Download Macbeth Final Projects This will be counted as a 200 point major

Macbeth Final Projects
This will be counted as a 200 point major grade. Your goal should be to accumulate 200 points. For this
assignment, I will not assign extra credit. If you score more than 200 points, you will only get 200 points
put into the grade book. This is a chance to choose assignments that fit your particular talents and style. I
caution you NOT to simply choose things that your friends are doing or what you think is the least
amount of work. When choosing to work with others, remember that you are doing just that – choosing.
I suggest selecting peers with a work ethic similar to your own.
Performance/Presentation Dates will be : Wed. 11/9 and Thur. 11/10 (I will add Friday 11/11 if needed)
All other work due Friday, November 11th. If you are planning to miss school that day for some 11/11/11
activity, you must turn in your work early or get someone to bring it in for you.
Costuming (50)
Research authentic Renaissance-style costumes for Lady Macbeth, Macbeth, Banquo, the witches,
Duncan, Malcolm, and Donalbain. You must present an oral report about the costumes (fabric, various
parts of the attire, their uses, custom of dress, etc.) with your ORIGINAL, COLOR drawings on large
quality art paper. In addition, you will turn in a typed, MLA formatted paper (500-750 words) explaining
your research findings and design choices. NOTE: Make your costumes different from what we saw at
The Shakespeare Tavern. This choice is designed for people with some artistic ability. If you do not have
artistic ability, skip this one.
Supernatural (50)
Macbeth is a play in which the occult plays a large part. Shakespeare’s audience would have been very
superstitious. Research superstitions from the Renaissance period and beliefs about the supernatural in
that period. You can include witchcraft, hauntings, etc. You will make a presentation to the class and use
visual aids of some kind. (your choice) In addition, you will turn in a typed, MLA formatted paper
explaining your research findings. (500-750 words) Do NOT choose this one if you think your parents
will object to the content.
Test (50)
Create a test for Macbeth. You must have 25 CHALLENGING true/false questions, 25 CHALLENGING
multiple choice questions, 25 CHALLENING fill-in-the-blank questions, 5 CHALLENGING quote
analysis questions, and 1 CHALLENGING essay question. You must prepare a COMPLETE answer key
(including answers to the quote analysis and essay) and organize the test with clear instructions for
students.
Newspaper (50)
Put together a newspaper of the day, for example, The Morning Macbeth. This must be a four page
newspaper packed with information from the play. You will need pictures and headlines to go with your
stories. You should have at least two “news” items (Macbeth Named Thane of Cawdor!), 1 editorial
(opinion) (Banquo Should Have Been Named King Instead of Macbeth), 3 feature articles (human interest
stories about sightings of witches, advice column, recipes for the Renaissance kitchen, etc.) The more
information included, the better. Choose this one if you understand the different types of newspaper
articles and how a newspaper is put together. If you do not have a basic understanding of newspapers, do
not choose this one.
Letters (50)
Write a set of 5 letters (one full TYPED page each)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Letter from Malcolm to Macbeth stating how he fears Macbeth will kill him
Letter to Malcolm from Banquo after Malcolm has fled.
Letter from the witches to King Duncan.
Letter from Lady Macbeth to her doctor explaining her dreams
Letter of your choice from one character to another.
Scrapbook (50)
Make a scrapbook that the Gentlewoman who serves Lady Macbeth would have kept through the action
of the entire play. Include all major characters and events and for the sake of the project assume she
knows all that happens. In addition to pictures, include some diary entries, newspaper clippings, letters,
etc. Be creative! This project is designed for someone familiar with scrapbooking who can also go
beyond these instructions in thinking of things to include.
Memorization (50)
Memorize one of the following passages and recite it to me. You do NOT have to recite it in front of the
class, but I would love it if you would. You will start with 50 points; for each mistake or time I need to
prompt you, you lose a point.
Choose One – Note that #3 comes from two difference places in the play
1. Macbeth’s part in Act I, scene vii, lines 1 – 27 beginning with “If it were done when ‘tis
done, then ‘twere well” and ending with “And falls on the other.”
2. Macbeth’s part in Act III, scene i, lines 48 – 71 beginning with “To be thus is nothing:” and
ending with “And champion me to the utterance!”
3. Macbeth’s part in Act I, scene iii lines 131 – 143 beginning with “This supernatural
soliciting” and ending with “But what is not.”
AND Macbeth’s part in Act V, scene v, lines 17 – 28 beginning with “She should have died
hereafter: and ending with “Signifying nothing.”
Make an appointment to do this before school, during ASE, or immediately after school. (I mean 3:31.
