A TRANSCENDENTAL SOCIETY! Webquest Created by: Kathryn Clark W.E. Stebbins High School Dayton,Ohio INTRODUCTION What is Transcendentalism? What is a society? Be prepared to accurately learn about both as you create: THE TASK You have just met Ralph Waldo Emerson, Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson and many other American authors that are Transcendentalists. They want you and your partner to design a society for them so that they can freely express their beliefs and finally become one with nature. It is up to you to create this society for these famous authors. The society will need to include the following information: *A name for the society
*A pledge illustrating the values and allegiances (loyalty, commitment) of the society. *A flag *A monetary system *A brochure that includes information about: the kinds of work your society would encourage its citizens to engage in; the type of environment; 3 behaviors your society would deem inappropriate/ criminal behavior with the consequences; the term transcendentalist defined three different times; and the names of 6 authors that are Transcendentalists. *A poster that would encourage other Transcendentalists to become a part of your society (persuasion!). THE PROCESS You will need to follow these fun steps: 1) Find three definitions for Transcendentalism and cite the web site where you found each definition. 2) List 5 AMERICAN authors that were Transcendentalists and cite the web site where you found this information.
3) Select a name for the society. You may create a name with meaning or an acronym (What is an acronym?). The name must adhere to the Transcendentalist beliefs/ideas. 4) Write a pledge illustrating the values and Allegiances (loyalty & commitment) of your society. Follow America s Pledge of Allegiance format, or think of your own ten sentences. The pledge must adhere to the Transcendentalist beliefs/ideas. 5)Design and create a flag using colors and symbols to illustrate the values of your society. The flag/symbols must adhere to the Transcendentalist beliefs/ideas. 6)Develop a monetary system for your society, giving samples of currency (money) and explaining in detail how the system works. The monetary system must adhere to the Transcendentalist beliefs/ideas. 7) Create a brochure that includes the following information: *Explain the kinds of work your society would encourage its citizens to engage in (This must adhere to the Transcendentalist beliefs/ideas). *Describe the type of environment in your society. Is it rural; urban; suburban; or a combination? (This must adhere to the Transcendentalist beliefs/ideas). *Describe at least 3 behaviors your society would deem
inappropriate/criminal behaviors. Then explain how your society would dela with those citizens who exhibit those behaviors. (This must adhere to the Transcendentalist beliefs/ideas). *Include your (3) definitions of Transcendentalism & the (6) Transcendentalist authors a part of your society. Don t forget to tell where you found this information! 8) Create a poster that encourages other Transcendentalis to become apart of the society. 9) You and your partner will present all of this information to the class. SOURCES OF INFORMATION *The following are websites to explore in order to complete this project. Enjoy! www.csustan.edu/english/reuben/pal/chap4/4intro.html www.vcu.edu/engweb/transcendentalism/ideas/tr-aldef.html www.transcendentalists.com/terminology.html http://womenshistory.about.com/bltranscend.htm http://www.san.beck.org/wp15-emerson.html http://www.transcendentalists.com/ http://www.zebra.net/~ernie.seckinger/transcendentalism.htm http://web.demigod.org/~zak/documents/high-school/transcendentalism/html http://web.demigod.org/~zak/documents/high-school/transcendentalism/html http://guweb2.gonzaga.edu/faculty/campbell/enl311/amtrans.htm
You can also use your Literature book and the library! EVALUATION You will be graded on the following: *Name (Creative? Adhere to Transcendentalist idea?) *Pledge (10 lines? Creative? Adhere to Transcendentalist idea?) *Flag (Creative? Carefully described? Displays various colors/ symbols? Adhere to Transcendentalist idea?) 20pts. *Monetary System (Creative? Colorful? Tran. idea?) 15pts. *Mini Book (Creative? Colorful? Tran. idea?) *Describes Environment Completely, Tran. idea? *Describes 3 behaviors/consequences, Tran. idea? *Describes various jobs, Tran. idea? *Includes (3) definitions & where found? *Includes (6) Transcendentalist authors & where found? *Poster (Creative? Colorful? Persuasive? Tran. idea?) 25pts. *Presentation/Individual Worker Grade 50pts. TOTAL POINTS: 195 POINTS 15pts. CONCLUSION After doing all of your investigation and evaluation, you should be able to create a society for the American Transcendentalist writers! You should turn in to your all of the necessary materials. Your teacher should provide a file folder to hold all of your work (brochures, poster, mini-booklet, flag, examples of currency, etc.). Good luck with your mission and thank you! The GRATEFUL Transcendentalist Writers