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Lesson 5

We will write and revise a well-developed response that demonstrates our understanding of the characters and how xenia affects their power dynamic.

Lesson Goals

Reading and Knowledge

  • Analyze Relationships: How well do I recognize and interpret the important relationship between the concept of xenia and the balance of power between characters within The Odyssey?
  • Compare and Connect: How well do I recognize points of connection between xenia and the balance of power between characters to make logical, objective comparisons in The Odyssey?
  • Determine Meaning and Purpose: How well do I use connections among details, elements, and effects to make logical deductions about the impact of xenia and power on the characters in The Odyssey?

Writing

  • Form Claims: How well do I develop and clearly communicate meaningful and defensible claims that represent valid, evidence-based analysis?
  • Gather and Organize Evidence: How well do I gather and organize relevant and sufficient evidence to demonstrate an understanding of texts and topics, support claims, and develop ideas?
  • Organize Ideas: How well do I sequence and group sentences and paragraphs and use devices, techniques, reasoning, and evidence to establish coherent, logical, and well-developed explanations?

Texts

Core

  • Tradebook
    • The Odyssey, Homer, translated by Robert Fagles, Penguin Publishing Group, 1996
  • Unit Reader
    • “Homer on Hospitality,” Louis Markos, The Imaginative Conservative
  • Digital Access
    • “What Is Xenia?,” Greek Comix, YouTube

Materials

Tools

Editable Google Docs

Activity 1: Write

We will begin the process of writing the Section Diagnostic by reviewing the prompt and answering some guiding questions.

For this Section Diagnostic, you will write a well-developed response explaining how the concept of xenia affects the balance of power between Telemachus and another character in the first four books of The Odyssey. Your response will require an understanding of the character of Telemachus and his relationship with the second character you selected: either Antinous, Athena, or King Nestor.

In your study of the first four books of The Odyssey, you analyzed Telemachus in detail, making notes on your Character Note-Taking Tool and in your Learning Log. You also read the article "Homer on Hospitality" and watched a video on xenia.

Select a character and consider the Section Diagnostic prompt. Write down your initial thoughts. Answer the following questions:

  1. Which character will I write about?

  2. What is the relationship between this character and Telemachus?

  3. How does xenia affect the relationship?

  4. How would the relationship be altered without the principle of xenia?

  5. How does xenia impact the power dynamic within the relationship?

Activity 2: Write – Discuss

We will write an overarching claim, solicit feedback, and make improvements.

Step 1

Select the character you wish to write about with Telemachus. Using your notes and tools from Section 1, along with any relevant supplementary texts or videos, write an overarching one- or two-sentence claim.

Step 2

Exchange your claim with a partner. Ask your partner the following questions:

  1. Does this claim reflect your understanding of the power dynamic between the characters?

  2. Can the statement be improved for clarity and meaning?

  3. Is this thesis statement punctuated correctly?

Thoughtfully consider the feedback you have received, and incorporate any ideas that will improve your response.

Activity 3: Read – Discuss – Write

We will continue to improve our claim and find text evidence to support the claim.

Step 1

Using the text and supplementary materials, along with the notes and tools you have completed during Section 1, draft an outline of the textual evidence you will use to support your claim. You should support your claim from multiple places in the texts.

Step 2

Read your outline of supporting evidence aloud. Ask your partner the following questions:

  1. Does the outlined evidence support my overarching claim?

  2. Is the quoted evidence properly cited?

  3. Is there any stronger evidence available to use?

Make revisions to your claim and supporting evidence based on your partner's feedback.

Activity 4: Write

We will write a response to the Section Diagnostic.

Write a well-developed response explaining how the concept of xenia affects the balance of power between Telemachus and another character in the first four books of The Odyssey. You might focus on Telemachus’s relationship with any of the following:

  • Antinous

  • Athena

  • Nestor

In your response, be sure to do the following:

  • Form a central claim in response to the question.

  • Gather and organize strong and relevant evidence from the poem.

  • Integrate specific references and quotations using proper textual citations.

  • Use academic language and demonstrate your understanding of literary elements, devices, and terminology.

  • Use appropriate syntax, grammar, and mechanics.

Try to use a writing technique from your Mentor Sentence Journal.

Activity 5: Write – Review

We will reflect on our work on the Section Diagnostic and assess our progress toward the Culminating Task.

Step 1

Choose at least three of the questions below and respond to them in your Learning Log:

  1. How well did you take the necessary actions to prepare for the task?

  2. What went well for you during the completion of this task?

  3. What did you struggle with during the completion of this task? How did you push through that struggle?

  4. How well did you actively focus your attention during this independent task? How well did you develop and use an effective and efficient process to maintain work and materials during this task?

  5. What would you do differently during the next Section Diagnostic?

Review your Culminating Task Progress Tracker. Think about all you have learned and done during this section of the unit. Evaluate your skills and knowledge, and respond to the following question:

  1. How prepared are you to succeed on the Culminating Task? What do you need to do to succeed?

Step 2

Review the Central Question of the unit:

What does it mean to be powerful?

Use the following questions to guide a discussion with a partner or small group:

  1. What new knowledge do you have in relation to the Central Question?

  2. What are you still curious about in relation to the Central Question?

  3. What is the relationship between the question and the texts you have read so far? How do the texts shed light on the question? How does the question help you understand the texts?

  4. How has your response to the question evolved, deepened, or changed?

In your Learning Log, write your response to Question 3. You will return to this response in later lessons to examine how your understanding of the Central Question has evolved.