WEBQUEST

 

SUBSTANCE ABUSE

And The Life of

EDGAR ALLAN POE

 

Kara Bopp

Adlai Stevenson High School

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


INTRODUCTION

 

After viewing the A&E biography of Edgar Allan Poe, you will explore the effects of his substance abuse on his writing.  First, you will explore the social problem of substance abuse in general, and then apply this research to the life of a famous artist.  The question that you should keep in mind during your research is, “To what extent should we be aware of the circumstances surrounding a writer’s personal life if we are to more fully understand his work?”

 

TASK

 

Your task in this WebQuest is, first, to use the TIPS Public Policy Analyst as well as the websites provided in the Resources section to help you research the general social problem of substance abuse; and second, to apply this research and websites specific to Poe to create a visual timeline and to try to draw conclusions about the influences on Poe’s writing.

 

 

PROCESS

 

1.                  Working in pairs, you will research the general social problem of substance abuse in our society.  You will use the TIPS PPA worksheets and the websites provided below to help you in your research.

a.     Define the problem: Worksheet #1

b.     Gather evidence of the problem: Worksheet #2

c.     Identify the causes of the problem: Worksheet #3

d.     Evaluate an existing public policy: Worksheet #4

e.     Develop your own original public policy: Worksheet #5

2.                Use your class notes about Poe, as well as the research and original ideas from step 1, to create a timeline/poster detailing Poe’s life and work.  Include all information pertaining to Poe’s excessive drinking and opium use.

3.                Write a one-page essay in which you will state and expand on an original thesis on the following questions: (a) How do the events of Poe’s life contribute to the themes in this writing? (b) How might have Poe’s stories and poems been different if he didn’t drink or smoke?

4.                Make a 3-5-minute oral presentation to the class on the most important findings your pair has made.

 

 

RESOURCES

 

Use the following websites to help you in your research:

 

General problem of substance abuse:

 

http://www.focusas.com/SubstanceAbuse.html

 

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/substanceabuseproblems.html

 

Substance abuse and Poe’s life and art:

 

http://www.usna.edu/EnglishDept/poeperplex/deadpoep.htm

 

http://www.poetrybay.com/winter2004/poe.html

 

http://www.ncteamericancollection.org/litmap/poe_edgar_allan_ny.htm

 

 

EVALUATION

 

Your work will be evaluated according to the following rubric:

 

Assignment Component

Grade 4

Grade 3

Grade 2

Grade 1

Research & Worksheets

Answered all questions adequately, showed advanced understanding

Answered all questions adequately

 

Answered most questions adequately

 

Did not answer most questions adequately

 

Timeline/Written Analysis

Above and beyond, well prepared, included interesting visuals

Generally well done, but is missing pertinent visuals

Adequately done, with or without  pertinent visuals

Poorly done, with or without  pertinent visuals

Oral Presentation

Shows how each required issue is relates to your side, and the presentation is clear and convincing

Has all of the required issues, but the presentation is not very convincing

 

Did not address all of the issues or make a very convincing argument

 

Did not address any of the issues or make a very convincing argument

 

 

The following Standards are addressed by this WebQuest:

 

Reading

c

Read and comprehend informational materials.

 

Writing

a

Produce a report of information.

 

Speaking, Listening, and Viewing

a

Participate in one-to-one conferences with the teacher.

b

Participate in group meetings.

c

Prepare and deliver an individual presentation.

 

Conventions, Grammar, and Usage of the English Language

a

Independently and habitually demonstrate an understanding of the rules of the English
language in written and oral work.

B

Analyze and subsequently revise work to improve its clarity and effectiveness.

 

Public Documents

A

Critique public documents with an eye to strategies common in public discourse.

b

Produce public documents.

 

Functional Documents

a

Critique functional documents with an eye to strategies common to effective functional documents.

b

Produce functional documents appropriate to audience and purpose.

 

Applied Learning

Information Tools and Techniques

a

Gather information to assist in completing project work.

b

Use on-line sources to exchange information for specific purposes.

c

Use word-processing software to produce a multi-page document.

d

Write, add content to, and analyze a relational data base.

Tools and Techniques for Working With Others

a

Participate in the establishment and operation of self-directed work teams.

 

 

CONCLUSION

 

Having completed this WebQuest, you now understand the general social problem of substance abuse in our society.  You have applied this knowledge to the life of a great artist, drawing conclusions about the effect of narcotic substances on his art.