Hamlet WebQuest
Miss Gibbons
11th Grade English


Introduction | Task | Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion

Introduction

Guess what? I have some very exciting news for you. Everyone’s favorite tragedy, Hamlet is being rewritten into a modernized movie. The target audience is none other than you (high school students)!

The studio has asked me to find them someone to produce the new soundtrack. Who better to create a soundtrack targeting high school students other than a high school student? The songs on the soundtrack will be as important as the movie scenes they are in. These songs should reflect the emotions of the characters and enhance the mood the scene creates.
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Task

Your job is to come up with at least ten songs to submit to the producer (Miss Gibbons). All songs must follow guidelines, be sure to use appropriate content. After each song selection, write a two page report explaining your selection. You will use the lyrics of the song to explain why it fits into the scene. Every song you choose must be related to what you know about the characters or situations in Hamlet.
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Process

You must choose at about two songs per act. You do not want to overload one act with all of your song choices. Pick songs that you feel you would be able to insert right into the background of the scene. The song could reflect how the character(s) are feeling during the scene. The song could reflect the atmosphere between characters (an example: tension). You may also include a song to use during the end credits as long as you can effectively use it to convey the feeling you are left with after the story ends.

Please type the song list in the order they would appear in the movie. While creating your list remember that this is the back cover of your cd so you should decorate it appropriately. If you are having trouble determining whether or not the song or decoration is appropriate you may consult the producer (Miss Gibbons). You may also search various lyric searches to determine whether or not the lyrics fit into your soundtrack nicely.

Please note you are not allowed to use any songs from the soundtrack based on the movie featuring Ethan Hawke.

You will write a report explaining each song you use in the movie. This report will include a paragraph for each song you choose. In this paragraph explain where the song would be inserted into the film. Tell me which act and scene you have chosen to insert the song. Explain why you have chosen this song, what emotions it draws on from the scene.
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Resources

Lyric sites:
1. Lyric search
2. Risa Song Lyric Archives
3. lyrics.com
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Evaluation
 
Exemplary
4
Accomplished
3
Developing
2
Beginning
1
Songs and artists
 contained minimum of ten songs and artists listed for all song list included nine or eight songs and artists were listed song list included seven or six songs and artists were listed song list included five or less songs artists listed
Decoration of back cover
 back cover was decorated appropriately and creatively and contained songs back cover was decorated appropriately and contained songs, used some creativity
back cover was decorated and contained songs but student used little/no creativity
back cover was not decorated and contained a list of songs
Rationale of lyrics
 All chosen songs were explained and fit their scene(s) correctly eight or nine chosen songs were explained and fit their scene(s) correctly Seven or six  chosen songs were explained and fit their scene(s) correctly Five or less chosen songs were explained and fit their scene(s) correctly
Spelling, grammar, and punctuation
 No errors made Three or less errors made Four or five errors were made Six or more errors were made
Report
 Each song contained one paragraph or more of clear explanation Only nine to eight songs contained one paragraph of explanation Only six to seven songs contained one paragraph of explanation Five or less songs contained one paragraph of explanation

A =17-20
B = 13-16
C = 9-12
D = 5-8 Resubmit = 4 or less

        
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Conclusion

By the end of this project, I hope you have come to a better understanding of Hamlet. I hope you will realize that Shakespeare’s characters, themes, and scenarios are as relevant today as they were in the past. This is a fun project that will allow you to creatively connect to the material in the story.
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