Webquest Evaluation and Conclusion

Evaluation:

Students will be graded on the following:

1. Their ability to follow directions
2. Their ability to co-operate with one another
3. Spelling and grammar
4. The over-all appearance of final project

There is no reason that all of you cannot receive an "A".

Conclusion:

Congratulations! You have finished your Webquest! I hope this project helped you to explore your creativity and possibly give you an idea for a future career. Your literary magazines will be shelved in my classroom for you and future classes to look at and enjoy. Great job!

Here is a video advertising a literary magazine that may help you get inspired to go beyod this class with the literary magazine...

Webquest Process

The Process:

1. With the members of your group, decide first on a name for your magazine and a picture for the cover. Then designate an editor who will be in charge of compiling all of the works into a magazine and then decide who will write what in the group. Since there are six of you, three should write a short story and three should write 2-3 poems each.

2. Look at the links I have provided for help on the poem forms, the short story and deciphering fiction from non-fiction:

* http://www.poemofquotes.com/articles/poetry_forms.php
* http://everybodyscribbles.com/Short_Story_Form.php
* http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/literary_contests_markets/68354

3. Write your stories/ poems and get them ready for work-shopping within your groups.

4. After you have workshopped all of your group's work, fix any spelling or grammatical errors and take into consideration the constructive criticisms when revising.

4. Submit your work to the group's editor to compile in the magazine. You can out the entire compilation into a three-ring binder or your group can chip in to get it spiral bound at Staples for a few dollars.


Here are examples of Literary Magazine covers:

Webquest Task

Task:
You will be put into groups of six to create a literary magazine consisting of short stories and poems. There must be at least one fiction and one non-fiction short story; They cannot be all fiction or all non-fiction (you can choose amongst yourselves who will write what). The poems must be in one or more of the following forms: an ABC poem, a ballad, a blank verse poem, a Carpe diem, a Cinquain, a Couplet, an Elegy, a free verse, a limerick, a Haiku, or a Petrarchan sonnet. It is important to help one another edit the works you are submitting to the magazine and provide constructive criticism for one another by having workshop sessions. I will provide links to help you on the forms of poetry and short story writing. The main task is for your group to produce a literary magazine that could be a legitimate magazine that millions of people would want to subscribe to. You will learn how to work together as those at a professional magazine do.

Literary Magazine Webquest...Introduction

Literary Magazine Webquest: A Webquest for 12th Grade English

Introduction:

We have just finished the section on short stories and poems. As a group, I want you to come up with your own short stories and poems, creating your own literary magazine to "publish" your work. Your group will be responsible for coming up original work and working together to complete this project.

Uncle Tom's Cabin

When most people think of slavery, one of the first things that come to mind is the American Civil War. The next thing that people may think about is one of the most famous books ever written..."Uncle Tom's Cabin" by Harriet Beecher Stowe. Stowe was an American Abolitionist and author. Her novel, "Uncle Tom's Cabin" is an anti-slavery novel. The novel had profound affects on people's attitudes of African Americans and slavery. Even though "Uncle Tom's Cabin" was published in 1852, nine years before the outbreak of the Civil War, a lot of people still associate the novel with the Civil War.
"Uncle Tom's Cabin" is not mandatory reading in schools. It is, however, a good piece that should be incorporated into high school Literature curriculum. It may be hard for some to understand with the writing style being different from the writing styles of the 21st century, but with patience, UTC is a great read.

Melville Continued...

This is a painting depicting the Battle of Shiloh by Thure de Thulstrup (1848-1930) in 1888.








To give a little background of the poem to follow, the Battle of Shiloh took place April 6-7 1862. It is also called the Battle of Pittsburg Landing. Shiloh was a major battle fought in southwestern Tennessee. The Confederates were trying to expel the Union from the Tennessee River area and into the swamps of Owl Creek. The Confederates failed at their attempt and the Battle of Shiloh was a Union victory.

As promised, here is a poem about the Civil War:

SHILOH by Herman Melville

A Requiem.
(April 1862.)

Skimming lightly, wheeling still,
The swallows fly low
Over the field in clouded days,
The forest-field of Shiloh --
Over the field where April rain
Solaced the parched one stretched in pain
Through the pause of night
That followed the Sunday fight
Around the church of Shiloh --
The church so lone, the log-built one,
That echoed to many a parting groan
And natural prayer
Of dying foemen mingled there --
Foemen at morn, but friends at eve --
Fame or country least their care:
(What like a bullet can undeceive!)
But now they lie low,
While over them the swallows skim
And all is hushed at Shiloh.

I found the poem on-line at: www.melville.org/hmbattle.htm



To show what a Civil War battle might look like, I found a video that was most likely put together by a Southern Re-enactor, but seeing as how Shiloh was a battle fought in the south, I find it appropriate.

Herman Melville

This is the first time I have found poetry written, published rather, directly after the end of the Civil War. Herman Melville wrote a collection of poems entitled "Battle-Pieces and Aspects of the War." I have yet to acquire the book, but I have found some of the poems on-line. When I read them through more thoroughly, I will post them and talk about what battle Melville was writing about.

Until Tomorrow...