Poetry Project English 10

A WebQuest for Mrs. Liverio's 10th grade English classes.

introduction/ Task/ Process/ Resources/ Evaluation/ Conclusion

Introduction

Before you begin this project you must individually define the terms given below.  In this webquest you will assume the role of a Producer to a contemporary musician.  When a song is not quite up to standard, it is your job to tell the artist how to change the lyrics.  Over the next 4 days, you must identify 4 aspects of poetry in his/her lyrics, and then explain how these aspects help develop the overall theme of the song.  Then, you are to change at least 5 lines of any verse to give it a different meaning.  You may work alone or with a partner.  After you have done this, your explanation and revised version of the song will be presented to the class.  A visual representing some aspect of the song must also be presented to the class.

Task

As a producer, you must follow these requirements closely.  The terms and assignments from last week should be completed so you are prepared for the next steps.

List of artists and songs to choose from:

Train-- Drops of Jupiter
James Blunt-- You Are Beautiful
Creed-- Higher
Destiny's Child-- Bug-A-Boo
Faith Hill-- Breathe
Enrique Iglesias-- Hero
Lenny Kravitz-- Fly Away
Macy Gray-- I Try
Puff Daddy & R. Kelly -- Satisfy You
Santana & Wyclef Jean--Maria, Maria
TLC -- Unpretty
Whitney Houston -- It's not Right
Will Smith & Dru Hill -- Wild Wild West
98 Degrees -- I Do (Cherish You)
Cranberries-- Yeats Grave
John Lennon-- Imagine
Don Mclean-- American Pie
Led Zepplin-- Stairway to heaven
Skid Row-- 18 To Life
Lee Ann Womack-- I Hope You Dance
Bette Midler-- The Rose
Five For Fighting-- Superman
John Cougar Mellencamp-- Fruit Trader
John Cougar Mellencamp-- Pink Houses

Terms:  Define the following terms by clicking on the term, and when the site comes up, scroll down to the correct term.  You may copy the definition by hand or cut and paste the definition to a word document.  Choose 4 of the following terms to Identify in your song two of which must include theme and tone.  Another words, you have two others to choose from the list below. 

• simile
• Metaphor
• personification
• symbolism
• imagery
• tone
• theme
• repetition
• hyperbole
• allusion           

 Process:

• First choose a song from the the list in the task section.  Link to it, then copy and paste the lyrics onto a blank page in Microsoft Word.  If you need help, please ask!
• Once you have a song in a word document, you may  continue to work in word to identify 4 poetic aspects within the song,  and work right off the computer underling and typing as you go, or you may print out a hard copy and use pen, pencil and highlighters to identify the poetic terms.   
• After you have identified the theme, tone, and two other poetic elements in the song, you must discuss how the two elements you chose to focus on help develop the theme or the tone of the song in a short essay.
• After you have done this, you may choose a partner or continue to work alone.
• You are then to assume the role of (a) Producer(s) and choose which of your songs to make better/different in some way. If you choose to work alone, you are to work with the same song you used for your essay. You want your changes to evoke a different meaning or feeling from the audience so your changes have to make sense.  You only have to change five lines of the song.  You may only have to change a few words in each line; you are not required to change every word of the line.  You may also choose to re-write an entire verse from scratch, if you wish. 
• You may re-write your lines in the word document or use pen and paper. Either way, you should brainstorm some ideas before you begin writing.  For example, if you change the word hot to cold, how will you have to change other words that relate to temperature?  an how will it
• Once you are finished, type or write a clean copy of your verse, and turn it in along with your essay on poetic elements.
  
  To be turned in:
  Each student must turn in their own essay on  the poetic elements for their song.  If you chose a partner and were co-producers for a song, you can turn in one re-write for the song you chose to change, and you will both receive the same grade for the re-written lyric portion of the assignment.

Evaluation:

You will receive two major grades for this project.  One for your essay and one for your re-written lines.

• list of poetic devices defined -                 10 points
• Essay discussing poetic terms-               35 points
• re-written lyrics                                      35 points
• Daily work ethic in class                         20 points

*You can earn extra credit points by identifying more than 4 poetic devices and discussing them in your essay, or by changing an entire verse or more than 5 lines in your song.  The extra credit points will vary according to the amount of extra work put into the assignment.