Standards

This WebQuest is based off of both the Pennsylvania State Academic Standards and the National Council of Teachers of English Standards

Pennsylvania State Academic Standards

1.1.12: Learning to Read Independently

D: Identify, describe, and synthesize the essential ideas in text.
G: Demonstrate after reading understanding and interpretation of both fiction and nonfiction text

1. Make, and support with evidence, assertions about texts
3. Make extensions to related ideas, topics, or information

Students are required to relate and extend on ideas by choosing a person, reading information on them, connecting fiction with nonfiction, and synthesize their ideas into a project form.

1.3.12: Reading, Analyzing, and Interpreting Literature

A: Read and understand essential content of informational texts and documents in all academic areas

Students arerequired to interpret The Five People You Meet in Heaven in order to successfully complete this project in a separate context from the novel.

1.4.12: Types of Writing

B: Write complex informational pieces (e.g. research papers, analyses, essays)

1. Include a variety of methods to develop the main idea

2: Use precise language and specific detail

4: Use relevant graphics (e.g. maps, charts, graphs, tables, illustrations, photographs.)

Students are required to write an essay or construct a creative medium of their project. Either one requires the student to perform an analysis where precise language and detail is pertinent. Students need visual aid in order to enhance their own understanding and audience understanding.

1.5.12: Quality of Writing

A: Write with sharp, distinct focus

1: Identify topic, task, and audience

2: Establish and maintain a single point of view

B: Write using well-developed content appropriate for the topic

1: Gather, determine validity and reliability of, analyze and organize information

2: Employ the most effective format for purpose and audience

3: Write fully-developed paragraphs that have details and information specific to the topic and relevant to the focus

C: Write with controlled and/or subtle organization

1: Sustain a logical order throughout the piece

2: Include an effective introduction and conclusion

D: Write with a command of the stylistic aspects of composition

1: Use different types and lengths of sentences

2: Use precise language

Students are required to practice these fundamentals of writing in their presentation excerpt and their written reflection. The gathering of valid content for this project is required for a successful completion. Students are required to follow specific procedural steps of the process to enhance organization. Stylistic composition will be acquired through the student's project synthesis.

1.6.12: Speaking and Listening

A: Listen to others

2: Synthesize information, ideas, and opinions to determine relevancy

B: Listen to selections of literature (fiction or nonfiction)

1: Relate them to previous knowledge

3: Summarize and reflect on what has been heard

4: Identify and define new words and concepts

5: Analyze and synthesize

Students are required to complete a presentation section for this project. This requires the student to listen to others and also to synthesize and summarize ideas for relevancy. Students will be required to complete a written reflection to which the student will summarize on concepts and analytical knowledge gained from the presentations.

1.8.12: Research

B: Locate information using appropriate sources and strategies

1: Determine valid resources for researching the topic, including primary and secondary sources

2: Evaluate the importance and quality of sources

3: Select sources appropriate to the breadth and depth of the research

5: Use traditional and electronic search tools

C: Organize, summarize, and present the main ideas from research

1: Take notes relevant to the research topic

3: Anticipate readers' problems or misunderstandings

4: Give precise, formal credit for others' ideas, images, or information using a standard method of documentation

5: Use formatting techniques

Students are required to complete extensive research in order to successfully complete this project. The research must be organized and summarized to where they represent the main ideas from the cumulated research

NCTE Standards

5. Students employ a wide range of strategies as they write and use different writing process elements appropriately to communicate with different audiences for a variety of purposes.

Students view different perspectives and write for different perspectives as they write the reflection and the excerpt for presentation.

6. Students apply knowledge of language structure, language conventions (e.g., spelling and punctuation), media techniques, figurative language, and genre to create, critique, and discuss print and non-print texts.

Students construct an authentic essay (print) or creative (non-print) medium through which to present their project with basis of applied knowledge and language structure and conventions.

8. Students use a variety of technological and information resources (e.g., libraries, databases, computer networks, video) to gather and synthesize information and to create and communicate knowledge.

Students use variety of journals, online databases, books, etc.

12. Students use spoken, written, and visual language to accomplish their own purposes (e.g., for learning, enjoyment, persuasion, and the exchange of information).

Students will address each component in their presentation to the class, their written reflection, and the cumulation of their project.

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