Name:
Date:
Homer’s The Odyssey
{The Final Project}
Remember those awesome projects you explored in The Fagles Resource Center? YOUR TURN!! 
Objective: The purpose of this assignment is to demonstrate your understanding and interest in a selected aspect of The
Odyssey by proposing, researching, and creating a final project with the use of current technology/resources.
Step One: Review the Essential Questions for this unit. Think about what you have learned, what you think you will continue to
learn, and what you have found interesting in our current study of The Odyssey. Choose an Essential Question that will
direct your choice of topic. Decide, too, if you will be working alone or with a group. If you choose to work in a group,
make sure you are selecting classmates who are RESPONSIBLE and ACCOUNTABLE!
Step Two: Begin preliminary research. Visit our Learning
Commons to meet with Ms. Bigioni. She will explain
research tools and strategies that will help you with your
project.
Step Three: Written Proposal due:
In a formal, written proposal, market your final project to
your English teacher. This is how you are “selling” your
project idea. The word “proposal” implies, of course, that
your project must be approved by me before you can do
it. This also leaves open the possibility that I might a) not
approve your project, or b) will require further clarification
before giving you the green light.
Essential Questions
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Why is The Odyssey still relevant in today's
society?
How is The Odyssey a classic example of an epic?
How do interactions occur between spiritual world
and those of the humans?
Why is the journey necessary?
Why is the concept of the Homeric hero
important?
How does an epic poem's structure demonstrate
its themes?
Why is The Odyssey such an important text?
Your proposal should include clearly labeled sections in a SINGLE SPACED, ONE PAGE document. (Please use the sample as
a guide!)
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
Title and Purpose: Why did you call it this? What will this project accomplish (objective)?
Explanation: IDENTIFY the ESSENTIAL QUESTION that will be answered through the project. Why did you choose this
question?
Preliminary research: What has your preliminary research revealed?
Description and justification of final project: How will you present your research? What form will it take? (see
suggestions below). Who is your audience, and how will your research serve and appeal to the audience? How
will your project demonstrate your expertise and understanding of at least one aspect (Essential Question) of The
Odyssey? WHY do it? What’s the POINT? Why should I accept it?
Technology Integration: How will you take advantage of twenty-first century? Will you be using Garage Band to
compose a song? Comic Life for your graphic rendition? Explain how you plan on integrating technology into your
project. Be aware that Notecards and a Works Cited page are already required for this project.
Organizational Timeline: How will you complete the project? How will you meet deadlines? If you are in a group,
WHO will do WHAT & WHEN? How will group members be accountable for deadlines and project responsibilities?
This should be in the form of a chart or table.
This proposal MUST be typed, neat, and professional. See the proposal rubric that should be stapled on TOP of your
proposal. ONE proposal per group, please! Please include FIRST AND LAST names.
Step Four: The Project, due:
Design and create a project that demonstrates the answer to your chosen ESSENTIAL QUESTION, showcases your personal
expertise (singing, composing, drawing, painting, writing, dancing, etc) in at least one area related to The Odyssey, and
brings closure to the unit by showing what you know. Presentation is KEY! Neatness counts!!
Think about the parts of The Odyssey that most impacted you. A character? A scene? A lesson? A major theme? Think
about your hobbies and interests outside of school. Sports? Music? Theater? Politics or current events? Cooking? Writing?
Fashion? Anything else? Now… merge the idea with your skills to create a fantastic, unique project.
You may work on your own or with a small group of students (no more than 4). The more students in a group, the more
intensive I expect your project (meaning – a group of 4 students should not submit one poster!)
Your project may concentrate on plot, character, theme, style, social, historical, or musical angles. Regardless of your
topic, your project must have a CLAIM that reflects your research! See samples below.
What is the concept of the Homeric hero?
o CLAIM: The Homeric Hero is alive and well in current cinema.
Why is The Odyssey still relevant in today's society?
o CLAIM: Modern weaponry reflects the weapons used and identified in the text.
Why is The Odyssey still relevant in today's society?
o CLAIM: Much of today’s advertising is based on the characters and ideas presented in The Odyssey.
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RESEARCH PIECE: You will attend two days in the Learning Commons where Ms. Bigioni will explain research tools and
strategies. One of these tools involves creating electronic notecards. She will also explain how to create a works cited
page. Regarding research, you are responsible for:
1.
2.
3.
creating at least 6 electronic notecards that include evidence of research from THREE sources
a works cited page (at least THREE sources, one of which is The Odyssey).
a one page, double spaced document that identifies your essential question, your claim, and your evidence,
properly cited, that supports your claim.
Whatever you do as a final product, BE ORIGINAL AND CREATIVE!! Some ideas include:
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Create an artistic representation of a scene or theme from the story. It may be a water color, oil paint, collage
materials, or any other appropriate medium. This should be accompanied by a written piece which explains WHY
you chose a particular scene, why you chose a specific medium, et cetera.
Compose a musical selection for a presentation that captures a theme or scene. It must be performance
appropriate.
Prepare a dramatic scene (with costumes and props) from the story that you will perform for your classmates.
Research and write a formal report with appropriate charts and graphics.
Create a detailed scrapbook of Odysseus’s journey home (or for Penelope’s or Telemachus’ ten-year wait).
Create a Facebook community, with pages for various characters who interact with each other.
Write and illustrate a children’s version of The Odyssey. (Warning – I get a million of these each year – make yours
stand out!!
