Othello
English 4 Common Core Unit Overview
(Complete Unit and Lesson Templates on Haiku)
Performance Task:
Write a 1,000-1,200 word argumentative essay in which you develop a precise claim
about whether jealousy, misogyny, or insecurity/self-doubt is most responsible for the
destruction of relationships. Develop your claim with relevant body paragraphs that
contain substantial and pertinent evidence using Shakespeare’s Othello and at least three
other unit sources. In your analysis, use persuasive and valid reasoning to connect ideas
to evidence. Be sure to anticipate and refute counterclaims, concerns, and biases. Your
response should include a purposeful and logical progression of ideas from beginning to
end. Choose words appropriate to your audience and purpose and demonstrate command
of the conventions of standard written English.
Enduring Understandings:
Perception shapes behavior.
Language expresses and distorts truth.
Essential Questions:
-How does race affect the way you see yourself and others?
-How do relationships affect your self-perception and perception of others?
-How natural is the feeling of jealousy? What are examples of its destructive potential? --How does jealousy cloud how we perceive others and ourselves?
-How far have has society come in accepting inter-racial relationships?
Text Set:
1.William Shakespeare’s Othello
Lexile: 1350 Qualitative Analysis: Exceedingly Complex
2. Shaun Nottingham’s “Louisiana Judge Refuses to Marry Interracial Couple”
Lexile: 1270 Qualitative Analysis: Slightly Complex
3. Barbie Latza Nadeau’s article, “Men Who Hate Women”
Lexile: 1290 Qualitative Analysis: Slightly-Moderately Complex
4. Hara Estroff Marano’s article, “Jealousy: Love’s Destroyer”
Lexile: 1350 Qualitative Analysis: Moderately Complex
5. Robert Browning’s dramatic monologue, “My Last Duchess”
Lexile: NP (no measure) Qualitative Analysis: Exceedingly Complex
6. Parul Sehgal’s TED talk, “An Ode to Envy
Lexile: NP (no measure Qualitative Analysis: Moderately Complex
Lesson Overview:
1. Lesson #1: Electronic Scavenger Hunt: A Short Research Investigation – Teachers help students foster
independent research skills and to build strong content knowledge about William Shakespeare and his play
Othello.
 Handout is on Othello Homepage on Haiku
2. Lesson #2 Jealousy and Envy Concept Attainment through the Lens of Argument- Students
demonstrate an understanding of jealousy and envy through their rhetorical analysis of visual texts authorial
bias.
 Powerpoint on Othello Homepage on Haiku
3. Lesson #3: Close Reading and Annotation of Robert Browning’s “My Last Duchess”- Students analyze
themes of jealousy and misogyny so that they can connect the situations in the poem to the ones they will
encounter in Shakespeare’s Othello.
 Materials on Robert Browning subpage on Othello page on Haiku
4. Lesson #4: Articles of the Week: Modern Thematic Connections to Shakespeare’s Othello- Students
develop background knowledge and real-world application of themes found in Shakespeare’s Othello by
reading informational articles and writing rhetorical précis/summaries in order to develop academic writing
skills.
 Articles are on the Act I-V subpages: Act I: “Louisiana Judge Refuses to Marry Interracial
Couple,” Act III.iii: “Jealousy: Love’s Destroyer,” and Act IV: “Men Who Hate Women”
5. Lesson #5: Close Reading of “I Hate the Moor” Soliloquy- Students to gain a deeper understanding of
how Iago’s perception of himself, Roderigo, Othello, and Cassio motivates him to create a plan rooted in
jealousy, envy, and greed through a close reading of the final soliloquy of Act I. They will also view two
theatrical interpretations of Iago’s soliloquy to evaluate the complexity of Iago’s character and motive.
 Materials are on the Act I subpage of Othello page on Haiku
6. Lesson #6: Act I-V Text-Dependent Quotation Hunt Review- Students refer explicitly back to the text
by identifying key words and phrases that help to develop theme, character, and style. Students will also
practice citing quotations according to MLA guidelines and developing analytical commentary.
 Handouts are on Act I-V subpages of Othello page on Haiku
7. Lesson #7: “An Ode to Envy” Speech Analysis- Students continue to investigate how jealousy affects
our perception of others and ourselves by viewing Seghal’s TEDtalk, “An Ode to Envy.”
 Link to Ted talk and “Analyzing a Speech” graphic organizer on Act 3 subpage of Othello
page on Haiku
8. Lesson #8: Socratic Seminar- Students engage in critical thinking, listening, and communicating
through fishbowl discussions about unit themes.
 Instructional materials and handouts on “Socratic Seminar subpage” of Othello page on
Haiku
9. Lesson #9: Performance Task- Students will produce a clear and coherent argumentative essay that
supports a claim about what most causes the destruction of relationships.
 (see Performance Task subpage of Othello page on Haiku)