Patricia Isabel Cortez Bronx Leadership Academy HS

Teaching Interdisciplinary Problem Solving

Through Computer Technology

A Web Quest for a British Literature Course

(11^th and 12^th grades)

INTERRACIAL MARRIAGE DISCRIMINATION:

A CRITICAL ANALYIS OF SHAKESPEARE’S OTHELLO AND AMERICAN CONTEMPORARY VIEWS

“Your daughter …hath made a gross revolt…”Rodrigo, Iii

INTRODUCTION

What if your son/daughter wanted to marry or date someone of a different race? What would be your first reaction? How would you handle the situation? How do you think people in general feel about these couples? You will now have a great opportunity to explore these couple’s experiences. Your mission in this web quest is to research and document the society’s discrimination of interracial relationships/marriages. Your focus will stem from Shakespeare’s tragic play Othello and from evidence in contemporary society. Are you ready to analyze your views as well as others’ from past and present centuries?

“O unhappy girl! – With the Moor, say’st thou? – Who would be a father! –“

Branbantio,

I.ii

TASK

You will be writing a Modern Language Association research paper. Your paper must focus on the discrimination of interracial marriage. Your analysis should concentrate on how Othello’s relationship with Desdemona and how interracial relationships tend to experience discrimination. Your research paper must follow the six-step public policy approach. Your essay must follow the guidelines below:

A. Type 7 pages (font size 12, “Times New Roman”, with 1.5 spacing)

B. Follow the 6-step public policy analysis model for your paper’s format

C. Document ALL your research with MLA style end-notes”

D. Use the MLA research style for endnotes, page headers, and citation of research (see examples)

USE YOUR OWN WORDS AND GIVE CREDIT TO AUTHORS’WORDS! COPYING OR FAILURE TO GIVE CREDIT TO AUTHORS WILL RESULT IN A ZERO

The 6-step
Public Policy Analysis Model

1. The social problem is the discrimination of interracial marriages in Shakespeare’s Othello and in our contemporary American society.

2. Gather evidence of the problem in the play, Othello, and in contemporary social commentaries.

3. Identify the causes of the problem by reading through the sites in this web quest.

4. Describe and evaluate past and present public policies grading the problem.

5. Create 3 of your original public policies that would address the problem.

6. Select your most effective and feasible public policy that would address this problem. Use the

Effectiveness – Feasibility matrix.

“O thou foul thief, where hast thou stow’d my daughter?”

Brabantio, Iii

The Process

Follow the steps below:

q Answer all the research questions by reading through the sites in the “Resource” section of this web quest.

q Complete all 6 public policy analysis worksheets.

q Write a detailed explanation for each of the steps in our public policy analysis model regarding the problem:

“Discrimination of interracial marriage in Othello and in our contemporary American society”

q Explain each step, your research findings and opinions in paragraph form, as in an essay.

q Use MS Word to type your MLA style research paper

q Your last page is the “Works Cited” page that lists at least 6 Internet sites and the play Othello from the “Resource” section of this web quest.

Research Questions

1. Who wrote Othello?

2. Write a short summary of the play?

3. What are the Jim Crow Laws?

4. When were they enforced?

5. Are these laws still enforced?

6. What are statistics about interracial marriage?

7. What is the N.A.A.W.P. Florida Chapter’s view?

8. According to the Bible, what are two conclusions on interracial marriage?

9. What happened to Thurgood Marshall and his wife 30 years ago?

10. What are 7 significant finding on interracial marriage?

11. In 1993, how many couples were white/black interracial marriages?

12. What did Charlie and Clara Loving write in the space for race on their marriage license application?

13. What was the Supreme Court’s decision regarding the Loving’s right to visit Virginia?

14. How does the younger generation view race and interracial marriage?

15. Create a list of 5 quotations from Shakespeare’s Othello regarding race relations and or interracial marriage.

EXAMPLES

An example of page 1:

Joe Vitale 1

Ms Cortez

English 7

20 December 2002

The issue of interracial marriages is not a social problem. The problem lies in how these relationships endure discrimination by society.

An example of page 2:

Vitale 2

Some of the evidence suggests that interracial marriages have to contend with many social pressures. The outside pressures include racist comments, family criticisms, and outright discrimination with regard to housing (Joseph & Harris). In Shakespeare’ Othello, we see derogatory references to the Moor: “…

An example of the last page:

Vitale 7

Works Cited

Angler, Herbert. “Love Knows No Color.” US Census Publications. Online. 19 Sept.

