'A Christmas Carol': planning an essay on Scrooge
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can plan a sophisticated response to an essay question on Scrooge.
Key learning points
- Single paragraph outlines are useful for organising your ideas into a coherent structure
- Single paragraph outlines contain a topic sentence, supporting detail and a closing sentence
- The supporting details should contain quotations you will use, along with methods, key vocabulary and context
- A single paragraph outline should be planned for each section of your response (it might be more than one paragraph)
- Context should be used as evidence for your argument and not as an afterthought
Keywords
Dire - If a dire warning is delivered, it is incredibly serious and urgent.
Indifferent - Someone indifferent to other people would show little concern or interest in them.
Harbinger - A harbinger is a person or thing that signals the arrival of something.
Meagre - A meagre meal would contain very little food.
Common misconception
Students do not take the time to plan properly before writing.
Not taking the time to plan a response properly makes your argument less concise and less coherent.
Teacher tip
Take the time to share students' responses to the first discussion in learning cycle 2 to give weaker students as much help as possible with ideas.
Equipment
You will need access to a copy of Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol' for this lesson.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.In 'A Christmas Carol', what is Scrooge's first name?
Q2.The motif of cold associated with Scrooge, in stave one of 'A Christmas Carol', is used to suggest what about him?
Q3.How many years has Marley been dead in 'A Christmas Carol'?
Q4.What does Scrooge tell Bob to do, in order to have Christmas Day off, in 'A Christmas Carol'?
Q5.Which of the following is a synonym for 'small' or 'inadequate'?
Q6.Which of the following is the best explanation of the significance of the chains Marley's ghost wears in 'A Christmas Carol'?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What comes after the topic sentence in a single paragraph outline?
Q2.When writing a single paragraph outline, which of the following should you include in your supporting details?
Q3.What is the purpose of the closing sentence in a single paragraph outline?
Q4.Which word means 'a person or thing that signals the arrival of something'?
Q5.How long should you spend on each single paragraph outline?
Q6.Which of the following would make the best supporting detail?
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: 'A Christmas Carol': planning an essay on Scrooge, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: 'A Christmas Carol': planning an essay on Scrooge, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 English lessons from the A Christmas Carol: Scrooge's redemption unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.