World Mythology, Syllabus for Second half of the SemesterEdward R. Murrow High School, Communication Arts DepartmentInstructor: Oona Croese

General e-mail: kcroese@schools.nyc.gov (718) 258-9283 X 2600

PARENTS, PLEASE NOTE: THE FIRST HALF OF THIS SEMESTER WAS TAUGHT BY MR. COHEN. 50% OF YOUR CHILDS FINAL GRADE WILL COME FROM HIM. 50% OF HIS/HER FINAL GRADE WILL COME FROM ME, MS. CROESE, AND BE DETERMINED ACCORDING TO THE GRADE BREAKDOWN (SEE BOX ABOVE). YOUR STUDENTS CURRENT GRADE FROM MR. COHEN IS WRITTEN IN THE BOX BELOW. IF YOU WISH TO CONTEST THE CURRENT GRADE, YOU MUST SPEAK TO MR. COHEN DIRECTLY IN RM. 260, OR AT (718) 253-7287 x 2600:

For the remainder of the semester of World Mythology, we will focus on the teachings of Joseph Campbell in The Power of Myth and The Hero with a 1,000 Faces, analyzing the purpose of studying myth, and how it is relevant to our modern lives. We will study many contemporary and ancient myths as examples, and see how the heros journey is depicted repeatedly in novels, narrative and film, and follows recognizable thematic principles. We may analyze this in such contemporary stories as the Wachowski Brothers The Matrix series and Antoine St. Exuperys The Little Prince.

GRADE BREAKDOWN*

Grade from Mr. Cohen50%

(remaining 50% of the semester will come from Ms. Croese and is broken down as follows):

Attendance5%

Class Participation 5%

Assignments (in-class, group work)10%

Formal Assessments (tests, projects)25%

(percentages are based on D.O.E. guidelines, approved by Principal Allen Barge, IA)

Students Name / Grade (Percentage) / Letter

Common Core Standards In alignment with the Common Core Standards, we will study the argumentative essay format, including how to phrase a counter-argument. This will prepare students for their spring exams.