From Feud to Friendship: Solving Verona's Problems
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From Feud to Friendship: Solving Verona's Problems

Grade 9English1 days
★★★★★
5.0 (1 rating)
In the 'From Feud to Friendship' project, students explore how collaborative problem-solving can transform the tragic conflicts in 'Romeo and Juliet', focusing on themes of conflict, perspective, and cultural influence. The project involves critical analysis of the play’s themes and character motivations, encouraging students to propose alternate resolutions through role-playing, character mapping, and rewriting scenes. By engaging in discussions, writing argumentative essays, and presenting reimagined scenes, students develop communication and analytical skills, deepening their understanding of literary elements and cultural contexts.
Romeo and JulietConflict ResolutionCollaborationCharacter AnalysisCultural ContextsCritical ThinkingCreative Writing
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Inquiry Framework

Question Framework

Driving Question

The overarching question that guides the entire project.How can we transform the tragic feud in Romeo and Juliet into an opportunity for collaborative problem-solving that reflects the themes of conflict, perspective, and cultural influence?

Essential Questions

Supporting questions that break down major concepts.
  • What are the key themes and conflicts in Romeo and Juliet, and how do they propel the narrative?
  • How can understanding different perspectives in a conflict lead to more effective communication and resolution?
  • In what ways do cultural and social contexts influence characters' decisions and these conflicts?
  • How might the outcomes of the story change if characters adopted collaborative problem-solving techniques?
  • What lessons about human nature and society can be drawn from the conflicts in Romeo and Juliet?

Standards & Learning Goals

Learning Goals

By the end of this project, students will be able to:
  • Understand and analyze the key themes and conflicts in Romeo and Juliet.
  • Evaluate how character motivations and interactions influence the outcomes of the conflicts in the play.
  • Explore different perspectives within the text to enhance conflict resolution and collaborative problem-solving skills.
  • Propose and articulate alternative resolutions to the conflicts in Romeo and Juliet through collaborative efforts.
  • Reflect on the influence of cultural and social contexts on characters' decisions and the development of conflicts.

Common Core Standards

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.1
Primary
Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.Reason: Students will cite textual evidence to analyze key themes and conflicts in Romeo and Juliet.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.3
Primary
Analyze how complex characters (e.g., those with multiple or conflicting motivations) develop over the course of a text, interact with other characters, and advance the plot or develop the theme.Reason: Students will analyze character motivations and interactions to explore different perspectives and conflict resolutions in the play.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-10.1
Secondary
Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.Reason: Students will write argumentative pieces proposing solutions to the conflicts in Romeo and Juliet.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.9-10.1
Primary
Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grades 9-10 topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.Reason: Students will engage in discussions to explore different perspectives on the conflicts.

Entry Events

Events that will be used to introduce the project to students

Mystery Role Play

Each student receives a mysterious role related to an event in a modern-day version of Romeo and Juliet. As they role-play, they must uncover hidden motives and alliances, sparking intrigue and encouraging them to think critically about character relationships and conflict resolution.
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Portfolio Activities

Portfolio Activities

These activities progressively build towards your learning goals, with each submission contributing to the student's final portfolio.
Activity 1

Theme and Conflict Detective

Students will analyze key themes and conflicts in Romeo and Juliet to understand their role in propelling the narrative forward. This activity will help students gather textual evidence to support their understanding and insights about the play.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Read selected scenes from Romeo and Juliet focusing on key conflicts and themes.
2. Identify and annotate quotes that highlight specific themes or conflicts using a graphic organizer.
3. Write brief explanations of how these quotes support the themes or reflect conflicts.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA graphic organizer filled with quotes and explanations demonstrating understanding of themes and conflicts.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAligns with CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.1 by requiring students to cite textual evidence in their analysis.
Activity 2

Character Perspective Mapping

Students will delve deeper into character motivations and interactions to explore different perspectives and the potential for conflict resolution in Romeo and Juliet. This activity encourages students to consider how characters' motivations drive the plot and affect relationships.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Choose a character from Romeo and Juliet and create a character map depicting their motivations and interactions.
2. Analyze how these motivations influence their decisions and relationships with other characters.
3. Discuss in small groups how characters' motivations might differ if they had different cultural or social contexts.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA completed character map highlighting motivations and relationships, accompanied by group discussion notes.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsSupports CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.3 by analyzing character development and interactions.
Activity 3

Collaborative Conflict Resolution Workshop

Through a guided workshop, students focus on rewriting a key conflict scene in Romeo and Juliet to demonstrate collaborative problem-solving. This activity combines creative writing and group collaboration to formulate new resolutions.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. In groups, select a conflict-heavy scene from Romeo and Juliet.
2. Re-write the scene incorporating collaborative problem-solving strategies.
3. Perform or present the re-written scene, explaining how collaboration altered the outcome.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA re-written scene presented to the class, showcasing an alternative resolution through collaboration.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsIntegrates CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.9-10.1 through discussions and CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-10.1 by writing revised scenes that support collaborative claims.
Activity 4

Argumentative Writing: Propose a Solution

Students will write an argumentative piece that proposes a solution to a conflict in Romeo and Juliet. The activity focuses on constructing a coherent argument using textual evidence and reasoning.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Select a major conflict from Romeo and Juliet to address in your argument.
2. Research and gather textual evidence to support your proposed solution.
3. Draft an argumentative essay outlining the solution, with supporting claims and evidence from the text.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityAn argumentative essay proposing a feasible solution to a conflict from the play.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsMeets CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-10.1 by supporting claims with valid reasoning and evidence.
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Rubric & Reflection

Portfolio Rubric

Grading criteria for assessing the overall project portfolio

Romeo & Juliet Conflict to Collaboration

Category 1

Textual Analysis

Evaluation of students' ability to analyze and interpret key themes and conflicts in Romeo and Juliet, and support their conclusions with textual evidence.
Criterion 1

Identification of Themes and Conflicts

Assess students' ability to identify and articulate the key themes and conflicts in the text with textual evidence.

