Boles 1 Title: Life of Pi Description: This web quest should be used to further the students understanding of Judaism, Islam, and Christianity, to help deepen their understanding of the novel Life of Pi by Yann Martel and the important role in which religion plays throughout the novel. Students will also explore what it is like to journal their lives the way in which Pi did while trapped on the boat. Grade Level: 11th-12th Grade Curriculum: English/Language Arts Boles 2 Grab your life vests! There has been a loud explosion and the boat is taking on water! You are now lost at sea, alone in a boat! Except you are not alone! To maintain your sanity you keep a journal documenting your interesting and dynamic relationship you seek out with God through Islam, Christianity, and Hinduism. You want to be sure that in case your ship is ever found that you have kept record of what you believe so that people know what you stood for, and there will be something left of the person you were. Boles 3 In this assignment, you will use the internet to research Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism. After completing your research you will then construct a sort of comparison chart or diagram (chart or Venn diagram is suggested) to closely compare the three religions. After constructing your comparison chart, you will make a fake journal entry for each religion, describing how its beliefs and values have helped you to cope and survive on the ship, just like Pi’s faith did while he was trapped on his life boat. Boles 4 For whichever type of chart, or diagram you use to compare the Islam, Christianity, and Hinduism, you must be sure to compare at least TEN different things about each of the religions. This could include but is not limited to things such as, how far the religion dates back, who founded it, where it originated, how each religion views the other two, means of salvation, afterlife, the God they worship, sacred texts, type of theism, how large the religion is, how each religion views Jesus, human nature, view of sacred text, etc. After thoroughly researching and comparing these three religions, you must write three journal entries using the knowledge you have acquired through the research to write a fake journal entry, of at least one full page in length, about how each of these religions have helped you to cope with life on the life boat. You will need to have on journal entry per religion (You should end up with a total of three journal entries). You will also need to create an account at Delicious.com to bookmark all of the websites used and/or read. You will need to flag each bookmark with “Web quest”. You will also need to turn in your Delicious.com user name so that your teacher can go in and grade your bookmarks. You will need to have at least FIVE quality, credible websites bookmarked. Feel free to list your Delicious.com username at the bottom of the page that your comparison chart or diagram is on. Boles 5 Some websites you may use but are not limited to are listed below. http://christianityinview.com/xncomparison.html http://www.religionfacts.com/islam/comparison_charts/islam_judaism_chris tianity.htm http://www.islamfortoday.com/beliefs.htm#christianity Note: You may also want to research testimonies from people of each religion to better understand the impact that the religion has on an individual. This could make writing your journal entries a little easier. Boles 6 Exemplary Accomplished Developed Beginning Quality of Information gathered/sites visited Information that is used by student and/or on website is credible, valid, supported on multiple websites, and educational and on topic. Five or more websites are bookmarked. Information that is used by student and/or website is credible, valuable, may be supported by multiple websites, educational, and most of the time is on topic. Four to five websites are bookmarked. Information that is used by student and/or website is occasionally unreliable, only sometimes supported by multiple websites, occasionally off topic. Three to four websites bookmarked. Comparison Chart or Diagram Ten or more things in each religion compared. Thorough in the information provided in diagram or chart. Journal entries One or more full pages in length. Displays proper use of mechanics and grammar. Wellconstructed Nine to ten things in each religion compared. Fairly thorough in information provided in diagram or chart. Could use more elaboration and include more details in some of their information. One full page in length. Displays proper use of mechanics and grammar with minor mistakes. Wellconstructed paragraphs and Seven to nine things in each religion compared. Sometimes thorough information provided in diagram or chart. Needs more elaboration and details in most of their information. Half of page to one full page in length. Several mistakes with grammar and mechanics. Paragraphs Information that is used by student and/or website is almost always unreliable, vague, almost never supported by multiple websites, and often off topic. One to two websites are bookmarked. Six or fewer things in each religioned compared. Rarely thorough information provided in diagram or chart. Needs more elaboration and details in all of their information. Half of a page to one full page in length. Consistent mistakes in grammar and mechanics throughout Score Boles 7 paragraphs and ideas. Entries are thought provoking, creative and well thought out. Believable and obviously well researched. ideas. Entries are thought provoking, and fairly creative. Believable and fairly well researched. not fully developed/ too many ideas in one paragraph. Fairly thought provoking and creative. Somewhat believable and little evidence of research. journal. Paragraphs and ideas are poorly developed. Entries are not thought provoking or creative, nor are they believable. No evidence of research. Boles 8 Thank heavens! You have been rescued! A passing ship spotted your life boat and saved you! Now that you have learned about Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam, do you think that you would have been able to maintain any sanity on a boat by yourself be practicing any of these religions? Now that you have explored the beliefs of these other religions, hopefully you have gained a better understanding that you can use to help break down stereotypes and celebrate diversity!