This document outlines a lesson plan for teaching William Faulkner's short story "A Rose for Emily" to 12th grade English students. The goals are for students to analyze the character of Emily through a written journal, identify vocabulary terms in context, and write a narrative character journal using evidence from the text. The lesson will begin with activating prior knowledge about the Southern Gothic genre and a story impression exercise. Students will then take a vocabulary pre-test, read guided questions, discuss vocabulary in groups, and write a character analysis journal to assess learning.

1. “A Rose for Emily” by William
Faulkner
Focus Lesson Plan

2. Students
English
Grade 12 (Seniors)

3. Text Selection
“A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner
Lexile Level 1270
The text will be read on iPads to accommodate different
learning styles.
Students will have the option of listening to the audio
version of the text while reading.

4. Lesson Goals: CCSS
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.11-12.1
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.11-12.4
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.W.1
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.W.3

5. Lesson Goals: Objectives
Students will be able to conduct a character analysis of
the text through the form of a written character journal
that will reflect analysis of character’s actions and feelings
backed up by strong and specific textual support
including quotes with 100% accuracy.
Students will be able to identify the meaning of
vocabulary terms through context and reference
resources and properly use at least one term in their
character journals with 100% accuracy.

6. Lesson Goals: Objectives (cont.)
Students will write a character journal in the form of a
narrative that is detailed and has uses substantial textual
evidence with 100% accuracy.

7. Activating Prior Knowledge
Explain to students background on story (gothic genre,
Southern regional story, post-Civil War)
Story Impression Exercise

9. Pre-Assesment
Story Impression Responses
Vocabulary Pre-Test (matching)

10. Comprehension
Reading Guide (see handout)

11. Vocabulary Terms
coquettish
remit
perpetuity
archaic
dank
pallid
temerity
diffident
pauper
acrid

12. Vocabulary Exercise: Vocabulary Self-
Collection Strategy
Group students of mixed abilities into 10 teams and assign
each team one term
Students will use iPads to find term in the text
Ask students to also state what part of speech the term is

13. Vocabulary Exercise: Vocabulary Self-
Collection Strategy (cont.)
Explain to students procedures of strategy (locate word,
define word, explain value of word). Explain that all
students must participate in group discussion and that I
will be monitoring this discussion. Require students to each
turn in a paper documenting the group discussion for a
participation grade.

14. Student Discussion and Interaction
Question response to Reading Guide
Vocabulary Self-Collection group and class discussions

15. Writing: Character Journal

16. Assessing Mastery
Reading Guide
Character Journal
Vocabulary Post-Test

17. Lesson Wrap Up
Have students fill out an exit slip before leaving answering
the following questions.
What did you like and dislike about the story?
What was your favorite and least favorite activity we did in this
lesson?
What was the most useful vocabulary word you learned in this
lesson?
What do you wish was done differently in this lesson?