English I Research Project:   Shakespeare and His Times

{CA State Standards: Reading Comprehension 2.5; Writing Strategies 1.4,1.7; Writing Applications 2.3 a, b, and c}

 

Objective:

To research, document, and react to information about William Shakespeare, his

theater, the time and place in which he lived, and the influences upon his writing.

 

Requirements:

1. Find three differcnt sources that have information about your topic.

2. Write ten double-entry journals (see example below).

3. Document source and page number for each journal entry.

 

Format:

1.      Type your  journals in a 12-point times new roman font.

2.      Create two columns.

a.       Type factual information on the left side. Follow it with the author's last name and page number{s) in parentheses.

b.      Type your reactions, responses, and/or observations on the right side.

3.      After you finish your ten journal entries, type one double-spaced paragraph approximately three-quarters of a page long in which you reflect upon what you have learned.

4.      Attach a separate works cited page listing the sources you used. You may use www.easybib.com to prepare your page, or you may access the Agoura High School Style Book on-line for proper formatting of your entries.

 

Sample Journal Entry:

“Becoming a knight in the middle ages was not

all that easy.  A child might spend his whole youth

(up to the age at twenty-one) trying to become a

knight. Knights did most of the fighting and protecting of royalty because they were provided with the horses and armor that only the wealthy could afford” (Jones 62-63).

What is really different today is that no one has to be born into nobility in order to become a knight. Today, individuals can rise to heroism regardless of their birthright. A good example is the soldiers who fought to keep us free.

 

 

Name: __________________________________  Date: _______________  Period: _______

 

 

Topics: You will research one of the following topics:

 

1. Shakespeare, the man

2. Queen Elizabeth I

3. Shakespeare's theater

4. Life in and around London during Shakespeare's time

5. Bubonic plague and medical practices during Shakespeare's time

6. Forms of Renaissance entertainment

7. Religion in England from Henry VIII to Elizabeth I

 

Rubric:

 

_____ (20) Double-entry Joumals:

Ten significant facts with authors and page numbers in parentheses (e.g., Jones 62-63).

Insightful responses and/or observations for each entry.

 

_____ (10) Reflection Paragraph:

Three-quarters of a page; double-spaced

Comments reflect a clear understanding ot the topic

 

_____ (5) Works Cited Page

3+ Entries

Double-spaced; alphabetized; indented properly with a hanging indent

Correct content, punctuation, and order of elements

 

_____ (5) Form and Mechanics :

Correct spelling, Capitatization, punctuation, and grammar.

Neat; proofread; proper format

Typed in 12-point standard font

 

_____ (40) Total Points Total

 

 

 

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