1	Grammy Time
2	Introduction In February of 2007, the Grammy’s, America’s most watched music award show, will once again take place. A new committee has been put together to ensure the show’s viewer-ship stays high. The committee has decided this year’s Grammy’s will continue to host live performances but two of them will be poems or songs recited, not sung. This will be the first time at the Grammy’s a performance will not include some type of singing. The decision has been made, and the Grammy’s will never be the same.
3	The Task Your task will be to choose, from a list, two poems/songs to be recited at the 2007 Grammy Awards. The list is as follows (click here for a copy of each poem): “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost “My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke “Stop This Train” by John Mayer “Minstrel Man” by Langston Hughes “’Round Here” by Adam Duritz ”The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” by T.S. Eliot Sonnet 130 by William Shakespeare “Ulysses” by Lord Alfred Tennyson You will be assessed through a presentation given on your decision of each poem/song. Also, a written proposal explaining why you chose each poem/song will be required.
4	The Process In a group of three you will roleplay one of three characters.
5	Historian The historian researches the historical importance of the poem using the internet. Suggested questions are as followed: Does the author’s life have any effect on the poem? Does the author’s time period show in the poem at all? Are there any major events in the author’s life that could have an effect on the poem?
6	English Professor The English Professor analyzes the summary, critical metaphors, similes, personification, or any other poetic elements in the poem. Using the internet to research summaries of the poems is suggested. Also, using the internet to define any unknown terms or metaphors the author uses is suggested. Suggested questions are as followed: What poetic elements are involved in the poem? What is the plot of the poem? Is the poem mostly metaphorical or actual? What is the author trying to address?
7	Politician The Politician determines why the two poems should be read with concerns to today’s society and the audience watching the Grammy Awards. The internet should be used to determine who watches the Grammy Awards. Look at any political websites to determine what today’s “hot issues” are. Suggested questions are as followed: What is the actual audience watching the Grammy Awards? How will reading the poem have an effect on those watching the Grammy Awards? What does the committee selecting the poems hope to “say” by reading the two selected poems at the Grammy Awards?
8	The Process Continued Once, characters are chosen and poems are decided upon, research will begin. During research each student must write down and document each website visited to present in their presentation. When research is done from each character’s perspective, the group will meet and discuss each perspective. Afterwards, in the group, a proposal will be formed to present to the new committee heading the Grammy Awards (students). Also, a presentation will be designed to convince and persuade the members of the new committee.
9	Conclusion Hopefully, the Webquest will help ensure and reemphasize the importance on poetry in today’s society, the intelligence behind creating and reading poetry, and the elements of and how to read poetry. Also, you will understand stating your beliefs can sometimes be done by other means.