1.23.2011

Court Room Scene



Assignment
After our class discussion of chapters 17-21, think about the context and important concepts of the court room scenes. You will form groups of 5, and each take on a particular character as you create your own discriminatory court room scene. This project should stress the major types of discrimination scene throughout our nation's history.

* You will need to do your own historical research to justify your rationale behind your choices.

Decide who will take on the personalities and traits of the following characters (you can/will change all other aspects of the character, i.e. name, gender, age, etc.):
1. Atticus Finch
2. Tom Robinson
3. Judge Taylor
4. Mayella Ewell
5. Mr. Gilmer

Components

As a group, you will be responsible for the following aspects of this assignment:

1. Two to three page written rationale for your scene including the following info in your rationale:

  • setting (time, place, environment, etc.) character names, literary/theme connection to TKAM
  • type of discrimination presented in your scene (historical context of discrimination)
  • how you, as a group, decided on your scene
2. One-two page narrative of your specific character's thoughts and feelings about the court hearing (think--- personal diary writing about the hearing)

3. Scene performance

  • You can decide on minimal costumes, props, etc., but you do not have to have anything accept your group's script to turn in to me after your performance
4. Self and Group Assessment: you will give each group member and yourself a grade after completing this assignment. You will decide on each person's responsibility so that the workload is evenly distributed.

Other Info

  • You will have a multiple group-teacher meetings to discuss your scene interpretation decisions, workload assignments and progress throughout the assignment.
  • Remember to think about different ways a person can be discriminated. Race is not the only way! 
  • Make sure you don't take away from your character's personal traits.
  • The diary writing will tell me whether you understand Harper Lee's characters or not.


Rubric
A full rubric and self/group assessment guide will be handed out in class. Here is how the project will be weighted.

Rationale = 30 points
Narrative Diary = 40 points
Performance = 20 points
Self/group assessment = 10 points (averaged from your peers and self assessment guide)

Total possible points:  100

Tentative DUE DATE:    March 5