You MUST choose one option from Layer A, one option from Layer B, and one option from Layer C. There are a few options that involve group work. If you choose one of these, YOU are responsible for picking your group and making the time to work together! Your entire project consisting of options from all three layers will be worth 100 possible total points. At LEAST one of your choices must be a “Bard’s Choice.”

Layer A – (20 points possible)

  1. Complete a Cause and Effect Organizer. On a chart, include columns for Cause of, Event, and Effect of. Record 10 events with respective causes and effects.See me for the chart if you choose this option – NEATNESS COUNTS!!!
  1. *** Bard’s Choice - Create a 1 – 2 page summary of Macbeth. Be sure to use transitional words and phrases. This MUST be typed – double spaced, 12 point font, normal margins.
  1. Choose 15 words from the play that you donot know (think vocabulary words, not necessarily “Shakespearian” words), look up their definitions, and create a quiz. Your quiz should be either matching or multiple choice. Be sure to include an answer key.
  1. Create a Wanted Poster for one of the characters from Macbeth. You will need to present your poster to the class and explain what you did, why you did it, how you did it. Your poster should include:

Ø  a description of the criminal

Ø  a sketch/picture of the criminal

Ø  a description of the crime(s) (s)he committed

Ø  reason(s) why (s)he should be arrested

Ø  the area in which (s)he is wanted

Ø  a description of the reward being offered

Ø  contact information for those with information on the criminal

  1. Create a comic strip for one of the acts in Macbeth. You may use a computer or your own artistic skills! Show foreshadowing or irony; include a written paragraph explaining your comic strip.

Layer B – (30 points possible)

  1. Create a poster detailing two of the four major themes from the front page of your study guide: Things are not always what they seem, Blind ambition, Power corrupts, and Superstition. Your poster should be CLEARLY labeled. Be creative! Visually interpret the themes and add text to support your visuals. Be sure to relate directly to the play, but you may also incorporate other examples if you wish. Ensure that you show your understanding of the themes and how they work in the play.
  2. *** Bard’s Choice - Write a play review of Macbeth. There are reasons why the play has remained popular for so many years. What do you think those reasons are? Think about the play—both the written and film version (after we’ve watched it of course!) —what made an impact on you as the audience member? Write a paragraph or two about the impact the play had on you and what parts affected you more than others. Be sure to give details that explain how Shakespeare influenced his audience.
  1. Create a board game that focuses on the plot of Macbeth. Include clear directions for how to play, as well as everything needed to do so (board, game pieces, cards, answers, etc.) We should be able to play (and WIN!) the game without any verbal instructions from you.

4.  Song Writing: Write song lyrics that are related to one of the main themes of the play: blind ambition, things are not always what they seem, power corrupts, or superstition. Choose an existing melody that you feel “fits” your theme and write new lyrics for it. Include a written explanation (a paragraph) of why you chose the theme you did and why you chose the particular music. Submit a copy of the original song with your lyrics. PARTNER OPTION – you may work with a partner (groups of 2 or 3 only) IF – big if here – you perform the song for the class. Performance may be live or recorded on video.

  1. *** Bard’s Choice - Theatrical Program: When people go to a contemporary stage production, they always receive a program. Create a program for Macbeth. Minimum requirements are a cover, two articles (which could include the historical background of the play, restaurant reviews, fashion trends, new stores) which have a Shakespearean or Scottish theme, a synopsis of each of the 5 Acts, a list of characters with modern day actors who would play each part, and at least three advertisements (with same theme).

Layer C – (50 points possible)

1.  *** Bard’s Choice - Macbeth’s Journal: Write a journal that Macbeth would have written throughout the events of the play. The entries in the journal must relate to specific events with Macbeth’s reactions to each of them. You do NOT need to write in Shakespeare’s language but you must be TRUE to Macbeth’s feelings as Shakespeare presented them in the play. Minimum number of entries is five, with each entry being at least 75 words long.

2.  *** Bard’s Choice - Macbeth confronts the witches: PARTNER OPTION – groups may be 2 to 4 members. Imagine that Macbeth has a confrontation with the witches in which he blames them for his troubles. What would happen? You may write it in dramatic (dialog) or narrative (paragraph) form. Macbeth’s comments must be based in the fact that he thinks none of this would have happened if the witches had not been involved. In addition to writing this, you and your partners will present a video performance of your written confrontation to the class. Minimum length is 500 words.

3.  *** Bard’s Choice - Write a 3 to 4 page scene based on a section of Macbeth, but set somewhere else, like an urban ghetto or a mental ward. Those are only two suggestions - be creative! PARTNER OPTION – groups may be 2 to 4 members. In addition to writing this, you and your partners will present a video performance of your scene to the class. Be true to the plot, but make sure the characters fit the setting. You must use proper play formatting – you are writing dialog, not paragraphs.

4.  Illustrations: Note!! THIS PROJECT IS FOR VISUALLY ARTISTIC PEOPLE ONLY! Using artistic mediums, draw at least three 8 1/2” by 11” illustrations of specific scenes from the play. Each illustration must have a written paragraph with it describing the scene, why you chose it, and how your illustration builds understanding of the scene. If you choose this option, I am expecting HIGH QUALITY illustrations – no stick figures allowed!!

5.  *** Bard’s Choice - News Report: Rewrite the events associated with Duncan’s death into a modern news report (think Dateline NBC or 48 Hours) detailing the events that occurred as a result of the prophecies. Minimum length of news report: 300 words. PARTNER OPTION (groups of 2) MUST present a video recording of the News Report to the class.