Exploring Kate Chopin's Desiree's Baby WebQuest

Introduction

In small groups, you will read Kate Chopin's short story Desiree's Baby in which race and gender roles play a vital part in the overall development of the story. As you read, consider the following questions

1. How does racial bias affect the characters' attitudes and identities?

2. Based on Desiree's character, what conclusions can you draw about a woman's place in society at the time Desiree's Baby was written.

Task

You've just read Kate Chopin's short story Desiree's Baby in which race and gender roles play a vital part in the overall development of the story. You will now explore the short story on a deeper level by analyzing gender and race and the effect that they both have on the characters in the text. You will also analyze why Chopin chose to discuss these two aspects in the story?

Considering your answers to the previous questions, you will write an extended ending to the story.

Your project must include the following

It must include at least 4-6 paragraphs
It must be told from the original P.O.V.
It must contain dialouge between the characters.
It must thoroughly discuss race and gender roles.
You must remain within the setting and time period of the original story.

This project must be turned in via Google Docs! Include the proper heading and be sure to include all group members names on the document.

Step 1. Read Kate Chopin’s “Desiree’s Baby” and jot down your answers to the essential questions.

How does racial bias affect the characters' attitudes and identities?
Based on Desiree's character, what conclusions can you draw about a woman's place in society at the time Desiree's Baby was written.

Step 2. Listen to the audio version of the text and jot down any additional notes that you missed while reading.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fs40vH5EfrE&t=11s

Step 3: Watch the “Desiree’s Baby” story analysis video and answer the following questions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKyknb4uRVI

What do you think about Armand?
What will he do after reading the letter?
Argue whether or not Armand knew he was “tainted” before discovering the letter at the end of the story. Use specific examples from the text and draw some conclusions.
Do you think he even knew about the letter before the end of the story?

Process

Step 4: Watch the writing extended endings video and brainstorm your ideas.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GEXP-EMlRU&list=TLPQMDIwODIwMjEc6C9B2D…

Brainstorm all of your ideas for your group’s extended ending to the story using the extended ending graphic organizer. Remember that you must thoroughly discuss race and gender roles. Include the feelings of Armand and Desiree at the end of the story. It would be wise to build upon their emotions so the ending will feel real.

List the characters involved. (Who will be in the ending?)

Describe the setting. (Where will it happen?)

How is your group planning on changing the ending? Explain in 3 sentences. (Why will it happen?)

List 3 things that will happen in your conclusion. (What will happen?)

What are some scenes that can include dialogue? (Dialogue is IMPORTANT)

Step 5: Create a rough draft of your extended ending by telling your audience what will happen next in the story. Remember that you must continue the story from the original point of view.

Step 6: Exchange papers with the group to your right. Let the group read over your extended ending and provide feedback for your draft.

Step 7: Make the necessary revisions to your rough drafts. Make sure that you review the checklists from the task section.

Step 8: Submit your final drafts via Google classroom for a summative test grade. Be sure that the proper heading is on your assignment.

Evaluation

Evaluate your extended ending using the rubric. Your group will be graded based upon the components of the rubric.

This project must be turned in via Google Docs! Include the proper heading and be sure to include all group members names on the document.

Extended Ending Rubric
Construct Measured	4 Points	3 Points	2 Points	1 Point
Written Expression	The student response is effectively developed with the required elements and is appropriate to the task is effectively organized with clear and coherent writing establishes and maintains an effective style	The student response is mostly effectively developed with the required elements and is mostly appropriate to the task is organized with mostly clear and coherent writing establishes and maintains a mostly effective style	The student response is developed with some narrative elements and is generally appropriate to the task demonstrates some organization with somewhat coherent writing has a style that is somewhat effective	The student response is undeveloped and/or inappropriate to the task lacks organization and coherence has an inappropriate style
Decision Making	Character makes a new decision that will significantly change the outcome of the story	Character makes a new decision that changes the outcome of the story.	Character makes a decision but it is unclear if it will change the outcome of the story	Character does not make a new decision or makes a decision that does not change the outcome of the story
Elaboration and Dialogue	Contains details that provide insight to character(s); contains dialogue that reveals characters’ motives and furthers the plot	Contains details and dialogue that develop the story	Contains characters and setting; has some dialogue	Contains some details that somewhat further the story; does not contain dialogue
Grammar and Spelling	Contain 1-2 errors in the entire ending	Contain 1-2 errors in each paragraph	Contain many errors in grammar and punctuation	Writing displays extreme difficulty with writing conventions

Write an individual one-paragraph reflection on the extended ending assignment. Share your personal strengths and weaknesses in completing this assignment. What areas do you need improvement in? Be sure to be honest!

Conclusion

Great job on taking your time and completing your extended ending writing task. What was two main takeaways from this assignment?

What did you learn about race and gender roles in the time period in which this story was written?

Check out some of Kate Chopin's other short stories and try to repeat the extended writing process.

https://www.katechopin.org/pdfs/Kate%20Chopin%2C%20A%20Pair%20of%20Silk%20Stockings.pdf

https://my.hrw.com/support/hos/hostpdf/host_text_219.pdf

https://americanliterature.com/author/kate-chopin/short-story/the-storm

Credits

All resources for this assignment are included below:

"Desiree's Baby" Text

https://www.katechopin.org/pdfs/desirees-baby.pdf

"Desiree's Baby" Audio