Tuesday, November 30, 2010

OVID and VIRGIL

Dear Humanities Kids,

If you missed class, we completed the following:

1. Journal #10 "All Roads Lead to Rome"
The above quote is a metaphor. Tell what you think it means! What have you found interesting about the information shared with you concerning Roman culture. In addition, refer to your notations for today, and tell me what you found interesting from each section ("Constantine," "Fall of Rome," and "Pompeii"). I can't wait to hear from you.

2. We continued with our discussion concerning the architectural structure known as a "basilica."

3. We then reviewed three pieces of Roman literature;
       a. "Pygmalion" by Ovid
       b. "Edict of Milan" issued by Constantine
       c. "Cupid and Psyche" by Ovid  (we did not complete reading this in class, so it was assigned as homework)

HOMEWORK:
1. "Ithaca Personalized" is due on Friday.
2. "Quest" regarding Rome will occur on Friday.
3. Complete reading "Cupid and Psyche" for Friday
4. CER #2 is due on Friday, Dec. 17th

INFORMATION about QUEST:
1. Questions 1-10 are short answer question concerning the following topics:
              a. Coliseum
              b. Pantheon
              c. Verism
              d. Ovid and Virgil
              e. Edict of Milan/Constantine
              f. Frescoes
              g. Pompeii
2. Questions 11-20 pertain to the difference between Greek and Roman concepts concerning support systems, columns, artistic subjects, trademark forms, and preferred structure.
3. Questions 21-32 pertain to images you will see concerning Roman architecture, art, and myths.
4.  Questions 33-34 pertain to Rome's decline and Byzantium.

I hope this helps! This is the best I can do with my time constraints.

Cheers,
Crampton

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Welcome back, Humanities Kids!

Dear Humanities Students,
I hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving break! If you missed class, we completed the following:

1. Continued with our introduction to Rome. We started with discussing The Pantheon (all the gods).
2. We completed our handout regarding Roman sculpture, painting, and mosaics
3. We also reviewed Constantine's significance.

HOMEWORK:
1. Remember that your "Ithaca Personalized" is due on Friday.
2. QUIZ covering Rome will occur on Friday.
3. Please annotate/notate the information given to you today regarding Constantine, the end of the Roman Empire, and Pompeii for Wed. Please include 7-10 annotations/notations/page/using all your colors.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Welcome to Rome!

Dear Humanities Kids,

If you missed class today, we completed the following:

1. Introduction to ancient Rome. Each student received a handout that correlated to the PowerPoint used in class to discuss ancient Rome.

2. We will continue with the introduction on Monday, November 29th!

REMINDER for UPCOMING ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Don't forget that your "Personalized Ithaca" is due on Thursday, December 2nd!
2. Don't forget that your second CER is due on Friday, Dec. 17th

ENJOY YOUR THANKSGIVING!

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Preparation is the Key to Success!

Dear Humanities Kids,

If you missed class, we completed the following:

1. You were introduced to a new assignment entitled "Ithaca Personalized." In essence, I am asking you to consider what you desire most. What is your "Ithaca?" In order for you to fully understand your assignment, it is necessary for you to see some previous examples. The assignment is due on Thursday, Dec. 2nd. Please visit with me if you missed class.

2. We watched a clip from The Odyssey involving Odysseus' trickery concerning the death of the suitors.

3. We then went to the library where we answered one of the questions associated with your Odysseus Quiz. I posted the questions last time on the blog. Review them so you have some schema concerning the question you might "pull from the hat."

DO NOT MISS CLASS ON MONDAY, as we begin with the ROMAN EMPIRE!
Cheers,
Crampton

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Odysseus returns home after 20 years!



Dear Humanities Students,

I hope you valued The Iliad and The Odyssey. They respresent a strong command of language and story-telling on Homer's part, especially since the epics focus on different themes and plotlines.

