Canterbury Tales Remix Grading Rubric
English IV Honors
CHS – C. Edge
Student: ______________________
Character Name: _______________
Final Grade: ____ / 17
 (3 pts.) Vivid and
interesting
character
Poetry Elements  (3 pts.) Clever,
entertaining
 Rhyming
rhymes and correct
couplets
use of iambic
 Iambic
pentameter.
pentameter
Explanation of  (3 pts.) Clear and
Relationship
entertaining
explanation of
character’s
relationship to the
couple
Toast Format
 (3 pts.) Clever and
entertaining toast.
Grammar/Mech  (3 pts.) No errors
anics
in grammar/
mechanics
Final Draft
 (2 pts.) Submitted
Submitted on
on time.
Wiki
Character
Total=
 (2 pts.)
Appropriate
character
 (2 pts.) Accurate
rhymes and
attempts iambic
pentameter.
 (2 pts.) Adequate
explanation of
character’s
relationship to the
couple.
 (1 pts.) Character
development is
deeply flawed
 (1 pts.) Rhyme
scheme is faulty
and incorrect. No
attempt at iambic
pentameter.
 (1 pts.)
Explanation of
relationship is
confusing or
flawed.
 (2 pts.)
Appropriate toast.
 (2 pts.) A few
errors in grammar/
mechanics
 (1 pts.) Toast
format is flawed.
 (1 pts.) Multiple
errors in grammar/
mechanics
 (0 pts.) Submitted
late.
Total=
Total=
Judges Scores:
#1 = ________
#2 = ________
#3 = ________
#4 = ________
CHS
C. Edge
English IV Honors
Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales is about a group of 14th century pilgrims from all walks of life who travel
together for several days on their way to a shrine in Canterbury. They entertain each other on this journey by
telling stories. The person who tells the most entertaining story wins dinner at the local tavern, courtesy of the
other story-telling pilgrims
Your task for this project is to create (as a class) a contemporary version of The Canterbury Tales.
Destination: Chuck and Cindy’s wedding, Charleston, South Carolina.
Mode of transport: A Greyhound bus departing from Sumter, South Carolina.
Narrator: The bus driver (Hank)
Story-telling Theme: Each person on the bus will be giving a toast at the reception. These toasts will serve as
our “stories”. They will:


explain how your character knows either the bride or groom
be written in rhyming couplets (like the original tales).
They should also aim to be clever and entertaining, as those are among the criteria the judges will use to
determine who wins the reward. **Please see notes on appropriate content.
Notes on Taste and Appropriateness:
While humor, wit, and social satire are encouraged in this project, it is important to respect the boundaries of
appropriate and tasteful content. We want to entertain our audience, not offend them. Good social satire is
delicate: we want to illuminate the quirks and flaws of our characters, but we also want to avoid stereotyping or
culturally insensitive humor.
Not appropriate:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
excessive alcohol references
drug references
sexual references
swearing
any comments that are derogatory or could be offensive to members of racial, cultural, religious, sexual
orientation, or gender groups.
** If you are having a hard time determining whether something is appropriate, ask yourself whether you
would say it in front of your grandmother.
Tips for writing a wedding toast
Before You Begin
Start off by writing down thoughts freely about the bride and groom and your relationship to them.
1.
2.
3.
4.
How do you know them?
Why did they choose you to make this toast?
How would you describe each of them? What are the first five adjectives that come to mind?
What was the groom like before he met the bride? How has he changed knowing her? (Reverse this,
obviously, if you are acquainted with the bride)
5. How did they meet? How did the groom tell you about her? (Or how did the bride tell you about him?)
6. If you are married, you may wish to think about marriage advice you've received or have learned.
7. Are there any particularly amusing anecdotes that illustrate who the bride and/or groom is?
Beginning
Start off by introducing yourself, as not everyone in the room will know who you are.
You might say "Excuse me everyone, if I could have your attention for a moment. I'd like to take a few
moments to say a few words about our bride and groom. I'm_______, _______'s longtime good friend (or
brother, cousin, etc.)"
*This might also be an opportunity for you to say something about your bus ride.
Middle
Tell a funny story about the bride and/or groom, give your thoughts on love and marriage, tell the story of how
they met, or talk about how you've seen them change through their relationship. Give interesting details. At all
costs, avoid ex-girlfriend/boyfriend stories and keep it rated PG for kids and grandmothers in the room.
Closing
It is often good to wrap up your toast with a wish, traditional toast, or blessing for the bride and groom. Raise
your glass with a resounding congratulations, cheers, l'chaim or salud, and don't forget to drink to your own
toast.
Adapted from http://weddings.about.com/od/theweddingparty/a/toastwriting.htm