American Authors of the Twentieth Century

Introduction

For this assignment, students will choose and research an American author,of their choice, from the twentieth century and write a biography for the author.  They will also create a power point and present their author to the class with visual aids.  

Task

Each student will choose an author from the twentieth century.

Students will use the internet to research the author.  Must use at least 3 reputable sources.

The student will create a 3 page, typed and double spaced with times new roman size 12 font, biography.

In addition to the paper, each student will create a power point.

Students will present their biography with their powerpoints (2-4 minutes)

Process

Choose an author from http://aalbc.com/books/thebestauthors.htm

Research on various websites

webquest should be used for research

ABSOLUTELY NO WIKIPEDIA!

topics to cover:

where was the author born?

education they received?

family life ( married? children?)

famous works

reputation/ critical review

death?

Create a powerpoint covering each topic of your paper, include visual aids

Evaluation
  Beginning
1
Developing
2
Qualified
3
Exemplary
4
Score

Author Information The students do not show sufficient use ofWebQuestand have little to no facts to promote author. The students display moderate use of WebQuest with minimal basic facts about author. The students use WebQuest to research author and have numerous supporting facts about author. The students master use of WebQuest to research their author and have a lot of interesting facts about author.
Summary The students do not show use of summaryworksheetas guideline for book summary and their summary is choppy and incoherent. The students show minimal use of summary worksheet as guideline and their summary is vague and only partially tells the story or tells too much. The students show good use of summary worksheet as guideline and their summary is understandable and entertaining. The students show excellent use of summary worksheet as guideline and their summary is in proper form, and makes readers excited about the book.
Pictures The students have no pictures taken from WebQuest research or pictures are unrelated to topic. The students have taken a picture from WebQuest but with little creativity. The students use related picture from WebQuest and present creatively withinMicrosoft Worddocument. The students find a picture from WebQuest that perfectly promotes the author/book and present it creatively within Microsoft Worddocument.
Quotes Not all students have included quotes. All in group contributed a favorite quote but quotes seem vague or confusing. All in group contribute to favorite quotes, quotes are interesting and pick out themes from the book. All in group contribute to favorite quotes, quotes directly relate to theme of book and are interesting and compelling.
Cooperation Group does not work well together, no collaborative effort, does not stay on task. Groupmembers workwell together but not entire collaborative effort among members, members stray from task often. Group members work well together, good collaborative effort, occasionally strays from task. All members work exceptionally well together, good collaborative effort, stays on task.


 

 

 

 

 

Presentation 

Students do not present authorpromo clearly, no energy, presentation not evenly distributed between group members. 

Students present adequate information clearly, but presentation not evenly distributed between group members 

Students present adequate information clearly, presentation evenly distributed among group members. 

Students present a lot of interesting information, presentation is lively, entertaining, and evenly distributed among group members. 

 

Conclusion

Each student will have done extesive research on their chosen author, leaving the student with vast knowledge of the author.  Each student will present ot he class teaching other young minds about their author, leaving each child with at least some knowledge of various authors of an influential time period for literature in America.  

Credits

We all benefit by being generous with our work. Permission is granted for others to use and modify this WebQuest for educational, non-commercial purposes as long as the original authorship is credited. The modified WebQuest may be shared only under the same conditions. See the Creative Commons Attribution • Non-Commercial• Share-Alike license for details.

Teacher Page

 

By Danielle Padula

This lesson is to teach students in the sixth grade the value of the literature form the twentieth century as well as advance their research skills.  Students will also develop presentation skills as well as work on public speaking skills.