Odyssey Party Plan Assignment

Imagine you are a party planner who Queen Penelope is considering hiring to organize a welcome home party for Odysseus.

Your plan needs to beat out all the competition in order for you to be hired.

Queen Penelope, in order to fairly judge all the entries, has asked for all plans to include the following components:

1)	Guest List (minimum 20 guests invited)
The guest list is to include characters from the book and from Greek history/mythology.

2)	Room plan (seating, tables, stage, etc.)
This will be a page on which you map out where:
			Guests will sit
			Entertainment will be
			Food will be presented (if a buffet)
	
3)	Entertainment
You must present a description of the entertainment to be provided at the party.  Will there be a play or music?  Please write this up as in paragraph format.  It should sound like an advertisement.  

4)	Supply list
This is literally a list of items and quantities you will need for the party such as
chairs, tables, decorations, etc.  Queen Penelope expects to see at least 20 items on this list.  Be specific.

5)	A sample invitation
Every party needs invitations.  You will make a sample one to be included in the plan.

6)	Menu
What will the guests eat??  Remember, this party takes place in ancient Greece.  

These items will be placed in to a portfolio and will be done as artistically as you can.

You will be presenting your portfolio to Queen Penelope on November 1st, 2006.  You will also prepare a short oral presentation, highlighting your talents as a party planner, and your ideas for this party.

The purpose of this assignment is to see how well you can link what you have learned from the book to a project based assignment.  Please keep in mind what you have learned about Ancient Greece during Social Studies too!!

What extras or enhancements could you add?_____________________________________________________

What tips were discussed in class?________________________________________________________________

Language Arts Outcomes addressed through the reading of The Odyssey and this assignment 

1.1 Discover and explore
Experiment with language and forms 
· experiment with a variety of forms of oral, print and other media texts to discover those best suited for exploring, organizing and sharing ideas, information and experiences 
1.2 Clarify and extend
Combine ideas 
· use talk, notes, personal writing and representing, together with texts and the ideas of others, to clarify and shape understanding 
2.1 Use strategies and cues

Use prior knowledge 
· apply knowledge of organizational structures of oral, print and other media texts to assist with constructing and confirming meaning 

2.2 Respond to texts

Experience various texts 
· experience oral, print and other media texts from a variety of cultural traditions and genres, such as autobiographies, travelogues, comics, short films, myths, legends and dramatic performances 

2.4 Create original text

Generate ideas 
· choose life themes encountered in reading, listening and viewing activities, and in own experiences, for creating oral, print and other media texts 
Structure texts 
· determine purpose and audience needs to choose forms, and organize ideas and details in oral, print and other media texts 
3.1 Plan and focus
Plan to gather information 
· develop and follow own plan for accessing and gathering ideas and information, considering guidelines for time and length of investigation and presentation 
3.2 Select and process
Access information 
· use a variety of tools, such as bibliographies, thesauri, electronic searches and technology, to access information 

3.3 Organize, record and evaluate

Organize information 

· organize and develop ideas and information into oral, print or other media texts with introductions that interest audiences and state the topic, sections that develop the topic and conclusions 

3.4 Share and review

Share ideas and information 
· communicate ideas and information in a variety of oral, print and other media texts, such as multi-paragraph reports, question and answer formats and graphs 

4.1 Enhance and improve
Expand knowledge of language 
· choose words that capture a particular aspect of meaning and that are appropriate for context, audience and purpose 
Enhance artistry 
· experiment with several options, such as sentence structures, figurative language and multimedia effects, to choose the most appropriate way of communicating ideas or information 
4.2 Attend to conventions
Attend to spelling 
· edit for and correct commonly misspelled words in own writing, using spelling generalizations and the meaning and function of words in context 
Attend to capitalization and punctuation 
· use colons before lists, to separate hours and minutes, and after formal salutations in own writing 
4.3 Present and share

Present information 
· use various styles and forms of presentations, depending on content, audience and purpose 
Enhance presentation 
· emphasize key ideas and information to enhance audience understanding and enjoyment 
Use effective oral and visual communication 
· demonstrate control of voice, pacing, gestures and facial expressions; arrange props and presentation space to enhance communication 
Parents, please sign and return this entire package on the next school day to indicate you are aware of the assignment, its relation to the program of studies, and the assessment that will be used to evaluate your child’s achievement:

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Party Plan Rubrics
							   
Party plan	Level 5	Level 4	Level 3 	Level 2	
Audience	The party plan effectively uses graphics and text appropriate to the target audience	The party plan uses graphics and text appropriate to the target audience	The party plan uses some graphics and text appropriate to the target audience	The party plan uses graphics and text inappropriate to the target audience	
Purpose
(worth double)	The party plan communicates relevant information appropriately and effectively to the target audience	The party plan communicates relevant information appropriately to the target audience	The party plan communicates irrelevant information, or communicates inappropriately to the target audience	The party plan communicates irrelevant information and communicates inappropriately to the target audience	
Neatness and Correctness	The party plan uses an effective print style and all words are correctly spelled 	The party plan uses an appropriate print style and all words are correctly spelled	The party plan uses an inappropriate print style, or several words are incorrectly spelled	The party plan uses inappropriate print style, and many words are incorrectly spelled 	
Artistic  Elements 
(worth double)
	The party plan uses superior artistic elements to create an impact on the target audience	The party plan uses effective artistic elements 	The party plan uses some artistic  elements 	The party plan uses few artistic elements 	

Comments___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Speech
	Level 5	Level 4	Level 3 	Level 2	
Voice
  Volume, speed          
  and expression	Outstanding, consistent control of volume, speed and expression.
	Excellent, fairly consistent control of volume, speed and expression.
	Acceptable, somewhat consistent control of volume, speed and expression.	Does not demonstrate appropriate volume control, speed and expressions.  
	
Physical
   Eye contact
    Stage Presence
    Body Language
	Outstanding use of physical aspects to communicate with audience.  	Excellent use of physical aspects to communicate with audience.  	Acceptable use of physical aspects to communicate with audience.	Does not demonstrate use of physical aspects to communicate with audience.
	
                                           Content	Development and organization of the topic is clearly focused and effective.
Complete information is presented, and this information is enhanced by precise and appropriate details that effectively fulfill the purpose of the assignment.
	Development and organization of the topic is generally focused and effective.
Complete information is presented, and this information is substantiated by appropriate details that fulfill the purpose of the assignment.
.
	Development and organization of 
the topic is adequate.
Sufficient information is given, and this information is supported by enough details to fulfill the purpose of the assignment.
	Development and organization of the topic is vaguely focused and ineffective.
Essential information may be missing.  Supporting details are scant, insignificant, and/or irrelevant.  The purpose of the assignment is only partially fulfilled.

Comments___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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