Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Romeo and Juliet Essay- Why the Project was of Value

We were assigned to write a persuasive essay about the project we did.  This is my essay:


“To be, or not to be? That is the question.”  In this case, to learn or not to learn?  That is the question.  When studying Shakespeare’s famous play, Romeo and Juliet, some may argue it is better to read the play and be tested on it while others believe students get more out of a project such as re-creating the play.  Re-creating the play has its advantages such as creating a sort of preparation for future jobs.  The project can help with communication skills.  It is also a form of hands on or interactive learning.  Most importantly, it leaves an emotional mark on a student.  There are many forms of teaching Shakespeare, but a project like recreating the play has much more value.
        Whether it’s learning to use certain technologic tools or gaining experience in a career field one may be interested in, a recreation of the play prepares students for future jobs.  Many jobs this day in age require one’s knowledge of basic technology.  Meetings are being held on programs such as Skype that allow colleagues to video chat with one another.  This project allows a student to use those programs to connect with people they are working with when they cannot talk to them in person.  It also creates reason for one to learn to use websites like WikiSpaces or to create blogs which can be used in the future.  If students are given the opportunity to choose what part of the project they’d like to take part in they can get a taste of potential careers they’re thinking about pursuing.  Cameramen can learn how to film or edit videos.  Students creating advertisements can get a feel for Graphic Design.  The Director learns what it’s like to have the responsibility of directing a group of people and making sure what needs to be done gets done which is helpful in any career.  Every person gets some sort of valuable experience that may be needed in the future.
        Everyone must have experience with communication to go far.  When working with other people one must know how to speak with another so everything is accomplished.  This project requires students to work with people from other classes in their class, as well as in their class.  It creates a need for one to be comfortable talking to people they don’t know very well.  They also need to be civil with the ones they don’t like.  That is a very important skill that is needed for one’s whole life.  Students are going to be interacting with people their whole life and must know how do to so. 
        This project is also a form of interactive learning.  It lets students understand the play better than if they read it and took a test on the main ideas.  One must understand the play and read it thoroughly to do their job correctly.  People who are rewriting the play, maybe as an updated version, must understand what is going on to properly update it.  Even smaller jobs such as costume design or prop masters must understand the play to do their job correctly.  Advertisers need to read scenes to do elaborate or symbolic ads.  Every person needs to know what’s going on in the play to accurately recreate it.  When you are required to actually understand the play and not get by without reading it, the knowledge stays with you forever.
        This project also has an emotional aspect to it.  High school is supposed to be a fun time and the peak of a student’s school years.  They won’t remember the many tests and books they read in high school, they’ll remember the big things and the fun activities.  Also, if one is having fun doing a project, the key ideas they learn are more likely to stay with them.  The goal in high school is to educate someone so they will remember the ideas later, not so they can get it over with and forget.  A project is more memorable than a test even if it is being remembered as something bad.
        School is about learning lessons to prepare one for the real world and to remember important ideas that will be needed later.  A project allows one to get experience for future jobs, work on communication skills and it’s much more memorable.  It has much more value than reading and being tested on the material.  Out of all the other ways to be taught Shakespeare, recreating the play is the best because one is not just being taught about Shakespeare and his plays, but also skills that will be needed later in life.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Bye, Bye Blog!

Our Romeo and Juliet project has come to a close.  We only have one more short scene to film and then we will be finished.  Currently, we are writing a persuasive essay about how this project has value in the classroom.  I will be posting my essay on my blog, but other than that, this is my last post!  Everyone did a wonderful job on the project.  Every student was responsible for a piece of the production and I'm actually surprised we were able to pull it off.  It was really cool to be able to work with another class from a different state.  I'm really glad we did this project because I feel I got more out of it than I would have if we just read the play and were tested on it. 

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Act 3, Scene 2

I made this glog to show what I think Juliet and the Nurse should wear during act 3, scene 2.  At first, I thought the Nurse should wear pajamas like Juliet, but seeing as she's coming to Juliet's after hearing the news of Tybalt's death, she should be dressed in a casual outfit.  I chose a sweatshirt and jeans or hardtails.  The glog has more information.




Act 3, Scene 1

I created a glog to show my costume ideas for act 3, scene 1.  I have a sketched copy of some of the characters’ costumes as well as pictures taken from online.  This scene is the fight scene where Mercutio is killed by Tybalt who is then killed by Romeo.  I put Tybalt in all black to represent death.  I put the Montagues in red shirts and jeans or khakis.  I also put the Prince in a police uniform.  It works because they are generally navy blue which represent royalty.  You can look at the glog below for more information.

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Act 1, Scene 5

During scene 5, Mercutio is trying to convince Romeo to go to the party.  Benvolio and some other "maskers" are in  this scene as well.  Because they are Montagues, the characters will be wearing some sort of red and a mask over their face because it is a formal costume party.  The masks will be provided by props.  Romeo will be in a red button down with a white tie and black pants.  Benvolio also be seen in red-- a red shirt and jeans or black pants.  Benvolio's costumes should be kept gender neutral because our school has a girl playing the character, while the other school casted a boy.  The other actors will be wearing formal wear with the same color scheme.  Above, I have a scanned copy of the sketches I made for act 1, scene 5.