Chelsea Miller

WebQuest Assignment

Introduction: Poetry throughout the years has been very influential and has changed drastically as we move closer to the present. As you work through this WebQuest, you will see examples of different poets as well as comparing poets that were alive in the early 19th century and a poet that is still alive today.

Task: Students will research the following poets: Edgar Allen Poe, Emily Dickinson, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Robert W. Service, and Billy Collins. They will compose a mini-biography about each poet and bring the information they find to class with them. Pick out the information that you think is interesting, valuable, or worth discussing. You do not have to print articles, you may bring them electronically, but you need to have sections highlighted to ensure you read the documents.

Process: Go to these websites and go over articles given and find important information in each article. Be sure to watch videos if provided.

Edgar Allen Poe

http://www.biography.com/people/edgar-allan-poe-9443160

http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/130

Emily Dickinson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiHWnwUwACs

http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/155

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/152

http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Elizabeth_Barrett_Browning.aspx

Robert W. Service

http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/138

http://www.infoplease.com/biography/var/robertwservice.html

Billy Collins

http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/278

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/billy-collins

Evaluation: We will be having a class discussion about the poets listed above. Each student will be asked who is their favorite and least favorite and must back up their answer with why. Students will also be asked to give a fact about each poet and each fact must not be mentioned more than twice. Students will not have access to articles during this part of the discussion. Students will be rewarded points after this exercise for being alert and contributing to the conversation.

Conclusion: By the end of this assignment students will have background information on the poets listed above. They will find information important to the poet and be asked to give a certain fact about the poet to the rest of the class. By reading/watching the videos in the articles given, students will know key events that happened in each poet’s life. We will understand how life was different for poets in the 19th century and today.