Hamlet End-of-Unit Assessments

End-of-Unit (Summative) Assessments for Hamlet

1.  Thread Writing and Discussion
Participate in the thread discussion on Tuesday, December 10. Share Preparation directions for the thread activity can be found here. [Assessment worth one end-of-unit grade.]

2. Test
Take the Hamlet test on Thursday, December 12. Review for the Hamlet test can be found here. [Assessment worth one end-of-unit grade.]

3. In-Class Passage Analysis (Q2) Essay
Write a passage analysis essay during class on Friday, December 13 on Monday, December 16. Bring an annotated passage of your choice* (100 to 200 lines, give or take) to class on Friday, December 13. Annotate with the prompt in mind. Pay particular attention to how particular literary strategies contribute to thematic development in the passage. In other words, make sure you apply what you've learned about literary strategies to your analysis of the passage. Don't just point out the strategies but explain how they're thematically significant.

* You cannot choose Hamlet's soliloquies in 1.2, 2.2, 3.1, or 4.4.
[Assessment worth one end-of-unit grade.]

Here's the prompt:

AP English Language Q2/AP English Literature Q2 Style Essay

Choose a passage from Hamlet that is rich in content and style. Write a formal essay in which you explain how William Shakespeare’s use of literary strategies in the passage contributes to the play's exploration of how the human mind concocts a range of responses to the inherent imperfections of the world: deceit, corruption, loss, mortality, and uncertainty.

4. Directing Hamlet Project
Complete the following project by Friday, December 20.

Directing Hamlet Assignment

You are applying to be the director of a new film version of Hamlet set to begin production in 2014. After studying parts of several versions of Hamlet you have begun work on an application consisting of (1) a screenplay excerpt based on a passage you’ve chosen from the play, (2) a proposal explaining your choices (including proposed actors), and (3) a visual representation of some significant aspect of your screenplay excerpt.

Additional Directions (READ THE DIRECTIONS)

(1) screenplay excerpt:

Turn the excerpt you have chosen into a screenplay with interpolated film directions about elements such as setting, movement, speaking, facial expression, sound, music, camera shot selection, etc. Use the screenplay format. (See screenplay format handouts.)

(2) proposal:

Write a proposal to the producers of Hamlet 2014.

Overall
* The first section will provide an overview of your vision for a complete, new Hamlet. Consider visual style and setting, acting choices and character depictions, edits to (and versions of) Shakespeare's script, etc. Consider how these choices will contribute to a particular interpretation of the play's meaning and to a particular effect on the audience.

* The second section will explain specific, meaningful ways your Hamlet will differ from and/or build upon famous productions of Hamlet by the likes of Olivier, Zeffirelli, Branagh, Almereyda, and Doran.

The Excerpted Passage
* The third section will explain and justify the choices you've made in the screenplay excerpt. Consider setting descriptions, camera shot selection, acting directions, sounds and music, etc. How do the choices help you express your interpretation of the scene and its significance?; 

* The fourth section will explain and justify choices in your visual representation of the selected passage. (How do the choices you've made help you express your interpretation of the scene and its significance?) If you consulted any sources to help you understand visual components of film making, such as storyboards, costuming, lighting, blocking, etc. discuss those sources here.

Overall (again)
* The fifth section will explain and justify other choices for your Hamlet. Consider actors and a soundtrack for example. What other elements might be worth highlighting in your proposal?

* Conclude in the sixth section with a summarizing, final pitch to the film producers: convince them to choose you.

(3) visual representation:

Your visual representation could be a storyboard¹, costume sketches, stage/film lighting scheme², stage/film blocking scheme³, live performance, demo film⁴. The visual representation will be assessed for choices, clarity, care, and creativity.

1 A storyboard is a series of illustrations (or other images) used to depict a film (or other moving) sequence before the production of the actual film (or other moving sequence). Do some research for directions, examples, and advice.

2 A theatre/film lighting scheme is a plan for the use of lights (what type and color, where, and when) during a performance or during filming. Do some research for directions, examples, and advice.

3 A blocking scheme is a plan for the movement (where, when, and how) of actors during a performance. Do some research for directions examples and advice.

4 See me if you are interested in this option.

All of this is due by the end of the school day Friday, December 20.[Assessment worth two end-of-unit grades.]