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1Goals & Objectives

Over the next two weeks, we will study themes represented within the classic novel, “A Christmas Carol”.  Our text book includes this novel written as a play. 

As you read, your personal goals will be as follows:

1. Participate in guided, paired & independent reading of various portions of the screenplay.

2. Identify & define vocabulary words & terminology from the story.

3. Participate in small group/whole group discussions.

4. Become familiar with stage directions.

5. Complete an independent project at the end of the story—to be turned in either prior to or immediately following Christmas Break (depending whether you choose Option 1 or Option 2)

6. Compare the play to an animated version of the story.  

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3Vocabulary from "A Christmas Carol"

A Christmas Carol Vocabulary

You are responsible for each of these words at the end of the story.  Be sure you are able to use each word properly in a sentence. 

1.covetous --

2. implored—

3. trifle—

4. reclamation--

5. rapt—

6. solemnized—

7. misanthrope—

 8. suitors—

 9. impropriety—

 10. deliquesce—

 11. specter –

 12. comforter

 13. homage—

 14. promissory notes—

 15. portly—

 16. gruel on the hob—

 17. audible—

 18. dowerless—

 19. liberality—

 20. odious--

 21. compulsion—

 22. munificence --

 23. morose—

 24.  anonymous—

 25.  apparition—

 26. ponderous—

 27.  forbearance—

 28.  benevolence—

 29.  penance—

 30.  dirge- 

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4Final Projects-- descriptions of Option 1

Final Project Option # 1— Part 1

A Christmas Carol folder project

You will be required to complete several activities in conjunction with our reading of A Christmas Carol. Please be sure to meet all of the criteria as this project will count as a large part of your 2nd nine weeks grade.

1. You may use a paper folder or make your own. It MUST have a front and back cover. Create a cover that is illustrated or festooned with some type of artistic work. Do the same for the back cover. Keep it in the spirit of the work we are reading.

 2. Create a title page and table of contents.

 3. Write a brief synopsis (about one page—3 or 4 paragraphs) of the story. Be sure to hit all the highlights—you may use paragraph form, bullet points, or a graphic organizer. 

4. Write a brief character sketch (1 paragraph, 6-7 sentences minimum) for 3 of the following characters: Fred, Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim, Jacob Marley, 2 of the three ghosts—See sample provided. 

5. Choose 10 out of the 30 words provided—or other words from the text that are unfamiliar to you. Use each in an original sentence and illustrate each word.  Remember—you should be familiar with all 30 words for an end-of-story vocabulary quiz! 

6. Write a letter to Charles Dickens and tell him what you thought of his story. Your letter must be one page --minimum! Follow the friendly letter format. OR write a letter of critique of another version of the Christmas Carol you have read or seen.  Use the sample from the text on pages 812-816

7. Write an essay (one page minimum) where you explain one major theme and one minor theme of A Christmas Carol OR complete 4 journal entries of your choice. 

8. Complete a Christmas card following all rubric criteria

 NO Pencil-- All items should be typed or neatly written in ink--

NO LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED! 

The completed project will be due on or before – December 21st, 2011

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5Final Projects-- descriptions of Option 1 (Part 2)--- too long to fit on one page!

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6Friendly Letter Format- #6-- for option 1

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7Journal Entries-- #7-- for option 1

7. --A Christmas Carol Journal Entries (May be selected in place of Theme Essay) in Project 1

 Directions: Date and number your selected entries. Write the question in your journal. Then follow all directions/answer all parts of the questions you choose to respond to.  All answers must be in complete sentences and must be supported.  You must select at least 5 in place of a theme essay.

Entries:

1. What gives you joy at Christmas time? Entry should at least ½ page long.

2. Write a description of Scrooge in your journal based on the written story and the video. You should use some words from the story. Be sure to put quotation marks around exact words from the book. Entry should be at least 1/2 page.

