A Doll’s House

Critical Theory Group Project

Objectives:

1. We will collaborate with our peers to analyze the play through a specific lens of a critical theory in
literature, developing an expert’s interpretation according to that genre of investigation.

2. We will adequately and sufficiently instruct the entire class according to our critical theory,
creating an informative handout for their personal notes, as well as a creative presentation to convey
our interpretation.

Critical Theories:
1. Feminist Theory
2. Marxist Theory
3. New-Historicism Theory
4. Moral Theory
5. Formalist Theory

Directions:

1. Form a group of approximately 4-5 students and then select a critical theory to investigate.

2. Review the Critical Theory Handout and then conduct further research on your theory so that all
group members adequately understand the fundamental elements of your investigation. DO NOT
simply research your theory in the context of A Doll’s House—this will rob you of a crucial
learning opportunity!

3. Review A Doll’s House with your group and analyze/annotate the text through the lens of your
critical theory. You are still responsible for understanding the themes, literary elements, symbols, etc. of
the text, so make sure you annotate those as well; but your main focus of analysis should be centered on
your critical theory.

4. After having finished your investigation of the text, draft a 2-3 page student-friendly handout that
does all of the following: 1) provides a summary of your critical theory, including sources when
necessary; 2) investigates as many critical theory questions as there are members in your group; 3)
provides supporting evidence for analysis in the form of examples, quotes, and brief commentary.
This will serve as supplementary notes that your peers will upload to their LP.

5. Last, develop a creative method to deliver your critical theory information, analysis, and
supporting evidence to the class! (i.e. role playing, panel discussion, Q&A, impersonation of
characters, a musical, a melodrama, puppet theater, game show, etc. Just about anything is
allowed—though a simple slide presentation would be disappointing!). Your presentation should last
between 10-15 minutes and should be an interactive way to engage, inform, and involve your
audience. Get creative!

Project Grading Rubric:

Exceeds Proficient– 8 Approaching Developing – 4

Standard– 10 Standard– 6

Critical o Well-developed, o A clear, though o An attempt to o Critical

Theory complex and simple, analyze the text investigation is
(10 points) concise argumentative through the main vague, simplistic,
argumentative idea sentence that elements of the and unclear; it
that clearly identifies most of critical theory, does not accurately
identifies the main the main elements though the main analyze the text
investigative of the critical arguments are according to the
elements of the theory and then simplistic and theory’s lens.
critical theory and accurately possibly incorrect.
then accurately examines the text
examines the text through that lens.
through that
specific lens.

oIdeas/details/evid oIdeas/details/evid oIdeas/details/evid oIdeas/details/evid

Evidence ence clearly ence support the ence do not always ence do not
(10 points) support the critical critical theory; support the critical support the critical
theory; o some context is theory; some theory; inaccurate
context is provided provided that context is provided use of evidence;
that accurately accurately but not enough for missing
presents text introduces all clear introductions to
evidence; quotes evidence; mostly understanding; quotes and
are correctly uses correct quote o some correct citations.
introduced or introductions and introductions to
woven-in and citations. quotes and
cited. citations.

o Commentary o Commentary o Commentary o Main ideas are

Commentary analysis analysis covers analysis briefly left undeveloped
Analysis thoroughly main ideas, explains main and the main
(10 points) explores main analyzes ideas and vaguely points are unclear
ideas, correctly supporting delineates the and/or confusing
analyzes evidence, evidence, and evidence; to the audience.
and accurately makes broad however, most of
depicts the critical connections to the commentary is text
theory. critical theory. summary.
 o Information and o Information and o Information is o Presentation has
Creative analysis is analysis is somewhat no clear or logical
Presentation presented in a presented in a disorganized and organization; main
(20 points) creative, clear, and creative and clear not thoughtfully or ideas are unclear
engaging manner; manner; the creatively and ambiguous,
the method chosen audience can presented; little is leading to the
thoroughly easily follow main gained on part of confusion of the
enhances the ideas and gain the audience audience. Students
understanding of knowledge from through the have clearly not
the audience. the presentation. conveyance of rehearsed and
Students are Students seem information. present in an
prepared, well rehearsed and Students struggle informal and
rehearsed, and present in a through the non-professional
present in a professional presentation and manner.
professional manner. could be better
manner. prepared.

oStudent-generate o Handout is o Handout is o Handout is

Student d handout is clear, informative and concise and well disorganized and
Handout concise, well well organized, organized, though lacks accurate and
(10 points) organized, and providing it lacks in some abundant
informative, abundant crucial information information to
leading to the information on the and textual adequately inform
abundant increase critical theory and support, forcing students on the
in knowledge for textual students to conduct critical theory.
the rest of the connections found further research on
class, in which therein. their own.
they can easily use
as a resource for
further
investigation or
course
assessments.

Total: /60 Points