Biography Project UPDATE

Because we will have to take Global Scholar today, you will not receive information about the second half of the project until TOMORROW.

If you did not turn in a packet on Friday, make sure you have it complete by the date your project is due!

Biography Project Specifications

Biography/Autobiography Project

This project will require you to read a biography or an autobiography about a person of your choice. Once you have read and learned about your subject, you will prepare a speech for the class told from that person’s point of view. You will also need to dress up as your “person.” Attached you will find the questions you need to answer and the facts you will need to present for full credit.

Project Timeline:

February 12	We will go to the library as a class so you can pick a book.
February 14	Last day for book choices (If you want to bring a book from home, you must tell me the title by this date).
March 7	Biographical facts pages (attached) are due in class.
March 10	I will return your facts pages to you with my comments. I will give you all the information you need for your note cards and your objective summary. I will tell you which day you are presenting.
March 10-17	Use your facts pages to write out your speech on index cards. Practice this many times so you will be familiar with your facts before presenting. Prepare your clothes/costume.
March 17-18	In class work days. You can use this time to get me to check your notecards, to practice your speech, prepare your costume, or write your summary with my help.
March 19-21	Presentation days. All of your notecards, facts pages, and summaries are DUE on the 19th without exception. This will ensure that nobody has more time to work on their project than anyone else.

Project Rubric: This project is worth two test grades (200 points). Keep the following guidelines in mind when creating your project.

	0-10 Points (Inadequate)	11-25 Points (Acceptable)	26-40 Points (Satisfactory)	41-50 Points (Exemplary)
Facts Pages	You did not turn in the biographical facts pages. Your facts pages are more empty than full.	You turned in the facts pages, but they are not complete. You have some holes in your information.	Your pages are complete but do not show full effort. You have not written in complete sentences.	Each question is answered thoughtfully and in complete sentences when necessary.
Notecards	You did not turn in the correct number of notecards. They are not finished and do not show any effort.	Your notecards are incomplete or lacking some of the required information.	You have turned in all of the notecards, but the information is mixed up or the cards are unlabeled.	You’ve submitted all of your notecards. Each has all of the necessary information and is correctly numbered.
Objective Summary	You did not turn in a summary, or it is so full of errors that it cannot be read.	Your summary has many errors but is objective and correctly summarizes some of the book.	Your summary has a few errors and covers the main points of the book in an objective manner.	Your summary has few, if any, errors and completely summarizes your subject matter.
Costume and Presentation	You did not present any of the required information. You chose not to wear a costume or are trying to pass of your everyday clothes as a costume.	You presented the required information, but it was not complete. You did not present in first person. Your costume shows no planning.	Your presentation in the first person and was mostly complete but had a few holes. Your outfit matches the subject manner but shows little planning.	Your presentation covered all of the topics listed. Your presentation was informative and entertaining. Your outfit shows time and effort.

Macbeth Projects

Macbeth Projects

Using the list below, pick a project you would like to complete on the play Macbeth. You may choose either a group or an individual project. This project is worth TWO test grades.

Group Projects

1.         Act it Out: In a group of no more than four people, choose one important scene from Macbeth. Your task is to act out the scene in front of your classmates. I expect you to have costumes, school-appropriate props, and all lines memorized. You should also act with a certain degree of expression—not just monotone voices! (3-4 people)

2.       Cast the Play: In a group of no more than three people, create a PowerPoint presentation in which you cast celebrities—living or dead—in the roles of each character from the play. Which modern celebrity would you have play Macbeth? Lady Macbeth? Banquo? Each slide should include an image of the celebrity and a four sentence justification for why you chose that celebrity. You must also include the websites where you found your pictures. (2-3 people)

3.       Talk Show: In a group of no more than four people, create and perform or film your very own talk show. You may model your talk show after a news report, Oprah Winfrey’s show, or any other talk show. You must have at least one host and at least two guests to interview. Your guests should be characters from the play. Your host should interview the characters and ask four well-thought out questions to each.  (3-4 people)

4.       Compare/Contrast: In a group of two, find and compare/contrast two clips of the same scene from a film version of Macbeth. You should utilize YouTube to find two clips that are from two different productions but show the same event taking place. Work together to compare and contrast the following elements: casting, lighting, emotions, setting, costumes. (2 people)

5.       Music Video/Rap Song: In a group of no more than four people, create a music video or a rap song. You may film your music video or perform your rap in class. Your rap should focus on the play Macbeth, but the content is up to you. You may choose to summarize the events of the play, to have a “rap battle” between two characters, or to sing a song from one character’s perspective. (2-4 people)

	0	5	10	15	20
Information/Use of Text	Your group used no information from Macbeth, or you got all of the facts wrong.	There was some information from Macbeth, but it was mostly incorrect.	You used the play a lot in your project, but you also made big mistakes.	You used the play a lot in your project, but there were a few small errors.	Your project was based on the play, all facts and details were correct.
Creativity	This project looks sloppy, was done at the last minute, and shows no thought.	Your project shows some thought but is still poorly thought out.	The ideas are there but it was poorly executed.	You have great ideas with some careless mistakes.	Shows time, effort, and great planning.
Presentation/Mechanics	Your project is full of grammatical errors OR your presentation was unacceptable.	Your project has many noticeable errors, your presentation was inconsiderate of classmates.	Some grammar errors, failure to speak loudly and make eye contact with audience.	Few noticeable errors, presented with clarity.	No grammatical errors, presentation was smooth, and professional.
Individual Participation	Wasted all class time.	Was off task more than on task in class.	Class time was split between project and distractions.	Some minor issues in class, but mainly participated with group.	Put in time and effort to help group members succeed.
Group Participation	Based on anonymous Group Evaluation Sheet—Each member will have to evaluate their group’s participation and I will consider these evaluations in the grading process. They will not be final, but will just help me grade better.

