Macbeth final project!

Macbeth online searchable text

English 10                                                                                                             Your name:                                                         

Mrs. Bailey

Macbeth Final Project

For your final work with this play, you will complete a project that assesses your overall understanding of the play through work with a single thematic element.  While this project does not involve writing an essay, it will require you to use skills that you would use in creating an essay.  NOTE:  THIS IS A GROUP PROJECT – 2 students only per group. (However, if you’d like to work independently, please speak to me).

Step 1:  First, you must select one of the words (or word-pairs) listed below to be the focus of your work with this prompt:

How does Shakespeare use this word – both in the text and in allusion – to create paradox within the development of imagery and/or characterization in the play?

Word choices:             blood                                       night

                                    fear                                          sleep

                                    hand(s)                                                thought(s)

                                    heart                                        time

                                    look/see

After selecting your word, start by brainstorming ways that the word is used paradoxically in the play.  You may want to try brainstorming with 2-3 different word choices, to see which one generates the most interesting ideas in your mind.

Step 2: Now, you will work to find actual evidence from the play to support and possibly to expand the ideas you created in your brainstorming. You may do this in several ways:

a)      Look back through the text of the play to quotes/sections you remember that feature your word.  Write down each passage that contains your word, including the citations for each passage you quote.  (Correct citations are (ACT.scene.lines) – for example, (IV.iii.108-109)

b)      Use the searchable e-text of Macbeth on my Sharepoint site to find passages that utilize your word. The site is at the University of Virginia: http://etext.virginia.edu/toc/modeng/public/MobMacb.html

Once you have found the passage on the e-text, you’ll need to locate it in your book in order to create your citation. Write down the relevant passages, including citations for the lines that involve your word.

NOTE:  When selecting quotations, make sure to capture a complete sentence, not just a fragmented line.  For example:

     

      BAD:  That look not like the inhabitants o’ the earth (I.iii.42)

      GOOD:                       What are these
                  So wither'd and so wild in their attire,
                  That look not like the inhabitants o' the earth,
                  And yet are on't? (I.iii.40-43)

     

Step 3:  Once you have collected lots of examples about how your word is used progressively throughout the play, you can develop some theories about how the use of your word changes as the play progresses.  Write a thesis that poses one of these theories, perhaps about:

q  the ways Shakespeare used your word to create a paradox in imagery – and perhaps how his use of that imagery changes as the play progresses;

q  the ways the word is used to show something paradoxical about the development of a character as the play progresses;

q  or some other interesting paradox that is shown in the use of your word from the beginning to the end of the play.

The thesis statement you create will become the central focus of your final project, so be sure to take time and care in developing it.  Make sure it meets all the requirements of good thesis statements!  (It must be arguable, provable, and important!)

Step 4:  Based upon the thesis that you have composed, select a minimum of 10 quotes from your quote collection that you would use to support your thesis. These will be the quotes you will use on your project.  There is absolutely nothing wrong with using more than 10 quotes on your project.

Step 5:  Construct a visual representation of your thesis idea about the word you have chosen.  You may create either a 2-dimensional, 3-dimensional, or virtual project based upon your thesis.  Your job is to try to represent what you state in your thesis in a visual way.  Incorporated into that visual should be colors and images that are important, your 10 quotations, and 2+ sentence explanations of how each of your quotations help to prove your thesis about the paradoxical purpose of the word.  Your brainstorming and full quote collection will be turned in with your project.

Some possible ideas: 

·         build a multi-sided structure and show various elements of the paradox in imagery or character development of your word on each side.  Quotes with citations are incorporated on each side.

·         paint a “progressive” picture showing the paradoxical change in a character or in use of imagery based on your word.  Quotes with citations are painted in or attached to each section of the progression.

·         draw/paint a multi-sided image of a character incorporating many details associated with the paradoxical use of the word in developing that character.  Quotes with citations are incorporated with those details.

·         create an image diary where each page shows the progression of the word’s paradoxical use accompanied by quotations with citations.

·         develop a Glog or Prezi in which you demonstrate the paradoxical development of an image or character. Use quotations with citations throughout the presentation.

Since this is your last project of this school year, it should be creative, attractive, and done with care and attention to detail.  Ideally, it should be the best work you have done for English all year! 

Suggested timeline:         □  Th-Fri., 6/13-14      Select word/ brainstorm/collect quotations

                                          □  Mon, 6/17              Create thesis statement; select quotations for

                                                                              project

                                          □  Tue-Wed., 6/18-19   Assemble project; check requirements

□  Thurs. 6/20             Project due C & D periods

                                   

English 10

Mrs. Bailey

Assessment for Macbeth Final Project

Project Preparation/Brainstorming                                                               out of 10                      Brainstorming done for 2+ words

            All quotations using your assigned word are collected

All citations are correct

Project            Concept/Structure                                                                             out of 30

Project displays meaningful visual representation the word’s paradoxical use                                           in the play

            Colors, images, and structures all have purpose toward proving          thesis/conveying message

Thesis statement is well-developed, meets all thesis requirements, and shows good understanding of the play

Visual elements show insight into the word’s paradoxical meanings in the play

10 or more quotations are placed in meaningful locations on the project

All quotations include proper citations in correct format

Explanations of quotations help to support the thesis statement

Presentation                                                                                                    out of 20

            Final product is attractive, carefully constructed, shows pride

Students are well-prepared to present the product with pride in 3-4 minute explanation

                                                                                                _______/60

Notes: