Othello Critical Analysis: Final Assessment Description
Grade 12 English Honors
Othello Digital Writing Workshop
“A Critical Paragraph about Othello, by William Shakespeare
and Supporting Multimodal Texts”
Essential Question:
What message is Shakespeare conveying to his audience about society and culture in Othello?
Assignment Overview
Write a 4-7 sentence/ 400 word (maximum) critical paragraph. You will ground your argumentation in theoretical analysis. You should have a minimum of three textual short phrases from Othello, and you should have three peer-reviewed resource phrases from three different scholars embedded into your critical paragraph. Your scholarly sources should refer to the theoretical lens that you choose: do not include scholars who have already interpreted Othello, please.
Because the critical paragraph is the core of a digital writing workshop, it is really important for you to write succinctly and persuasively. As Maya Angelou says, “I know that there's a difficulty in trying to write prose." She goes on, adding, "You know that easy reading is damn hard writing."[1]
Digital Workshop Overview
In addition to the critical paragraph, you will be locating three multimodal texts that support your argument statement, theoretical lens, and support. You must include visual, audio or video, and digital (hyperlinked) texts to augment your critical paragraph, and each text must be accompanied by a 1-2 sentence explanation.
Rubrics
Please see separate documents for the rubrics for this digital writing workshop.
Process toward Final Project
1) Paraphrase 15 consecutive lines from Othello, acts three through five that we did not deconstruct in class. Type them up. (10 points)
2) Assemble a packet of end-of-the-play writing that we did in class on either Wednesday, December 4 or Thursday, December 5. This packet should include:
a. A typed memo to self in the right column of the divided page in which you write in a stream-of-consciousness style to attempt to zoom into theory. (worth 10 points)
b. Your 2-sentence response to your partner’s memo to self.
c. Your 3-sentence response to the Act four expert roles.
d. Your paragraph that connects one of the themes in Othello on the handout to your working theory and memo to self.
e. Your paragraph in which you argue about ideas in “Racial and Sexual Manipulation in Shakespeare’s Othello: To Draw the Moor Apart.” You need to include textual evidence to support your position.
f. A 2-3 sentence memo to self in which you respond to the prompts about Iago’s silence and Othello’s redemption. (b-f is worth 10 points)
3) Research a series of peer-reviewed, scholarly articles about the theory you have chosen. You may use Dr. Carolyn’s RIC library i.d. for the password to EBSCOHost. Always remember to hit “peer-reviewed” and “full text” to get the best search results. Suggestion: Visit the FHS Library webpage devoted to our class at http://franklinhigh.libguides.com/content.php?mode=preview&pid=268848&sid=2252946
4) Design your argument statement by answering the essential question: “What message is Shakespeare conveying to his audience about society and culture in Othello?” Create a universal argument statement; that is, don’t refer to the text or characters but, rather, to real people in our contemporary life and society.
5) Refer to the Critical Paragraph Rubric as you draft out your critical paragraph. It is stored as an attachment under “Othello” on our class website.
6) Revise. Post your final draft on a new page of your personal Google website called “Othello Digital Writing Workshop.” (possible 33 points)
7) Search for multimodal visual, audio or video, and digital (hyperlinked) texts that support your theoretical interpretation of Othello. Refer to the rubric, called the "Digital Argument Workshop for Othello," which is located in the attachments section below.
8) Post your supporting multimodal texts in a visually appealing way on your personal Google website on the “Othello Digital Writing Workshop.” (possible 10 points each, or possible 30 total points)
[1] Dr. Maya Angelou received the Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community at the 2013 National Book Awards at Cipriani, Wednesday, December 5, 2013 in New York City.