Hamlet Multigenre Project

As a culminating task for this unit you will have several options from which to choose, but each
option includes a written component. Your project will be based on one of the following topics:

1. Foils: How do Fortinbras, Horatio and Laertes impact our understanding of

Hamlet’s character?
2. Appearance versus reality; deception and dissembling.
3. Hamlet’s women: a study of the roles of Gertrude and Ophelia.
4. Something is rotten in the state of Denmark: Imagery of disease and corruption in
Hamlet
5. Revenge and nemesis: Hamlet’s success at revenge.
6 Hamlet as Hero: Is Hamlet a tragic hero?
7. Claudius and Hamlet - a comparison of two leaders.
8. Hamlet: 2011- What is the relevance of Hamlet for a modern audience?
9. An Antic Disposition -Is Hamlet crazy?

And you will need to develop a thesis. Please see attached handout on Generating a Good
Thesis Statement.

A. Project Options (50 marks):

Scene Performance: You will choose a scene to perform. You may work with other students to
perform this scene but you will each need to prepare a unique written analysis. The length of the
scene will depend on the number of people involved. This option will work better for some topics
than others. Remember the purpose of your scene presentation will be to support your thesis.
This may be communicated through staging, costumes, casting choices, and acting. It can be live
or filmed, but lines should be memorized.

Website: There are a number of free sites that will allow you to create a website. If you’re
interested in this option, check out:
http://www.wetpaint.com/
https://sites.google.com/
http://www.weebly.com/
http://www.wix.com/
I’ve used Wix to create a Hamlet themed website:
http://www.wix.com/danikabarker/hamlet

Scrapbook: This project will require creativity, artistic talent, and probably a lot of glue. You will
put together a scrapbook of images, text, newspaper headlines, ticket stubs etc. to support your
thesis. Artistic license is expected here. You don’t have to situate Hamlet in medieval Denmark.

Film Scene Comparison: There are many versions of Hamlet on film available out there. For this
option, you will compare multiple versions of the same scene and explain which one best
supports your thesis. This will be done as a presentation to the class.

Facebook profiles: You can use our Ning to create Facebook like profiles for different characters
in Hamlet. through their interactions, wall posts, blog entries you can support your thesis.

Pecha Kucha: Despite the weird name, this is a fairly straightforward option. A pecha kucha
presentation is made up of twenty slides played for no more than twenty seconds. There is a
emphasis on strong visuals, minimalist text, and polished presentation. Here’s an example of one
I did for my masters class:
http://bit.ly/pechakuchabarker

Project Rubric

Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4

Knowledge Project Project Project Project

/15 demonstrates demonstrates demonstrates demonstrates
limited knowledge sufficient strong excellent
and knowledge and knowledge and knowledge and
understanding of understanding of understanding understanding
play and/or play and chosen of play and of play and
chosen topic topic chosen topic chosen topic

Thinking Project shows Project shows Project shows Project shows

/10 limited evidence adequate considerable clear evidence
of planning evidence of evidence of of planning
Planning sheet planning planning Planning sheet
submitted but Planning sheet Planning sheet submitted and
incomplete submitted and submitted and complete
mostly complete complete

Communicati Ideas Ideas Ideas Ideas

on communicated communicated communicated communicated
/15 clearly showing clearly showing clearly showing clearly showing
some awareness sufficient good excellent
of audience and awareness of awareness of awareness of
purpose. audience and audience and audience and
Limited mastery of purpose. purpose. purpose.
conventions of Mastery of some Mastery of most Mastery of
chosen form conventions of conventions of conventions of
chosen form chosen form chosen form

Application Demonstrates Demonstrates Demonstrates Demonstrates

/10 limited inferential some inferential considerable sophisticated
thinking. thinking. inferential inferential
Analysis only at Analysis mostly thinking . thinking .
surface level at surface level Analysis Analysis goes
goes beyond well beyond the
the surface surface meaning
meaning

B. Written Component (50 marks):

Regardless of the project you choose, you will need to compose a written piece
that explains your thesis, the evidence you’ve found that supports your thesis,
and an explanation of how project presents this information.
Word count: Approximately 1000 words.
You should use proper MLA format. Ensure that any errors you made in your
comparative essay are not present in this piece.

Written Component Rubric

Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4

Knowledge Demonstrates Demonstrates Demonstrates Demonstrates

limited knowledge adequate considerable excellent
/10 and understanding knowledge and knowledge and knowledge and
of content understanding understanding understanding of
of content of content content

Thinking Made limited use Made use of Made good use Made thorough
of the writing some stages of of every stage use of every
process the writing of the writing stage of the
Support from the process process writing process
/15 text is present but Support from Support from Support from the
may not be the text the text is well- text is thoughtfully
sufficient supports thesis chosen and chosen and
supports thesis supports thesis

Communicatio Numerous errors More than 5 More than 5 Minimal errors in

n in spelling, small errors small errors in spelling,
grammar, verb and some spelling, grammar, verb
tense, and major errors in grammar, verb tense, and
punctuation. May spelling, tense, and punctuation.
appear to be a grammar, verb punctuation. Essay
rough draft. tense, and Essay mostly demonstrates
/10 Essay contains punctuation. demonstrates proper MLA
multiple formatting Essay contains proper MLA format
errors a number of format Ideas are
Ideas show small Ideas are organized and
minimal formatting organized and expressed clearly
organization and errors expressed and sufficiently.
may lack clarity in Ideas are clearly and
expression. organized and sufficiently.
expressed
clearly.

Application Demonstrates Demonstrates Demonstrates Demonstrates

limited inferential some strong sophisticated
thinking. inferential inferential inferential thinking
/15 thinking thinking
Analysis only at Analysis goes
surface level Analysis mostly Analysis goes well beyond the
at surface level beyond the surface meaning
surface
meaning
Step 1: Choose your topic
Step 2: Choose your project option
Step 3: Clear your topic with me
Step 4: Develop your thesis and create a plan
Step 5: Create project
Step 6: Write your explanation

Due Date;_____________________