 

Individual Projects

1.         Act a Monologue: Memorize and perform a Shakespearean monologue or soliloquy from your favorite character. I will supply the monologue once you tell me which character you want to perform.

2.       Be the Historian:  Research an aspect of either Shakespearean or Scottish culture and present your findings to the class. Topics vary from preparing an ethnic food to showing us what people wore back then to researching the kings and queens of England and Scotland. If you need help picking a topic, just ask!

3.       Newspaper/Magazine:  Create either a Newspaper or Magazine based on the play. Your creation must have at least four articles and two images. Be prepared to share your newspaper/magazine with the class.

4.       Write About It: Write either an alternate ending to the play or create a diary/journal for a character in the play. Your writing assignment should be approximately two pages handwritten.

5.       Museum Curator: Imagine you are creating a museum exhibit about Macbeth. Choose five artifacts to put in your display. Write a paragraph explaining each object. Bring these objects to class and present your exhibit to us.

	0	5	10	15	20
Information/Use of Text	You no information from Macbeth or outside sources, or you got all of the facts wrong.	There was some information from Macbeth or outside sources, but it was mostly incorrect.	You used the play or other resources a lot in your project, but you also made big mistakes.	You used the play or outside material a lot in your project, but there were a few small errors.	Your project was based on the play/other information, all facts and details were correct.
Creativity	This project looks sloppy, was done at the last minute, and shows no thought.	Your project shows some thought but is still poorly thought out.	The ideas are there but it was poorly executed.	You have great ideas with some careless mistakes.	Shows time, effort, and great planning.
Presentation	Your presentation was unacceptable.	Your presentation was inconsiderate of classmates.	Failure to speak loudly and make eye contact with audience.	Presented with clarity.	Presentation was smooth, and professional.
Mechanics	Project is unacceptable due to all the errors. You did not cite any sources for outside information.	Your errors take away from the quality of work as a whole.	Project is still passable, but there are many mistakes.	Few mistakes that take away from the content.	Polished final product with hardly any mistakes.
Use of Class Time	Wasted all class time.	Was off task more than on task in class.	Class time was split between project and distractions.	Some minor issues in class, but mainly good work ethic.	Used class time wisely and efficiently.

 

Project Timeline: SUBJECT TO CHANGE AS NEEDED

12/4: Pick projects in class.

12/5: In-class workday: Brainstorming, submitting ideas.

12/11: In-class workday: Library for research/computer needs.

12/12: In-class workday: Finish working on the majority of the project.

12/13: In-class workday: Final conferences with Ms. Cook to discuss projects. Group Evaluation forms DUE.

12/16: Projects DUE at the beginning of class. We will present on the 16^th and 17^th.

 

IMPORTANT: During our in-class workdays you will be required to be working on a project or working on your Macbeth writing packet/semester exam study guide.

Drama Terms Index Cards

If you didn't finish your drama terms card in class, here is the list of words:

Comedy
Tragedy
Tragic Hero
Monologue
Soliloquy
Aside
Complex Character
Drama
Script
Dialogue
Set/Scenery
Acts and Scenes
Stage directions
Props

Your index card is due for a grade this week! Remember that you should write whatever you need to know in order to remember those words on the front and back of ONE 3x5 index card. You will be able to use the card on your drama terms quiz. (Date TBA)

Mid-Week Update

A few things to remember as the week progresses:

• Vocab Lesson 2 Quiz is TOMORROW!
  
• We will meet in the Library tomorrow. If you need to make up your Unit 2 test, your IR Quiz, or your Vocabulary Lesson 1 Quiz you should do so during our library time.
  
• All other makeup work/missing assignments are due to me by Friday to be graded.
  
• Do not lose your Macbeth script. Extras are not available.
  
• Shakespeare slideshow is available online at this LINK.

Grade Problems

For some reason, STI has not been letting me print out student progress reports. Hopefully this issue will be resolved by Tuesday so I can give students a printout of their grade!!

I am so sorry for the inconvenience.

ALSO: I have decided to enter in a completion grade instead of an "accuracy" grade for the spelling test we took on Monday. Because that test was related to a fundraiser and not to anything I had planned to cover in class, I didn't want poor grades to hurt your averages.

Grades

Just wanted to let you know that if your grade seems low, remember that it is still very early in the nine weeks! You only have classwork grades, homework grades, and ONE quiz grade in the system. This week you will have an IR Quiz and a Test grade going in the book.

On Friday I will give you an updated grade printout with any missing work highlighted. You will have a ONE WEEK grace period to turn in that missing work.