The Research Paper WebQuest:  Selecting a Poet
     
   

     
   

Developed by Mrs. McTiernan

English 9 and 9H

E-mail me with questions at mctikath@shenet.org
     
   

  

     
   

Overview
   
  • The object of this activity is for students to research poets to find a poet that they would like to do their research on, then create a PowerPoint presentation that explicates one poem for English 9 and three for 9H of the poet's poems.
   

  • This lesson is appropriate for any high school English class.
   
   

  • The materials needed for this lesson are the Internet and PowerPoint.
     
   

Introduction
   

You have seen the PowerPoint presentation that explains the basics of a research paper.  Now it is time to complete the first step of our specific research paper: selecting a topic.  As the PowerPoint presentation indicated, most times your teacher will give you a topic.  For this research paper, I am asking you to research a poet.  Your research paper will utilize research you do on the poet and their life, combined with information you gain from explicating a poem of your choice written by that poet, to validate your thesis statement about the poet. 

     
     
   

Process
   

1.  Use the provided links, and only the provided links, to look for poets.  Read and listen to their poetry.  Which poems really touch you, which poems can you identify with, which poems make you laugh.  Try to select a poet that poems you enjoy.
                       

                         

     
   

2.  Once you have selected a poet, make sure to get it approved by me.  Remember the tenets of picking a topic:
     
   

3.  Now that you have an approved poet, you should select a poem(s) that you feel you can adequately explain; use those that you like, those that speak to you.
     
   

4.  Complete a source card for your poem.  Use the PowerPoint presentation or your MLA book to complete it, then show it to me.
     
   

5.  Use the following WebPages for information on how to explicate a poem.
   

                                            

     
   

6.  Create a PowerPoint for your explication.  Your PowerPoint should meet the following criteria:
   

  • Your PowerPoint presentation must have 3-4 slides for English 9 and 8-10 slides for 9H..

  • Your slides must contain at least 2 graphics (not just random graphics, but images that reflect the poem or poet.

  • Your slides can contain a sound (also must reflect the poem or poet.  For example, a reading of the poem that you find online would count as a sound.)

  • Experiment with fonts, colors and animations.  You should include 1 of each.  Please ask for help if you do not understand what I am asking for or how to do it.

  • And most importantly, you must include the poem itself and the author’s name, plus ALL pertinent information for an exceptional and detailed explication.  Make sure to use the provided websites to give you guidance, as well as your literary elements packet.
     
   

Evaluation
     
   

     
   

Conclusion
   

At the end of this assignment you will have picked a poet to research and have analyzed a poem written by this poet.  The analysis will help you to formulate a thesis statement for your paper, giving you a great foundation for conducting your research.  On with the show! 

     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Graphics courtesy of Microsoft Office
   

 

This page is maintained in accordance with Shenendehowa's web publishing guidelines by Kathryn McTiernan