Section 5: Overview

Culminating Task

We will construct an analytical essay that responds to a piece of literary criticism by defending or challenging its interpretation of Hamlet.

• Lesson 1:

  We will reread a selection from Act 5 through two critical lenses and use guiding questions to engage in a group discussion.

• Lesson 2:

  We will examine the Culminating Task and begin generating ideas for our response.

• Lesson 3:

  We will discuss our initial ideas with others and select the critical essay that we will respond to. We will read and annotate the essay for the author’s claims.

• Lesson 4:

  We will discuss our analysis of the selected essay in groups. We will draft body paragraphs for our response to the Culminating Task.

• Lesson 5:

  We will give and receive peer feedback on our draft body paragraphs. We will reread the selected piece of literary criticism and examine its structure as a model for our own literary essay.

• Lesson 6:

  We will draft our response to the Culminating Task.

• Lesson 7:

  We will continue to develop our written response to the Culminating Task by revising our work, focusing on organization and support. We will work with a partner to obtain and offer feedback.

• Lesson 8:

  We will edit our revised literary analysis and publish the final draft.

• Lesson 9:

  We will finish the unit by engaging in a whole-class discussion about Hamlet. We will also discuss Culminating Task topics that relate to the unit and identify possible pathways to explore for the Application Unit.

• Lesson 10:

  In a culminating activity, we share the knowledge we have gained and the connections we have made by reading our independent reading texts.