Lesson+3+-+His+Plays+and+Their+Conventions


 * Lesson Objective:** Students will determine the characteristics of Shakespearean tragedies, comedies, and histories in order to identify and explain the use of various conventions in each type of play.

- handouts/resources for conventions of Shakespearean comedy, tragedy, and history - "Dramatic Conventions of Shakespeare's Plays" handout
 * Materials:**

Place a chart on the projector with three columns - comedy, tragedy, history - and the following directions: Brainstorm as many examples of people, things, or events that you feel fit each of these categories. Have students think-pair-share their responses.
 * Mindjog/Drill:**

1. Discuss as a class what it means for something to be comic, tragic, and historic. Explain that Shakespeare's plays fall into these same categories, but that his plays have their own unique characteristics that set them apart. They will investigate those characteristics so that they can identify and explain how they're used in Shakespeare's plays.
 * Lesson Procedure:**

2. Assign students to groups of two or three to explore the handouts for each type of play. Establish a purpose for reading by telling students that they should be seeking out the traits of each genre - the "conventions," or things one expects from each type of Shakespeare's plays (Note: If necessary, discuss the word //convention// or //conventional//).

3. Groups should decide on a division of work and take notes on the conventions using cognitive maps, word webs, or any type of graphic organizer they feel is effective. If the teacher desires, he/she may assign each group a specific genre in which to become experts.

4. When students have completed taking their notes, have groups come to the front and explain the conventions of each type of play. Have other groups ask questions and share additional notes about each type of play. Other students should be taking notes as information is presented.

5. __Connection to prior lesson__: Discuss as a class the following: To whom in Shakespeare's audiences would each of the plays appeal to? Why? Which particular conventions might certain audiences enjoy? Why?

Independently, students should complete the handout, "Dramatic Conventions of Shakespeare's Plays." Students should be urged to identify the type of play by its conventions. For each play, students should be able to provide at least two conventions with text support.
 * Assessment:**