Being selective means choosing something very carefully so that it fulfils an intended purpose.

Somebody who believes in social responsibility invests in their community and supports those in need.

A person or character who speaks on behalf of another person or organisation.

To impart is to communicate information to someone.

'A Christmas Carol': constructing an argument about the ghosts

English

'A Christmas Carol': a Victorian ghost story

'A Christmas Carol': the novella as a Gothic text

'A Christmas Carol': the entrances and exits of the four ghosts

'A Christmas Carol': the ghosts and Dickens' use of allusion

'A Christmas Carol': Dickens' ghosts as agents of time

'A Christmas Carol': conceptualised responses

In 'A Christmas Carol: a ghost story', pupils explore the novella in the context of the gothic tradition and in particular examine the characterisation of the ghosts and the gothic settings. In 'A Christmas Carol: A Christian Parable', pupils focus on the Christian foundations of the story and on the use of Christian imagery throughout to gain a more nuanced understanding of the writer's message.

In 'A Christmas Carol: a Gothic Tale', pupils explore the conventions of the Victorian gothic and the ways in which Dickens appropriates this for his tale. In 'A Monster Within', pupils learn about the gothic genre by comparing a series of gothic villains.

In this unit, pupils consider how and why Dickens presents 'A Christmas Carol' as a ghost story. They look at the novella as a gothic text and then the ghosts in detail. They then write a critical response about how Dickens uses the ghosts to deliver his message about social responsibility.

Nineteenth century text: first deep dive

Subjects which particular individuals may be sensitive to, eg, adoption, migration, bereavement or death, divorce, poverty, deprivation.

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

When writing an analytical essay, approximately how many ideas should you choose to cover your essay response?

to present as much knowledge as possible.

so that you can have some spare time when you have finished writing

to present the strongest argument possible

Why is it important to be selective about the ideas you choose to include?

Which of the following features of academic writing 'outlines the arguments of each paragraph and includes key question vocabulary'?

a person or character who communicates information

a person or character who speaks on behalf of another person or organisation

a person who chooses something very carefully so that fulfils a purpose

somebody who believes in social responsibility and invests in their community

Which of the following is the correct definition for the word 'mouthpiece' in relation to 'A Christmas Carol'?

If you were writing an essay about the significance of Marley's Ghost in Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol', which quotation would you not include? 

In an essay about injustice in 'A Christmas Carol', which character might be the least appropriate to discuss?

Match the stave from 'A Christmas Carol' up to the ghost who visits Scrooge in that stave.

Match the allusion Dickens makes to the ghost he uses to make the allusion in 'A Christmas Carol'.

In 'A Christmas Carol', which spirit shows Scrooge the scenes of Mrs Dilber and her criminal friends bargaining over some stolen possessions? 

In 'A Christmas Carol', which spirit has the characters Ignorance and Want with it?

In 'A Christmas Carol', which spirit repeats Scrooge's words 'Are there no prisons?' back to him?

In Stave 1 of 'A Christmas Carol', Dickens uses the portly gentlemen as a mouthpiece to directly contradict the common {{ }} beliefs and ideologies that pervaded Victorian society at the time.

'A Christmas Carol': constructing an argument about the ghosts

Lesson outcome

Content guidance