English 4: Senior English

Name______

In preparation for reading Dracula (Stoker) or Jane Eyre (Bronte)

A SYMPOSIUM ON THE VICTORIAN ERA

You will work in an independent study for approximately one week in preparation of a project to present at our Victorian Symposium. Choose one topic from the options listed below. Resource materials are available at the public library, the ForsythTechnicalCommunity College (FTCC) library, online via nclive.org, and through links on the class web page under NOVEL UNIT. The FTCC materials will be on reserve. This means that you may use them only in the library. In this way everyone will have access to the material.

PROJECT CHOICES

  1. Advances in the Victorian Age. We tend to think the Victorians were terribly old fashioned, but the era was really one of enormous growth. Discover the technological advances, social reforms, and political happenings that shaped Queen Victoria’s extensive reign. Create a graphically appealing timeline that highlights the changes that would lead to the modern era, and be discussed to explain how these changes impacted the Victorians, how they lived, and even what they read.
  1. Women in Victorian Society. Research the lifestyles of women in the Victorian Age. What were the roles and responsibilities of women? What restrictions did women face? How did social class affect a woman’s opportunities? Prepare a Memory Box with actual samples of the lives of women from various classes. For example, you might share an authentic excerpt from a gentry woman’s diary you’ve printed off of the internet; an excerpt from a book advising housekeepers on their duties; show pictures of fashionable dresses; etc. Make sure you address the legal and social restrictions women faced.
  1. Victorian Education. Examine the British educational system. You will need to distinguish between education for the wealthy and education for the poorer classes. How did social class affect an individual’s education and upbringing? What were the differences in education between men and women? You might write a school newspaper to distribute to the class, including real rules that governed the students, examples of actual school menus, etc.
  1. Victorian Manners and Etiquette. How did Victorian men and women behave in upper class society? What roles did women play? How was a true gentleman defined? Write and illustrate a Miss Manners-inspired booklet to distribute, and be prepared to give your classmates a brief lesson in etiquette. How, for example, should we take our tea?
  1. Victorian Justice. You will explore the justice system, its criminals, and its punishments. How did the society attempt to solve its social problems in its justice system? What were the prisons like? How were the debtors treated? You might present case studies of imaginary (or real) criminals. How does Australia fit into the justice system? Perhaps you could draw up a “Most Wanted” list.

NOTECARDS

You will take notes on the information that you find in the library. You will take your notes on 3 x 5 notecards and also keep bibliographical cards. You should complete fifteen (15) notecards and four (4) bibliographical cards. At least two of your sources should be print (not Internet) sources. Follow MLA format for all cards.

CLASS PRESENTATION

As with most symposia, you will present your project orally. You will need visual aids (handouts, pictures, models, drawings, etc.) and audio aids (music) if appropriate. I will duplicate material that you need to pass out to the class as long as I receive your material the day before your presentation.

Each presentation should be about 10 minutes long.

Please remember that your presentation has a different objective from your preliminary research. The research is the foundation of the final presentation; your research must be thorough and accurate. You should use the presentation to teach the class about your topic. Your presentation should be engaging, creative, and informative. The information you present should be historically accurate, although the presentation itself may have anachronisms (like a TV talk show).

GROUP HANDOUT

You should prepare one written handout to accompany your project. This handout should be an academic overview or study sheet for your project. Feel free to make this one-to-two (1-2) page summary an outline or set of bullet points. In addition, your group may want to prepare a more creative handout to engage the students while you are presenting. Cite your sources in parenthetical citations as you would for a research paper.

BLOGS!

During the course of your research, you must post two (2) weblog entries on your topic’s website.

Each entry should have:

  1. some pertinent information on your topic
  2. your reaction to the information
  3. a citation of the source of your information
  4. a relevant question to your audience (other members of the same topic group in your class and other classes and your teachers)

You must also comment on two (2) other postings in the weblog. You might answer the question that is asked, mention information you found elsewhere that either adds to or contradicts the information cited in that post, or suggest how you will use that information in your group’s presentation or handout.

Your weblog posts will cover the information you have on your notecards, yet the purpose of these posts is different. Think of your log as an opportunity to have a serious, academic, and inquiring conversation about your topic. You’re not simply stating facts about the Victorian era but, instead, reacting to ideas. Be sure that the points you’re making are clearly explained and developed; this will encourage a challenging conversation and open the possibility for debate. For example, the groups studying education might use their weblog to consider the benefits and drawbacks of Victorian education compared to our own system.

Be sure to sign your name to both your posts and your comments. You will not get any credit without your signature.

GUIDELINES FOR NOTECARDS, RESEARCH, AND PROJECT

Your 3 x 5 notecards will help you to organize your ideas as you read each source. You are required to have fifteen (15) research cards and four (4) bibliographical cards.

What sort of information should I look for?

Look for engaging ideas, historical facts, customs, bibliographical information, repeated points, etc. I’d recommend that you bring some sticky notes to class. Mark points that interest you with sticky notes. Then come back to these points, and complete your notecards. Take some time to browse through the material before you begin your notecards. But don’t take too much time!

How will my research change?

At first, you will have cards with various, scattered ideas. After the first research day, narrow your research by dividing your topic into subcategories.

How should I take notes on my notecards?

Please use the same “system” I taught you for the Research Writing Unit.

What are the correct bibliographical formats?

Please see the links for MLA format. The bibliographical cards are essentially the same as the Works Cited cards you did for your research paper.

How many sources do I need?

You need to have at least four (4) different sources. At least two (2) of these sources must be BOOKS. The others may be books, encyclopedias, or websites.

HINT: If you put a direct quotation on a card, also put your own reactions to this quotation. You’ll remember why you picked it later.

When should I prepare for the presentation?

Take advantage of our class time to plan your presentation. Remember that every successful presentation follows this general outline:

  1. Get their Attention
  1. Tell Them Why They Need to Listen: What’s in it for the audience?
  1. Keep it Simple, Stupid: just tell the audience what they need to know & balance new information with visual aids to sustain interest
  1. Remind them what you told them: recap and reinforce how the audience can make use of what they’ve learned

GRADING (100 points total)

All of your work is due no later than 5 days after you begin this unit of study.

DUE DATE:______

15 NOTECARDS, 4 BIBLIOGRAPHICAL CARDS (38 pts)

BLOG / POWERPOINT (30 pts)

YOUR PART OF THE PRESENTATION (12 pts)

GROUP PRESENTATION AND HANDOUT (20 pts)

REMINDER: You will need to plan ahead and organize your time. You always have homework in English. Spend time on your Victorian project and your outside reading each night! Make the most of our class time in the library.