Submitted by: JaNee Jones & Sarah Billups
School: Varina High School
Summary
The objective of quality critical thinking and character analysis is to provide students with the tools to effectively and powerfully express their understanding of a character’s role in the piece and their connection with theme. This is both a creative and analytical process. By using a “Twitterlike” program students are able to express their creativity by impersonating the character in a medium that they are accustomed to using outside of the classroom. Plus students interact with each other in a “TwitterLike” experience!
Though this lesson was used with “Romeo and Juliet” it could be used with any literary text.
TIPC Ratings
Developing – Students research within the text provided by the teacher. Students locate and properly cite their research in their comments as their character. The students used their information, character analysis found to develop unique thoughts as they bring their characters to life in a “TwitterLike” world.
Ideal – Students communicate within and beyond the classroom in real time as they turn into their characters and speak as them in the “TwitterLike” world. They are creating an ever-changing and original work collaboratively as a class as their critical analysis leads them to new ideas developed through their understanding of characters. Students are able to collaborate via the website without having to be in the same space. They build on each others’ answers helping students not only relate to the character they become but the other characters of the play.
Approaching – Students critically think as they analyze the connections between characters. What is the character thinking beyond the text? What can you infer? What can you predict? Why does the character think and act in such a manner? Students were asked to respond at two separate places in the play. We chose two major events that provided significant fodder for discussion. The discussion required students to access their higher-order thinking skills that are produced through a mix of creativity and analysis. Becoming a character requires students to develop an intimate understanding of that character including how the character would feel, sound, and react.
Approaching – Students use their character analysis, critical thinking, and textual research to create new ideas to share with their audience within and outside the class. Their ideas are unique but rooted in higher level thoughts, questions, and thinking. No one will see each character the same or react to the other characters in the same way. Their discussions create new ideas that will never again occur and are lucky to be captured through the transcript.
Student Artifact
Download Files
Contents:
- LESSON PLAN
- RUBRIC
- STUDENT SAMPLE
