing Rubric
Look at the 4 point column. This is what you will need to demonstrate on the test.

You will be answering the following prompt:

In the parados of Oedipus Rex, what do you feel is the most significant theme addressed and why do you think Sophocles begins his play with this theme?

2. Open up Google Docs and sketch out a rough outline for this response. Once you are done with the outline, please begin your essay.

Small group discussion day- 

As you discuss the following questions, take effective notes on the concepts discussed. 

Remember the 4 expectations of group work: 1. Everyone participates productively 2. Address the assignment, only  3. Each individual is responsible for the material covered during group discussion. 4. Think of Mrs. rationale for doing this assignment... and also doing it in this format. 

Prologue

1. What does Oedipus do that shows he is trying to be a good king?

2. Why is there hope that Oedipus can solve the

    troubles in Thebes?

3. What are the problems of Thebes compared to?

4.  What does Creon know about the problem in Thebes?

     Who told him?

Parados

Summarize Strophe 1,2,3 and Antistrophe 1,2,3.

Strophes and Antistrophes are used to pose questions, problems, solutions and consequences that must be considered by the people/characters/audience.

1.  What problems are presented?

2.  How do the strophes and antistrophes affect the setting or atmosphere?

3.  Who are the people calling on to solve their problems?

4.  Why is it important that Oedipus walks in during Antistrophe 3?

5. What literary devices are being employed in the Parados? How are they being used?

Use the following questions to help guide your examination and analysis of the Parados... you will need to be able to do this independently. 

      1. What roles do the Gods play in the Parados/Stasimon? 

      2.  In what ways is it responding to what has just happened in the previous episode? 

      3.  How are the needs of the chorus members/citizens different from the characters in the episode?

      4.  What figurative language is being used and how? Metaphor? Similes? Personification? 

      5.  What is the Parados/Stasimon's major theme and/or argument? 

      6.  What other literary elements do you see and how are they being used? 

      7.  Structure: Can you determine the strophe? antistrophe? epode? Remember the concept of the sonnet? The quatrains/sestets/couplets? They derive from the Greek Chorus. Not only does the structure get fragmented, you will see the meaning shift. 

Now that we know that Oedipus killed Laius before the play begins, I want you to look back at the prologue and, in your notes, put examples of IRONY... Verbal, Situational, and Dramatic. 

Class today: March 26th

1. You will need the following information on tragedy structure in your notes. We will be using this to start examining the choruses. 

Typical Structure of a Tragedy

1. Prologue: A monologue or dialogue preceding the entry of the chorus, which presents the tragedy's topic.
2. Parode/Parados (Entrance Ode): The entry chant of the chorus, often in an anapestic (short-short-long) marching rhythm (four feet per line). Generally, they remain on stage throughout the remainder of the play. Although they wear masks, their dancing is expressive, as conveyed by the hands, arms and body.usTypically the parode and other choral odes involve the following parts, repeated in order several times:
   
   1. Strophê (Turn): A stanza in which the chorus moves in one direction (toward the altar). Expresses a complete thought. Travels East to West. 
   2. Antistrophê (Counter-Turn): The following stanza, in which it moves in the opposite direction. The antistrophe is in the same meter as the strophe. Another complete thought. Chorus travels West to East. 
   3. Epode (After-Song): The epode is in a different, but related, meter to the strophe and antistrophe, and is chanted by the chorus standing still. The epode is often omitted, so there may be a series of strophe-antistrophe pairs without intervening epodes.
3. Episode: There are several episodes (typically 3-5) in which one or two actors interact with the chorus. They are, at least in part, sung or chanted. Speeches and dialogue are typically iambic hexameter: six iambs (short-long) per line, but rhythmic anapests are also common. In lyric passages the meters are treated flexibly. Each episode is terminated by a stasimon:
4. Stasimon (Stationary Song): A choral ode in which the chorus may comment on or react to the preceding episode.
5. Exode/ Exodos (Exit Ode): The exit song of the chorus after the last episode

2. After you have the above notes in your own notes. I want you to first identify the Parados...Stasimon(s)... and Exodos in Oedipus Rex. You may mark them lightly with pencil in your book, but also have the line numbers in your notes. 

