Looking Backward, Looking Forward

A few quick notes on the final, in case you were curious:

• Ms. Tyma and I were careful in dividing up the grading to avoid situations in which we would assess the same question differently on different exams. To that end, I was responsible for grading the first five IDs and she took the other five. I graded the Aeneas essay and she graded the Rome essay. I graded all of the lit terms. The other sections, obviously, were more objective than subjective, so it didn't matter who graded them.
• On the IDs, we decided that out of the 3 points available for each one, we would give half a point for each of the five Ws and then give the remaining 0.5 for particularly good work in any of the five areas. In a couple of cases, one of the fine Ws was not clear or important, so we adjusted the grading accordingly.
• On the roots, it was pretty clear that a lot of people were close on roots without getting them entirely correct. So, in order to be consistent, we decided that if the person was within one letter of the proper root, we would give credit. If they weren't, we would not give credit.
• Total points on the test added up to 98, so we gave everyone two free points to bring the total score to 100.
  
• When we hand back the tests either this week or next, we encourage you to add up the points for yourself and make sure that our math was right. We're also happy to meet to address any questions you have about it.

And now, the weeks ahead:

• I mentioned last week that revised elegies were due Monday, but I didn't do a particularly good job of reminding y'all of that after the final, so I'm going to relax that deadline. Get the latest revision to me this week. Of particular importance - many of you made marginal changes on your first rewrite. If you continue to be in the position of telling, not showing, consider identifying your favorite 5-10 lines, cutting the rest, and then rebuilding around those lines. I know it feels terrible to delete work, but poetry often operates like that. Also, make sure that you review assignment requirements.
• I am also going to ask every group to make a round of edits to their handout. Each group was in a slightly different position in terms of what needs to be done. For some, it's a matter of polishing. For others, serious revision is required. I would also like these by Friday. I will be holding off grading these handouts until the revisions are received.
• Tomorrow (Monday), Ms. Tyma and I will introduce the Emperor assignment, which will require each of you to research and then develop a profile of a specific Roman emperor. The emperor card will be due end of class Tuesday and will serve as the foundation for our short overview of the Roman Empire.
• Finally, in Writing Lab this week you will all begin planning your tour guide presentations in earnest. Your goal should be to make a lot of progress on this during the week, especially if you want your spring break to be a real break.

Reading through that list, it should be clear that, despite it being the first week after final exams, you all need to keep your engines revving. You can count on Writing Lab time on M/Th and class time on M/T, but everything else will have to be done at home.

Don't get discouraged or overwhelmed. Do what it takes to maximize your productivity. Break this down into individual tasks that you can knock off, one at a time. Remember - all of this work right now will make the trip much more memorable and valuable once we make it to Italy and Greece.

Also be aware, though, that the last week before departure - April 5-9 - will be hectic. You'll have the normal school work to deal with, baseball players will have four games, you'll have packing and last-minute shopping to deal with, and you'll be wrapping your head around the fact that you'll be away from home and stuck with all of us for two weeks. It'll be hard. Do everything you can to make that week more manageable for you.

Even if it means doing some work over spring break.

I know, I know. That seems unjust, if not immoral. But, having spring break one short week before two weeks in Europe makes it more of a luxury than a desperate need. If you could take one day out of those nine days of vacation and be really productive, you could make that last week much, much easier.

Think about it...

Finally, you'll probably want a book for the trip. Why not read something kind of relevant? Here are a few options that come to mind:

• I, Claudius by Robert Graves - Considered the best work of historical fiction based in ancient Rome, Graves writes this as the autobiography of Emperor Claudius. It begins with Augustine and moves through the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Meticulously researched, it offers a great look into the early Roman Empire.
• Sprezzatura: 50 Ways Italian Genius Shaped the World by d'Epiro and Pinkowish - 50 short chapters on important people and developments in Italian history. It starts in the ancient era, with pieces on the Roman calendar, Roman law, Julius Caesar, and more. But, it tracks Italian contributions from there all the way to the near-present, with chapters on St. Francis, Michelangelo, Garibaldi, and Ferrari. With sections ranging from 5-10 pages, it's an easy travel book, as you can read in short spurts without having to worry about losing the narrative flow.
• Basilica: The Splendor and the Scandal: The Building of St. Peter's by R.A. Scotti - A fascinating story of the building of the Vatican's basilica, in which many of the great figures of the Italian renaissance are featured. If you're interested in architecture, the renaissance, or the Church, this is a great, highly readable option.
• Excellent Cadavers by Alexander Stille - Easily the best book I've read on the Italian mafia. As much investigative reporting as it is historical non-fiction, this book is vividly written and the high drama Stille builds might actually get your heart beating.
  
• If you want to read something by an Italian writer, my favorite is Italo Calvino. Some of his works can be difficult to unpack, but The Non-Existent Knight and the Cloven Viscount are fun fantasy stories. Invisible Cities is brilliant, and certain to be unlike anything you've read.