Tragic Hero Timed Writing
Five Characteristics of a Tragic Hero
(According to Aristotle’s Poetics)
1. POSITION. The hero is royal or noble with great power, usually a king. He is a good, respected man who acts out of good intentions. He has much to lose.
2 & 3. TRAGIC FLAW & WRONG ACT (hamartia). In spite of his good intentions, the hero commits a wrong act which causes his reversal. The error usually stems from a tragic flaw, usually pride.
4. DOWNFALL (catastrophe). Because of his wrong act, the hero suffers a downfall from his happy, envied position to suffering and misery.
5. REALIZATION (catharsis). The hero realizes that his own flaw or wrong act has caused his reversal. This recognition always occurs too late for the hero to prevent or escape his downfall.
Timed Writing Instructions
(According to Aristotle’s Poetics)
1. POSITION. The hero is royal or noble with great power, usually a king. He is a good, respected man who acts out of good intentions. He has much to lose.
2 & 3. TRAGIC FLAW & WRONG ACT (hamartia). In spite of his good intentions, the hero commits a wrong act which causes his reversal. The error usually stems from a tragic flaw, usually pride.
4. DOWNFALL (catastrophe). Because of his wrong act, the hero suffers a downfall from his happy, envied position to suffering and misery.
5. REALIZATION (catharsis). The hero realizes that his own flaw or wrong act has caused his reversal. This recognition always occurs too late for the hero to prevent or escape his downfall.
Timed Writing Instructions
- You will have 40 minutes to complete your writing.
- You may consult your prewriting as your write.
- You will submit an electronic file to Haiku.
Oedipus Socratic Seminar
For your second assessment on Oedipus Rex, you are going to engage in a twenty minute Socratic Seminar discussion with eleven other students. A Socratic Seminar is a form of discussion that emphasizes discourse over debate, in which participants seek deeper understanding of a text through thoughtful dialogue.
You will not know which topic you will be discussing, who you will be discussing with, or at what time during the period you will be participating in the inner circle. You may prepare as many notes as you like and are allowed to use your ThinkPad during the discussion. Participation in the inner circle counts for 40 points. |
When you are in the outer circle (observing) you will be required to take notes on the topic that is being discussed. These notes include your opinion of the prompt supported by your understanding of and evidence from the text, as well as, your reaction to the Socratic Seminar discussion taking place.
While in the outer circle, consider the following questions:
Your notes in the outer circle should be thorough, thought provoking and composed using a document that will be submitted to Haiku following the discussion. Participation in the outer circle counts for 20 points.
While in the outer circle, consider the following questions:
- What would you contribute to the discussion?
- Would you agree or disagree with what is being said?
- What questions would you ask the group?
- What is your overall impression of the discussion?
- How well does the group follow the structure/format of a Socratic Seminar?
Your notes in the outer circle should be thorough, thought provoking and composed using a document that will be submitted to Haiku following the discussion. Participation in the outer circle counts for 20 points.
Preparing for Socratic Seminar Discussion
Goal:
To develop a cohesive argument to answer each of the essential questions. Use the charts below to prepare for your seminar.
Topic #1:
FATE vs. FREE WILL
“A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it.”—Jean de La Fontaine
Topic #2:
SIGHT vs. BLINDNESS
“The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision.”—Helen Keller
To develop a cohesive argument to answer each of the essential questions. Use the charts below to prepare for your seminar.
Topic #1:
FATE vs. FREE WILL
“A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it.”—Jean de La Fontaine
Topic #2:
SIGHT vs. BLINDNESS
“The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision.”—Helen Keller
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Scoring the Socratic Seminar
A Level Participant: Participant offers enough solid analysis, without prompting, to move the conversation
(Exceptional) forward. Through comments, demonstrates a deep knowledge of the text and
question. Participant has come to the seminar prepared, with notes and/or
marked/annotated texts. Participant, through comments, shows active listening to
other participant. Participant offers clarification and/or follow-up that extends the
conversation. Participant refers to other group members by name when responding
or making a related point ("I agree with what Josh said about . . ."). Draws other group
members into the discussion ("What do you have to add, Megan?"). Participant’s remarks often refer back to specific parts of the text. (38-40 points)
B Level Participant: Participant offers solid analysis without prompting. Through comments, participant
(Above Average) demonstrates a good knowledge of the text and the question. Participant has come to
the seminar prepared, with notes and a marked/annotated text. Participant shows
that he/she is actively listening to others and offers clarification and/or follow-up.
May refer
to other group members by name when responding (I agree with what Josh said about . . . ). May draw other group members into the discussion. Participant's remarks
sometimes refer to specific parts of the text. (34 points)
C Level Participant: Participant offers some analysis, but needs prompting from the seminar leader.
(Average) Through comments, participant demonstrates a general knowledge of the text and
question. Participant is less prepared, with few notes and no annotated text.
Participant is actively listening to others, but does not offer clarification and/or follow-
up to others’ comments. May refer to other group members by name. Participant relies
more upon opinion, and less on the text to drive comments. (30 points)
D Level Participant: Participant offers little commentary and comes to the seminar ill prepared with little
(Below Expectations) understanding of the text and question. Participant does not listen to others, offers no
commentary to further the discussion, does not refer to members by name. Distracts
the group by interrupting other speakers or by offering off topic questions and
comments. Participant ignores the discussion and its participants. (26 points)
F Level Participant: Participant does not speak during the Socratic Seminar or comes ill prepared with no
(Failing) understanding of the text and question. (0/22 points)
(Exceptional) forward. Through comments, demonstrates a deep knowledge of the text and
question. Participant has come to the seminar prepared, with notes and/or
marked/annotated texts. Participant, through comments, shows active listening to
other participant. Participant offers clarification and/or follow-up that extends the
conversation. Participant refers to other group members by name when responding
or making a related point ("I agree with what Josh said about . . ."). Draws other group
members into the discussion ("What do you have to add, Megan?"). Participant’s remarks often refer back to specific parts of the text. (38-40 points)
B Level Participant: Participant offers solid analysis without prompting. Through comments, participant
(Above Average) demonstrates a good knowledge of the text and the question. Participant has come to
the seminar prepared, with notes and a marked/annotated text. Participant shows
that he/she is actively listening to others and offers clarification and/or follow-up.
May refer
to other group members by name when responding (I agree with what Josh said about . . . ). May draw other group members into the discussion. Participant's remarks
sometimes refer to specific parts of the text. (34 points)
C Level Participant: Participant offers some analysis, but needs prompting from the seminar leader.
(Average) Through comments, participant demonstrates a general knowledge of the text and
question. Participant is less prepared, with few notes and no annotated text.
Participant is actively listening to others, but does not offer clarification and/or follow-
up to others’ comments. May refer to other group members by name. Participant relies
more upon opinion, and less on the text to drive comments. (30 points)
D Level Participant: Participant offers little commentary and comes to the seminar ill prepared with little
(Below Expectations) understanding of the text and question. Participant does not listen to others, offers no
commentary to further the discussion, does not refer to members by name. Distracts
the group by interrupting other speakers or by offering off topic questions and
comments. Participant ignores the discussion and its participants. (26 points)
F Level Participant: Participant does not speak during the Socratic Seminar or comes ill prepared with no
(Failing) understanding of the text and question. (0/22 points)