What was the best assignment you ever had to complete in a high school English class?

Question

I am trying to add some creative and fun assignments to my lesson plans. I teach English IV (British literature) to seniors, but I'm interested in activities from any high school English class. If I use your idea I will give you credit (via your screen name) on my handouts, etc. Thanks!!!

Answer 1

When I was a senior, we read Frakenstein (I know it's not too diffacult a bookfor seniors) and held a mock trial, with Dr. Frankenstein as the defendant, and the "Monster" as the plantiff. Every part of a real trial was covered, including council, jury, evidence, and the like. It was a good way to make sure readers paid close attention, since witnesses were other characters from the book. Of course, the outcome of the trial does not really matter, but the whole class can get involved in it and have a lot of fun in the process. I think you'd even enjoy it too!

Answer 2

I took AP English and we were reading censored version of Chaucer and the teacher said something like "Now don't go to the library and get the uncensored version of this book" so we all ran to the library to get the uncensored version. Looking unsuccessfully for all those "dirty" words but somehow we all read the whole book in the process. What a smart, sneaky teacher. BTW he was also the principal of the school.

Worst assignment - Mayor of Casterbridge. Now there is a dreadful book. If we had to read Thomas Hardy how about something interesting like Tess?

Best Shakespeare - Midsummer Night etc. "Oh wall", etc. Loved those groundlings!

Sherlock Holmes is interesting. How about Ian Fleming? He was a Brit. Is that "Literature" yet?