3. Then return to the Parados. Read through the Parados carefully. Greek choruses often express the fears and hopes of the ordinary citizens, while often also voicing judgment of the characters. 

Use the following questions to help guide your examination and analysis of the Parados... you will need to be able to do this independently. 

      1. What roles do the Gods play in the Parados/Stasimon? 

      2.  In what ways is it responding to what has just happened in the previous episode? 

      3.  How are the needs of the chorus members/citizens different from the characters in the episode?

      4.  What figurative language is being used and how? Metaphor? Similes? Personification? 

      5.  What is the Parados/Stasimon's major theme and/or argument? 

      6.  What other literary elements do you see and how are they being used? 

      7.  Structure: Can you determine the strophe? antistrophe? epode? Remember the concept of the sonnet? The quatrains/sestets/couplets? They derive from the Greek Chorus. Not only does the structure get fragmented, you will see the meaning shift. 

4. Read lines 573-954 for Friday. 

Class today: March 24th

1. Review Aristotle's conventions of tragedy... Parts and Elements (Notes and handout).
Make sure you have Aristotle's definition in your notes... and know it well.
Tragedy isn't tragedy because it is sad... tragedy is tragedy because of the fall someone encounters because of a tragic mistake they make.. (being sad can be the response to this fall).

2. Read and take solid notes on the following link on Sophocles' life and works. Sophocles and His Tragedies

3. You have read lines 1-244 in Oedipus Rex. Check your comprehension of the opening of this play by answering the following questions:

     - What does Oedipus say in his opening lines that indicates that there is trouble in Thebes?
     - Who does Oedipus chose to speak for the people? What is significant about this man?
     -  What are some powerful phrases that this man uses to describe the situation in Thebes?
    - How did Oedipus become king?
    -  In this opening plea by the citizen, what do we find out about how Thebes feels about Oedipus?
    -  What does Oedipus explain he has done to determine the answer to what is plaguing Thebes?
   -   However, Oedipus shows some concern with this... what is he worried about?
    -   What is Apollo's command?
   -    Whose murder must be avenged?
  -      What was the reason this man left Thebes?
   -     Who convinced the Thebean people to not track down the killer?
-    What does Oedipus vow to do?
   -   In walks the chorus to deliver the PARADOS (first chorus), what do you feel is the tone of this chorus?

4. For Thursday, read lines 245-570... Take good notes.

5. Quiz on THURSDAY...  Aristotle... Sophocles... Oedipus lines 1-570.

For Tuesday, March 24th

Read the introduction to Greek Drama. Also read the intro to Oedipus Rex. In the box... Only read the Riddle of the Spinx section. Start reading Oedipus up to the first chorus concludes. 

Schedule for the week of March 9-13

Monday: Reading day... get ready for presentations and quiz

Tuesday: Quiz over Plato: Apology, Republic Book X, "Allegory of the Cave", notes over Plato from online links and PowerPoint. 

Thursday/Friday: Non fiction presentations... remember to dress up! 

Non Fiction Independent Presentations

1st Hour:

THURSDAY                FRIDAY
 Katie                           Will
Kira                              Tanner  
Maggie                        Tye
Ethan                          Ashton
Gabby                        Dennis
Connor                       Rylie
Morgan                      Natasha
Dawson                      Sam
Hannah
Kyle
Abby
Kiara

5th Hour:
THURSDAY              FRIDAY 
Garrett                            Liz
Kirsten                            Deion
Alex K.                           Nathan
Molly
Alex O.
Aimee
Rachel F.
Chelsey
Caroline
Xander

