Shakespeare Controversies

Subject Area(s):

• K-12: Language Arts
• K-12: Technology

Grade Level(s):

• 5th-6th Grade
• 7th-8th Grade

Description:

In this lesson, students will work with an S.O.S. buILder to research possible answers to mysteries surrounding the life of William Shakespeare. They will use their research to draw conclusions and formulate their own opinions about Shakespeare's "Lost Years" and the authorship controversy.

Goals & Objectives:

Lesson Objective:

Students will research the mysteries surrounding the life of William Shakespeare in order to draw conclusions about Shakespeare's life during the "Lost Years" and the the authorship of his plays and sonnets.

Materials:

• S.O.S. buILder located at: http://www.informationliteracy.org/builder/1721 
• Copies or electronic versions of articles: William Shakespeare's Lost Years and Why is there a Shakespeare Authorship Controversy?
• Copies or electronic version of student handout "What is Your Opinion?"

Procedures:

1. Have students access the S.O.S. buILder "Shakepeare Controversies."
2. Using the articles provided as well as the resources provided on the buILder, have students research Shakespeare's life to locate theories and possible answers to the controversies.
3. After students have completed their research, have them complete the assessment handout "What is Your Opinion?"
4. Debrief as a class on the students' opinions regarding the two controversies.

Assessment:

Formative Assessment: Student handout-"What is Your Opinion?"

Supporting Files:

• 04William_Shakespeares_Lost_Years.doc
  Article-"William Shakespeare's Lost Years"
• 06Why_is_there_a_Shakespeare_Authorship_Controversy.doc
  Article-"Why is there a Shakespeare Authorship Controversy?"
• 05What_is_Your_Opinion.doc
  Student Handout-"What is Your Opinion?"

Standards:

National Information Literacy Standards (K-12)

Evaluates information critically and competently.

• Selects information appropriate to the problem or question at hand.

Uses information accurately and creatively

• Integrates new information into one's own knowledge.
• Applies information in critical thinking and problem solving.
• Produces and communicates information and ideas in appropriate formats
• Subject: K-12: Language Arts

National Content Standards (K-12)

Writing

• Gathers and uses information for research purposes

Reading

• Uses reading skills and strategies to understand and interpret a variety of informational texts
• Subject: K-12: Technology
• Understands the nature and operation of systems