TransformationsDebbie Harrison

SEED: 550 Teaching Reading in the Content Area

Instruction Strategy #3Evaluate, Extend, and Transfer

Content Knowledge (after reading).

Welcome to senior British Literature. Today we are going to continue working with the Spenser sonnets we started earlier this week. We will see how well you can interpret them into a new project.

Transformations is an activity that makes students take a piece of literature, such as a sonnet, then adapt it to another genre. For this class we are going to convert Sonnet 75 and Sonnet 30 by Edmund Spenser into group performances.

In The Language of Literature – British Literature turn to pages 298 and 299.

Transformations, page 66 in Reading to Learn

I am going to number you off in two groups. Neither group will have more than nine members. Each group will be assigned a sonnet to transform into some kind of performance.

The trick to this performance is that you must maintain the intended content as you interpret it. To start, try to write down as many of the main ideas as you can that will be addressed in your performance. Your classmates will be evaluating how well you maintained the compatibility between the original and your new interpretation.

Getting Started

Each member of the group must have a role. You can use a narrator, as well as cast members, but remember this is a performance. You can act out parts or do it as a readers’ theater. Whatever you choose, every one must have a role. What this means is that you must write a script.

Key Concepts

Examples

Sonnet 30Courtier: Why is she so cold to me? I can’t seem to get her off my mind.

Friend: Maybe it has something to do with the fact that you follow her around like a puppy dog. Man up, Man!

Courtier: I can’t help it. The more she ignores me the more I think about her. I can’t even sleep anymore

Friend: Get a hold of yourself. You are turning into a stalker.

(Entering the stage is the beautiful object of the Courtier’s dreams. She is laughing and flirting with and entourage of young men.)

Beautiful Woman: Charles, you are so funny! Where do you get this stuff?

Charles: Your beauty inspires me to be witty. Before you noticed me I was a dreary chap without humor…

(Courtier stares longingly and release a deep sigh.)

Be Creative

Now that you have seen the example work in your groups to develop your own idea. The rubric I am attaching will guide you through the final process. Have fun with this but don’t forget to keep the same basic message of the original sonnet.

RubricCATEGORY 4 3 2 1

Accuracy of Facts Many relevant details are drawn from the original and transformed to the new piece without losing the original intent.

A couple of relevant details are drawn from the original and transformed to the new piece while maintaining most of the original intent.

Relevant details are drawn from the original but much of the original intent was lost.

No relevant details are drawn from the original. The intent is lost on the audience.

Group Work The group functioned exceptionally well. All members listened to, shared with and supported the efforts of others. The group (all members) was almost always on task and incorporated into the production.

The group functioned fairly well. Most members listened to, shared with and supported the efforts of others. The group (all members) was almost always on task but only a few participated in the final production.

The group functioned ok but was dominated by one or two members. The group (all members) was somewhat on task!

Some members of the group were often off task AND/OR were overtly disrespectful to others in the group AND/OR were typically disregarded by other group members.

Enthusiasm Facial expression and body language show a strong interest and enthusiasm about the topic throughout, but it is not overdone.

Facial expression and body language show a strong interest and enthusiasm about the topic throughout the newscast, but it is somewhat overdone.

Facial expression and body language show some interest and enthusiasm about the topic.

Facial expression and body language depict apathy or boredom with the topic.

Duration of presentation The presentation was long enough to address the main issues of the poem, but did not seem hurried or too slow.

The presentation was long enough to address most issues but seemed SLIGHTLY hurried or too slow.

The presentation was addressed minimal issues but seemed VERY hurried or too slow.

The newscast was too long or too short. It missed the boat on the intent of the poem.