OthelloProject Instructions

Purpose In order to demonstrate your understanding

of the play, you will complete a series of activities.

Process You (and a partner, if you choose) will choose

different activities from the project list provided later in this PowerPoint. You will choose at least one activity from each of the three categories. Please note that if you only choose one activity per category, the highest grade you can earn is an 80. You will need to choose other activities in order for your score to add up to 100. You may choose to complete enough activities to earn up to a 110.

Activities On the following slides, you will find lists of

the various activities. If you click on the name of the activity, it will take you to the instructions for that activity.

10 Point Activities Crossword Puzzle The ABCs of Othello Dear Diary Tattoo Design Advertisement Character Poem

20 Point Activities Sonnets Survey Movie Poster Rap

50 Point Activities Puppet Show Design a Room Children’s Book Reading Recommendations WebQuest Soundtrack Quote Book

Crossword Puzzle You are to create a crossword puzzle (not a

word search) all about Othello and Shakespeare’s time. You are to:

have at least thirty words and clues. at least twenty about the play at least ten about the time period

create the puzzle turn in a blank puzzle as well as a completed one

for the answer key.

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The ABCs of Othello For each letter of the alphabet, write something

about the play or Shakespeare that the letter brings to mind. It may be a phrase or even a few sentences, but it may not be just one word or name. Remember, it must start with the letter. Here’s an example to get you started:

A - Animal references to Othello reflect the racist attitudes of characters such as Iago.

B – (You will complete the rest of the alphabet.)

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Dear Diary You are to take on the persona of one of the

minor characters in the play (Brabantio, Emilia, Bianca, Roderigo …). You are to write one diary entry about a major event in the play. You need to:

make sure your diary entry is at least 150 words long. make sure that you write from the point-of-view or the

character you have chosen. make sure that you don’t merely summarize the event. You

need to give your take on it, make predictions, etc. make sure to sign the character’s name

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Tattoo Design Some of the characters in Othello are looking to

get a tattoo but are unsure of what to get. You are to help them out. Choose one character from the play to help. You need to do the following for that character:

identify the character design a tattoo. (You must create an image of it.) write 6-8 sentences explaining the significance of the tattoo

(its meaning, the significance of the colors, etc.)

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Advertisement Imagine that the producers of Othello have

asked you to make a movie trailer to advertise the upcoming production of the play. You need to:

Either perform or video the movie trailer Give hints about events in the play without totally

giving away the ending

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Character Poem Your favorite character in Othello is probably the

character you learned the most about. You know his/her feelings, likes and dislikes, dreams and disappointments … everything about his/her personality. For this activity, you will put yourself in your character’s shoes and write an “I AM” poem as if the character were writing it about himself or herself. You will find the format of the poem on the next slide.

Continued on the next slide

Character Poem (continued)I AM Poem, by (character’s name)

FIRST STANZAI am (two special characteristics character has)I wonder (something character might be curious about)I hear (an imaginary sound)I see (an imaginary sight)I want (an actual desire)I am (the first line of the poem repeated)

SECOND STANZAI pretend (something your character actually pretended to do)I feel (a feeling about something imaginary)I touch (an imaginary touch)I worry (something that would bother your character)I cry (something that would make your character very sad)I am (the first line of the poem repeated)

THIRD STANZAI understand (something your character knows is true)I say (something your character believes in)I dream (something your character would dream about)I try (something your character would make an effort about)I hope (something your character hopes for)I am (the first line of the poem repeated)

Continued on the next slide

I AM, by AntigoneI am the outspoken girl who will not quitI wonder what my life would have been like without “The Prophecy”I hear the people’s silent supportI see what Creon is blind toI want my brother’s burial—dignity and honorI am an outspoken girl who will not quit

I pretend to embrace my death as I would HaemonI feel the weight of the world on my shouldersI touch the souls of brave women through the agesI worry about the gods’ displeasureI cry for my brother, for my father, for myselfI am an outspoken girl who will not quit

I understand the frustration of being the proud rebelI say that divine law rules supremeI dream Creon will become a real uncleI try to be the role model my sister needsI hope for a happily ever afterI am an outspoken girl who will not quit

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Sonnets Imagine you are Othello. You are trying to

express your feelings about Desdemona, so you decide to compose two sonnets. You will compose one sonnet expressing your feelings before you lose your mind, and one sonnet expressing your feelings after you lose your mind.