Exemplary
4 Points

Thoroughly identifies and articulates multiple key themes and conflicts with comprehensive textual evidence and insightful analysis.

Proficient
3 Points

Identifies and articulates some key themes and conflicts with appropriate textual evidence and sound analysis.

Developing
2 Points

Identifies key themes and conflicts with limited or inconsistent textual evidence and analysis.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles to identify key themes and conflicts with minimal or inaccurate textual evidence.

Criterion 2

Character Perspective Analysis

Evaluate students' ability to analyze and interpret character motivations and their influence on plot and relationships.

Exemplary
4 Points

Excellently analyzes character motivations and relationships, providing comprehensive and nuanced observations with a deep understanding of plot influence.

Proficient
3 Points

Thoroughly analyzes character motivations and relationships with clear observations and understanding of plot influence.

Developing
2 Points

Provides basic analysis of character motivations and relationships with some observations about plot influence.

Beginning
1 Points

Offers minimal or superficial analysis of character motivations and limited observations of plot influence.

Category 2

Collaborative Problem-Solving

Assessment of students' ability to apply collaborative strategies to rewrite a conflict scene from Romeo and Juliet and demonstrate the impact of these strategies.
Criterion 1

Application of Collaborative Strategies

Measure how effectively students use collaborative strategies to alter a conflict scene and the depth of understanding reflected in their revisions.

Exemplary
4 Points

Creative and sophisticated application of collaborative strategies with a clear and insightful demonstration of improved conflict outcomes.

Proficient
3 Points

Effective use of collaborative strategies with well-articulated demonstration of improved conflict outcomes.

Developing
2 Points

Basic application of collaborative strategies with some attempt to demonstrate improved conflict outcomes.

Beginning
1 Points

Minimal application of collaborative strategies with unclear demonstration of conflict outcomes.

Criterion 2

Performance and Presentation

Evaluate students' ability to present and articulate their revised scene to an audience, demonstrating clear understanding and creative problem-solving.

Exemplary
4 Points

Outstanding and engaging presentation with clear articulation of creative solutions, showing leadership and confidence.

Proficient
3 Points

Clear and effective presentation with well-articulated solutions and confident delivery.

Developing
2 Points

Adequate presentation with some clarity in articulated solutions, but inconsistent delivery.

Beginning
1 Points

Unclear or incomplete presentation with limited articulation of solutions and lacking confidence.

Category 3

Argumentative Writing

Evaluation of students' ability to construct a strong argumentative essay proposing solutions to a conflict in Romeo and Juliet, supporting their claims with relevant evidence.
Criterion 1

Argument Construction

Assess students' ability to construct logical and coherent arguments with clear claims and supporting evidence.

Exemplary
4 Points

Constructs highly logical and coherent arguments with insightful claims and extensive supporting evidence from the text.

Proficient
3 Points

Develops clear and logical arguments with well-supported claims and relevant evidence.

Developing
2 Points

Forms basic arguments with some claims and supporting evidence, but lacks coherence.

Beginning
1 Points

Attempts basic argument construction with unclear claims and limited evidence support.

Criterion 2

Use of Textual Evidence

Evaluate how students incorporate textual evidence to support their proposed solutions in the essay.

Exemplary
4 Points

Incorporates a wide range of relevant textual evidence that strongly supports all claims and enhances argumentation.

Proficient
3 Points

Uses relevant textual evidence to support claims effectively, enhancing credibility of the argument.

Developing
2 Points

Incorporates some textual evidence, but its support for claims is unclear or inconsistent.

Beginning
1 Points

Limited use of textual evidence with minimal support for claims, weakening the argument.

Reflection Prompts

End-of-project reflection questions to get students to think about their learning
Question 1

Reflect on how your understanding of conflict in "Romeo and Juliet" evolved through the activities we completed. What new insights did you gain about the themes and characters?

Text
Required
Question 2

On a scale from 1 to 5, how confident are you in analyzing themes and conflicts in literature after participating in the portfolio activities?

Scale
Required
Question 3

Which activity helped you most in understanding the perspectives of characters in "Romeo and Juliet"?

Multiple choice
Required
Options
Theme and Conflict Detective
Character Perspective Mapping
Collaborative Conflict Resolution Workshop
Argumentative Writing: Propose a Solution
Question 4

Reflect on the cultural or social contexts discussed in the activities. How do you think these contexts influenced the characters' decisions and conflicts?

Text
Required
Question 5

Based on your experience during the portfolio activities, how would you apply collaborative problem-solving strategies in real-life situations?

Text
Optional