Making Sense of Myths: Explanation

Name: _________________________________________ Class Period: _______
Standard Freshman English: MAKING SENSE OF THE GREEK MYTHS

EXPLANATIONS OF THE RUBRIC REQUIREMENTS

1. Use your Writing Notebook using two facing pages for each entry.
2. Be thorough in your written responses, using plenty of specific references to the text. No response should be less than 100 words (1/3 page typed), though it is detailed content that will determine your grade.
3. Also, choose a passage from the text for each myth and copy it down accurately on the page to the left in your notebook.

LEFT SIDE: QUOTATION FROM THE TEXT	RIGHT-HAND SIDE: FROM YOUR MIND Be specific and detailed in your answers, referencing text.
Quote that relates to at least one of your sentence starters	1: Prometheus Record your reactions using all 4 of these sentence starters. Give detailed answers using references to the text 1. What bugs me about this myth is ...... because.... 2. I wonder if... 3. I wonder why... 4. Why ..........(this) matters is ... (the "So what?")
Quote(s) helping to substantiate what Cyclopes are like.	2: Cyclopes (read pages 69-72 only) Choice #1:Acrostic: Using the word Cyclopes write phrases related to this group of monsters Choice #2: *Brainstorming:* Write all the things that come to your mind when you think of this theme Choice #3: Outstanding artistic sketch: Draw a picture of a Cyclopes. Be careful, I'm expecting high school caliber art.
Quote that gives an overview of what the myth is about.	3: The Trojan War Paraphrase: Summarize the story of The Trojan War using your own teenage vernacular. Make sure you include major events.
Write a quote that relates to your answer.	4: Helen Girls: (1) What qualities of Helen would you like to have and why? (2) What qualities of hers do you think would be important to avoid and why? (3) What do you think was Helen's biggest handicap and why? (4) What qualities of hers do you think you might have? Boys: (1) What qualities of Helen make her so desirable? (2) What are the biggest problems a man could have in falling for a gal like Helen? (3) What qualities do think would be the most important to you in choosing someone to marry?
Write some quotes that explain what Theseus is like.	5: Theseus Choice #1: Compare Theseus to any other mythological character's strengths and weaknesses. Choice #2: What is one of the messages from this myth. Substantiate your answer with examples from the text.
Write some quotes that explain what Perseus is like.	6: Perseus Choice #1: Compare Theseus to any other mythological character's strengths and weaknesses. Choice #2: What is one of the messages from this myth. Substantiate your answer with examples from the text. Choice #3: What characteristic of Perseus most impresses you and why? Give examples of how he used this characteristic in his life.
Write some quotes that explain what Tantalus's problems were.	7: Tantalus Choice #1: Rewrite the story of Tantalus in a teenager's vernacular. Choice #2: Explain Tantalus's greatest weakness and how it led to his destruction.
Quote(s) helping to substantiate what Midas is like.	8: Midas Choice #1: Compare Midas to Tantalus. How are they both similar? What did they both want? What are their differences? Choice #2: *Brainstorming:* Write all the things that come to your mind when you compare yourself to Midas. Make two columns, one for things you have in common and one for things you do not have in common.
Quote(s) related to the major problem Arion faced.	9: Arion Choice #1: Write a short play based on this myth Choice #2: Explain the lesson taught in this myth.