Tuesday, April 10th: Compare/Contrast notes from original text and 2 adaptations (HW Grade)
Friday, April 13th: Thesis statement and Working Annotated Bibliography (at least 4 sources beyond the original text) (HW Grade)
Monday, April 23rd: Draft 1 (due online) (Quiz Grade)
Monday, April 30th: Draft 2 (due in class) (Quiz Grade)
Friday, May 4th: Final assignment with drafts (Test Grade)
ABSOLUTELY NO LATE PAPERS WILL BE ACCEPTED. YOU HAVE OVER A MONTH TO COMPLETE THIS ASSIGNMENT-- NO EXCUSES
Shakespeare, William. Romeo and Juliet. Perfection Learning, 2004.
Gnomeo and Juliet. Directed by Kelly Asbury, performances by James McAvoy and Emily Blunt, Touchstone Pictures, 2011.
Warm Bodies. Directed by Jonathan Levine, performances by Nicholas Hoult and Teresa Palmer, Summit Entertainment, 2013.
To conclude our study of Romeo and Juliet, you are going to engage in extensive research to answer the question:
Should we still be teaching Shakespeare in high school?
Before you decide on an answer to this question (your thesis statement with assertion), you are to thoroughly grapple with the evidence. In order to direct to your research, here are some questions to consider:
What makes a text (novel, play, short-story, etc.) worth studying in school?
Are there any other texts that could accomplish the same objectives?
Has the original story stood the test of time?
Can you make any connections real-life “Romeo and Juliet couples” or feuding families?
After you have engaged in thorough research you are going to compose a strong, specific, and clear thesis statement based on your findings.
STEP ONE: For critical information on why Shakespeare should or should not be studied:
Think of keywords such as: teaching Shakespeare in schools, value, education. When you are home,
use montytech1 as your username and password for JSTOR.
STEP TWO: Support your argument with ONE topic. You can either study an adaptation(s) of Romeo and Juliet OR a real-life Romeo and Juliet/Feuding Family as a source.
For modern, fictional interpretations of the play Romeo & Juliet: This could be a book (think Twilight), play (think West Side Story), movie (Warm Bodies), cartoon, television show, etc.
Also, for modern-day Romeo and Juliet Real-Life Stories (see list below).
Think of keywords like: romeo and juliet adaptation or modern romeo and juliet. You can also read reviews of Gnomeo and Juliet and Warm Bodies.
For historical real-life Romeo and Juliet stories and Feuding Families (see list below)..
ABC-CLIO is great for historical stories. Try World History for foreign names and U.S. History for Americans. When you are home, use montytech1 as your username and password for ABC-CLIO.
Real Life Couples:
Historical:
Modern Day:
Real Life Feuding Families: