### Year 11 English Lesson Plan: Introduction to Literary Criticism
**Lesson Title:** Introduction to Literary Criticism
**Grade Level:** Year 11
**Duration:** 60 minutes
**Objective:** Students will understand the basic concepts of literary criticism and be able to apply at least one critical approach to a literary text.
**Materials Needed:**
- Copies of a selected short story or poem
- Whiteboard and markers
- PowerPoint presentation on different types of literary criticism
- Handouts summarizing each critical approach
**Lesson Outline:**
1. **Introduction (10 minutes)**
- Begin with a brief discussion to gauge students' prior knowledge about literary criticism.
- Define literary criticism and explain its purpose: to explore, analyze, and interpret literary texts from various perspectives.
- Introduce the main types of literary criticism: Formalist, Marxist, Feminist, Psychoanalytic, Historical, and Reader-Response.
2. **Presentation (20 minutes)**
- Use a PowerPoint presentation to provide an overview of each critical approach:
- **Formalist Criticism:** Focuses on the form, style, and structure of the text.
- **Marxist Criticism:** Examines social, economic, and political elements.
- **Feminist Criticism:** Analyzes gender roles and power structures.
- **Psychoanalytic Criticism:** Considers the psychological motivations of characters.
- **Historical Criticism:** Contextualizes the text within its historical period.
- **Reader-Response Criticism:** Emphasizes the reader's interpretation and experience.
3. **Class Activity: Group Work (15 minutes)**
- Divide students into small groups and assign each group a different critical approach.
- Distribute copies of a selected short story or poem to each group.
- Instruct groups to analyze the text using their assigned critical approach and prepare to share their findings.
4. **Group Presentations (10 minutes)**
- Have each group present their analysis to the class, highlighting how their chosen approach provided unique insights into the text.
5. **Class Discussion (5 minutes)**
- Facilitate a discussion comparing the different analyses.
- Encourage students to think about how each critical approach contributes to a deeper understanding of the text.
6. **Conclusion and Homework (5 minutes)**
- Summarize the key points covered in the lesson.
- Assign homework: Ask students to write a brief analysis of another short story or poem using one of the critical approaches discussed in class.
**Assessment:**
- Participation in group work and class discussion.
- Quality and insightfulness of group presentations.
- Homework assignment: Written analysis demonstrating understanding of a critical approach.
This lesson plan aims to introduce Year 11 students to the foundations of literary criticism, equipping them with the tools to engage with literature on a deeper level.