2002.

“Better Laws.” Marriage Bureau. Online. 20 Oct. 2002.

“Caught in Marital Bliss.” National Bureau of Racial Affairs. Online. 31 June 2002.

M.L.A. Style – Internet sources are listed alphabetically and in the following order:

1. Name of author (if given)

2. Title of the material accessed in quotation marks

3. Date of material (if given)

4. Title of database (underlined)

5. Publication Medium (Online)

6. Name of the computer service (if given)

7. Date of access (20 Dec. 2002)

An outline for your paper

Page 1: Describe the problem in Othello and in our American society (introduction).

Page 2: Describe evidence from Othello and evidence in your research.

Page 3: Describe at least 3 causes for this problem from Othello and the research articles.

Page 4: Describe and explain existing public policies regarding the problem as expressed in Othello and in the research articles.

Page 5: Describe and explain your 3 original public policies regarding the problem.

Page 6: Describe you most effective and feasible public policy. Explain how effective and feasible this policy would be within the context of Othello OR in contemporary society (conclusion).

Page 7: “Works Cited” page that lists at least 6 Internet sources and Shakespeare play, Othello.

RESOURCES

Texts:

William Shakespeare’s play Othello The Moor of Venice

Films:

“Othello” – Branagh and Fishburne

“O”- Keegan and Styles

“Guess who’s coming to dinner?”- Kepburn, Poitier, Tracy

“Monster’s Ball”- Berry and Thornton

“The Bodyguard”- Costner and Houston

“Dance with Me”- Keegan and Smith

Web Sites

T.I.P.S., Public Policy Analyst - http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/tips.html

Othello, A Summary – http://www.allshakespeare.com/plays/othello/ps.php

Othello, A Summary – http://www.awerty.com/othello2.html

Illustrated Biography of William Shakespeare – http://www.cv81pl.freeserve.co.uk/life.htm

Jim Crow Laws – http://www.nps.gov/malu/documents/jim_crow_laws.htm

The Myth of the Melting Pot – http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/daily/dec98/melt29.htm

NAAWP Florida Chapter Inc. – http://naawpflch.org/marriages.html

The Bible and Interracial Marriage – http://www.onehumanrace.com/docs/inter-racial_marriage.asp

Is Love Color Blind? – www.isteve.com/IsLoveColorblind.htm

Couples Confront Prejudice – http://www.sistahspace.com/nommo/ir24.html

A Brief History of Interracial Marriage - http://www.csmonitor.com/durable/2001/07/25/p15s1.htm

Loving Vs. Virginia (1967) – Supreme Court Decisions http://atheism.about.com/library/legal/decisions/privacy/bl_l_LovingVA.htm

Generation Y Coloring Outside the Lines - http://racerelations.about.com/library/weekly/aa082900b.htm

Quotations from Othello - http://www.online-literature.com/quotes/quotation_search.php?author=Shakespeare&from=Othello

“Are your doors lock’d?…’Zounds, sir, you’re robb’d…” Iago, Ii

EVALUATION

Your 7-page research paper (essay) will be worth 300 points. The rubric below describes how your paper will be scored. Do you want a rubric score of 4 = 90 – 100 points for your paper? Read the descriptions for an “Exemplary” paper and create a research paper that follows those guidelines.

Name: __________________________ Date: __________________

BEGINNING

(60%)

DEVELOPING

(70%)

ACCOMPLISHED 3

(80%)

EXEMPLARY

(90%)

SCORE

400 POINTS

7-page

MLA typed Research paper

-exhibits no knowledge of P.P.A.

-presents a minimum amount of research to support the proposed policy

-does not follow the 6-step public policy analysis model

-poor use of conventions of standard written English

-exhibits little knowledge of P.P.A.

-presents audience with several sources of research in a logical manner that supports the proposed policy

-follows some of the 6-steps of the public policy analysis model

-weak use of conventions of standard written English

-exhibits an acceptable understanding of P.P.A.

-presents the audience with enough research in a logical, creative, and organized format that supports the proposed policy

-follows most of the 6 steps of the public policy analysis model

-exhibits an acceptable and coherent use of conventions of standard written English

-exhibits a superior knowledge and understanding of P.P.A.

