The Odyssey Tiered Writing Assignment
Students will read The Odyssey and investigate characterization, inference, and literary devices of
flashback, imagery, and symbolism. After reading The Odyssey, students will choose one of the three
options to complete in order to show their understanding of the text and the literary skills in the unit.
Option One:
Create a comic strip that focuses on one of Odysseus’s island
visits. Within the comic strip, you must show archetypal
character traits and maintain accurate characterization of all
characters. There must be at least 8 frames for the comic
strip.
Option Two:
Write a ghost episode – write the story of an island visit that Homer never
mentioned. Use literary devices such as imagery, symbolism, and flashback. You
must include all aspects of plot – setting, characterization, conflict, etc. and
dialogue.
Option Three:
You are a reporter who is following the exploits of the hero soldier, Odysseus,
on his return journey. Write at least 4 articles on Odysseus’s island stops and
one article on Odysseus himself (interview). Include the who, what, when,
where, why, and how. Each article should include a headline.
Comic Rubric:
4
3
2
1
Content
Contains a story that
is true to The
Odyssey; must have
two characters, one
of which is an
archetype. The comic
must demonstrate
direct and indirect
characterization for
each character.
Contains a story
that is true to The
Odyssey; must
have two
characters. The
comic must
demonstrate
direct and indirect
characterization for
each character.
Contains a story
that is true to The
Odyssey; must
have two
characters. The
comic must
demonstrate some
direct and indirect
characterization for
each character.
Contains a story that
is true to The
Odyssey; must have
a character. The
comic must
demonstrate little to
no direct and
indirect
characterization for
each character.
Format
Contains 8 panels
with 8 color
illustrations. Panels
tell chronological
story with dialogue.
Contains 7-8 panels
with 7-8 color
illustrations. Panels
tell chronological
story.
Contains 5-6 panels
with 5-6 color
illustrations. Panels
tell a story.
Contains less than 5
panels with less than
5 color illustrations.
Panels tell a story.
Creativity
The story contains
many creative details
and/or descriptions
that contribute to
the reader’s
comprehension and
enjoyment of the
story and the project.
The story contains
a few creative
details and/or
descriptions that
contribute to the
reader’s
comprehension
and enjoyment of
the story and the
project.
The story contains
a few creative
details and/or
descriptions, but
they distract from
the story making it
somewhat difficult
to understand.
There is little
evidence of
creativity in the
story. Story is
difficult to
understand.
Mechanics
Grammatically
correct with
sentence variety, no
run-on sentences or
fragments, no wrong
pronoun antecedent
usage, and no
spelling errors.
Grammatically
correct with some
sentence variety, 12 run-on sentences
or fragments, no
wrong pronoun
antecedent usage,
and 1-2 spelling
errors.
Contains detracting
grammatical errors
with some run-on
sentences or
fragments, or
wrong pronoun
antecedent usage,
and several spelling
errors.
Contains significant
grammatical errors
with several run-on
sentences or
fragments, or
misused pronoun
antecedent usage,
and severe spelling
errors.
Articles Rubric:
4
3
2
1
Content
Contains 4 articles on
topic; articles use
vivid details that are
significant to the
development of The
Odyssey and
Odysseus.
Contains 4 articles
on topic; articles
use details that are
mostly significant
to the
development of
The Odyssey and
Odysseus.
Contains 3-4
articles on topic;
articles use details
that develop the
story.
Contains 2 articles
that are on topic
and use little to no
details to develop
the story.
Format
All articles
adequately address
the 5 Ws (who,
what, when, where,
why, and how).
Articles have a
catchy title that is
related to the story.
Most of the articles
adequately address
4 of the 5 Ws.
Articles have a title
that is related to
the story.
The articles
adequately address
3 of the 5 Ws.
Articles have titles.
The articles
adequately address
2 of the 5 Ws.
Some/most of the
articles do not have
titles.
Creativity
The story contains
many creative details
and/or descriptions
that contribute to
the reader’s
comprehension and
enjoyment of the
story and the project.
The story contains
a few creative
details and/or
descriptions that
contribute to the
reader’s
comprehension
and enjoyment of
the story and the
project.
The story contains
a few creative
details and/or
descriptions, but
they distract from
the story making it
somewhat difficult
to understand.
There is little
evidence of
creativity in the
story. Story is
difficult to
understand.
Mechanics
Grammatically
correct with
sentence variety, no
run-on sentences or
fragments, no wrong
pronoun antecedent
usage, and no
spelling errors.
Grammatically
correct with some
sentence variety, 12 run-on sentences
or fragments, no
wrong pronoun
antecedent usage,
and 1-2 spelling
errors.
Contains detracting
grammatical errors
with some run-on
sentences or
fragments, or
wrong pronoun
antecedent usage,
and several spelling
errors.
Contains significant
grammatical errors
with several run-on
sentences or
fragments, or
misused pronoun
antecedent usage,
and severe spelling
errors.
Ghost Episode Rubric:
4
3
2
1
Content
Episode tells about
unknown island visit;
contains a
chronological
beginning, middle,
and end; has a
conflict;
characterization is
clear and true to The
Odyssey. There is a
balance of narration
and dialogue.
Episode tells about
unknown island
visit; contains a
chronological
beginning, middle,
and end; has a
conflict;
characterization is
mostly clear and
close to The
Odyssey. There is a
narration and
dialogue.
Episode tells about
unknown island
visit; contains a
beginning, middle,
and end; has an
unclear conflict;
characterization is
unclear or not true
to The Odyssey.
There is some
narration and
dialogue.
Episode tells about
unknown island
visit; contains no
order to the story;
has an no real
conflict; little to no
characterization.
There is little to no
narration and
dialogue.
Format
Contains significant
examples of
symbolism, vivid
imagery, and
examples of verbal
and situational irony
that create a deeper
meaning of the text.
Contains examples
of symbolism,
imagery, and
examples of irony
that create a
deeper meaning of
the text.
Contains examples
of symbolism,
and/or imagery,
and/or examples of
irony.
Contains one or no
examples of
symbolism, and/or
imagery, and/or
examples of irony.
Creativity
The story contains
many creative details
and/or descriptions
that contribute to
the reader’s
comprehension and
enjoyment of the
story and the project.
The story contains
a few creative
details and/or
descriptions that
contribute to the
reader’s
comprehension
and enjoyment of
the story and the
project.
The story contains
a few creative
details and/or
descriptions, but
they distract from
the story making it
somewhat difficult
to understand.
There is little
evidence of
creativity in the
story. Story is
difficult to
understand.
Mechanics
Grammatically
correct with
sentence variety, no
run-on sentences or
fragments, no wrong
Grammatically
correct with some
sentence variety, 12 run-on sentences
or fragments, no
Contains detracting
grammatical errors
with some run-on
sentences or
fragments, or
Contains significant
grammatical errors
with several run-on
sentences or
fragments, or
pronoun antecedent
usage, and no
spelling errors.
wrong pronoun
antecedent usage,
and 1-2 spelling
errors.
wrong pronoun
antecedent usage,
and several spelling
errors.
misused pronoun
antecedent usage,
and severe spelling
errors.