Lesson Plan II: Writing about the Total Effect

Author: B. Wu, Murry Bergtraum HS, New York, N.Y.

Subject: English

Grade Level: 9-12

Overview: This lesson is designed to assist students in understanding how an author of a skillfully crafted piece of literature succeeds in leaving a great emotional impact on readers through orchestrating all the key literary elements, such as, plot, setting, point of view, tone, theme, symbol, and irony. Through the discussion of the total effect, students can analyze hoe the effect is achieved in other works of literature in their future reading

Objective: Following the discussion about how each literary element contributes to the creating of the total effect in Julius Caesar, each student will display his/her understanding by composing an essay about 250 words on the topic.

Materials: Julius Caesar by Shakespeare

Activities and Procedures:

• Begin the class with the discussion on " In observing an artistic work (painting, music, movie, drama), what elements in the work move you most and why?" (The answer could be sound, colors, language, images, etc.)
• From the above discussion, students will be led to the topic of how the total effect is created in works of literature. (The answer could be: plot, setting, language, tension, characterization, etc.)
• Summarize the discussion:

1. Like the conductor of an orchestra calling in each of the instrument on cue to create a magnificent symphony, the author of any great work of literature also orchestrates all the key literary elements to achieve a specific emotional response on the part of the readers. Although we, readers, immediately sense the impact of the literary work, we often have to analyze how this effect is achieved.
2. When discussing total effect, we often use the term impact. A work of literature makes an impact on a reader because of its theme and the skill with which all the other elements support this theme.
3. When you're asked to write about the total effect of a selection, you're often answering an essay question such as the following," What is the total effect of the selection? How does the author use each of the following elements to achieve this effect: plot, character (see hand-out), setting, point of view, tone, theme (see handout), symbol (see handout), and irony (see handout)?"

• Prewriting:

1. What is the impact of Julius Caesar on you? For example, does the play delight you, irritate you, sadden you, or upset you? Or does the play surprise you, or does it verify an opinion or feeling you have already had?
2. Which literary element dominates in creating the impact?
3. How do the other literary elements support or relate to the dominant element?

• Writing paragraph by paragraph:

1. Begin your essay with a thesis statement which should indicate the total effect of the work on the reader and note that all the key literary elements work together to create this impact.
2. In the next paragraph, focus on the dominant literary element, and show by the inclusion of details how it contributes to the total effect mentioned in your thesis statement.
3. In the following paragraphs, discuss how other literary elements also help contribute the creation of the impact by discussion how each element supports and relates to the dominant element.
4. In the concluding paragraph, remind your audience that the elements mentioned in the previous paragraphs work together to produce the total effect on the reader.

Assessment measures: the final essay on the topic

Follow-up activities/extensions: This lesson will lead to discussions of the total effect of other selections of literature.

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