3. What do you think Marley's chain represents? Why does he wear it?

4. Why does Marley appear to Scrooge?

5. Write out the quote from Scene One that indicates Marley is sorry for the priorities he had when he was alive. Looking at this quote, what do you think the spirit is trying to teach Scrooge and what, if anything, has he learned at this point? (Use the definitions on your vocabulary sheet to help you answer this question.)

6. Compare Scrooge with his late partner, Jacob Marley. How are they alike?  Use a Venn Diagram graphic organizer before writing your short essay. 

7. Contrast Scrooge with his old master, Fezziwig. How are they different? Use a T-Chart Graphic organizer before writing your short essay. 

8. According to Scrooge, why was Fezziwig a good master? Find specific information from the story to support your response. 

9. What is philanthropy?  List at least five characteristics of a person who does philanthropy.

10. Write a paragraph in your journal contrasting Scrooge's life with Bob Cratchit’s. Use a Venn diagram graphic organizer before you begin writing your short essay. 

11. Write a new description of the “reborn” Scrooge in your journal. Entry should be one-half page.

12. What led to this change? Consider the spirits and the climax.

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8Christmas Card--#8 for option 1-- rubric/requirements

#8 Description:  Christmas Card Assignment

“A Christmas Carol: Scrooge and Marley” --By Israel Horovitz

From A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Follow all of the directions below:                                                

Draw an illustration(s) or generate a computer picture about a scene depicted in either Act I or II–front of card      

  ________/1
     
Note NEATLY the Scene and Page #  that you are illustrating –back of card                                         

    ________/1

List NEATLY 3 vivid adjectives that describe the character or scene- front of card                               

   _______/1

Include a short paragraph giving information about the author Charles Dickens- inside left of card      

             _______/3

Include 2 lines of dialogue explaining the drawing, correctly punctuated-front of card                                 

                     _______/2

Include a greeting which reflects the theme of the illustration- inside right of card                                  _______/2

                                                                    Total Possible Points:      ________/10

You will the lose points for any directions not followed properly. 

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9Final Projects-- descriptions of Option 2

Option # 2— A Christmas Carol “modernization” creative writing project

First 1/2 Due on or before Tuesday, December 21st, 2010**

Second 1/2 due on or before January 3^rd, 2011

**Outline must be approved prior to Christmas Break

 “I have endeavored in this Ghostly little book, to raise the Ghost of an Idea, which shall not put my readers out of humor with themselves, with each other, with the season, or with me. May it haunt their houses pleasantly, and no one wish to lay it.

Their faithful Friend and Servant,
C. D.
December, 1843.”

 The Task:  Happy holidays! Your mission is to update the beloved holiday story, A Christmas Carol. This classic tale has been told many times in many ways, in film, on stage, etc. Your task today is to modernize the story, tailoring it to your life and liking. Begin by completing the following outline for your OWN short story—First you must read both acts of the version in your book! -- Note:  Several versions of this classic have been written as stories and have been created as movies—Disney’s Mickey Mouse Christmas Carol, A Carol Christmas (Hallmark channel) just to name two. You may choose to watch one or more of these holiday movies to give you some ideas for your own project! 

Part I: Outline= 20 points—YOU MUST have your outline approved before you begin writing! 

Part II:  Modernized story—50 points--Write your short story draft using the information from Part I (the outline). Include illustrations of your favorite scenes!  You should type your final “short story” and include a minimum of 2 illustrations.  You must have a book cover, a title page and a table of contents.  It may or may not be in the form of a play!  Make sure you have a new title, have listed yourself as the author and have followed the proper format as listed in your “outline”.  You may share your “new version” with your classmates if you wish!  Have fun, and good luck! 

Planning Outline—Christmas Carol modernization

Original Title:  A Christmas Carol

New Title: ______________________________________________________

Main Character's Name/Major Characteristic:
Ebenezer Scrooge: ill-tempered miser who "bah humbugs" Christmas and its trimmings.

