Carrie+Newman's+Teaching+Unit

= Pudd'nhead On Trial = Image Courtesy of:

Mark Twain's, //Pudd'nhead Wilson// examines various elements of literary style and technique. In order to have AP English III students identify the uses of literary elements within the work and apply them to their individual writing, the class will engage in several learning activities. The main activity students will partake in is the Courtroom Project. This activity will focus on Chapters 20-21 and the trial. Students will engage in either sides of the prosecution or defense of the character, Tom, and present multiple arguments as to why/how or why he should not be accused and what he should or should not be accused for. Students will take on the roles of the jury or of key characters in the novel.

Prior to students participating in this activity, they will have reviewed and been quizzed on important literary style and devices. Students will also review secondary sources and how to apply them to essays. As students act out their courtroom scene, they will be composed into groups which use literary elements and secondary sources to prove their arguments.

In this teaching unit, students will have a total of three class weeks to devote to Mark Twain's novel, Pudd'nhead Wilson. In the first week, students will complete the novel and be assigned their group project and group roles. In the second week, students will review literary elements and take a quiz for comprehension. Students will also review secondary sources and break into groups to discuss and act out their courtroom presentations based on their responses to the argumentive secondary source worksheet. In the third week students will apply their comprehension to writing. The secondary source worksheet and the arguments that students develop will act as a guide to their essays. The essays will require students to take a position defending or accusing Tom for his actions. Students will choose one argumentative position to discuss. Essays will include the secondary source students used and another secondary source. Students will spend the week reviewing MLA Format and Style, revising, peer editing, and continuing to revise until completion of their final draft. Image Courtesy of:

Class Syllabus:

Literary Elements in Pudd'nhead Wilson:

Literary Elements Quiz:

MLA Overview: [|MLA - Purdue]

Secondary Sources and Literary Elements: Applying them to Pudd'nhead Wilson:

Courtroom Project:

Final Paper:

Meeting TEKS Objectives:

Link to [|Chapter 110. Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for English Language Arts and Reading Subchapter C. High School]