The Shri Ram School Aravali
Subject: English Literature and Language
Topic: ISC Literature Project Guidelines
Class: XI
Dear Students of Form 11,
The CISCE has introduced a 20 marks Project Work component in both English Literature and
Language, which consists of assessment of Writing Skills in Literature, and Listening and
Speaking Skills in Language.
The objective of the project component in Literature is to produce original, creative, and
insightful perspectives on the drama/short stories/poems in your syllabus. Your projects,
therefore, must include original content. Any plagiarism raises questions about academic
integrity and such projects will not be accepted.
For effective communication, one must possess good listening and speaking skills, and that is
what the project component in Language aims to achieve. Listening skills assessment will help
assess the students’ ability to accurately receive and interpret messages in the communication
process. Speaking skills assessment will evaluate students’ fluency, vocabulary, grammar,
pronunciation, and confidence in English.
ENGLISH LITERATURE:
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Project Work in Class XI consists of assessment of Writing Skills only from the syllabus to
be covered in Class XI.
It will be internally by the school.
Candidates will be required to undertake one written assignment of 1000-1500 words.
IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS
The written assignment must be structured as given below —
 The written assignment MUST be given a title in the form of a question which should
allow the candidate to explore the drama or the chosen short stories/poems in depth.
 The written assignment must follow the structure given below:
 Introduction – Explanation of the question that has been framed - Reason for choosing
the text - Brief explanation of how the candidate intends to interpret the chosen text
and literary materials used in the process.
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 Main Body – Organised and well-structured treatment of the question using appropriate
sub-headings.
 Conclusion – Comprehensive summary of the points made in the main body.
LIST OF SUGGESTED TOPICS –
1. Analysis of a theme from any short story/poem in the prescribed texts. E.g.:
 Goodness/ optimism/ accepting attitude towards life/ resilience in “Salvatore”.
 Romanticisation of war/ utter destruction that war entails/ futility of war/the attitudes to
war presented in the poem “John Brown”.
 Pitfalls and danger of vanity and succumbing to flattery/ the need to rely on one’s instincts
or judgement in “The Spider and The Fly”.
 Commitment to one’s work/ art/ passion in “Quality”.
2. Analysis of a character from the drama or any short story/poem in the prescribed texts.
 Jayanto; Shankar in “Fritz”
 John Brown; his mother in “John Brown”
 Ariel; Caliban; Prospero etc. in The Tempest
 Either of the Gessler Brothers in “Quality”
3. Background – historical, cultural, literary context and relevance of the writer/poet
chosen.
 Bob Dylan, protest songs, history of wars in the US etc. - “John Brown”
 Distrust against magic and witchcraft in the Elizabethan and Jacobean ages – The beginning
of Imperialism – Nautical advancements and Exploration missions – Tales brought back by
the explorers - The Tempest
4. Summary or Paraphrasing of a poem or story.
5. Appreciation of literary qualities of the chosen text.
 Contrast – Juxtaposition – Voices – Sarcasm – Irony – Metaphors – Symbolism – Imagery
etc. in “John Brown”
 Moral Fable – Anaphora – Simile – Anthropomorphism etc. in “The Spider and the Fly”
 Settings – characters – objects – foreshadowing etc. in “Fritz”
 Metaphors – similes – personification – symbolism – rhetorical question—imagery etc. in
“The Gift of India”
6. Identifying with a character in the chosen text and presenting his/her personal
perspective.
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Jayanto’s perspective – his explanation for what he believes happened in “Fritz”
Reverse the way voices are given prominence in “John Brown” – present what John Brown
felt when his mother was bragging as he left for war – and later, what the mother would have
said once he walked away after dropping his medals into her lap.
7. Imagining an alternate outcome or ending or extension of the chosen text and its impact
on the plot/ setting/ characters/ mood and tone.
 Salvatore – What would have happened if Salvatore had refused to settle and fought for the
pretty girl? What if he did marry Assunta, but was unhappy and becomes a bitter, caustic, old
man? Or, what if he had refused to marry anyone and remains a lonely, old man?
