Dandelion Wine WebQuest

Dandelion Wine WebQuest

Introduction

You are Douglas Spalding. You know that you are alive. You have turned lights on by your command. You have to wear Cream-Sponge Para Litefoot shoes. You are a magician. And, you have met Mrs. Helen Loomis. But, Where do you go now? What do you do after your text is written? Or, has your adventure just begun? You’ll find the answers to all of these questions and more just by working on this webquest.

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Task

This is a three-part task. First, you will need to find yourself two other classmates to form your group. Second, your will read and discuss two vignettes from Dandelion Wine. One vignette may be short (1 page) while the second vignette must be at least six pages in length. Third, you will use this group discussion as a background for your own writing exploration.

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Process

Step 1. As a group, choose one vignette to read in Ray Bradbury’s

Dandelion Wine. Discuss the events of the vignette with your

group members. Write a few sentences summarizing what your group

has discussed. Include the pages you are summarizing.

Step 2. Choose one more vignette randomly. Read the vignette. Discuss

the events of that vignette with your group members. Again,

write a few sentences summarizing what your group has

discussed. Put all of your names on the paper.

Step 3. By yourself, you need to choose one more vignette. You are going on

an adventure. Pick something that is interesting.

Step 4. After you have read your vignette, go back and choose 8 nouns. You are

going to write a one page essay using those 8 nouns that you

have chosen. You will write this brief essay from Douglas’s point of

view.

Step 5. Go to Resources below.

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Resources

At the Bradbury site, click on the message board. Skim through the message board threads. Focus on the threads Inspired by Ray and Ray’s Legacy.

At the FoxNews site, read over the transcripts of Ray Bradbury’s recent interview. While you are reading keep in mind this question: What do you think of Bradbury comparing his own writing to the American Space Program?

Check out the Sci-Fi workshop. Click on Resources.

Spicy Green Iguana. It’s a Sci-Fi online-writing ‘zine.

Lastly and most importantly see what it takes to be a Sci-Fi writer and learn a few Sci-Fi writing tips along the way.

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Evaluation

Remember to keep your focus on the topic. Review and use the steps of the writing process. Follow the requirements of the webquest. You can find these listed under Process. And, be sure to use an interesting title.

You can click here to look at the grading rubric.

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Conclusion

Dandelion Wine, as you know by now, is a work of science fiction. Ray Bradbury has written a number of widely popular works within this genre. Hopefully the sites that you have visited will give you a good amount of information to guide your ideas on the genre, on Ray Bradbury, and on the main resources and outlets for writing in this genre. Be sure to take the time to scour the spicy green iguana site. Maybe with this new and unknown hobby, you may find yourself entertaining the idea of being a Science Fiction Writer. You never can tell.

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Last revised: November 30, 2004

Email: westrica@student.gvsu.edu