If you  missed class today, we completed the following:

1. We reviewed the information introduced last time concerning The Odyssey. We watched two video clips associated with the sirens and another set of monsters, Scylla and Charybdis. I have included an image of the sirens above, and an image of Scylla and Chaybdis is located below.




2. We completed the storyboard regarding The Odyssey.

HOMEWORK:
1. You will have a quiz covering The Odyssey on Thursday. The best way to prepare for the quiz is to read pages 211-229 in your book, and to review the quiz questions below.  
2. Remember to annotate/notate the two Odyssey excerpts that I gave to you last time in class. They are due on Thursday, and you will find them helpful for your quiz.

QUESTIONS FOR QUIZ:
For your quiz on Thursday, you will "pull from the hat" and select one of the following questions concerning The Odyssey. May I make a suggestion? Review each question and develop a solid concept concerning your response. Locate examples from your book to support your points.If you do this for each one, you will do well on the quiz. Your response needs to be written using ACADEMIC VOICE (no first or second person, no passive verbs, and no contractions)

1. The concept concerning "power of cunning over strength" is a valid theme in The Odyssey. Discuss this thematic view, and the role it plays in the epic poem. Support your points with three textual examples.

2. Discuss the thematic approach concerning "identify" in The Odyssey. An explanation regarding the positive and negative effects of maintaining anonymity in contrast to identifying oneself must be part of your response. Identify three examples from your textbook or annotated texts to support your points.

3. Trace Homer's thematic approach to "appearance vs. reality" in The Odyssey. Discuss the importance of this theme to events within the epic poem. Include three examples from your book and/or annotated texts to support your response.

4. Discuss the literary element of irony in The Odyssey. Dramatic irony occurs when the audience has knowledge that characters within the story do not. Identify three examples of dramatic irony within the epic poem. An explanation as to why irony heightens the reader's interest in The Odyssey is compulsory.

5. The customs concerning "guest and host" were highly respected in ancient Greek culture. Homer clearly valued these customs, and he recognized the role of the gods if the customs were not followed. Support Homer's view by explaining and indicating three examples from your textbook and/or annotated sources.

I look forward to seeing you on Thursday!

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Our introduction to THE ODYSSEY by Homer took place today!

Dear Humanities Kids,

We completed the following today in class:

1. I gave everyone a storyboard concerning The Odyssey. We worked on completing it together in class. Images were shared indicating different aspect of the epic poem. We also watched some video clips that correlated with our class discussion.

HOMEWORK:
1. Please read pages 210-229 for Tuesday.
2. I gave each student two pieces from The Odyssey that need 8-10 annotation/notations/page/using all the colors. If you missed class, please visit with me about obtaining the readings. This assignment is due on Thursday.
3. Don't forget about CER #2 due on Dec. 17th


Have a great weekend!

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

STOP MISSING CLASS!

Dear Humanities Kids,

If you missed class, we completed the following:

1. WE TOOK YOUR TEST CONCERNING The Iliad. If you missed class, then we will need to arrange a time that you can make-up your exam.

2. We corrected the exam in class. WELL DONE! Everyone did quite well; I am proud of you!

HOMEWORK:
1. Please read pages 200-210 in your book. We will begin with The Odyssey on Friday, and this reading will give you some schema concerning the epic poem.
2. Please remember that CER #2 is due on December 17th!

I look forward to seeing you on Friday!
Cheers,
Crampton

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Dearest Humanities Kids......

We completed the following today in class:

1. Journal #8  "Aescylus' wisdom"
               "Few men have the natural strength to honor a friend's success without envy."
        The above quote has merit. Do you agree with our famous playwright? Justify your response. Have you experienced such emotions within yourself concerning a friend's success? If so, please tell me about it. How can an individual call someone a friend if they possess feelings of envy? 