 The Spider and The Fly – Imagine if the Spider tempts the Fly, but the Fly refuses firmly.
What would change if instead of falling into his web of flattery, the Fly criticises and shames
the Spider for his nefarious scheming and use of flattery?
 John Brown – How do the dynamics of the poem change if John Brown does not return
alive from war, and instead his corpse is delivered home? Or, what if he returns home a
decorated soldier, and voices the hero’s story of valour and pride? Or, if he is glad and
honoured to have served the nation, what changes?
 Fritz-Provide an alternate ending to the short story Fritz and the consequent changes.
 Quality – what if the Gessler brothers had advertised, increased the price of their shoes, or
even hired help?
8. Comparing and contrasting two characters/themes from different short stories/poems
of the prescribed texts.
 Compare Salvatore (who bears his lot without complaints) with the Gessler brothers (who are
vocal about their hardships and blame the large firms for their sufferings)
 Compare and contrast Ariel’s character with that of Caliban.
 Compare and contrast – Antonio with the Spider
 Compare and contrast – anti war sentiments in “John Brown” and “The Gift of India”
 Compare and contrast – theme of goodness – Gonzalo – Salvatore
 Compare and contrast – theme of manipulation and deception – Prospero and the Spider
 Compare and contrast – John Brown’s mother (“John Brown”) – with the voice of Mother
India in “The Gift of India”
Rubrics:
 Make a cover page and write ISC ENGLISH LITERATURE PROJECT (2021-22)
clearly on it.
 Your FULL NAME, CLASS and SECTION must be written clearly on the bottom right
corner of the cover page.
 Presentation: Submission on simple A 4 size sheets of paper in a plastic folder.
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 A bibliography at the end of the assignment is mandatory.
 Marks will be allotted for authentic and well-presented bibliography. Maximum marks:
20.
 Submission deadline: Final projects must be submitted by December 5, 2021.
Check List:
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Is title/question highlighted?
Have you compiled your ideas into headings?
Have you divided your ideas into well-defined paragraphs?
Does your project have a bibliography more specific than the name of the search engine?
Have you scanned your work for grammatical, spelling and punctuation errors?
Is your handwriting consistently legible?
Is your project stapled securely?
Have you adhered to the prescribed word limit?
Is the overall presentation a neat and impressive one?
Have you written your name and class clearly?
Have you adhered to the submission deadline?
How to write the Bibliography:
In case of a book
 Surname of author, name of author; book; publisher; year.
 E.g.: Brown John; Simplistic Women; McMillan Publications; 2018
In case of a periodical
 Article; periodical; date
 E.g.: ‘Romance in the Victorian Era’, London Times; 13 May, 2018; Page No.
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In case of an internet resource
Title; website; date viewed
E.g.: ‘Literary Society of Poets’
Poetryfoundation.com; 13 May, 2018
[These are only examples, not recommended sources]
Please scroll below to see some sample images.
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Sample Cover Page 1 –
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Sample Bibliography and last page 1 –
(Add space for the Examiner to sign)
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Sample Bibliography and last page 2 –
(Add space for the Examiner to sign)
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ENGLISH LANGUAGE
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Project Work for English Language in Class XI consists of assessment of candidates in
Listening and Speaking Skills.
These will be assessed internally, by the school, during English classes.
Candidates are to be assessed in two projects, one on Listening Skills and one on Speaking
Skills.
Listening Skills
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An unseen passage of about 500 words will be read aloud in class, twice, the first time at
normal reading speed (about 110 words a minute) and the next time at a slower speed.
Students may make brief notes during the readings followed by answering objective type
questions based on the passage.
Speaking Skills
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Students are to be assessed through an individual presentation of about three minutes
The presentations will be followed by a discussion with the subject teacher, for another two
or three minutes.
Suggested Topics for Speaking Skills:
1. Narrating an experience
2. Giving directions or instructions on how to make or operate something
3. Providing a description
4. Giving a report
5. Expressing an opinion or a theme-based conversation
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