Year 11 - English
'A Christmas Carol': conceptualised responses
A Christmas Carol: a ghost story
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Study Guides
This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
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.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to write a convincing conceptual response, assess it and improve it.
Key Notes
- When given a question that asks you 'how' something is done, your primary aim is to examine the writer's use of methods.
- You should always link your ideas back to the question focus and explain how your ideas support your argument.
- Your analysis should be explorative - you should explain the effects of the writer's methods - not just identify them.
- Your essay should be precise and specific.
- Using subject terminology and key vocabulary can help make your writing clearer and more specific.
Vocabulary To Learn
- Conceptualised: A conceptualised essay has an ideas-based argument that informs each paragraph or section.
- To evaluate: To evaluate something means to weigh up its success against its key purpose and aims.
- Social responsibility: Somebody who believes in social responsibility invests in their community and supports those in need.
- Subject terminology: Subject terminology is related to words that are specifically relevant to the study of English. For example 'simile' or 'personification'.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Students think they should present lots of different ideas in an essay.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
When given a question that asks you 'how' something is done, your primary aim is to examine the writer's use of methods. You should always link your ideas back to the question focus and explain how your ideas support your argument.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'Conceptualised'
A conceptualised essay has an ideas-based argument that informs each paragraph or section.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: Students think they should present lots of different ideas in an essay. Correction: Whilst you should present lots of different knowledge, the knowledge should all form part of the same idea or argument.
More Lessons In This Unit
- 'A Christmas Carol': a Victorian ghost story Study Guide
- 'A Christmas Carol': constructing an argument about the ghosts Study Guide
- 'A Christmas Carol': Dickens' ghosts as agents of time Study Guide
- 'A Christmas Carol': the entrances and exits of the four ghosts Study Guide
- 'A Christmas Carol': the ghosts and Dickens' use of allusion Study Guide
- 'A Christmas Carol': the novella as a Gothic text Study Guide
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