Odyssey Constructed Response 9th Lit

Hello all,

I've been checking over the constructed responses of the people who turned them in early and I'm seeing a couple of things.  You have until 11:59 tonight to resubmit your constructed response to turnitin.com.  Please double check that you have done the following things, and edit your response and resubmit if you have not.

1. Do you have 3 paragraphs?  1 paragraph for each response.
2. Does EACH of your paragraphs have the following:
1. a thesis statement that clearly answers the question that is your first sentence
2. 2, 3, or 4 quotes from the Odyssey to use as evidence to support your thesis
3. for each quote, at least one sentence that explains how your quote supports your thesis
4. a conclusion sentence that restates without repeating your thesis as your last sentence
3. Is each paragraph numbered 1, 2, or 3. (In order please)
4. Do you have an MLA Heading?
5. Have you put your quotes in quotation marks:  "words words words (p. #)."
6. Have you fully answered the question in the prompt?
7. Is your explanation of how the quote supports your thesis underlined? (This is to prove to yourself that you do have it.)
8. Did you look at the examples we did in class?  Does each of your response look similar or very different (it should not).

From what I've seen most students missed only one or two things listed above and would loose just a few points.  Some students it seems didn't read the instructions and only looked at the questions, which means they won't earn points.  We discussed this in class and did an example together in class.

Please use this opportunity as a chance to raise their grades.  This assignment is worth 30 points and up until this point their constructed responses were only worth 20.  I want this to help their grades, not to harm them.  

I've copied the assignment below:

Student responses. Answer each of the prompts with a complete paragraph. The majority of your points will come from how well you explain how your textual evidence supports your claim. You do need a thesis/claim statement, 2-4 pieces of evidence (quotes!), and a concluding statement as well.

1. Evaluate Odysseus' trials. What obstacle do you think is the greatest one that Odysseus faces? Describe it and explain why it was the biggest challenge he faces. (10 Points)


2. Is Odysseus an epic hero? Why or why not? Provide and explain at least two (2) specific examples from the text. (10 Points)


3. Explain the virtue of hospitality by using one episode from Odysseus’s travels that illustrates the importance of this virtue to ancient Greeks. (10 Points)