Scenario

In the words of the immortal William Shakespeare, "All the world's a stage." In order to experience the world of Shakespeare and the stage, you will be working within your own acting Company (a group of four to seven students within your class) to present your interpretation of a scene from the Shakespearean comedy A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Essential Questions: What are the characteristics of a good actor, director, set designer, or costumer? Which of these roles would best match my skills and talents?

Task and Product

You will assume the role of actor, director, set designer, or costumer after researching their responsibilities and histories.

You need to research each of the following roles:

• Director
• Set designer
• Costumer
• Actor

You will need to write a letter to your Company applying for your chosen role and convincing them that you are perfect match for your chosen role. How do the characteristics of the role and your skills and talents make your choice of a role a good choice?

Assessments

You will be graded on your research process as well as on your letter using one or more of the following tools:

• Daily (Formative)
• Research Process - Summative (Student/Self)
• Research Process - Summative (Teacher)
• Writing to Inform MSDE Scoring Rubric

Question

Essential Questions: What are the characteristics of a good actor, director, set designer, or costumer? Which of these roles would best match my skills and talents?

Subsidiary questions:

• What are the job requirements of a good actor, director, set designer, or costumer?
• What special talents and/or skills are needed?
• What importance does the role of a actor, director, set designer, or costumer have on the overall play?

Gather and Sort

Gather information about from a variety of sources.

Sort your research findings using a Which Role for Me? note taking sheet, graphic organizer or note cards. Be sure to avoid plagiarism and keep track of your resources for a bibliography.

Organize

Revisit the assessments.

Analyze your research notes to determine if you have answered the essential questions.

Essential Questions: What are the characteristics of a good actor, director, set designer, or costumer? Which of these roles would best match my skills and talents?

Synthesize your findings by writing a first draft of your letter.

• What new insights have emerged about your topics?
• Which facts are the most compelling and would have the greatest impact on your audience?
• Which facts are unnecessary or repetitive and therefore should be left out?

Evaluate the effectiveness of your research for the task using the following questions:

• Have you gathered sufficient details about your topic?
• Are your details organized in the right categories or sub-topics to make sense for your audience?
• Are you ready to write your letter?
  

Conclusion

Presentations

Each member of the Company will read the letters of the other members to determine the choices and suitability of the various roles. Use this note taking form to help you keep track of your thoughts.

• Which Role for Whom?

Now it is time to decide who will be filling which role. Use the following form to choose your applicant for each role.

• Best for the Role!

As a Company come to a consensus in order to assign each group member to a specific role.