Unit+3+-+The+Merchant+of+Venice

The literature focus of this unit is the Shakespearean play //The Merchant of Venice//, which provides an historical work, a drama, and poetry all in one. The writing focus is the writing of clear, well-structured news reports and personal reflective responses. The language focus on speaking culminates in groups of students presenting background information to enrich their understanding of the context of the play and a debate around the key ethical issues, __both__ historical and contemporary, raised by the play. The students will produce an in-class news report in preparation for the final written examination.

=Activity 1 - The Merchant of Venice =

Resources

 * If you would like to access an electronic edition of the play, you can access one by clicking here: CLICK ME!**
 * An audio edition of the text can be accessed at LibriVox**

Activity 1.1 - Background
Step 1: Choose a topic from the list below Step 2: Research the topic
 * TOPIC || PRESENTATION LINKS/FILES ||
 * Venetian Government ||  ||
 * Usury or Money Lending in Venice ||  ||
 * Venetian Shipping ||  ||
 * Venetian Law ||  ||
 * Venetian Fashion ||  ||
 * Venetian Art and Music ||  ||
 * Venetian Geography ||  ||
 * Venetian Food and Drink ||  ||
 * Jewish Persecution 1400 to 1600 ||  ||
 * Venetian Sanitation ||  ||
 * Venetian Medicine ||  ||
 * Venetian Business ||  ||

Step 3: Create a Lesson Plan for your presentation (this will be marked separately). Your presentation will be 20 to 30 minutes long.
 * Objectives: 3 of them phrased in the following way: "Students will be able to..." (I suggest you make use of the following site to help you in this: The Differentiator
 * Resources: Everything you need to have in class in order to carry out your lesson
 * Methodology: Broken down by duration and content -- who says what who does what, when and for how long
 * Evaluation: How will you know that the students have attained your objectives? A few cautionary comments here:
 * no quizzes - the whole Jeopardy thing is not an accurate measure of learning or comprehension
 * no candies!!!

Step 4 Develop a "Dummies Guide to..." (assume **the reader knows nothing** about your topic) which contains:
 * key points needed to understand the topic
 * testable items and questions (5 multiple choice, 3 short answer, 2 short essay)
 * a 5 paragraph essay by each group member on some aspect of the topic and its effect on your understanding of the time period
 * pictures, resources, and other items which will augment the readers understand
 * a bibliography


 * Post your "Dummies Guide" to both your homework page and to the presentation links column of the chart above.**

Step 5: Create a multimedia presentation on your topic. Be creative! You can use more than Powerpoint. Here's just a few:
 * Prezi
 * Theme-efy
 * timeglider
 * Tiki-toki...


 * Post your multimedia presentation to both you homework page and to the presentation links column of the chart above.**

Step 6: Present the presentation.

**Activity 2 - The News Report**
Step 1: Choose a significant scene from the play Step 2: Write a news report based on that scene

==Activity 3 : THE MERCHANT OF VENICE Study Questions ==
 * =====**Act One **=====
 * =====**Act Two**=====
 * =====**Act Three**=====
 * =====**Act Four**=====
 * =====**Act Five**=====