Lesson Topics: best books, literature
Skill Focus: Reading, Speaking, Vocabulary
Approximate Class Time: 2 hours
Lesson Plan Download: best-novels-ever-upper-intermediate-022025.docx
- The lesson begins with warm-up questions about reading habits and writing.
- As the reading passage, the lesson presents a 331-word summary of five novels from "Greatest Novel" lists. The books include Anna Karenina, The Great Gatsby, One Hundred Years of Solitude, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Don Quixote. (Effort was to make the list somewhat international.)
- The passage is followed by comprehension and follow-up questions.
- Next, students review the 12 vocabulary items by matching them to their corresponding definitions.
- After vocabulary matching, students form discussion questions with the target vocabulary.
- There are three debate topics on audiobooks and racism today compared to the 1960s.
- The first speaking activity begins with a review of seven elements used in literary analyses (theme, plot, setting, protagonist, antagonist, point of view, tone). Students then try to use the elements above in their description of the last book they read.
- For another speaking activity, students present a book (or two) to a high school PTA (Parent-Teacher-Association), with the aim of convincing the school to add these books to their curriculum.
- The lesson's only role-play is a lighter one between two friends. One friend is trying to convince the other to give up on his writing career and do something more practical.
- Next, the lesson presents a few famous quotations about reading and books.
- Finally, the lesson ends with a review of vocabulary and collocations before presenting some final discussion questions.
UPPER-INTERMEDIATE (B2/C1) Lesson on Books & Reading
Warm-up-Questions
- When you were growing up, what were your favorite books?
- Many people dream of one day writing a book. Is that something you’d like to do?
- The below reading passage will present five of the “greatest novels ever written.“ With a partner, make a list of books that you think may appear on the list.
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This lesson plan was created by Matthew Barton of EnglishCurrent.com (copyright). Site members may photocopy and edit the file for their classes. Permission is not given to rebrand the lesson, redistribute it on another platform, or sell it as part of commercial course curriculum. ChatGPT was used to generate answer keys and some famous quotations. For questions, contact the author.
Comprehension Question Answer Key
- ...
- ...
- ...
- Gatsby throws extravagant parties in hopes that Daisy Buchanan, his lost love, will attend and rekindle their relationship.
- She learns that her town is deeply racist.
- The Great Gatsby describes the emptiness of chasing money and status, showing how Gatsby’s wealth cannot bring him true happiness or love.
- ...
Vocabulary: 1-d, 2-e, 3-i, 4-f, 5-b, 6-g, 7-h, 8-k, 9-j, 10-c, 11-l, 12-a
Collocations 1-d, 2-e, 3-a, 4-f, 5-g, 6-b, 7-c
[1] https://www.britannica.com/list/12-novels-considered-the-greatest-book-ever-written
[2] https://thegreatestbooks.org/