11th Grade Writing-Essays Workbooks

This 180-page EDITABLE unit has everything you'll need to deliver profoundly engaging lessons on William Shakespeare’s Othello. The colorful workbooks will enable you to capture and hold the attention of modern-day students. The higher-order questions will help you pivot from reading comprehension to interpretive analysis and critical thinking. Deliver the best lessons while inspiring students to fall in love with Shakespeare's Othello!!

Every page in this teacher-friendly unit is fully editable! So you'll be able to customize the materials to suit the skill levels of your students — year after year! The unit also includes an answer key filled with insights from Shakespeare scholars at universities like Harvard and Cambridge. Your students will be reading like a professor!

Trifles light as air are to the jealous confirmations strong as proofs of holy writ.... Shakespeare's Othello is finally being appreciated as one of his most virtuosic and masterful accomplishments. The play amounts to a fascinating study of interracial love and same-sex friendship, ethical action and eloquent speech, jealousy and self-doubt, cynical manipulation and courageous advocacy.

In addition to focusing on the themes mentioned above, this curriculum brings an anti-racist lens to the study of Othello. Although the play was written over 400 years ago, Shakespeare's Othello can help students achieve a deeper understand of how race and gender operate in today’s world. This unit provides an opportunity to discuss modern concepts such as “intersectionality,” “stereotype threat,” and “code switching.”

This unit ranks among the very best that I've ever created, and I couldn't be more excited to share it with you!!

Here’s what you’ll find in this editable 180-page unit:

• Introduction to Shakespeare’s World: The 30-page introduction includes five handouts covering topics like Shakespeare’s biography, the language of Renaissance England, the construction of the Globe Theater, how to recognize iambic pentameter, and more. Every handout is followed by a comprehension check, practice exercise, or quiz. You could spend up to a week with the introductory handouts — or skip them altogether. Answer keys included. (30 pages)

• STUDENT WORKBOOKS on Othello: The 60-page workbook features colorful and highly engaging worksheets on every scene in Othello. Each worksheet is divided into sections which invite students to engage with the text in a variety of different ways:

• The Passage Analysis section invite students to analyze one or two key passages from each scene.
• The Evidence Hunt challenges students to answer an interpretive question by finding the best textual evidence to support their answer.
• The Comparing Quotations section invites students to make connections between quotations from different scenes in the play.
• The Discussion Question section features three higher-order questions designed to foster lively discussions and interpretive debates among students.
• The Quick Writes challenge students to compose short arguments that require the support of carefully selected textual evidence — leading to keen interpretive insights!

• Workbook Answer Key: The 60-page answer key to the workbook provides detailed answers to the passage analysis, evidence hunt, and comparing quotations sections. The answer key is informed by the best books and articles written by leading Shakespeare scholars: Marjorie Garber (Harvard), Stephen Greenblatt (Harvard), Coppélia Kahn (Brown), Eamon Grennan (Vassar), Dympna Callaghan (Syracuse), Susan Snyder (Swarthmore), Janet Adelman (Berkeley), Emma Smith (Oxford), Farah Karim-Cooper (Kings College London), Michael Neill (Auckland), and others. (60 pages)

• Figurative Language Quiz: The quiz challenges students to identify 8 types of figurative language — metaphor, simile, metonymy, paradox, oxymoron, personification, apostrophe, and hyperbole — used across 25 quotations from Othello. Also included is a glossary with definitions of the types of figurative language as well as examples of how they’re used in the early scenes of Shakespeare’s play — so you can begin reviewing the types of figurative language with students before they tackle the quiz. Answer key included. (5 pages)

• Analytical Writing Assignment: Challenge students to take their interpretations one step further by writing an analytical paper on Shakespeare’s Othello. Let students choose from one of 5 thought-provoking sample topics — or invite them to develop a topic of their own. Includes a writing schedule, outline template, and grading rubric. For teachers of AP Literature, this unit also features FRQ3 prompts focused on Othello. (8 pages) 

This unit will come to you in two separate formats: Word docs *and* PDFs. Because the Word docs are fully editable, you'll be able to customize the materials to the skill levels of your students — year after year! If you don't have Microsoft Word, you'll still be able to access the complete unit in PDF format — which is easy to navigate and quick to print.

Rigorous Resources is your one-stop shop for top-quality units on canonical literary texts by diverse authors. Wishing you an amazing experience with teaching Shakespeare's Othello. If you have any questions along the way, please don't hesitate to get in touch at the email address below. I love hearing from fellow teachers who share a passion for great literature! 

Happy teaching,

Adam Jernigan, Ph.D.

adamjernigan@gmail.com

P.S. Remember to "follow" my store to get email updates on new products by Rigorous Resources. New products will be 50% OFF for the first 24 hours!

Feel free to check out these complete units on Shakespeare's masterpieces:

COMPLETE UNIT with Workbooks on Romeo and Juliet

COMPLETE UNIT with Workbooks on Julius Caesar

COMPLETE UNIT with Workbooks on Macbeth

COMPLETE UNIT with Workbooks on Othello

COMPLETE UNIT with Workbooks on Hamlet

COMPLETE UNIT with Workbooks on Much Ado About Nothing

INTRO TO SHAKESPEARE: Biography, Globe Theater, Language, & Meter

End your school year on a high note with this Passion Project, designed specifically for high school students. This engaging mini-unit allows students to explore and share their passions while developing essential writing and presentation skills. With detailed instructions, comprehensive rubrics, and intuitive graphic organizers, this unit is the perfect way to foster creativity and collaboration as the school year concludes.

Key Features:

Passion-Fueled Essay Writing: Students are tasked with writing an essay about a topic they are passionate about. This open-ended approach encourages them to explore their interests and express their thoughts in a structured format, fostering enthusiasm for writing. Added bonus: The topic is relevant to them!

Short Presentation Creation: After completing their essays, students create a short presentation to share their passion with the class. This presentation element cultivates public speaking skills and boosts confidence in a supportive environment.

Detailed Instructions: This mini-unit includes step-by-step instructions for both the essay and presentation, providing a clear framework for students to follow.

Rubrics for Assessment: Assess student work with comprehensive rubrics designed for both the essay and presentation. These rubrics offer clear criteria for grading, ensuring consistency and fairness in assessment. The rubrics are aligned with Common Core Standards.

Graphic Organizers for Essay Planning: Graphic organizers are provided to help students brainstorm and structure their essay and presentation. These tools assist in organizing thoughts, developing outlines, and refining ideas, leading to well-structured and coherent essays.

Why Choose Our "Passion Project" Unit?

• Encourages Creativity and Exploration: Give students the opportunity to explore and share their passions, fostering a sense of ownership and enthusiasm for learning.

• Develops Writing and Presentation Skills: Students build crucial skills in essay writing, critical thinking, and public speaking, preparing them for future academic and professional pursuits.

• Flexible and Adaptable: The unit can be customized to suit your classroom's needs, allowing for flexibility in topic choice and presentation format.

• Ideal for End-of-Year Projects: This unit is perfect for finishing out the school year, offering a meaningful and engaging project that wraps up the academic year on a positive note.

Want more ideas on how to end the school year? Check out this fun brochure!