Classic Literature Study I
Mrs. McRae | Honors English I | Fall 2016
In this unit, you will be asked to read the classic novel, ​Pride and Prejudice,
​
by Jane Austen. In the
novel, there will be themes such as social hierarchy, courtship and love. You will be asked to discuss the
novel in great length in groups, Socratic Seminar, and class discussions. The unit will have the following
essential questions you will seek to answer as you read the text, discuss, and relate to outside materials.
1. What makes literature “a classic?” Why do we still read them? In what ways are they applicable
to our current society even though they were written around the turn of the century?
2. Should distinctions of class matter when it comes to love? When judging someone’s worth? Why
or why not?
3. Is it important to behave according to the rules set by our society? Why or why not? Can a
person behave accordingly to some rules but not all?
The culmination of this unit will be an argumentative essay addressing one of the essential questions
and a project.
Purpose​: It might not be often that you read Classic Literature unless you decide to be an English major
in college, so it is important that you know where some of our cultural references and stereotypes come
from. Just like reading ​Romeo and Juliet, Pride
​
and Prejudice is a work that will reappear in your life in
some way or another. Knowing where we come from is important in knowing how to go forward.
Learning how to write an argumentative essay will teach and strengthen those arguing skills that many
of you believe you have. An argumentative essay is quite different from arguing with a person, and
knowing how to effectively communicate in the written form will make you stand out from many others.
CCS Standards:
● RL 9-10.2: Track and Analyze Theme Development
● RL 9-10.3: Track and Analyze Character Development
● W9-10.1: Write Arguments
● W9-10.4-6; Produce clear writing, edit, and revise writing, and use technology to publish writing
● SL9-10.1: Participate in Collaborative Discussions of assigned reading
Essay Guidelines:
● A clear, concise claim, stating the side of the essential question you support
● Follow the argumentative format
○ Claim
○ Evidence
○ Warrants
○ Counter-claim
○ Rebuttal
● Use at least 3 sources
● Clear Organizational Pattern with a clear beginning, middle, and end
● Show active thought, analysis, and synthesis of sources
Essay Requirements:
● 3-4 pages in length
● MLA format and Works Cited
● Adhere to basic grade level grammar and mechanics, including using a formal, un-biased tone
and varied sentence structure
● No use of first or second person pronouns
Project Options:
Option 1: The One-Pager
A one-pager focuses on a dominant impression, feeling or thought you have while reading (essential
question). The goal is so that your audience will understand the main idea of the novel from what you
draw, and this visual should represent what YOU got from reading ​Pride and Prejudice
● This project is hand drawn. It should have the following:
○ Must fill an entire page with colorful, hand-drawn images.
■ Should be an accurate representation of the novel
■ Minimum 8.5” x 11” (printer paper)
■ No printed and pasting!
■ VERY clean, neat, organized, and aesthetically pleasing appearance is CRUCIAL
■ You may choose to include a quote or two on the front overlaying the visual
representation
○ Must use 3 items as symbols that represent the novel
■ These will be items you attach to your visual representation in some fashion:
think: buttons, flowers, etc.
■ I do not want to see TAPE on the one-pager.
○ Must write a minimum one paragraph summary (TYPED), of the book and tape it to the
back
Option 2: A letter back to Mr. Darcy from Elizabeth
When Elizabeth is visiting Mr. and Mrs. Collins, she accuses Mr. Darcy of many things, to which he
does not respond. He instead writes her a letter explaining each of the accusations. For this project, you
will respond as Elizabeth to Mr. Darcy.
● It should have the following:
○ Be written in the style of Elizabeth - you should sound just like her
○ Be at least 1.5 - 2 pages in length, single-spaced.
○ You may take some creative liberties:
■ You may respond as she did to the accusations, but in written form - or ■ You may respond differently than she did. You may assume the best or worst of
Mr. Darcy and Mr. Wickham in your response.
Option 3: A Scrapbook from the point of view of one of the main characters
A scrapbook is a visual journal. It will document the life of one of the main characters, and will include
bits and pieces of what they think of the events in their life.
● It should include:
○ Have at least 10 pages
○ Either handdrawn, real photographs, or a combination of both, that depict significant
events in the character’s life.
○ Captions beside, underneath, or above the photograph depicting what is happening and
the character’s opinion of the event.
Option 4: Postcards between two main characters
Postcards often serve as a way for people to communicate when they are visiting a special place or are
gone on vacation. They’ll have a fun scene or “sight” on one side of the card, and the other will be split
in half to have space for a brief message on one half and the recipient’s address on the other.
● It should include:
● Any set of two characters who are apart to send short updates to via postcard.
● Minimum 10 postcards. (Note that just because a character receives a postcard does not mean
they have to send one back - it’s generally just the person on vacation that sends them)
● A drawing or real photograph depicting an event or place from which a character is writing
● Upbeat and are concise messages on one half and the recipient’s name on the other half of the
back of each card.