New Main Character's Name/Major Characteristic:___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Original Conflict(s):  examples--Man VS. Self (Scrooge’s internal conflict), Man VS. Man (Cratchit & Scrooge)—who is the protagonist?

New Conflicts—include 2 at least! ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Original Plot: In the course of one night, Scrooge is haunted by three "spirits," who convince him that his life has been wasted in material pursuit, rather than in love of others. 

New Plot: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"Wake-up Calls" or The Ghosts who haunt Scrooge: Ghost of Christmas Past, Ghost of Christmas Present, and Ghost of Christmas Future

New "Wake-up Calls": ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Detailed description of main character:
Oh! But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge! a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner! Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire; secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster. The cold within him froze his old features, nipped his pointed nose, shriveled his cheek, stiffened his gait; made his eyes red, his thin lips blue and spoke out shrewdly in his grating voice. A frosty rime was on his head, and on his eyebrows, and his wiry chin. He carried his own low temperature always about with him; he iced his office in the dog days; and didn't thaw it one degree at Christmas.

Detailed description of new main character: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

Two Samples of Main Character's Dialogue:
"…every idiot who goes about with 'Merry Christmas' on his lips, should be boiled with his own pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through his heart. He should!"  

"If they [the poor] would rather die," said Scrooge, "they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population."

Two Samples of New Main Character's Dialogue:_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Original beginning:
"Marley was dead: to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that. The register of his burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker, and the chief mourner. Scrooge signed it: and Scrooge's name was good upon Change, for anything he chose to put his hand to. Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail."

Your story's beginning:______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Minor Characters (try to convince Scrooge of the joy of the holiday season):
Fred, Scrooge's nephew
Bob Cratchit (Scrooge's clerk-office assistant)
Tiny Tim Cratchit (disabled son of Bob Cratchit)
Jacob Marley (Scrooge's business partner who has been dead seven years and comes back as a ghost to warn Scrooge of the urgent need to reform) 

Your Minor Characters: you should have at least 4! 

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Places where ghosts take Scrooge:
Past: his childhood boarding school and shop where he apprenticed as a teenager. Scrooge "relives" his fiancé gently breaking up with him, citing his love of money as more important than his love for her
Present: The Cratchit house. Scrooge watches the materially poor (but spiritually rich) family eat Christmas dinner. He realizes that Tiny Tim, the most beloved, and sickly, will be dead before long-unless he receives medical attention (too costly for the Cratchits to afford unless helped by some generous individual).
His nephew's home. Fred and his family and friends dance and laugh, gently mocking Scrooge, who, they fail to realize, is watching.
Future: Gravesite. Scrooge observes fellow business contacts discussing the death of someone. He finally realizes the "someone" is he, himself! Scrooge then observes some poor hagglers pawning his own goods, including his bed curtains. When Scrooge asks to see if his death has made anyone sad, he is shown some poor tenant who owed Scrooge money. They are relieved that their debt will be carried by someone other than Scrooge, as anyone else would be more kind.
Cratchit House. The Cratchits weep for dead Tiny Tim.
Gravesite. Scrooge is led to his own gravesite and pushed into it.

Places where your main character is taken to learn his or her lesson about life: (minimum of 3 settings)

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Resolution:
Scrooge  wakes up in his own bed, thrilled to be alive and ready to reform. He gleefully calls to others, "what day is it?" Delighted to hear it's Christmas, he promptly orders a large Christmas goose for the Cratchits, gives sums of money to charity, worships in church and visits his nephew, Fred and family. Later, he pretends to scold Bob Cratchit for being late to work, but instead, "claps him on the back" and raises his salary.
"Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all, and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did not die, he was a second father. He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough, in the good old world. " 

The New Resolution: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

**You may or may not use each of these in your story!

Literary Element               Definition              Your Notes      

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10An Animated Version of "A Christmas Carol"

Watch the animated version of the story.  What parts are different from the play version?  What parts are exactly the same?  

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