Lesson Plan

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Lesson Plan
Grade: Date: 25/02/2026
Subject: English Literature
Lesson Topic: At A Level: Evaluating and explaining different ideas within a text and using different critical readings to explore an understanding of texts and to help support literary arguments.
Learning Objective/s:
  • Evaluate and explain differing ideas presented within a literary text.
  • Apply a range of critical lenses (formalist, historicist, feminist, Marxist, post‑colonial) to deepen textual understanding.
  • Construct well‑structured literary arguments supported by evidence and counter‑interpretations.
Materials Needed:
  • Projector and screen
  • Whiteboard and markers
  • Printed handouts of the critical‑lens table
  • Excerpt sheets from Macbeth, “A Room of One’s Own”, and Things Fall Apart
  • Essay‑planning worksheets
  • Pens/highlighters
 Introduction:

Begin with a provocative question: “What makes a literary interpretation convincing?” Prompt students to recall their recent close‑reading practice, then outline today’s success criteria: evaluate ideas, apply a critical lens, and build a coherent argument.
Lesson Structure:
  1. Do‑now (5') – Quick close‑reading of a short passage; students note language, structure, and imagery.
  2. Mini‑lecture (10') – Overview of the six common critical lenses and the questions they raise.
  3. Critical Lens Carousel (15') – Stations with brief excerpts and guiding questions; groups rotate, recording how each lens reshapes interpretation.
  4. Group Planning (20') – Each group selects one of the three core texts, chooses a lens, and drafts a thesis statement with supporting evidence.
  5. Share & Peer Feedback (10') – Groups present their thesis; classmates identify strengths and suggest counter‑interpretations.
  6. Essay Structure Recap (5') – Highlight the introduction, body paragraph, and conclusion model for a high‑scoring A‑Level essay.
Conclusion:

Summarise the step‑by‑step process from close reading to a fully argued interpretation. For the exit ticket, ask each student to write one thesis statement using a chosen lens for any of the sample texts. Homework: develop a full introduction paragraph for that thesis, referencing at least one scholarly source.