2. We discussed the structure of your "Iliad" test for WEDNESDAY.
     Part 1: 25 questions pertaining to aspects associated with The Iliad or The Odyssey
     Part 2: 25 questions pertaining to actual dialogue from the epic poem. You will have 25 different quotes, where I request you to identify characters based upon underlined pronouns. The quotes come directly from your textbook. MAKE SURE YOU READ The Iliad in your textbook.(pgs. 180-200). You should have done this already.
     Part 3: You will see two movie clips from TROY. The clips are incorrect based upon the actual epic poem. I will ask you to identify three inaccuracies in each clip and then to correct them.
    Part 4:  You will see several pieces of artwork that pertain to The Iliad. I will ask you to identify characters within the pieces and to explain what is taking place within the artwork.
NOTE: PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU REVIEW THE GREEK AND ROMAN NAMES for the GODS!

3. We completed a "time-line" pertaining to events within the epic poem. This was useful  in reference to Part 1 of your test. You already have the handout in your notebook; it is "salmon" in color. Please obtain this information from someone in class.

HOMEWORK:
1. STUDY FOR YOUR ILIAD TEST!

Practice for extra-credit:
Instructions: Please identify the underlined the character based on the underlined pronoun.
1. "Priam cried out aloud to his son...do not face Achilles alone, without a friend, or fate will soon find you out. _________________ "son"
2. "Even after so many of her predictions came true, nobody believed her." ____________"her"
3. "She saw no reason to explain her act. She was no murderer, but an executioner." _______________"She"
4. "You stole the daughter of Apollo's priest, now the anger of the gods is upon us." _______________"You"
5. "She made him go mad. He thought he was killing the chieftains, but instead he was destroying the cattle." _________________"him"
6. "He sent home for her, writing his wife that he had arrange a great marriage for her."____________ "her"
7. "White a force had assembled for her."__________________"her"
8. "If I take your life, then I will keep your armor, which is the custom, but if you should take my life then I request respect for my remains." _________________"I"
9. "He appeared as a coward. As the Acheaen was hauling him off by his chinstrap, Aphrodite rescued him.
               9. _________________ "He"
               10. ________________ "Acheaen"
11. "He left Troy, carrying his father on his back. _________________"He"
12. "He made a skillful worker in wood make a huge horse which was hollow and could hold a number of men."______________"He"

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

HADEN, TRAGEN and STEWART shared their artistist abilities with us today in class!

Dear Humanities Kids,

If you missed class, we completed the following:

1.We did not have a journal entry today.

2.We completed ALL the characters on your Iliad handout. In addition, we "performed" the scene where Achilles released the body of Hector. Tragen, Stewart and Haden performed their parts well. Please visit with a friend in class to obtain the information you missed.

3. I returned your CER #1 assignment, and explained that the revision for the assignment is due on Monday. The "Revision Assignment" is NOT OPTIONAL. If you choose to complete the assignment, then 10 points will be added to your initial score. If you elect not to complete the revision, then you will receive a zero for the revision grade and your current score will remain the same.

HOMEWORK:
1. Complete the revision for your CER...due Monday!
2. Create flashcards for the characters completed today.
3. START REVIEWING for your "Iliad Quest" scheduled for Wednesday.

Enjoy your weekend!
Cheers,
Crampton
STOP MISSING CLASS, CUTE KIDS!

Monday, November 1, 2010

Continuing with The Iliad characters....

Dear Humanities Kids,

If you missed class today, we completed the following:

1. Journal #7 "Aristotle's view concerning friendship"
"A friend to all is a friend to none."
What do you think Aristotle meant by this quote? Do you agree or disagree with his philosophy? Consider your understanding of the term "friendship" in your response.

2. We continued with THE ILIAD characters by discussing Achilles, Patroclus, Hector and Andromache. Please make sure you obtain this information from a friend in class.

3. We also read from the actual epic. Forrest and Tyler did well in performing for us.

HOMEWORK:
1. Please read pages 190-200 in your Mythology text.
2. Please make flashcards for the characters discussed last time (Priam, Helen, Paris), and the characters reviewed today (Achilles, Hector, Andromache, and Patroclus). I will collect these at the beginning of class next time.

Cheers,
Crampton