Step Five: Self-Assessment, due:
Once your project is complete, evaluate your performance using the project requirements as a checklist (this will be
provided to you later).
Group Member(s):
Project is:
 Approved
 Approved pending revision
 Declined
The Odyssey
{The Final Project PROPOSAL}
Grade:
Project Title:
Professional Presentation:
Organizational Timeline:
Technology:
Justification:
Description/Explanation:
and CLAIM
Title and Purpose:
Element
Exceeds Expectations
Title is catchy and original; clear,
focused objective is articulate
and analytical; title explanation is
creative and original
Meets Expectations
Title is appropriate and reveals a
little pit about the project; title
choice is explained; purpose
reveals a clear, focused
objective
Needs Revision
Title is basic or missing;
explanation is missing some
detail or focus; objective does
not demonstrate a clear purpose
Description is very vivid; project
idea is unique and original.
Theme is clear and well
explained
Description is thorough and
detailed; project is creative;
project is appropriate for an
identified audience. Theme is
identified
Description is a little unclear;
project idea is basic; audience is
not identified or not appropriate
for project. No theme identified.
Justification demonstrates high
level of expertise and
understanding; contains an
advanced, persuasive
explanation of why the project
should be approved
Justification explains how it will
demonstrate student’s expertise
and understanding of The
Odyssey; contains a clear
explanation of why it is being
done and should be approved
Justification is unclear;
explanation is not convincing;
justification does not persuade
the reader to approve the
project
Explanation of technology is
innovative, complete, and
detailed; level of expected
technology is advanced and
Explanation of technology is
thorough and appropriate to
project
Explanation of technology might
be missing appropriate or
relevant details
Timeline is thoroughly organized;
leaves no question about
personal responsibilities or minidue dates; articulates who is
doing what and when
Timeline is complete with specific
deadlines; timeline includes
individual responsibilities of group
members and group work dates
(if applicable); shows
accountability and planning
Timeline is not broken down into
steps with mini deadlines; leaves
question as to who is responsible
for what and when
Follows requirements for
professional appearance;
includes charts and graphs as
applicable
Typed, single-spaced, neat and
clean, polished and error-free;
clearly uses example as a model
Does not demonstrate alignment
with requirements for professional
appearance
November 24, 2013
The Odyssey Final Project Proposal
“Letters Across the Ionian Sea”
Title and Purpose
The title implies the great distance that kept Odysseus separated from his family. However, through this great distance, familial
bonds existed and remained strong. The title also implies that even through the years, Odysseus’s family members always
remembered him, and he always remembered his family members. These letters give the audience the opportunity to view the
books and characters from different perspectives. For example, instead of looking at Odysseus’s stay on Calypso’s island from
his point of view, the reader has the chance to look at it from Penelope’s point of view. My objective is that after reading these
letters, the audience will be able to compare them and see how and why each of the characters’ feelings have developed or
changed due to open communication.
Explanation
I chose to address the first Essential Question and address The Odyssey’s relevance to our society today. I am hoping that my
project will demonstrate to my audience that Homer’s classic is not just a valuable piece of literature, but still crucial to our
functioning as a society.
Preliminary Research
 Geography
 Locations – mention specifics in letters
 Early types of communication/alphabet
Description and Justification
I am going to write a series of eight letters, create a cover, and bind it to look professional and authentic. These letters will help
the readers see all the events from each of the main character’s perspective, and they will ultimately gain a better understanding
of all the major events. Each letter will be at least one page long, handwritten. I will include letters from Odysseus to
Telemachus, from Calypso to Odysseus, from Menelaus to Helen, from Nausicaa to Odysseus, from Penelope to Calypso, and
from Alcinous to his people. The audience for my project is anyone who has read The Odyssey. This audience will appreciate
these letters because it pushes them to think beyond the storyline and to imagine motivations and consequences as they affect
relationships. Therefore, my project’s CLAIM is: Communication is key to honest and strong relationships.
Theses letters will demonstrate my understanding of the main characters’ feelings and actions throughout The Odyssey. They
will give the audience insight into the character’s personalities. These letters will demonstrate my knowledge of the important
events in The Odyssey and the characters’ motivations and reactions to them. These letters will also evidence my creativity as I
will make them appear old and weathered. Finally, what is important to these characters (themes) will also be clear. This
project should be accepted because understanding why characters think and feel what they do shows strong critical thinking.
Technology Integration
I will be utilizing technology in various ways; the first most obvious way is to use the computer to draft the letters, though I will
likely handwrite the final draft to ensure authenticity. I will also take several photographs and snapshots and use PhotoShop to
insert pictures of the characters to include with the letters. In addition, I will include a few Google maps so the characters can
share their locations. Finally, I will create the cover using PhotoShop.
Organizational Timeline
I am working alone; therefore I am solely responsible for all work.
Task
st
 1 letter (Penelope to Odysseus during Books 1-2)
 2nd letter (Telemachus to Penelope during Books 3-4)
 3rd letter (Cyclops to Odysseus right after Book 9)
 4th letter (Odysseus to Penelope in the beginning of Book 5)
 5th letter (Penelope to Odysseus during Books 17-21)
 6th letter (Odysseus to Athena, thanking her, during Books 22-24)
 Review and edit letters
 Add photos and maps
Due Date
Monday, November 29
Thursday, December 2
Monday, December 6
Monday, December 13