Great Expectations Unit Overview (Cook, 9^th Grade)

 

 

Reading Assignments:  You will need to read this abridged novel in 4 sections, 11 chapters each.  The chapters are short, and the overall reading per section is about 40 pages so this is very do-able.  For each section you will need to do the following:

 

1.      One Page Response:  Your response needs to be concise (or pithy) and can NOT be more than one page double-spaced.  You can begin with one or two sentences of very general summary, but after this you need to be analyzing whatever aspects of the readings interests you.  You may not analyze the same aspect twice.  Feel free to chose from the following list of literary elements:

 

a. symbolism                 b. foreshadowing          c. characterization

d. vivid imagery            e. mood                        f. diction

g. setting

               

     …or, the following themes:

 

                        a. ambition                    b. social class               c. crime

                        d. alienation                  e. obsession                  f. greed

                        g. prejudice                  h. envy                         i. gender roles

 

      There are other literary elements and themes you may choose to focus on.  At

The end of the response, you need to write a concise suggested topic of focus

for the Socratic discussions.

 

 

Discussion Grade:  We will be having 4 Socratic discussions (50 points each) where your questions will be used to generate a student directed conversation.  You and a peer will be grading each other with a rubric.  There will be two discussion groups per block.

 

 

Character Profiles:  In class you’ll be working in pairs to create a life-size character from the book.  Each character will be adorned with a minimum of 10 symbols that represent their character and you will have to explain the symbols to the class.