Blogging about Shakespeare
TEKS: Reading/Comprehension of Literary Text/Drama.
Technology Standards (NETS): 2. Communication and collaboration
Objectives: The student will be able to use quotes from Shakespeare's The Tempest to explain in a 3-4 paragraph blog post how the structure of the play contributes to and/or affects the meaning of the play. The student will be able to defend their position in response to questions and challenges from their peers using logic and quotes from the play.
Materials:
Technology Standards (NETS): 2. Communication and collaboration
Objectives: The student will be able to use quotes from Shakespeare's The Tempest to explain in a 3-4 paragraph blog post how the structure of the play contributes to and/or affects the meaning of the play. The student will be able to defend their position in response to questions and challenges from their peers using logic and quotes from the play.
Materials:
- Interactive White Board/pen to display and mark on example posts
- Computers, laptops, or tablets for each student
- A previously set up class blog (such as Blogger.com) or forum
- assignment sheets for each student
- Distribute assignment sheets and introduce/explain the assignment
- Display examples of good text analysis and responses. Discuss these with the class. Use these examples to also model and discuss polite and proper digital communication. If desired, display and discuss non-examples as well.
- Students will use the rest of the class time (and any time required at home) composing their own blog post analyzing the structure of The Tempest and replying to at least three posts by other students.
- The teacher may wish to post their own post and/or reply to student posts depending on the understanding level of the class. (Eg. for struggling classes, the teacher may be more directly involved in the discussion, and for more advanced classes the teacher may review strengths/weak points with the class afterward.)
- Clear, concise thesis statement and argument
- Argument is focused on dramatic structure, archetypes, and/or motifs found in The Tempest.
- Strength of quotes used to support argument
- Responses to others’ posts are respectful and insightfu
- Mechanics of writing
Below is an example rubric: