1. Chelsea Miller
WebQuest Assignment
Introduction: Poetry throughout the years has been very influential and has changed drastically as we
move closer to the present. As you work through this WebQuest, you will see examples of different
poets as well as comparing poets that were alive in the early 19th century and a poet that is still alive
today.
Task: Students will research the following poets: Edgar Allen Poe, Emily Dickinson, Elizabeth Barrett
Browning, Robert W. Service, and Billy Collins. They will compose a mini-biography about each poet and
bring the information they find to class with them. Pick out the information that you think is interesting,
valuable, or worth discussing. You do not have to print articles, you may bring them electronically, but
you need to have sections highlighted to ensure you read the documents.
Process: Go to these websites and go over articles given and find important information in each article.
Be sure to watch videos if provided.
Edgar Allen Poe
http://www.biography.com/people/edgar-allan-poe-9443160
http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/130
Emily Dickinson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiHWnwUwACs
http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/155
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/152
http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Elizabeth_Barrett_Browning.aspx
Robert W. Service
http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/138
http://www.infoplease.com/biography/var/robertwservice.html
Billy Collins
http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/278
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/billy-collins

2. Evaluation: We will be having a class discussion about the poets listed above. Each student will be asked
who is their favorite and least favorite and must back up their answer with why. Students will also be
asked to give a fact about each poet and each fact must not be mentioned more than twice. Students
will not have access to articles during this part of the discussion. Students will be rewarded points after
this exercise for being alert and contributing to the conversation.
Conclusion: By the end of this assignment students will have background information on the poets listed
above. They will find information important to the poet and be asked to give a certain fact about the
poet to the rest of the class. By reading/watching the videos in the articles given, students will know key
events that happened in each poet’s life. We will understand how life was different for poets in the 19th
century and today.