Introduction
The novel "A Raisin In The Sun" by Lorraine Hansberry is a story based off the lives of a young African American family who strives to reach their idea of the American dream or to achieve their goals. The book is set in the 1950's after World War II but before the Vietnam War, a hard time for minorities in America. Whilst trying to achieve their goals, they are constantly hindered due to social wrongdoings, their economic situation and the color of their skin.
In this webquest, students will learn of the complications that a minority family will face as well as the motives behind the creation of the novel while learning about its author. In order to acquire an understanding of the task at hand, students will write two individual essays through their own research on the topic of what it was like to be a member of a minority family.
Task
By the end of the web quest, students will have demonstrated their understanding of the struggles that each individual in a minority family would face in the 1950's. They will demonstrate such an action by assigning a character from the book amongst themselves, writing a diary entry explaining their goals as well as their problems, their feelings ad lastly how they are going to achieve those goals. This page-long typed document will be accompanied by a short biography of the author, Lorraine Hansberry, covering her early childhood to adulthood, and explain why it is she believes that "A Raisin In The Sun" is an important book to her in a well organized essay that appears to be a page in length.
Process
As the task and introduction explained, you have two assignments. These assignments consist of first writing a well organized essay over the life of Lorraine Hansberry as to get a better understanding as to why it is that she wrote this novel. The second task would be the writing of the diary entry as alotted one per individual in your group. This diary and the entry are meant to be well thought and organized.
Step 1) Research:
In order for student to gain a better understanding of the Lorraine Hansburry's life and the characters from her novel "Raisin In The Sun", students may use the links below. Feel free to click through the sites as there is a plethora of information on this subject.
https://www.biography.com/people/lorraine-hansberry-9327823.
https://www.chipublib.org/lorraine-hansberry-biography/
https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/r/a-raisin-in-the-sun/character-list
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/raisin/characters.html
http://www.litcharts.com/lit/a-raisin-in-the-sun/characters
Step 2) Diary Entry
After your group has divided the characters of Lorraine Hansberry's novel "A Raisin In The Sun" amongst yourselves, you will need to compose a diary entry on the dreams and aspirations of that character as well as what he or she is feeling at that particular time such as emotions or events that have happened in the story that effect that character in particular. Below, you will find the criteria needed to achieve the highest score possible for the Diary Entry.
Double Spaced
Introduction, Body Paragraphs and Conclusion
No less than 500 words in length
No shorter than 1 page in length
MLA formatted
Step 3) Lorraine Hansberry's Biography
Each individual within your group will be assigned the task of writing a well organized, thoughtful short biography based on the life of Lorraine Hansberry. This short biography should include significant milestones in Lorraine Hansberry's life such as early childhood, career landmarks, personal inquiries, and general knowledge as when and where she was born and when and where she died or who her parents were. Below, you will find the criteria needed to achieve the highest score possible for Lorraine Hansberry's short biography.
Double Spaced
Working Thesis
Introduction, Body Paragraphs and Conclusion
No less than 500 words in length
No shorter than 1 page in length
MLA formatted
Evaluation
|
Category |
5 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
|
Content |
Content is extremely accurate as well as precise. Information covers what was required and extra. Knowledge of Lorraine Hansberry and her works are extensive. |
Content is accurate and almost precise. Information covers what is required. Knowledge of Lorraine Hansberry and her works is decent. |
Content is fairly accurate and fairly precise. Information fairly covers what is required. Knowledge of Lorraine Hansberry and her works is fair. |
Content is poor and not at all precise. Information barely covers what is required. Knowledge of Lorraine Hansberry and her works is minimal. |
Content is extremely poor and needs development. Information does not cover what is required. Knowledge of Lorraine Hansberry is extremely minimal. |
|
Conventions |
No misspelled words or grammatical errors present. |
1-3 misspelled words or grammatical errors present. |
4-6 misspelled words or grammatical errors present. |
7-9 misspelled words or grammatical errors present. |
10 or more misspelled words or grammatical errors present. |
|
Creativity |
Student displays a immense amount of creative liberty and initiative. |
Student displays a large amount of creative liberty and initiative. |
Student displays a moderate amount of creative liberty and initiative. |
Student displays a miniscule amount of creative liberty and initiative. |
Student displays an amount of creativity not measureable. |
|
Biography |
Student constructs a extremely well-organized biography on important moments in Lorraine Hansberry’s life. |
Student constructs a well-organized biography on important moments in Lorraine Hansberry’s life. |
Student constructs a organized biography on important moments in Lorraine Hansberry’s life. |
Student constructs a decent biography of the important moments in Lorraine Hansberry’s life. |
Student constructs a poor biography of the important moments in Lorraine Hansberry’s life. |
|
Diary Entry |
Student crafts a extremely creative response based off their assigned character. |
Student crafts a creative response based off their assigned character. |
Student crafts a fairly creative response based off their assigned character. |
Student crafts a poorly creative response based off their assigned character. |
Student crafts a response with little to no creativity based off their assign character. |
Conclusion
After having completed the task assigned, students should now understand how life was for a minority family as well as why one individual decided to illustrate the image for the public. While reading the book, students will hopefully have a deeper understanding as well as a deeper appreciation for the novel and why the novel was written.
Credits
Gabriel Burrell - Author and Chief Editor