New
New
Year 10
Edexcel

'A Christmas Carol': writing an extended argument

I can write a sophisticated and convincing extended response and then evaluate and improve it.

New
New
Year 10
Edexcel

'A Christmas Carol': writing an extended argument

I can write a sophisticated and convincing extended response and then evaluate and improve it.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. If given an extract in your question, at least one of your ideas needs to come from the extract.
  2. When responding to a text, you should consider a range of evidence from across the whole text.
  3. Your argument can build in complexity from foundational knowledge to a personal interpretation.
  4. Discourse markers are useful in structuring your response and showing links between ideas.
  5. Your analysis of the text should be rich, with context integrated to support.

Keywords

  • To evaluate - When evaluating a response, you weigh up its success and make a judgement about it.

  • To catalyse - If something catalyses something else, it starts or triggers it.

  • Plight - A plight is an unpleasant condition.

  • To evolve - Evolving means developing or changing gradually (usually for the better).

Common misconception

Students do not understand that an argument should build in complexity.

Students should consider the structure of their argument. Which ideas need to come first in order to foreground other ideas?

Print the model response from learning cycle 2 for students. Model how to pick bits out of it and then set them off on task B.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You will need access to a copy of Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol' for this lesson.

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
How many spirits visit Scrooge over the course of the novella 'A Christmas Carol'?
5
Correct answer: 4
3
2
1
Q2.
Which of the following is not a fear of Scrooge's in 'A Christmas Carol'?
fear of abandonment
fear of judgement
Correct answer: fear of wealth
fear of not leaving a legacy after death
fear of poverty
Q3.
Complete the quotation from Stave 5 of 'A Christmas Carol': "I will Christmas in my heart..."
Correct Answer: honour, honour., Honour. , Honour.
Q4.
Complete the sentence: In 'A Christmas Carol', Scrooge embodies ideology. Dickens uses Scrooge to criticise this ideology and its devastating impact upon society.
Correct Answer: Malthusian, Malthusian., malthusian., malthusian
Q5.
What does 'to evaluate' mean?
to be able to explain something effectively
to examine something from a single perspective
to examine a quotation, looking for layers of meaning
Correct answer: to weigh up the success of something by considering how effective it has been
to make a quick decision between two options as to which is best
Q6.
Starting with the first, put the following events from 'A Christmas Carol' in chronological order.
1 - Marley's ghost visits Scrooge and tells him that he will be visited by 3 ghosts
2 - We see significant moments from Scrooge's past to understand where he went wrong
3 - We witness Christmas all around the world, including at Bob's house and Fred's
4 - We meet the characters Ignorance and Want, who embody Dickens' fears for society
5 - We hear of the death of an anonymous dead man, who later turns out to be Scrooge
6 - Scrooge repents for his sins and vows to heed the spirits' messages
7 - Scrooge buys the Cratchits the prize turkey and becomes a moral citizen

6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following statements is not true about Scrooge's fears in 'A Christmas Carol'?
They motivate him to become a better person.
Correct answer: They have no impact upon his character.
They drive his selfish and miserly behaviour.
They have corrupted his kindness and caused him to value the wrong things.
Q2.
Starting with the bottom layer, put the layers of an analytical piece of writing in order.
1 - foundational knowledge
2 - primary evidence
3 - secondary evidence
4 - personal response
Q3.
Which of the following can be best used to help you structure your argument and to show links between ideas?
topic sentences
Correct answer: discourse markers
embedded quotations
considered interpretations
precise vocabulary
Q4.
Choose one word from the options below to complete the sentence: As the 'A Christmas Carol' progresses, Scrooge's fears __________ to reflect his character development.
catalyse
plight
Correct answer: evolve
evaluate
Q5.
Which of the following is the most precise word to describe Scrooge's behaviour in Stave 1 of 'A Christmas Carol'?
disgusting
concerning
amusing
avoidant
Correct answer: callous
Q6.
Which of the following explanations best illustrates what Dickens is trying to show us about fear in 'A Christmas Carol'?
that Scrooge has many fears that stop him from living his life
Correct answer: that fear can be both corruptive and transformative
that fear rarely motivates people to become better
that fear always has a negative impact upon a person’s character
that fear will always win

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