Introduction
You are a group of three friends who dream about becoming part of an international magazine. In the last edition of The Hollywood Gossip you have seen a post in which they ask for new people to join and work with them through taking part in a contest. It consists of finding out juicy information about two celebrities currently in the spotlight. Are you ready to become paparazzi? Don’t forget your sunglasses and caps to hide you from the focus! 3, 2, 1… Breaking news, New York!
Baby, you’ll be famous,
chase you down until you love me,
papa-paparazzi!
Lady Gaga
Task
Resource 1
Background information:
- Leighton Meester got married three years ago and we have just heard about that! How is that even possible? Who is the lucky man who kneeled down and got her ‘Yes, I do’? If only life was fictional and Chuck Bass turned into her real love…
- Who is Neri Oxman? If it is true that she is the new girlfriend of Brad Pitt, we need more information and exclusive details! Will he have finally forgotten the stunning Angelina Jolie?
Easy Start:
Organise your ideas with the following questions about life events:
- Where are they from?
- How old are they?
- What do they do?
- What are their main interests or hobbies?
- How are they physically?
- We need as many juicy details as possible, paparazzi…
Where to find the information:
About Leighton Meester and her husband:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Brody
About Brad Pitt and her new love:
https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/6014375/neri-oxman-brad-pitt-girlfriend-dating-latest/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neri_Oxman
Resource 2
Background information:
Both Leighton Meester and Brad Pitt are really attractive, easy-going and well-known actors in Hollywood. However, we are not interested in their profession right now. Actually, what we are dying to know is who their previous couple was. Past is past and comparisons are terrible but we need to create the best article for our readers. They are looking forward to having it in their hands!
Easy Start:
Organise your ideas with the following questions about their love record:
- Describe how the previous boyfriend/girlfriend were physically and also mention their personal information.
- How long were they together as a couple?
- Did they get married?
- Did they have children?
- What do you know about each breakup?
- We need as many juicy details as possible, paparazzi…
Where to find the information:
About Leighton Meester and her ex-couple:
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1659221/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm
https://www.yourtango.com/201066231/leighton-meester-sebastian-stan-breakup-was-really-sad
About Brad Pitt and her ex-couple:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angelina_Jolie
https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/angelina-jolie-brad-pitt-split-8877711
Resource 3
Background information:
If you have read our magazine, you will have realized that our readers love to know our perspective on the most interesting love stories. Therefore, after having found out all the information about the couples of Leighton Meester and Brad Pitt, it is time for you to give your opinion and explain everything that you think about these relationships. Who knows? You may be a fortune teller and read their future!
Easy Start:
Organise your ideas with the following questions about their fate:
- Will they get married?
- Will they have children?
- Will they work on a project together?
- Will they travel around the world?
- Will they cheat on each other?
- Will they miss their previous couple?
- Is this person the definitive or will they find a new one?
Process
Students are going to be requested to carry out three tasks. All of them have been thought to be completed in a 55 minutes lesson. That is, we will devote three sessions to the development of the activities. They will work in groups of 3-4 students.
Our students' level is 2nd ESO, which means that their level of Proficiency in English according to the CEFR is between A1 - A2.
All the tasks will be revolving around the topic of 'Magazines' and they consist on the following:
Task 1: Gathering of information (Part 1). The students will have to search for information in order to answer some proposed questions. The questions (and thus, the answers) are in Present, so as to review writing in this tense.
Task 2: Gathering of information (Part 2). As in Task 1, students will be required to search for information about specific questions on the websites given. This time, the tense that will be used is Past.
Task 3: Produce a text. Once they have gathered all the interesting facts of these famous people's lives, our students will need to produce a text using the Future tenses. They will need to talk about what they think these celebrities will be like in some years time.
Our aim has been to practice writing in a different and more engaging way. We know writing in English is one of the most difficult skills for our students and in this way, they will feel motivated to produce small texts.
Evaluation
The evaluation will be divided into four parts:
Task 1: 30%
Task 2: 30%
Task 3: 30%
Peer-assessment and self-evaluation: 10% ( 5% and 5%)
Rubrics for Tasks 1, 2, 3:
|
|
3 points |
2 points |
1 point |
0 points |
Total: |
|
Originality. |
The text is 100% original, the students have not copied anything from the sources. |
The text is not 100% original, the students have copied a bit from the sources. |
The text is mostly copied from the sources, but still, there are some original words/sentences. |
The text is 100% copied from the sources. |
|
|
Grammar. |
Excellent use of grammar, no mistakes. |
Good use of grammar, some mistakes but the text can still be understood. |
Acceptable use of grammar, but some mistakes impede the text to be understood. |
Unacceptable use of grammar, text cannot be understood. |
|
|
Vocabulary. |
Excellent use of vocabulary, no mistakes. |
Good use of vocabulary, some mistakes but the text can still be understood. |
Acceptable use of vocabulary, but some mistakes impede the text to be understood. |
Unacceptable use of vocabulary, text cannot be understood. |
|
|
Content. |
The content perfectly adequates to the questions. |
The content sometimes does not adequate to the question. |
The content most times does not adequate to the question. |
The content does not adequate to the question in any of the cases. |
|
|
Organization. |
The written work is perfectly organized. |
The written work is good organized. |
The written work is not very organized. |
The written work is not organized at all. |
|
Self-evaluation:
Name: __________________________
Give yourself a mark according to what you think (5 completely agree, 1 completely disagree):
1. I have actively participated in all the tasks: 1 2 3 4 5
2. I have helped my classmates when they have needed help: 1 2 3 4 5
3. I have proposed new ideas and I've been creative: 1 2 3 4 5
4. I have listened and respected the ideas of other members of the group: 1 2 3 4 5
5. I did my share of the work: 1 2 3 4 5
Peer evaluation:
Give your partner a mark according to what you think (5 completely agree, 1 completely disagree):
Name of the group member:________________________
1.He/She has actively participated in all the tasks: 1 2 3 4 5
2. He/She has helped my classmates when they have needed help: 1 2 3 4 5
3. He/She has proposed new ideas and I've been creative: 1 2 3 4 5
4. He/She has listened and respected the ideas of other members of the group: 1 2 3 4 5
5. He/She did his/her share of the work: 1 2 3 4 5
Conclusion
HURRAY!!!
You've completed all your tasks!! That means that you are able to:
- Search for information about famous people!
- Express yourself in Present, Past and Future!
- Write amazing articles like a real PAPARAZZI!!
We hope you have enjoyed the activities and... Who knows? Maybe you will become the next top paparazzi in Hollywood!
Teacher Page
Group members:
Jasmine Álvarez Merino
Paula Barba Guerrero
Paula Estébanez Peña
Andrea Martínez Pérez
Elene Oregi Leturiondo
Isabel Andrea Pérez Girbés