Great Expectations by Charles Dickens is a coming-of-age story about an orphan boy who goes from poverty to wealth and learns what values are important.
Reading and Writing Workshop: Exploring key Themes of Great Expectations in Context
General Instructions:
Begin by reading the work either in groups or as a class. If group reading, divide the work into sections and assign each group a section. As groups, they will read their section, write a summary of each chapter, and then each group reports on their chapters sequentially. As students read, they should complete the Novel Tracker. After reading and reporting on the entire novel, the workshop might consist of a single session or more. The goal is to engage participants in an exploration of life in an American religious colony through primary sources, and writing exercises that foster a deeper understanding of concepts such as English society, cultural norms, conflict, and resilience.
Objective:
This workshop is divided into multiple sessions, each exploring key themes of Great Expectations by Charles Dickens through reading, discussion, and writing exercises. Each session incorporates public domain memoirs, real-life stories, fiction, poetry, and scripts to enhance comprehension and creative expression.
Session 1: Introduction to Great Expectations
Opening Focus Lesson
Session 2: Social Class and Expectations
Opening Focus Lesson
Session 3: Morality and Redemption
Opening Focus Lesson
Session 4: Society and Poverty in Victorian England
Opening Focus Lesson (10 minutes)
Session 5: Creative Writing and Final Reflections
Opening Focus Lesson
This workshop structure balances reading, writing, discussion, and collaboration while connecting Great Expectations to real-world historical figures and primary sources.
General Instructions:
Begin by reading the work either in groups or as a class. If group reading, divide the work into sections and assign each group a section. As groups, they will read their section, write a summary of each chapter, and then each group reports on their chapters sequentially. As students read, they should complete the Novel Tracker. After reading and reporting on the entire novel, the workshop might consist of a single session or more. The goal is to engage participants in an exploration of life in an American religious colony through primary sources, and writing exercises that foster a deeper understanding of concepts such as English society, cultural norms, conflict, and resilience.
Objective:
This workshop is divided into multiple sessions, each exploring key themes of Great Expectations by Charles Dickens through reading, discussion, and writing exercises. Each session incorporates public domain memoirs, real-life stories, fiction, poetry, and scripts to enhance comprehension and creative expression.
Session 1: Introduction to Great Expectations
Opening Focus Lesson
- Topic: Introduction to the novel’s themes of social class, ambition, and personal growth.
- Activity: Interactive read-aloud of Chapter 1, analyzing Pip’s introduction and his early struggles.
- Discussion Question: How does Dickens establish Pip’s childhood challenges and aspirations?
- Reading: Students read an excerpt from Up From Slavery by Booker T. Washington.
URL: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/2376 - Writing Prompt: Compare Pip’s early life with Washington’s—how do their environments shape their ambitions?
- Mini-lesson on historical context: Victorian England vs. Post-Civil War America.
- Discussion: How does ambition manifest in different social settings?
- Book Club: Partners discuss the barriers Pip and Washington face in their respective societies.
- Quick Write: What do Pip and Washington teach us about resilience?
Session 2: Social Class and Expectations
Opening Focus Lesson
- Topic: How does society define success?
- Activity: Inquiry-based lesson on Pip’s changing expectations (Chapter 8, meeting Miss Havisham).
- Reading: Excerpts from The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin.
URL: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/20203 - Writing Prompt: How does Pip’s desire to be a gentleman compare to Franklin’s pursuit of self-improvement?
- Strategy Lesson: Close reading techniques for analyzing Pip’s social ambitions.
- Discussion: What defines a “gentleman”? How do Franklin and Pip’s ideas compare?
- Exit Ticket: Write one lesson Pip could learn from Franklin’s experiences.
Session 3: Morality and Redemption
Opening Focus Lesson
- Topic: How do guilt and redemption shape characters?
- Activity: Shared reading of Pip’s moral struggles in Chapters 39-40.
- Reading: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (Scrooge’s transformation).
URL: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/46 - Writing Prompt: Compare Pip’s regrets and transformation with Scrooge’s.
- Mini-lesson: How Dickens uses redemption arcs in his works.
- Writing Feedback: Partners review each other’s reflection pieces.
- Group Discussion: Why does Dickens emphasize moral transformation?
Session 4: Society and Poverty in Victorian England
Opening Focus Lesson (10 minutes)
- Topic: How did Victorian society treat the poor?
- Activity: Inquiry-based analysis of Pip’s interactions with Magwitch.
- Reading: The Condition of the Working Class in England by Friedrich Engels.
URL: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/17306 - Writing Prompt: Compare Dickens’ depiction of poverty with Engels’ real-world account.
- Strategy Lesson: Analyzing social criticism in literature.
- Discussion: How do Pip’s views on class evolve throughout the novel?
- Quick Write: If Dickens were alive today, what modern issues would he criticize?
Session 5: Creative Writing and Final Reflections
Opening Focus Lesson
- Topic: Crafting a character-driven narrative.
- Activity: Analyze Dickens’ characterization techniques.
- Writing Task: Write a short story from Magwitch’s perspective before meeting Pip.
- 1:1 Writing Conferences: Students receive personalized feedback.
- Writing Partners: Exchange and critique final pieces.
- Final Discussion: How has Great Expectations changed our view of ambition and class?
This workshop structure balances reading, writing, discussion, and collaboration while connecting Great Expectations to real-world historical figures and primary sources.