Year 11 - English
'A Christmas Carol': constructing an argument about the ghosts
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 plan an effective argument about the ghosts, being selective with your ideas and evidence.
Key Notes
- When first given an essay question, use the question to brainstorm all the possible ideas you could include.
- It is important to be judicious about which evidence and ideas you will include.
- Ideally, you want to include a range of moments from across the text that all support your thesis statement.
- Try to include a personal response to the text, to show your reader your engagement with it, and understanding of it.
- Paragraph outlines are useful when planning your response.
Vocabulary To Learn
- selective: Being selective means choosing something very carefully so that it fulfils an intended purpose.
- social responsibility: Somebody who believes in social responsibility invests in their community and supports those in need.
- mouthpiece: A person or character who speaks on behalf of another person or organisation.
- to impart: To impart is to communicate information to someone.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Students try to include as much knowledge as possible in their responses.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
When first given an essay question, use the question to brainstorm all the possible ideas you could include. It is important to be judicious about which evidence and ideas you will include.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'selective'
Being selective means choosing something very carefully so that it fulfils an intended purpose.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: Students try to include as much knowledge as possible in their responses. Correction: Encourage students to be selective in their choice of ideas and to explain their choices.
More Lessons In This Unit
- 'A Christmas Carol': a Victorian ghost story Study Guide
- 'A Christmas Carol': conceptualised responses 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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