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2The Ultimate Task

In this WebQuest you will be working together with a group of students in class. Each group will answer the Task or Quest(ion). As a member of the group you will explore Webpages from people all over the world who care about the Shakespeare Authorship Problem. Because these are real Webpages we're tapping into, not things made just for schools, the reading level might challenge you. Feel free to use the online Webster dictionary or one in the classroom.

You will begin with everyone getting some background information before finding out who is in your group continuing the project.
  As you continue through the next steps, please answer these questions using complete sentences.


1. What is the Shakespeare authorship/conspiracy?

2. What famous people (including authors and politicians) doubt that Shakespeare was the real and only author of his plays and sonnets?

3. Make a timeline of the doubts that surround the conspiracy theory.

4. Make a list of the six authors most commonly believe to be the real Shakespeare. Include specific details that prove you have read about each. 

Those who choose not to complete this part or misuse the computers will not be allowed to work with a group and will have his/her computer time taken away.

Continue to the next step to venture into this conspiracy.

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7Phase Two: Team Work-part one

1. In your teams of three, go through the instructions and decide who will be in charge of Marlowe, De Vere, and Shakespeare .

2. Read through the files linked to the author you are in charge of. If you print out the files, underline the passages that you feel are the most important. If you look at the files on the computer, copy sections you feel are important by dragging the mouse across the passage and copying / pasting it into Word.

3. Note: Remember to write down or copy/paste the URL (web address) of the file you take the passage from so you can quickly go back to it if you need to to prove your point.

4. Make sure that the information you use relates to the questions assigned to your author.

5. After deciding who is in charge of which author, click on the correct jog for your questions and link.

6. Copy the questions and information to your note page or to your Word document.

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12Phase three: discussion

You have all learned about a different part of Shakespeare Conspiracy. Now group members come back to their team with expertise gained by searching from one perspective. You must all now answer the Task / Quest(ion) as a group. Each of you will bring a certain viewpoint to the answer: some of you will agree and others disagree. Use information, pictures, movies, facts, opinions, etc. from the Webpages you explored to convince your teammates that your viewpoint is important and should be part of your team's answer to the Task / Quest(ion).Ultimately, your task is to debate and discuss who the "real" Shakespeare is.

After sharing what you each have found, the team should write out an answer to who really wrote Shakespeare that everyone on the team can live with.

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13Phase Four: Team project

Part One: The Letter - Team Task

You and your teammates have learned a lot by dividing up into different roles. Now's the time to put your learning into a letter. Together you will write a letter that contains opinions, information, and perspectives that you've gained. Here's the process:

1. Begin your letter with a statement of who you are and why you are writing your message to Mr. Oscar Siflinger explaining the connection that you have made for the Shakespeare authorship conspiracy. Explain why this discovery is important and how it could change significant parts in education.

2. Give background information from each of the three perspectives that shows you understand the topic and how each of the three candidates' claims to the authorship is surrounded by controversy.

STATE THE TASK / QUEST(ION) AND YOUR GROUP'S ANSWER.

3. Each person in your group will write a paragraph that gives two good reasons supporting the group's opinion. Make sure to be specific in both the information (like where you got it from on the Web) and the reasoning (why the information proves your group's point). You must not only state your opinion, but you must also support it with proof and examples. Begin with a thesis that is well-developed and clearly focused; one that acknowledges the controversy itself. Continue with the discussion of conflicting sources (explain how the different information your team found contradicts each other). Finally, in the conclusion, firmly state your team's belief and why it is important to agree with or consider.

4. Have each person on the team proofread the message. Use correct letter format.

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15Due dates

Final (typed) team letter is due to Ms Herzog by March 19.

Individual assignment is due to Ms Herzog by March 21.

If you do not complete either assignment, you will fail this half of the Trimester.