Title: Introduction to Prose and Its Features
Grade: Senior Secondary 1
Subject: Literature in English
Duration: 60 minutes
**Objectives:**
1. Students will understand the definition of prose.
2. Students will identify the key features of prose.
3. Students will differentiate between prose and other literary forms.
4. Students will analyze a prose excerpt for its structural and stylistic features.
**Materials Needed:**
1. Whiteboard and markers
2. Handouts with prose excerpts
3. Projector and laptop (optional for multimedia elements)
4. Notebooks and pens
**Lesson Plan:**
**1. Warm-Up Activity (10 minutes):**
- **Discussion Starter:** Begin with an open-ended question to activate prior knowledge:
- "What comes to mind when you think of prose?"
- "Can you give examples of prose you've read recently?"
- Write students' responses on the whiteboard.
**2. Introduction to Prose (10 minutes):**
- **Definition:** Explain that prose is a form of written or spoken language that follows a natural flow of speech and grammatical structure, unlike poetry which follows a metrical structure.
- **Examples:** Show examples such as novels, short stories, essays, and articles.
- **Comparison:** Briefly compare prose with other literary forms like poetry and drama.
- Prose: Written in sentences and paragraphs, focuses on straightforward communication of ideas.
- Poetry: Written in lines and stanzas, uses meter and rhyme.
- Drama: Written in dialogue and stage directions, meant to be performed.
**3. Key Features of Prose (15 minutes):**
- **Structure:** Focus on sentences and paragraphs.
- **Language:** Typically straightforward and may use figurative language.
- **Narrative Elements:** Discuss characters, plot, setting, and themes.
- **Point of View:** First person, second person, or third person.
- **Interactive Activity:** Distribute handouts with a short prose excerpt.
- Have students read the excerpt and underline sentences that showcase the structure of prose.
- Identify any use of figurative language or descriptive details.
**4. Analyzing Prose (15 minutes):**
- **Group Activity:** Divide students into small groups and assign each group a different task.
- Group 1: Identify the main characters and describe them.
- Group 2: Summarize the plot in a few sentences.
- Group 3: Describe the setting of the excerpt.
- Group 4: Identify the narrative perspective (first, second, third person).
- Group 5: Reflect on the themes or messages in the excerpt.
- **Presentation:** Each group presents their findings to the class.
**5. Wrap-Up and Reflection (10 minutes):**
- **Class Discussion:** Recap the key features of prose.
- "How does knowing these features help us understand prose better?"
- "Why is prose an important form of literature?"
- **Exit Ticket:** Ask students to write down one thing they learned about prose and one question they still have. Collect these for assessment and to address in the next lesson.
**Evaluation:**
- Participation in discussions and activities.
- Understanding observed during group presentations.
- Responses on exit tickets.
**Homework:**
- **Reading Assignment:** Assign a short story or an essay for students to read at home.
- **Reflection:** Write a short paragraph identifying the key features of prose in the assigned reading and how it differs from poetry or drama.
This lesson plan aims to provide a comprehensive introduction to prose, ensuring students can recognize and appreciate its structure and features.