Eat at Joe's

 A Deliciously Satisfying WebQuest for Using Adjectives and Adverbs in Descriptive Writing

Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Teachers

 

Designed by Anna Wilder

anna_wilder@khsd.k12.ca.us

Introduction

Joe's Diner has been around for as long as most people can remember.  But unfortunately, business hasn't been so good lately. A lot of new, exciting restaurants have moved into the old neighborhood, and Joe is feeling the pressure to keep up. He's thinking of making some changes to liven things up and attract a new crowd. Joe is currently taking proposals for new ideas and he could really use your help.

The Task

Your group's task will be to create a proposal to change the image of Joe's Diner. You will be responsible for devising a new theme and decor changes for the restaurant, redesigning the menu and creating an ad campaign that will get people flocking back to Joe's. Your group will present your idea proposal as a project board. The project board should include a description of the restaurant's new theme and decor changes, a new restaurant menu, and a print ad advertising Joe's new place for the big grand re-opening.

 

 

The Process

Step 1: Redesigning Joe's menu and attracting new customers will require some lively and descriptive writing, so before choosing your project roles, you will first need to brush up on your knowledge of adjectives and adverbs.

Identifying Adjectives - (read first) then take the Adjective Quiz

Identifying Adverbs - (read first) then take the Adverb Quiz

Adjective or Adverb? Take this Quiz

Catch the Adjectives and Adverbs Game - Silly but Fun (optional)

 

Step 2: Get together with the members of your group and decide on a theme for the restaurant.  This can be based on anything - music, movies, TV shows, politics, fashion, professions, decades, cartoons, types of food, futuristic, old-fashioned - anything you'd like that will create a unique atmosphere and make the restaurant stand out.  Remember that your decor changes, your menu, everything should reflect the theme you choose.

 

Step 3: Once the theme has been chosen, each member of the group should take on one of the following roles:

 

  • Menu Design Team- (2 people) Your job will be to create the new theme-based menu for Joe's restaurant. You will work together to create the layout and the content for the new menu. You will be responsible for writing the food descriptions and deciding on the graphic layout of the menu. See Creating the Menu handout for specific guidelines. Both team members should assume aspects of both content and layout. Go to the following websites for ideas:

 

Menu Design

Create Brochures Online

Sample Menus- (Read the Food Descriptions)

Chili's Grill and Bar

T.G.I.Friday's Menu

Outback Steakhouse Menu

California Pizza Kitchen

 

 
  • Restaurant Design Expert- Your job will be to find ways to change the furnishings and decor of Joe's restaurant to reflect the new theme. This can involve remodeling the outside of the restaurant as well as the interior. You may also want to include other important design issues in your  plan such as employee uniforms, tableware etc. See the Redesigning the Restaurant handout for specific guidelines. You will need to "shop" for furniture and decor items online. Try some of the following websites:

 

Restaurant Design

Restaurant Decor Items

Interior Restaurant Decor

Vintage Vending - 50s decor

Restaurant Equipment - everything including the kitchen sink!

Dishes, Decor and More - online shop

 

 
  • Restaurant Promoter- You will be in charge of planning and advertising for the grand re-opening of Joe's restaurant. Your job will be to attract customers through advertising and promotion of the event.  You will need to decide what to use to attract a crowd. You will also be responsible for creating a print ad that will also be used to draw customers in.  See the Promoting the Restaurant handout for specific guidelines. Try some of the following websites for ideas and to view samples:

 

Promotional Supplies

Some Sample Flyers

More Sample Advertising Flyers

Sample Grand Opening Flyer / Ads

Grand Opening Supplies

Personalized Party Supplies

 

Step 4: As a group, create a project board to display your restaurant redesign proposal.

 

Step 5: Present your display board and redesign proposal as a group on your assigned date.

 
Evaluation

Your performance on this project will be based on the quality of the individual components each of you creates, the display board as a whole and the presentation your group gives demonstrating your redesign proposal.

Use the following rubric to help you complete the project.

Beginning

1

Developing

2

Accomplished

3

Exemplary

4

Score

 

Group Cohesiveness

 

 Group does not communicate or work well together to create final product. Not all members communicate or participate in helping create final product. ALL group members communicate with each other and work together to create the final product. ALL group members communicate well with each other. They work efficiently and closely together to create the final product.

