Ms. Gokturk
vgokturk@portnet.k12.ny.us
516.767.5868
Ms. G’s calendar: www.checkthesite.com (also known as www.surfturk.com)
Mythology Course Description
Mythology is an introductory course that focuses on the ancient Romans and Greeks. Although you will start by examining some world myths, you will spend most of the course discovering Greek and Roman gods, monsters, and heroes. From there, you will read ancient plays, learn about the heroic sagas, and then see how various schools of thought have interpreted both the myths and sagas. Finally, you will find yourself analyzing how modern writers and movie makers interpret the ancient stories, and make your own interpretation.
Required Materials
An organized, compact notebook (for ALL class notes and journal entries) to be used daily + a Folder or Binder with Hole-Puncher (for handouts)
Reading Menu [We will select from the following list]
ü Reference: Edith Hamilton’s Mythology
ü Plays: Euripides’ Medea and/or The Bacchae, Sophocles’ Oedipus the King, Aeschylus’ Agamemnon and/or Prometheus Bound, Aristophanes’ The Lysistrata, etc.
ü Modern Interpretations: CS Lewis’ Till We Have Faces (novel), Films, Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion (play), Daniel Wallace’s Big Fish (film), Oh,Brother, Where Art Thou? (film)
ü Fairy Tales
Units
World Creation and Flood Myths (Egypt, Babylonian, India, etc.)
Greek & Roman Myths (Creation, Etiological, Eschatological)
Greek & Roman Plays
Heroic Sagas (Odyssey, Illiad, Aeneid)
The Modern Myths
What am I Expected to Produce?
Grading Rationale
Everything is based on points!
ü Projects, Tests
o Most range between 100-200 points
ü Quizzes
o Reading quizzes are usually 25 points, vocabulary 50 points
ü Discussion
o Holistic grade 100 points
o Daily 4 points for contribution
ü Homework/Class Work
o Most assignments are 10 points unless otherwise noted
Extra credit opportunities exist only for those who have completed all of the required work.
ABOUT PROJECTS
· Projects are generally long-term writing/research assignments.
· Late projects will lose five points a day. Projects will most likely not be accepted after two weeks. Due dates still apply even if you were absent. Please see below in “Absences.”
· Make it a habit to check www.checkthesite.com (AKA www.surfturk.com) daily for due dates!
· All projects will be required to be submitted to www.turnitin.com or receive heavy penalties.
HOMEWORK & CLASS WORK
· HW is due the class session after it was assigned unless otherwise noted. Even if you are absent, you have access to www.checkthesite.com (AKA www.surfturk.com), so unless you were really ill, you should make all genuine attempts to complete the assignment.
· Late homework will either not be accepted or will lose points. [Late is anything after the start of the class.] Usually, it is NOT accepted.
· HW and class work will be graded on a "point" system; each assignment will be worth 5, 10, 20 or more points.
· Make it a habit to check www.checkthesite.com (AKA www.surfturk.com) daily for assignments, due dates, explanations. “I didn’t know” never works here. [I am available every morning before school to let you in the lab if you do not have Internet access at home.]
DISCUSSION: CLASS PARTICIPATION AND PREPAREDNESS
· Participation & discussion entails a number of elements, not just speaking up in class. It includes a positive attitude, discussion participation, questioning, listening attentively, punctuality, enthusiasm, attitudes towards others, being prepared for the day’s lesson/discussion, focus on task, adding to the learning community, and note taking.
· You will be given a discussion grade (1-4 points) for selected class sessions. This grade is non-negotiable and is based on the Discussion Rubric. The same applies for the Lab Grade [see handout].
LATENESS
· Late is any time after the bell rings
· Three (3) lates + one (1) hour in the tank – 1 ORP for each lateness
· More lates = more excessive tank time à then most likely detention
ORPs (Out of Room Passes)
· Get to class on time + stay the entire time = higher grade
· Here’s your extra motivation (in case you needed it): you will receive five (5) extra credit passes per marking period.
· Each is worth 5 points towards your project grade – that’s if you don’t use them.
· You use them when: a) you are late to class, b) you ask to leave the room for any reason (forgot book, water, bathroom, friend, etc.)
· ORPs may roll over to next MP if you already have an A+.
Other Stuff
Be positive, be respectful, get engaged in the conversations, be nice to each other, and have fun in a productive way. The course will be as fun (or boring) as you make it!
May the gods be with you…