Odyssey Narrative Assignment For this assignment you will adapt a scene from the Odyssey and create an original narrative based on that scene. Much in the way that O Brother, Where Art Thou? selected and transformed details from Homer s epic (e.g. Polyphemus as Big Dan Teague, or the cattle eaten by the crew at Thrinacia as killed by Baby Face Nelson), you will select and transform details for your own story. To get started on your narrative adaptation, first select your scene and think about a different time and place in which you can set that scene. For example: Original Scene: Odysseus goes to the Land of the Dead, filled with ghosts, to hear a prophecy from the blind prophet Tiresias. New Scene: Ollie visits a dangerous alley way, filled with shadowy figures, to get advice from an old, blind homeless man. Once you have chosen the scene you will adapt and the new setting, think about how you will transform the details from the original to fit your new narrative. Requirements Your narrative should incorporate: 1.! A clear connection to an episode in the Odyssey through selection and transformation of details. 2.! A clearly defined narrator (first-person I-as-Protagonist, third-person omniscient, etc.) 3.! Clearly defined plot elements a.! Exposition (characters and setting) b.! Conflict (external, internal, or both) c.! Rising Action d.! Climax e.! Falling Action f.! Resolution (consider a resolution that reflects on the experiences of the characters) 4.! Dialogue that demonstrates character personalities and motivation. Remember that all dialogue must have a purpose! 5.! Precise language and description. Eschew generalizations like beautiful or terrible in favor of description that evokes beauty or terror. 6.! Figurative language. The best way to do this is in your descriptions (see requirement #5). 7.! At least two pages formatted using MLA guidelines (typed, double-spaced, Times New Roman 12pt font, MLA heading, title) 8.! The rubric (attached to this packet) stapled to the final version. Submission and Grading You can earn up to 50 points for this assignment. It is due the day of your exam and will constitute 50 of the 150 possible points of your final exam. You can earn 5 extra credit points for submitting your narrative prior to the date of your final exam. Materials in Packet!! Plot Chart!! Dialogue Punctuation Rules and Practice Handout!! Grading Rubric
Name DIALOGUE RULES, WORKSHEET, AND WRITING ASSIGNMENT What is dialogue? It is conversation between characters in a story and is very important to add interest to the piece and to move the plot forward. There are some rules to dialogue, however, that you want to make sure you know. Dialogue Rules RULE #1: A direct quotation begins with a capital letter. Jimmy shouted, See you at the game! Is it true?" asked Cindy. RULE #2: When a quotation is interrupted into two parts with words like he asked or the teacher demanded, the second part begins with a lower case letter. What are some of the things, Mrs. Baskin inquired, that make school so much fun? One thing I like, replied Sarah, is recess! RULE #3: When writing dialogue, all punctuation marks at the end of the quotation go inside the quotation marks. Let's visit the museum, suggested Samantha. Jon replied, Didn't we go there last weekend? But when we did, Beth added, we didn't see the Ancient Egyptian exhibit. RULE #4: Do not put a period at the end of a quotation followed by things like she said, mom asked, he explained, etc. Use commas, question marks, and exclamation marks but not periods. Periods end sentences. My Algebra class is driving me crazy! Paul yelled. That's my favorite class, Becky replied. RULE #5: Make a new paragraph (indent) when a different person begins to speak. "Last night, I dreamt that I ate a giant marshmallow," Kevin said. "Was that anything like the dream you had about eating your way through a mountain of fruit cocktail?" asked Suzy. "Scarier," Kevin explained. "This time I woke up and my pillow was gone." OTHER REMINDERS: -Always make it clear who is speaking in the dialogue. -Try to avoid using the word said repeatedly.
Name Writing Dialogue Worksheet Directions: Please read the following piece. You will rewrite it, correcting the dialogue. Feel free to use the remainder of this side of the sheet and the back of this sheet to rewrite the conversation. I love to go to the movies Cameron said but there is nothing good showing at all I know Marcie replied it is crazy how many silly romantic comedies they churn out tell me about it Cameron exclaimed if I see one more stupid Kate Hudson/Matthew McConaughey puke-fest I will personally poke my eye out with an ice-pick and perform my own lobotomy I think that may be a little bit outrageous Marcie pointed out but I can get behind the sentiment my big beef, though, is the atrocious horror movies lately what happened to scaring us rather than grossing us out would you rather go out to dinner tonight Cameron asked sounds like a plan Marcie agreed they left to go to the corner deli, walking arm in arm.
Odyssey Narrative Grading Rubric Requirements 8-10pts 5-7pts 1-4pts 0pt Narrative adapts an episode from the Odyssey Narrative clearly demonstrates a connection to an episode in the Odyssey through selection and transformation of details; student has indicated the original and new scenes on the lines below. some connections to the original episode through selection and transformation of details, but they could be stronger; student has indicated the original and new scenes on the lines below. very few connections to the original episode through selection of details; student has indicated the original and new scenes on the lines below. Requirements 4-5pts 2-3pts 1pt 0pt Narration Organization/Plot Elements Dialogue Description and Figurative Language Rubric MLA Style Conventions Two Pages clearly defined style of narration with appropriate amount of narrative power. strong organization and incorporates all elements of plot; each is fully developed. t least 5 individual lines of dialogue with appropriate punctuation and creative dialogue tags; the dialogue serves to reveal character motivation or drives the plot forward. Narrative uses rich sensory detail and description to paint a picture for the reader; author uses ample figurative language to achieve this effect. Narrative is submitted with this rubric attached. There are only 1-2 errors in MLA style, and the narrative includes a title. Writer makes no errors in grammar or spelling that distract the reader from the content. Narrative spans over at least two full pages. clearly defined style of narration, but the narrator occasionally demonstrates narrative powers outside of narrator s constraints. an organizational pattern and incorporates most elements of plot; some elements could be more fully developed. Narrative incorporates 3-4 individual lines of dialogue with appropriate punctuation and dialogue tags; the dialogue reveals something about character motivation or drives the plot forward. Narrative includes sensory detail and description, though they could be stronger; author uses some figurative language to achieve this effect. There are 3-5 errors in MLA style; the narrative may not include a title. Writer makes 1-2 errors in grammar or spelling that distract the reader from the content. Narrative is less than two pages but spans over more than one full page. narrator, but that narrator may step out of narrative constraints and/or the narrator inexplicably changes mid-story. a loose organizational pattern, but it could be stronger; many elements of plot are missing. Narrative incorporates 1-2 lines of individual dialogue with appropriate punctuation and dialogue tags; the dialogue reveals something about character motivation or drives the plot forward. Narrative includes very little sensory detail and description; author uses little to no figurative language. There are 6 or more errors in MLA style; the narrative may not include a title. Writer makes 3-5 errors in grammar or spelling that distract the reader from the content. Narrative is less than one full page long. Narrative in no way connects to an episode from the Odyssey. Narrative does not incorporate a clearly defined narrator. There is no organizational structure present in the narrative and/or the elements of plot are not present. Narrative does not include dialogue. Narrative includes neither description nor figurative language. The narrative is not submitted with this rubric attached. There is no evidence that the narrative is formatted in MLA style. Writer makes more than 6 errors in grammar or spelling that distract the reader from the content. No narrative is submitted. Total: Original Scene: New Scene: