THE ROMEO PROJECT

Problem: How are the themes of William Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet relevant in today’s world?

Format: Students will work in groups to create a multimedia web page for the Internet.

Evaluation:

1. Cooperative Group Work

· group interaction

· time on task

· individual participation

2. Analysis of Play

· theme chart

· notes

3. Final Product

· viewability and readability of web page

· working text links

· number, quality, and appropriateness of images

· effectiveness of color schemes

· quality and appropriateness of audio

· appropriate research

Due Date:

Each group will be assigned one act from Romeo and Juliet. Groups will then be responsible for completing the following assignments based on that act:

1. Create a “Theme Chart” analyzing how the major themes of the play are present in the assigned act.

2. Address problems/concerns faced by Romeo and Juliet by writing two original sonnets. One sonnet is to be written from Romeo’s perspective and the other from Juliet’s. Prepare a dramatic reading of the sonnets to accompanying classical music.

3. Make a video of a talk show in which the themes/issues of the play are explored in a contemporary format: i.e. The McLaughlin Group, Face the Nation, The View, The Dr. Laura Show, etc.

4. Design an original link based on one aspect of Elizabethan England, i.e. Elizabethan fashion or entertainment, the layout of the Globe Theater, a tour of Stratford-upon-Avon, a “Siskel and Ebert” style critique of various film productions of Romeo and Juliet, etc.

5. Create a credit page that includes a “Who’s Who in the Cast,” autobiographical entry for each group member.