1. Students started off today’s class with a handout on their desks that listed thirty-five different essay topics all related to the play of Hamlet. Everyone drew numbers and, going in the order of the numbers chosen, were allowed first pick at which essay topic they wanted to respond to. With everyone having their own essay to write, everyone will be responsible for doing their own work and investigation of the text. 🙂
2. We discussed the questions for our final Act, Act V, although the chatter was a little more energized today. I am so pleased that everyone is so excited about Hamlet essays and the play itself! I told you Shakespeare would be fun!
3. We began reading through the different themes that can be found in the play. For each theme listed, students just had to find the different ways that theme was relevant from the reading. With the excess talking, I gave the work load to the students to finish individually as an exit slip, meaning it was to be completed before they could leave the class. That got things quiet!
4. We will continue discussing your answers tomorrow regarding the themes. Students will be given the handout defining the expectations for their major essay and its worth, and will be given some hints at what will be on Thursday’s Hamlet / Unit final. Study hard! (Remember, you were told about this upcoming test last week, too!)

Here’s a video to walk you through some of those themes…