A Raisin in the Sun WebQuest

Background:   

 Lorraine Hansberry, an African American writer in the 1950s and 60s, wrote A Raisin in the Sun and based it in part on her family's experience of moving to the Chicago suburbs. The main characters deal with many social issues which add to their frustrations as they try to make their dreams come true.

To show your understanding of the play, you are being asked to do a variety of tasks. You will be evaluated for each completed task, and for your overall project. The evaluation criteria will be posted later.

Tasks:

1.   Summarize and react to an event happening in Chicago during the late 1950s and early 1960s involving race at Segregation or Chicago Neighborhoods   or Public Housing or White Flight or Racial Steering . Only choose one of the links to read. Your summary should be at least a paragraph. Your reaction is what you think about whichever article you read. You ONLY need to read the areas that apply to the time period we are looking at.

2.   You are a reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times assigned to report the integration of Clybourne Park by the Younger family. Write a 5 paragraph news article detailing their arrival, and the events that may, or may not have occurred after their arrival.

Cover all the questions--who, what, why, when, where, and how. Follow the guidelines for "hard news" given at How to Write a News Article  , Media Awareness Network or How to Write a News Article.

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3.   Analyze two characters from the drama using the biopoem format:

Line 1: First name

Line 2. Four traits that describe the character.

Line 3: Relative of __________________  (list two people)

Line 4: Lover of __________________      (list three THINGS)

Line 5: Who feels __________________   (three things)

Line 6: Who needs __________________ (three things)

Line 7: Who fears __________________   (three things)

Line 8: Who gives __________________   (three things)

Line 9: Who would like to see __________________ (three things)

Line 10: Resident of __________________

Line 11: Last name

4. Pretend you are one of the characters. Write a diary entry from before Mama received the check, a diary entry from the day Mama receives the check, and a diary entry from the day after they move.

5. Themes & Symbols:  Below are the eight statements that we responded to before we began reading the play. Choose three of these statements. In a Word document, copy and paste a picture from here that you believe is an accurate representation of the statement. Underneath the picture, type the statement. Then, in at least a couple of sentences, explain how the picture you have chosen fits the statement. Then, explain what the statement and picture has to do with the play. An example of this is here.

1. You should hold onto your dreams; if you work hard enough for them, they will come true.
2. If you’re going to be successful, you have to take some big risks.
3. Once children are grown, their parents are no longer responsible for them.
4. We should think of the United States as a “melting pot” in which people from many cultures leave their differences behind.
5. Sometimes swallowing your pride is necessary for survival.
6. Neighbors have the right to decide what kind of community they want to have----including who lives in that neighborhood.
7. Most people don’t try hard enough to see the other fellow’s problem.
8. When someone insults you, it’s best to “turn the other cheek.”       

Evaluation:

Here is how your project will be graded.

Adapted from Christie and Mike's Webquest: http://www.plainfield.k12.in.us/hschool/webq/webq13/mike.htm