 

 Project Layout and  Design

 

 Layout is sloppy or hard on the eye. Information is disorganized. There are no pleasing visual attributes. Design may not reflect theme. Layout is somewhat lacking. Information is somewhat organized. There are few pleasing visual attributes. May not closely reflect theme. Layout is functional. Information is organized. There are pleasing visual attributes. Design at least somewhat reflects theme. Layout is superb. Information is well organized. There are several pleasing visual attributes. Design highly reflects theme.

 

Project Content

 

 Project items are incomplete or lacking information and/or key elements. Elements not unified. Project items are somewhat complete but may lack some information or key elements. Elements are somewhat unified. Project items are complete and contain required information and key elements. Elements are mostly unified. Project items are complete and contain more than minimum information required. Information is  highly detailed and unified.

 

Overall Impression and Presentation

 

 Group seems highly unorganized and unprepared. Poor communication techniques and lack of knowledge evident. Group seems disorganized and unprepared. Some problems communicating. Some lack of knowledge. Group seems somewhat organized and prepared. Communicates effectively and knows subject. Group seems highly organized and prepared. Communicates well and reflects thorough knowledge of subject.

 


Conclusion

After completing this project, you should have a better understanding of the important role descriptive writing plays in real world applications, such as in the food and restaurant industry. You should be able to appreciate the power and usefulness of descriptive words such as adjectives and adverbs and be able to apply this to your own writing.


 Teachers

NOTE TO TEACHER: This lesson addresses the following California Language Arts Standards for GRADES 9-10:

READING:

  • Reading 2.0 - Reading Comprehension (Focus on Informational Materials). Students reading and understand grade-level-appropriate material including classic and contemporary literature, magazines, newspapers, and online information.
    •
  • Reading: 2.1 - Analyze the structure and format of functional workplace documents, including graphics and headers and explain how authors use the features to achieve their purposes.

WRITING:

  • Research and Technology 1.3 - Use clear research questions and suitable research methods (e.g., library, electronic media, personal interview) to elicit and present evidence from primary and secondary sources.
  • Research and Technology 1.5 - Synthesize information from multiple sources
  • Research and Technology 1.8 - Design and publish documents
  • Writing Applications 2.4 - Write persuasive compositions (persuasive ads, enticing food descriptions, ad  proposal)
  • Writing Applications 2.6 - Write technical documents (menu, product ads, product descriptions, ad proposal)
  • Written and Oral English Language Conventions 1.0 - Students write and speak with a command of standard English conventions.

LISTENING and SPEAKING:

  • Listening and Speaking Strategies 1.0 - Students deliver focused and coherent presentations of their own that convey clear and distinct perspectives and solid reasoning. They use gestures, tone and vocabulary tailored to the audience and purpose.
  • Speaking Applications 2.5 - Deliver persuasive arguments (including evaluation and analysis of problems and solutions, causes and effects.)

 

WEBQUEST PROCEDURES:

1) This WebQuest works well to highlight the importance of descriptive words and descriptive writing and the many applications of this type of writing in the real world – such as in the restaurant, retail and advertising industries.

2) Before going into the computer lab, the teacher should preview the project and roles, review the assessment rubric and discuss computer lab and Internet policies and procedures. Students should also be divided into groups at this time.

3) Once in the computer lab students should access the WebQuest on the Internet and read it over completely.

4) Students will first review adjectives and adverbs, what they are and how they are used by clicking on the given links and then reviewing their knowledge by taking a short online quiz.

5) The next step is to choose roles. Groups of fewer than four members may choose one role and then divide up remaining roles/tasks.

6) Once roles have been chosen, each member will focus on researching information for their specific role using the Internet resources provided. There is a separate link for each role which will provide detailed directions and explanations. Students should click on these and read them over.

7) Once research is complete, or ongoing, students will begin to create their individual documents which will be included in the redesign proposal.

8) Finally, students will present their restaurant redesign proposal in a presentation to the class.

 

Credits and References:

The WebQuest Page at San Diego State University http://webquest.sdsu.edu/webquest.html

National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) http://cnets.iste.org/currstands/

California Language Arts Standards Grades 9/10 http://www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/enggrades9-10.asp

 

Last updated on Feb. 21, 2005

Based on a template from The WebQuest Page