Odyssey Book Note Assignment
Students will show their careful work with the first 12 “books” of the Odyssey by putting sticky notes with
marginal comments next to key passages as they read. For each night’s homework, flag and comment on at
least three moments in the book assigned.
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36 post-it notes with written comments is the minimum work required for this assignment.
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In general, notes will ask a question, record an insight, or make a connection.
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To earn a grade of B or higher, these notes must also show a growing understanding of plot,
characters, imagery, and theme.
A “limited” sticky note might ask a question that is quickly answered by looking at the text: “Who is
Telemachus?” or “What does Odysseus do when he sees Nausicaa?” Stronger notes use facts to
discuss ideas and ask complex questions.
As you finish up this long-term assignment, you will review your sticky notes and add to them where
necessary. Below are some “reading strategies” that could be used for any text, but might also help you
think of ways to make your marginal notes as strong as possible.
Sticky Note Reading Strategies
1. Focus on what confuses you. Discuss what
is difficult.
12. Consider the effect of special language
devices (alliteration, metaphor, etc).
2. Notice points of intense emotional impact.
13. Pay attention to surprising, even puzzling,
words or phrases.
3. Notice and discuss repetition of words,
phrases, and/or ideas.
4. Identify emerging patterns, either in the
text or in your responses to it.
5. Make connections to the reading—
personal, historical, cultural, political, or
literary.
6. Agree or disagree with what is being
presented.
14. Discuss both concrete and abstract levels
of meaning.
15. Examine and revise initial reactions to the
reading. (Talk to yourself about what you have
read.)
16. Describe what is missing. What would be
another way of writing what is here?
7. List questions or observations.
17. Experiment with different categories.
Group and classify materials according to
different systems.
8. Notice multiple perspectives and different
possible meanings.
18. Describe who is speaking and the attitude
of the narrator or the speaker.
9. Discuss how you read. What do you pay
attention to? What is meaningful?
19. Does the speaker seem to be communicating
something other than what is said directly?
What? How do you know?
10. Clarify definitions of key words and/or
references.
11. Pick a single word. Look up its origins,
and examine its role within the story or poem.
How might it be significant?
20. Discuss the author’s imaginary reader(s).
Who might be the target audience for this
story?
BRING BOOKS AND NOTES TO CLASS EACH DAY.
I WILL CHECK YOUR PROGRESS, AND YOU WILL USE NOTES FOR IN-CLASS WORK.