Marble Hill School for International Studies
99 Terrace View Avenue, Bronx, NY 10463 • 718-561-0973
ELA
Sixth Marking Period Project
Grade/Class: 9
Subject:
ELA Teacher:
Mr. Cuttler
Project Title: Who’s at fault for Romeo and Juliet’s fate? Date due: May 30, 2013
Project Point Value: 100 points (20 percent of your sixth marking period grade)
Project Description: In your study of Romeo and Juliet, you have focused on key scenes that highlight the
quandaries Romeo and Juliet faced. You have analyzed the reasons for their choices, based on the many factors
that influenced them. You have read others’ opinions and related readings to better understand these factors. In
consideration of what these many sources communicate about Romeo and Juliet’s end:
Who is to blame for Romeo and Juliet’s death?
Written Work/Materials/Scoring
Part 1: You are a lawyer arguing in front of a judge trying to convince her who should be held
responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. You will write a 2-3 page persuasive essay where you use
textual citations and counter argument to convince a Judge who is the most to blame for the teenagers’
deaths. Choose one of the following characters that you think you can prove is at fault for the deaths of
Romeo and Juliet.
1.
Capulet: If Capulet had kicked Romeo out, Romeo would not have met Juliet. If Capulet did not
force the marriage upon Juliet there would be no death.
2.
Tybalt: If Tybalt hadn’t always wanted to fight Romeo and killed Mercutio, then maybe Romeo
and Juliet would have had a chance to be happy.
3.
Nurse: It is the Nurse’s job to look out for Juliet and she should have protected her from the
situation instead of helping it happen
4.
Friar Lawrence: He’s the adult and he should have known better than to marry the two teenagers
in secret.
5.
Mercutio: Mercutio wanted to go to the ball and that is where Romeo and Juliet met. Also, Romeo
killed Tybalt to avenge Tybalt’s killing of Mercutio, which is why he got banished.
6.
Paris If he did not love her, this would not have happened.
7.
Lady Capulet: She should not have gone along with her husband and forced Juliet to marry Paris.
Points: 80
Part 2: Reflection: Answer the following questions in 2-3 sentences each.
1. What skills did you use to complete this project?
2. What do you feel you understood well from doing this project? What was most difficult
about the project?
3. What part of this project did you think will be the most useful moving forward? Why?
Points: 20