Strategies
This unit will take approximately six weeks, giving two weeks for each play. I will begin by assigning the reading pace: a closely followed calendar of deadlines for the readings. The writing that will go along with the reading will be in the form of what I call a Dialectical Journal. The students should have their focus from the outset because they already have the final essay question. Because our focus is on character, the students will keep a running journal in which they record important lines revealing the attributes of character on one side of the page and analyze the lines on the other side. The number of entries for each play is determined by the play's length. This journal will be worth many points, as it will serve to aide them in their essay writing. Also, it is a good way of gauging whether they are keeping up with the reading.
The reading will be done outside class time as homework assignments. I will give one to two days to read each act, depending on the length of the act. A series of quizzes will be given on the due dates of each reading section. As the students enter the room, they will see a question on the board which they will have five minutes to answer (yes, I will keep time). The questions will focus on something that they should have read for that day, and they will be allowed to use their books. Because of the time limit, they do not have time to frantically read the passages and "fake it", but the book will be there to help if they need a reminder. These quizzes will not be simple "find it in the text" questions but higher-level thinking questions. I have included some examples of these questions in an appendix.
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