What follows is an outline of background information on Shakespeare and his times-- the Elizabethan Age. I have used this as an introduction to Shakespeare in teaching his plays (the ones I have had the opportunity to teach thus far are Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, and Hamlet). Essentially, I just take the pieces of this outline that I find relevant and/or interesting and use those.
I try to lighten "lecture style" with overheads/pictures and by asking lots of questions as I go-- that way students have a chance to share what they already know and they can learn from each other. A note-taking technique that I found really helpful with some of the ninth graders I worked with was to actually give them a copy of the outline, but with blank areas so that they could fill in information as we progressed. This gave them a solid base on which to take notes and forced a lot of them to really be active note-takers when they probably wouldn't have otherwise.
Keep in mind that these notes are indeed an "outline"-- you have to provide the details, the interest, the drama. Lecture doesn't have to be a tedious event of standing in front of the class going over notes... it can be active, involved and fun. Lecture isn't a technique that should be used all the time-- but no one technique is that way... it is but one in a whole vast realm of approaches that should be used coordinating with others-- adding variety and interest throughout the content area.
Another thing I should mention is that these are my notes, and so any errors are mine-- but I am not responsible if you make them! :)
To the Outline!