You must follow the Shakespearean sonnet format, found at: http://www.cummingsstudyguides.net/xSonnets.html

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Survey Imagine you work for Opinions Rule Us, and they have asked

you to create a survey relating to Othello. You are to: create a survey based on of the themes or motifs of the play. (It

must relate to the play in some way.) survey at least thirty people. You must survey a variety of ages as

well as a good mix of gender. You need to note each person’s:

Age group (break it into categories) Gender Name (They should sign their name.) Response

turn in the paper survey create some kind of chart (pie chart, bar graph . . . ) that displays of

your findings

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Movie Poster You are to create a Movie poster for

Othello. Make sure your poster includes: the play title at least two theme statements pictures of the main characters with their names representation of the setting four important quotations a catch phrase

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Rap You are a musician, and you’ve got a great idea

for a song. Your idea is to make the plot of Othello into a rap or song. You are to:

Write out the lyrics. Make sure to cover the entire plot of the play, not just one

part. Use at least fifteen vocabulary words used correctly

(highlight each word) Either perform the song/rap live or turn in a recording of it.

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Puppet Show You are to create a puppet show about

Othello. You are to: make the puppets (paper bags, socks, popsicle

sticks . . . ) write a rough script perform or film the puppet show tell the whole story of the play through the puppet

show

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Design a Room You are an exclusive designer. Othello, Iago,

Desdemona, and Michael Cassio have come to you for your services. You are to:

choose one character. design one room for them (you choose which

room). make it either on a poster or 3-D.

If you choose to make it 3-D mock-up of the room, it must have at least two walls.

If you choose to create it on a poster, you must have actual pictures of all the item, fabrics, light fixtures . . . used in the rooms. Make sure to indicate wall color.

Continued on the next slide

Interior Design (continued) give a budget estimate.

furniture $ lighting $ flooring $ fabric and accessory $ paint $

write 150+ words justifying your design. How does it relate to the character? How will it meet their needs? Why did you choose this room? Why did you choose the furniture . . . etc.?

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Children’s Book You are to create a children’s book

covering the plot of Othello. You are to: have a minimum of twenty pages (not including

the cover). have thirty words on each page. have an illustration on each page. have an illustrated cover. use at least thirty vocabulary words correctly, six

words from each act (highlight them). cover the entire plot of the play.

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Reading Recommendations Othello, Iago, Desdemona, and Michael Cassio are having

some trouble finding good, useful books. That’s where you come in. You need to recommend three books for each character. For each book, you need to do the following:

list the title and author of the book. write 2-3 sentences explaining why that specific character should

read that specific book. Merely stating “It’s good” or “It’s entertaining” or something similar is not acceptable. Why would this character like this particular book? How does it fit the character’s personality? What can the character get out of the book or take away from it that will be useful to that character?

Remember, you will have a total of 12 entries (4 characters x 3 books each).

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WebQuest You are to complete the WebQuest. The

process can be found on the handout titled “Othello WebQuest”.

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Soundtrack You are to create a soundtrack that could go along with the

play. You are to:

have at least ten school appropriate songs by ten different artists. assign each song to a different, specific act and scene in the play. span the whole play with your soundtrack. have 75 – 100 words justifying each song. (The example has 140

words.) create the CD cover. have the lyrics for each song. write discussion question to go along with each song. have the songs go in the order of the play. burn the actual CD for extra points.

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Quote Book You are to create a book explaining various significant quotations

found in the play. Each page of the book should analyze a different quotation. You are to:

write the quotation at the top of each page. explain the significance and meaning of each quotation. identify the literary element illustrated by the quotation (irony, metaphor,

foreshadowing . . .) when applicable. write a 150 word analysis per quotation. analyze the quotations below (the line numbers refer to the No Fear

version): I.i.32-34 7. II.iii.187-188 I.i.186-192 8. III.i.84-87 II.i.77 9. IV.i.56-57 II.i.233-236 10. IV.i.98-101 II.i.267-269 11. IV.i.252 II.iii.23-31 12. V.iv.60-66

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