Western Tradition Enrichment Project

Western Tradition Enrichment Project

1. If you choose to do this enrichment project, and do well, it will earn you an A on the semester final, and you won’t have to take the test. You will, however, have to be present in class for the exam so that you can take the vocabulary portion for data collection purposes only. It will not impact your grade.
2. This enrichment project must be started before February, and you must complete one chapter assignment every two weeks to get credit. The assignments are due on Fridays.
3. This is the project: Read Joseph Campbell’s The Hero With a Thousand Faces. At the end of every chapter, write a one page, typed, double-spaced reflection. This is NOT a summary of each chapter, but will by necessity include a lot of information from each chapter, because the information is what you are reflecting upon. However, the majority of the writing will be your own thoughts, as reflection is “careful thought” and “an idea or thought, especially one produced by careful consideration of something” which implies your reflections are new and original ideas. It should indicate a mental interaction with the text. Each reflection should, in some way, tie into the text we are reading at that particular time.
4. I hope several of you will take the opportunity to complete this project. It will be well worth your time and energy.

January 13

Freshmen: Today we continued to focus on division and classification. We read Dr. King's essay in Models for Writers about ways of meeting oppression. For your 20 minutes of reading, read the essay "The Four Types of Presidents." There will be a short quiz on it Thursday. Then, your homework is to write a division and classification essay that focuses on an interesting topic. One suggestion you may want to take is to write an essay that focuses on either different kinds of teachers, or teaching styles, here at Judge, or on different student groups, perhaps similar to what we see Melinda do early in Speak. However, remember to always be respectful in your tone and observations. You are not limited to this idea - you can write about whatever you wish, as long as you are using the rhetorical device well. This typed essay is due next block period (1/20 periods 2 and 4, 1/21 period 6).

Sophomores: We tried to finish Oedipus the King in class; if we didn't, that's your homework. Finish Chapter 8 for vocab homework.

January 12

Freshmen: Today we began studying division and classification. Finish through page 87 in the vocab and read for 20 minutes.

Sophomores: Today we continued with Oedipus the King and focused on the role of the chorus, the three types of irony we see in the text, and what an archetype is. Finish up to the start of the Third Choral Ode (page 46 in my text) for next period.

Friday, January 9

Freshmen: Today we previewed your end of the year capstone project. Mull over some ideas for this over the next few weeks. Read for 20 minutes this weekend. Be sure you have 12th Night and Lord of the Flies as well.

Sophomores: Today we began Oedipus the King. For Monday, read everything up to the start of the Second Choral Ode.

January 8

Freshmen: Today we had presentations about the Ulster Project. Read for 20 minutes tonight.

Sophomores: Today we got background on Oedipus. You are to read the Foreword and the first quarter of the introduction. Tomorrow, we will begin the play. Today I collected your Think Sheets and collected your second essay.

January 6 and 7

Freshmen: We reviewed our final exam and several assignments from last semester. Read for 20 minutes each night this week.

Sophomores: Today I collected your disclosure statements and your first essay, which was on how the traditional hero is typically portrayed in stories. We watched an interview with Joseph Campbell and Bill Moyers titled The Hero's Adventure, and took notes. Your Think Sheets and a 1-2 page typed synthesis of the interview is due tomorrow. In the synthesis, do not use a personal pronoun (I or we), and do not refer to the fact that this was something we did in class: Simply respond to the ideas the two men cover.

January 5

Freshmen: We went over your final from last semester. Read for 20 minutes tonight and Wednesday.

Sophomores: We got an overview of the course today and began our first essay. A typed copy is due on Wednesday, as is your disclosure statement. Please bring Sophocles for Thursday.