6th Hour:
THURSDAY                FRIDAY
Clarisse                         Nia
Brice                              Halle
Divine                            Ike
Maddy                           Sully
Miriam                          Isabel
Jordan                           Michael
Parker                           Gabby
Ben                               Jessica
Kylea
Davis
Zach
Daniel
Claire
Natalie
Hannah

For Monday

Book 10- Republic

Read up to "Quite so..  Recited in simple prose"

Class today: March 4th

1. Review/discuss non-fiction presentations.
Look at your introductory notes on Philosophy and Plato...
Think about the definition of philosophy...
Review the definition of IDEALISM..
2. Read and take notes on the following link introducing Plato: Introduction to Plato
3. Read... ponder... reflect on the following link which discusses Plato's famous Allegory of the Cave: Plato and Idealism
4. Watch the following video discussing the differences between Plato and his student Aristotle.. focus in on the Plato discussion for now.. we will be getting to Aristotle shortly..  jot down some notes..
Plato V. Aristotle
5. Read Plato's Apology in your textbook...

Non-fiction/Informational Text Presentations INFORMATION

1. In class on Tuesday (3/3) I will be handing out a helpful strategy in approaching NONFICTION or INFORMATIONAL texts.  We have addressed this earlier in the class when we have spoken about reading the introductory information before a literary work.. i.e. Ancient Greek introduction, India introduction, etc. I have given you strategies to read such texts and manage its material through annotations and Cornell notes. I wanted, however, to give you some additional help before our big presentations next week.
2. Like with any text, a good reader is aware of its structures, its techniques, and the purpose it is attempting to achieve.. Therefore; here are some refreshers:
Often an informational text is EXPOSITORY (purposed to explain something). Here are some features of an expository text that can help you...

I know you have heard of these terms.. but look how they are designed to enhance your comprehension. When you feel lost.. depend upon the features to help guide you..


Headings and Subheadings are not listed... but are pretty significant as Expository texts often become Argumentative texts...

Types of print: BOLD and ITALICS... UNDERLINE and CAPS.. pretty important..


Also being aware of the structure of the text and what it is trying to achieve can become quite helpful for the reader. When the information becomes confusing or difficult... identify its STRUCTURE.. and it can provide the purpose of what the author is trying to achieve. Let this be your guide.

Is the author describing something? What? Why?

Is the author demonstrating a problem and proposing a solution?

How are things related? Do these comparisons help you understand a difficult concept better?

Why does the author chose to tell the events in this order?

This delves into more traditional 'textbookesque'/ articles.. This shows how to summarize small sections of text.. This can be a good strategy to help you manage the material as you are bringing it in..

What about AUTOBIOGRAPHIES/BIOGRAPHIES?
HOW DO WE ANALYZE AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY? 
For the most part, we use the same tools we use in fiction, although we might apply them in a slightly different way. The following are some of the possible critical approaches you might use:
1. Wordplay and Imagery: How do specific language choices reveal something about how the writer wants to make sense of experiences? Or how s/he wants to define his or her self?
2. Intertextuality: This is a fancy word for the idea that any given text contains in it references to other texts
3. Narrative, Structure: A writer makes choices about what to include, what to exclude, how to arrange events, and what degree of emphasis to give to different kinds of events.
4. Language and Self-Representation: How does writing the autobiography itself become part of the process of defining the self? One rich area of study is the ways in which writers of autobiography explore the relationship between language and identity.
5. Patterns of representation: Are there patterns of association in the text that reoccur at pivotal moments? What do these patterns suggest about how the writer defines his or herself? What does it reveal about their values, assumptions, etc.
6. Ideological structures: This is related to the last item; it is really an extension of it. Every narrative depends on certain cultural, religious, or philosophical assumptions about the world, human nature, or the self. Autobiographies often explore conflicts or tensions in these assumptions.
7. Gaps and Slippages — In autobiography, there are sometimes gaps in the facts, or places where there seems to be a contradiction or an inconsistency in the image of the self or the representation of events.