Expository Writing

Here are the links to the websites that we looked at in class this morning:

http://essayinfo.com/essays/expository_essay.php

http://www.merritt.edu/apps/pub.asp?Q=46

http://www.studygs.net/wrtstr3.htm

I'll continue to add links/info onto this post as we look at them in class.

Make sure you complete tonight's homework: Minimum one paragraph response to the following statement - Friar Laurence is the most important character in the play.

Character Profiles

During our study of Romeo and Juliet, you will need to work on developing your understanding of the various characters.

To start doing this, you should consider putting together character profiles for the central characters.

Consider the following elements in your profiles:

1. Basic overview of the character: age, family connections, relationships, etc
2. The character's role in the play
3. The themes that the character helps to display
4. Pertinent quotes that are relevant to the character - think about not only what the character says but also about what other characters say about them. Make sure that with your quotes you also reference.

Shakespeare WebQuest

Picture taken from http://quotationsbook.com/assets/shared/img/6633/William_Shakespeare.jpg 9/9/09

Your task is to introduce Shakespeare to people who know nothing about him. Remember to include pictures, diagrams, sub-headings and bullet points to make your information easy to read and understand.

You are to use the following questions and the listed web-sites.

Shakespeare’s life:


Find out as much as you can about William Shakespeare. Begin with the points below:

Where he and when he was born?
His family?
When he died and where he died?
His wife?

Shakespeare’s works:
Find out about the plays and poems that William Shakespeare wrote. Begin with the points below:
· How many plays did he write?
· How were his plays received at the time?
· Name five of the plays Shakespeare wrote.
· How were the plays performed?
· Where were they performed?
· What else did he write?


Shakespeare’s times:
Find out about what life was like in England when Shakespeare was alive.
The Globe Theatre
Find a picture or diagram of The Globe Theatre and add this to your information.


WEB SITES TO VISIT ON YOUR QUEST
http://shakespeare.palomar.edu/
http://www.rdg.ac.uk/globe/
http://www.ulen.com/shakespeare/
http://www.shakespeare.org.uk/
http://www.shakespeare-etc.org/
http://www.stratford-upon-avon.co.uk/soawshst.htm

Questions to explore following a close reading of the play

The following questions should be considered following a complete reading of Romeo and Juliet.

You need to answer the questions in as much depth as possible, making direct
reference to the play. For those who wish to practise their essay writing, you could aim to answer the questions using essay format.

1. Love is one of the primary themes in the play. Consider the following:
What different types of love does Shakespeare represent in the play?
Which characters are associated with which types of love?
How does Mercutio’s notion of love compare with the Nurse’s?
How does it compare with Romeo’s or Juliet’s?
What differences can you find between Paris and Romeo in their descriptions of love?
What kind of love do you think Shakespeare is saying is best? Explain.

2. Compare and contrast the women of the play.
What do you think Shakespeare is saying through his representations of these
specific types of women?
For example, what differences do you see between Juliet and Rosaline?
How does Juliet differ from her mother and her nurse?
What negative views of women can you find in the play?
What positive views can you find?

Themes from the play/film

Step 1/ Brainstorm the various themes that you believe are explored in the play. Explain what makes you recognise these themes.
Step 2/ Examine these five scenes from Baz Luhrmann’s film version of Romeo and Juliet. What themes of the play are suggested by each picture? Write the themes next to the scenes that represent that theme. Write a one sentence explanation of how that theme is presented in the play. Then, write one quote from the play that demonstrates each theme. Explain how the quote demonstrates the theme.

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"Romeo and Juliet" Film Study

In our study of Romeo and Juliet several ideas have been emphasised in class. List them:

Why do you think we have foregrounded these ideas?

Link the above with your viewing of the opening scenes of Luhrman’s Romeo and Juliet. What do you think his intention is?

Bearing in mind we have only views the opening scenes, what is your assessment of Luhrman’s success in conveying his vision for the play? Jusitify your answer by providing close evidence from the film.

17th Century Rules of Marriage Activity

This site contains a brief overview of the rules of marriage for 17th Century England. Reading through this document will assist you with the activity posted directly following this link.

http://www.folger.edu/documents/marriagenew.pdf

This provides the basis for the Rules of Marriage Activity. I suggest you open it in a separate tab so that you can continually refer back to it as you progress through the questions/tasks.

http://www.folger.edu/documents/17thCenturyRulesnew1.pdf

The play Romeo and Juliet often raises questions amongst readers about marriage in Shakespeare's day. This activity allows you to examine a primary source from 1604 to help you gain a better understanding of the rules of marriage in the early seventeenth century, and to apply that knowledge to the play in several ways. This is a follow on from the information found on the Rules of Marriage document that is hyperlinked before this activity.

This activity will take one to two class periods.

What To Do:
1. Make sure you have completed a careful reading of the play.

2. Open the website that is hyperlinked here.

3. Look at the key below which shows you how to read the document (i.e. how to translate the various letters):

v = u

u = v

i = j

f = s

vv = w

Read it silently for a moment, then read it together in your small group/pair.

4. Have a brief brainstorming session for 10–15 minutes about what you think Lord Capulet and Friar Lawrence would think about the document, based upon their behavior in the play.

5. In your small groups/pair with you will be focusing on Lord Capulet and Friar Lawrence. You need to find the relevant details in the document that relate to their character's ideas about marriage. Then, prepare a statement that demonstrates your understanding of the document as well as the characters' feelings about it.

6. As a group/pair you will present your statement.

7. For homework, you need to choose one of the characters (not Lord Capulet or Friar Lawrence) and write a one page paper that expresses the character's more general opinions about marriage. Be sure that you refer to the text of the play to provide evidence for their beliefs. This paper could be written as a letter to the editor, a letter to a parent or child, or a more formal essay. Be creative: the one rule is that the written piece must refer to the play as well as to the document you have just examined.

Reflection Activity: How Did It Go?

1. Did you enjoy and understand the primary source document? Explain your answer.


2. Did the members of your group/pair have varied opinions about the text and its meanings? How did you work around these differing interpretations?


3. Do you think you were effective in expressing the different views the different characters would have about marriage? Explain why/why not?


4. Do you think your statements reflected an understanding of the text? Explain your answer.


5. Do you think your responses demonstrated your understanding of the character's motivations? Explain your answer.