-presents the audience with an exceptional amount of research that supports the proposed public policy

-exhibits a superior and independent use of conventions of standard written English

Score

_______

Grade

______%

Web

Sites

References

-few links relevant to the proposed public policy

-enough links but few support the proposed public policy

-many links that support the proposed policy

-excellent use of a variety of links that support the proposed public policy

Score

______

Grade

______%

References

From the play Othello

-does not use any references from the play

-uses few references from the play

-uses some references from the play

Uses many references from the play

Score

______

Grade

______%

RUBRIC

Grades and Due Dates

ü 7-page M.L.A. research paper is due within 3 weeks.

ü Presentations of your papers will be scheduled on the fourth week.

ü This project is worth 300 points as per the rubric.

ü Everyone will receive an additional 5 points for each rubric category for their participation, enthusiasm and cooperation.

“…Your daughter and the Moor are now making the beast with two backs…” Iago, I.i.

Worksheet 1: The Problem

Name: _________________________ Date:____________

1. What is the problem we are analyzing?

2. Identify the players involved in this social problem (in Othello and in society):

3.List at least 2 positive and 2 negative consequences for this social problem (in Othello and in society): ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Write a short summary of the social problem and its effects on the characters in Othello and its effects on contemporary society:

Worksheet 2: Gathering evidence for the social problem

Name: ______________________________ Date: ____________

List the evidence of the social problem. Write the name of the sites where found the evidence and the number of the act, scene, and page from the play.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Worksheet 3: Identifying the causes of the social problem

Name: ___________________________________ Date: ____________

List at least 5 causes or factors that are involved in this social problem. List the names of the sites and the number of the act, scene and page in the play.

Worksheet 4: Evaluating the existing public policy

Name: ____________________________________ Date: ____________

The social problem is: _________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

1. Name two public policy that attempted to address this social problem (in Othello and in society): ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. What are the advantages of these policies in terms of effectiveness, public acceptance, and enforcement? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. What are the disadvantages of these policies in terms of effectiveness, public acceptance, and enforcement?

4. Based on your evaluation of the advantages and disadvantages, should the current policies be totally replaced or improved?

Worksheet 5: Developing public policy solutions

Name: ___________________________________ Date:__________________

The social problem is : _______________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1. Create 3 of your own public policy alternatives. Make sure that all 3 of your original policies are the same historical, geopolitical, and social level as the social problem. Each of your three original public policies must specify the actual social or governmental agency that will be responsible for enforcing your policies. Rate each one 1-3, one being the most promising.

2. Explain why you prefer your #1 rated policy over the other two policies. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Worksheet 6: Selecting the best public policy solution

Name: _____________________________ Date: ____________

The social problem is: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

A. Create a short title that summarizes each of your 3 public policy solutions. List each below and write a brief description of each.

1.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

B. Complete the matrix below by using Roman and Arabic numbers (I, 1; II, 2; & III, 3) for each policy’s effectiveness and feasibility rating.

FEASIBILITY- Can it be done?

EFFECTIVENESS How well will it deal with the social problem?	HIGH	MEDIUM	LOW
HIGH
MEDIUM
LOW

C. Explain the reasons for each policy’s scores in the matrix.

“I pray you hear her speak. If she confess that she was half the wooer, Destruction on my head…” – Brabantio, I.iii.

This web quest focuses on the following English Language Arts Performance Standards:

E1c: Read and comprehend informational materials

E2a: Produce a report for information

E2e: Produce a persuasive essay

E3a: Participate in one to one conferences with teacher

E3c: Prepare and deliver an individual presentation

E4b: Analyze and subsequently revise work to improve its clarity

and effectiveness

This web quest concentrates on the following New York State Standards:

Standard 1: Language for information and Understanding

Standard 2: Language for Literary Response and Expression

Standard 3: Language for Critical Analysis and Evaluation

Standard 4: Language for Social Interaction

“If virtue no delighted beauty lack, your son-in-law is far more fair than black.” Duke, Ii

“She is abus’d, stol’n, from me, and corrupted, by spells and medicines…” Brabantio, I.iii.

Social Studies Learning Standards:

Standard 2: World History

Standard 3 Geography

Standard 5: Civics, Citizenship, and Government