Student Activity Plan          Student Activity Title     Student Activity Information     Objectives             Materials     Resources     Entered Texts               Signature       Welcome to the Teachers’ Instructions area for this student activity. Here you’ll find directions and suggestions for using this activity along with the materials you need to evaluate your students’ work. Title: Cartoons and Characterization Audience: Middle Duration: 45 min Subject Area(s):     Language Arts - Literature Grade Level(s): 6,7,8 Teacher Directions: Overview: In this activity students will learn about varied elements of plot and characterization. They will define the terms protagonist, antagonist and narrator and apply them to characters in The Cask of Amontillado. Students should have already read The Cask of Amontillado or listened to the narration of the story on the Web site. This activity can be completed using a variety of technology configurations. If a computer lab is available, students can access the activity, worksheets and video through Thinkport. Another option would be to display the Web site on a classroom computer with a projection device. In this case, students will need a copy of the worksheet. The computers should have working speakers in order to hear the story read aloud. Introductory Activity Students have already read or listened to Edgar Allan Poe's The Cask of Amontillado before beginning this activity. It is important to activate students' background knowledge as they begin to learn new information. Review the definitions of the terms protagonist, antagonist and narrator with your class. Ask the students to think of examples of protagonists, antagonists, and narrators from books, plays, myths, television shows and movies that they are familiar with as each term is defined. Examples might include the characters in Star Wars (Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader) or characters in familiar fairy tales such as Cinderella and her wicked stepmother. Focus for Media Interaction The students are using the Point of View Interactive to determine the point of view of the protagonist and antagonist in The Cask of Amontillado. Viewing Activity Go to the Knowing Poe Web site at http://knowingpoe.thinkport.org/writer/pov.asp. Ask the students to click on the Point of View Interactive and tell them that they will see three buttons that show the point of view of the narrator, Montresor, and Fortunato. Tell the students that they are going to use the Point of View Interactive to determine the point of view of the protagonist and antagonist in Poe's story The Cask of Amontillado. First, as a class, read the story from the narrator's point of view. (You may choose to have the class hear the story read aloud.) You may wish to highlight the narrator's point of view and note his speech patterns, as the class listens to the passage, in order to prepare your students for the rest of the activity. Then, divide the class into two groups. Tell the first group to read (or listen and read along with the story) from Montresor's point of view and the second group to listen/read the story from Fortunato's point of view. Ask the students to link to the worksheet entitled Cartoon Character Notes. Tell students to use this worksheet to record information on how Poe expresses characterization through the character's thoughts, words, speech patterns and deeds. After the first group has listened or read the story from Montresor's point of view once, they should reread the section and paraphrase Montresor's words and actions and to explain his thoughts and speech patterns on the Cartoon Character Notes worksheet. Tell the second group to listen again or reread the story section from Fortunato's point of view noting and summarizing his thoughts and deeds according to the Cartoon Character Notes worksheet. Post Viewing Activity Have the students discuss the personalities of the three characters using their notes to determine who is the antagonist and who is the protagonist in the story. In this activity the focus is on the characters, Montresor and Fortunato. Use the following questions to guide the discussion: Who do you think is the protagonist and who is the antagonist? Why? Can you think of examples of how each character viewed specific events from different perspectives? After the discussion, ask the students to link to the Cartoon Characterization worksheet that tells them to create a cartoon sketch of six panels that expresses their assigned character using his thoughts, words, speech patterns and deeds. Allow the students opportunities to engage in dialogue with each other as they work to further creativity. Ask students to volunteer to share their cartoon panels with the class. After the groups have presented their work lead a class discussion on the ways that different groups were able to capture specific elements of characters through their cartoons. Include the following points: How was language used effectively to convey different qualities of characters? How was illustration used effectively to convey different qualities of characters? How did the overall theme of the cartoon effectively capture character traits? How did Poe use language to convey characterization? Extension Activity: Post and share students' work with the community if possible. Encourage students to continue adding examples to the list containing students' examples of the terms protagonist, antagonist and narrator. Discuss how point of view impacts plot and characterization. Student Directions: Have you ever heard a friend describe something that happened when you were together and you didn't know what she was saying? This is because we all adopt different points of view as we talk, read, write and listen. In this activity you will have a chance to see how adopting different points of view can have an interesting effect on a story! The Students will: Students will be able to define the terms protagonist, antagonist and narrator and analyze characterization in relation to a character's thoughts, words, speech patterns and deeds. 3.0 Comprehension of Literary Text Students will read comprehend interpret analyze and evaluate literary texts. Grade 6 3. Analyze elements of narrative texts to facilitate understanding and interpretation d. Analyze characterization Assessment Limits:  What characters say, do, and think  Characters’ motivations  What other characters say about them  How other characters react to them e. Analyze relationships between and among characters, setting, and events Assessment Limits:  Connections between and among characters  Connections between and among situations  Cause/effect relationships between characters’ actions and the results of those actions  Cause/effect relationships between and among situations and events f. Identify and explain how the actions of the character(s) affect the plot Assessment Limits:  Connections between the actions of the characters and the outcome of the plot g. Analyze conflicts that motivate characters and those that advance the plot Assessment Limits:  Conflicts that affect characters’ actions  Conflicts that advance the action of the plot Click on the Point of View Interactive. You will see three buttons labeled narrator, Montresor, and Fortunato. Your responsibility is to discover more about each character through their thoughts, word, speech patterns, and deeds. You will be assigned to listen to or read the story from either Montresor's point of view or from Fortunato's point of view. Use the worksheet Cartoon Character Notes to record examples, paraphrase, or describe the character's thoughts, words, speech patterns and deeds. Think about each character's actions and how he expresses himself as you read and try to determine if this is the antagonist or protagonist of the story. Knowing Poe The Point of View Interactive enables you to experience the story of The Cask of Amontillado from the perspective of Montresor, Fortunato and the narrator.   http://knowingpoe.thinkport.org/writer/pov.asp   How can you learn about a character through his thoughts, words, speech patterns and deeds? Cartoon Character Notes Worksheet  (View) Use the link below to open the Cartoon Characterization worksheet. Use the draw tools in Word to create the cartoon depiction of your character. You may also print this out to draw using colored pencils. Cartoon Characterization Worksheet  (View) In order to evaluate the cartoon panels on the Cartoon Characterization worksheet use the following questions: Does the cartoon accurately convey characterization? Are the character's thoughts clearly expressed? Are the character's words used to convey specific qualities? Are the character's speech patterns incorporated? Are the character's deeds conveyed? What are you able to understand about the character after viewing the cartoon? Activity Signature Author: Maureen Carroll