)
Board Game (25)
Include all major characters, the basics of the plot, and some of the themes. Turn in a game board, all
pieces necessary to play, and EXPLICIT directions on how to play.
Decorative Timeline (25)
You must list at least 15 plot events. Include 7 illustrations and 8 quotes from the text. Connect each
image or quote to an event on the timeline.
3D Display (25)
Make a 3D (like a diorama) of one scene in the play. Include a typed explanation of what you have
created and the choices you made in creating it.
Artistic Interpretation (25)
Implement any form of visual art (sculpture, painting, etc.) that reflects the emotions, symbols, or deeper
meanings of the play. Include a typed explanation of your piece. Again, this is for students with artistic
talent.
Words, Words, Words (25)
Make a dictionary of 25 words from the play that you did not already know the meaning of before we
read the play. You MAY NOT USE THE WORDS THAT ARE DEFINED FOR YOU BY THE
TEXTBOOK!!!!! Choose OTHER words. Define each and quote the line from the play where each was
found. Also cite the line.
Photographs (25)
Take a series of 15 photographs that reflect the mood of this play. Either print them from a computer or
have them printed. For each photograph, include an explanation of how it reflects something from the
play. An example might be a photo of a red traffic light reflecting in puddles on the street and how it
reminds one of the blood on the Macbeths’ hands. Obviously this is designed for someone with access to
a digital camera and printer.
Put Macbeth on Trial – (125)
With a group of others, no more than 5 in one group doing this for the grade, develop a courtroom scene
and put Macbeth on trial. Let me explain. Five people can put this together and act in it. If 5 is not
enough, you can get other friends to “guest star” in your skit but they will not be receiving points. Also,
the 5 of you can play multiple parts. Write a skit that puts Macbeth on trial for the murders of Duncan,
Banquo, and the Macduffs. Obviously for the sake of this assignment, you will pretend he has not yet
been beheaded. This is 125 points, so it needs to be good. Everyone must have a speaking part.
Rehearse and know the lines. You may hold 4x6 note cards to prompt yourself, but you must use them
discretely and still use gestures and blocking. Do the blocking and use props and costumes. You do not
have to spend money for the costumes, so you will have to work with what you have in your own closets.
You may set the court case in modern times, but stay TRUE TO THE STORY OF THE PLAY! Do not
change the facts of the plot. You may film it if you have the equipment to do so and burn it to a cd. I will
play it in class. Your other choice is to perform it in front of the class. This is meant to be a choice for
people who are willing to put in the hard work this will take. You are going to have to get together
outside of class and work together well. * Requires a self-grade and reflection – see bottom of page.
Act Out (125)
With a group of others, no more than 5, act out three scenes from the play. (Caution: Choose scenes with
substantial content.) Again, you may have others “guest star” and play small roles, however, they will not
be earning points. One person can play more than one character and be in more than one scene. The
danger here is having one person not do enough to earn the 125 points. You cannot be a witch in one
scene and say just a few lines and be done. Choose your scenes carefully and cast carefully so that each
person is doing about the same amount of performing. Rehearse and know your lines. I want them
mostly memorized without you reading all of them for the entire scene. You may hold 4x6 note cards to
prompt yourself, but you must use them discretely and still use gestures and blocking. Use props and
costumes. I want to see that you have rehearsed and thought about how you are performing the scene.
You can modernize the props and costumes, but you must use the original Shakespearean language. You
may film it if you have the equipment to do so and burn it to a cd. I will play it in class. Your other
choice is to perform it in front of the class. This is meant to be a choice for people who are willing to put
in the hard work this will take. You are going to have to get together outside of class and work together
well. * Requires a self-grade and reflection – see below
**Self-grade and reflection: Type a brief essay in which you personally (not as a group) explain the
process of putting this together. Describe to me all of the steps, who did what, and why you made the
choices you did. Include the grade out of 125 points that you deserve for your part in this activity.
Explain clearly why you deserve that grade and be very specific in explaining your participation. This
may be turned in the school day after you perform.
Monday 10/24: Assignment given, Word Masters
Tuesday 10/25: Work time – decision sheet due at end of period
Wednesday 10/26: Computer lab: open for research – classroom: open for workspace
Thursday 10/27: Other class work – no work time this day
Friday 10/28: Computer lab: open for research – classroom: open for workspace
Monday 10/31: Computer lab: open for research – classroom open for workspace
Tuesday 11/1: Other classwork – no group time this day
Wednesday 11/2 and Thursday 11/3: Other class work – no work time – Thurs. Voc. #4 quiz
Friday11/4 –Computer lab: open for research – classroom open for workspace
Monday 11/7 – starting Morality Play Tuesday 11/8 – no school Wednesday 11/9 presentations start