Year 9 Close Study of Text – Shakespeare

Assessment Task

 

 

Texts

9ENADA: Taming of the Shrew

9ENADB: Henry V

9ENSTA: Macbeth

9ENSTB: Shakespeare Medley

9ENSTC: Macbeth

 

Due date: Week 11, Term 1 2008: Thursday, 10th April, Period 3.

 

Weighting: 15%.

 

Word length: 800 words (Advanced). 600 words (Standard)

 

Purpose of the assessment task

In this unit students have studied the way that Shakespeare used language and dramatic techniques to shape meaning and create dramatic effect. This task will require students to demonstrate their understanding of the overall meaning of the set text we have studied, the context of the play and the dramatic functions of the characters within the play’s overall framework.

 

Outcomes assessed:

1         A student responds to and composes increasingly sophisticated and sustained texts for understanding, interpretation, critical analysis and pleasure.

4         A student selects and uses language forms and features and structures of texts according to different purposes, audiences and contexts.

7         A student thinks critically and interpretatively using information, ideas and arguments to respond to and compose texts in a range of contexts.

 

Task

Imagine that modern day communications and technology are alive and well in the time of Shakespeare. Write a transcript for a television interview with one of the main characters in the play(s) that was the focus of your study: Macbeth, Taming of the Shrew, Henry V or the medley of plays. The television program is entitled, Elizabethan Legends, screened each week on a free-to-air national government television station such as ABC or SBS.

 

Students must demonstrate a sound knowledge and understanding of the play as a whole and the role of that character in the play. You should talk about the character’s role in the play, their relationships and motivations.  You should reflect on particular events and how these events affected them. Be sure to refer directly to the play.

 

Refer to at least TWO passages from the play in detail in the interview. You can use these passages to compose the interviewer’s questions or as part of the character’s responses.

 

 

Planning:

 

  1. Define: What are the integral features of a television interview? 
  2. Locate: Examine models of interviews. Identify language structures and features. (These will be provided by your teacher and examined in class.)
  3. Select: Choose the character you wish to interview and select appropriate passages from the text that you would like to include in your transcript.
  4. Create: Brainstorm questions an interviewer would ask your selected character: such questions could examine the character’s thoughts and feelings about the events in the play, relationship to other characters and motivations behind the way they have acted.
  5. Create and Organise: Make a plan of the questions you plan to ask your character and possible responses to those questions.
  6. Assessment: You will be asked to write the transcript of the interview as a take home task. Edit, proofread and publish your work using the conventions of the interview text type.

 

Marking Guide

 

 

Criteria

VH

H

S

L

VL

NS

1.

Subject matter: appropriate choice of character and events

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.

Use of the conventions of the TV interview text type

  • Introduction and greeting
  • Effective framing of interviewer’s statements and questions to draw information from character
  • Evidence of interaction between interviewer and character - speakers respond to each other’s comments
  • Use of oral language features
  • Colloquial style
  • Use of humour and/or drama to entertain audience
  • Conclusion and sign off
  • Use of script layout

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.

Demonstration of close knowledge of text

  • Accurate use of specific details of major events, situations and people in the play
  • Understanding and exploration of the character’s feelings, attitudes and decisions, causes and consequences of decision
  • Understanding and exploration of the play’s themes and ideas

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.

Language and Expression

  • Creation of appropriate ‘voice’ of character
  • Integration of phrases from the text
  • Maturity and precision of vocabulary
  • Variety of sentence lengths
  • Fluency and expression

 

 

 

 

 

 

5.

Originality and creativity with form, content and style

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6.

Mechanics

  • Spelling
  • Grammar and sentence structure
  • Punctuation
  • Paragraphing
  • Clarity of handwriting or choice of font

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7.

Appropriate length

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mark:              /20                                 (VH: 18 - 20, H: 14 - 17, S: 9 - 13, L: 6 - 8,, VL: 0 - 5)

 

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