Standards
During this unit students will:
 Organize and record information on a chart for use as a visual aid [Writing 2.3]
 Write an expository essay of at least 1500 words [Writing 2.3]
Overview:
In Great Expectations, Charles Dickens depicts a young man’s search for identity. This unit focuses on the choices and influences of the protagonist, Pip, throughout his quest. The students will be asked to: explore the social levels of Victorian Society; investigate the influences which may have fueled
Pip’s desire to become a gentleman; scrutinize the similarities and differences between Pip’s concept of the gentleman with other concepts of the position; and research the dark history of Newgate
Prison.
Activity 1: Organize and Record Information on a Chart
Students will explore the two web sites listed below (or other reputable sites) to analyze how the novel is related to the themes and issues of its historical period with the specific intention of learning about the social strata of the time. Students will then organize and record the information on a chart for use as a visual. Describe the social structure of Victorian England, and include character examples from the novel. Please have a correctly formatted bibliography attached to the chart. (No larger than
81/2”x11”) http://www.shelbycs.org/ms/media%20center/victorian%20england/ http://www.victorianweb.org/
Activity 2: Analyze Interactions between Characters
This activity will send the students on an exploration of the conditions in which Pip lived during the first stage of his expectations. The students will study the content and ideas from the links below, write a paragraph in which they synthesize information from the sources and paraphrase the ideas to demonstrate comprehension, and produce a collage to visually demonstrate their analysis of the interactions between characters (e.g. internal and external conflicts, motivations, relationships, and influences.) (No larger than 81/2”x11”) http://www.victorianweb.org/ http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/trail/victorian_britain/
Activity 3: Write an Expository Essay
In this activity, students will produce an expository essay of at least 1500 words in order to explore the conditions and explain the history of Newgate Prison. In writing the essay, students will be required to establish a coherent thesis, provide evidence in support of the thesis, and maintain a consistent tone and focus throughout the essay. Students will use appropriate vocabulary, tone and style; demonstrate an understanding of proper English usage and control of grammar, paragraph, and sentence structure, diction, and syntax as well as proper use of mechanics and spelling.
Other sites: http://charlesdickenspage.com/ http://www.bl.uk/learning/langlit/dickens/dickenshome.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ http://www.dickensmuseum.com/

Tues. 3/18
Wed. 3/19
Thurs. 3/20
Fri. 3/21
Sat. 3/22
Mon. 3/24
Tues. 3/25
Wed. 3/26
Thurs. 3/27
Fri. 3/28
Sat. 3/29
Mon. 3/31
Tues. 4/1
Wed. 4/2
Thurs. 4/3
Fri. 4/4
Vol. I
Vol. II
Vol. III
Great Expectations
Reading Assignments
Ch. 2-3
Ch. 4-7
Ch. 8-10
Ch. 11-13
Ch. 14-16
Ch. 17-19
Ch. 1-6 [20-26]
Ch. 7-15 [27-35]
Ch. 16-17[36-37]
Ch. 18-19 [38-39]
Ch. 20 [40]
Ch. 1-6 [41-46]
Ch. 7-12 [47-52]
Ch. 13-16 [53-56]
Ch. 17-19 [57-59]