ELA: The Canterbury Tales - Reflections on Society and Expository Writing
Join us for a fun class exploring The Canterbury Tales and the bold, sassy Wife of Bath! We’ll unpack her outrageous stories and what they reveal about medieval life. We'll channel her confident energy into crafting expository essays.
New on Outschool
What's included
8 live meetings
7 hrs 20 mins in-class hoursAssignments
1-2 hours per week. Writing assignments and interactive games that assess comprehension.Certificate of Completion
1 after class completionClass Experience
US Grade 9 - 12
This unit delves into two timeless texts: The Prologue and The Wife of Bath’s Tale from Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales. Through these works, students will examine Chaucer’s commentary on medieval gender roles, power dynamics, and societal expectations, considering how these themes resonate in contemporary discussions about equality and identity. The unit integrates critical reading, analytical thinking, and writing skills as students explore character motivations, literary techniques, and historical context. The culminating project includes crafting an expository essay to articulate their insights and creating a blog post to present their ideas in a modern, engaging format. This combination encourages both academic rigor and creative expression.
Learning Goals
Students will analyze and interpret key themes, characters, and rhetorical techniques in a variety of classic and modern texts.Students will develop proficiency in crafting argumentative, persuasive, narrative, and creative essays tailored to specific purposes and audiences.
Syllabus
8 Lessons
over 4 WeeksLesson 1:
Introduction to Unit and Mentor Text: "Standing Up to Absolute Power"
This lesson will provide an introduction to expository writing with the mentor text. This text will be an example of the type of essay students will be asked to write at the end of the Unit. Students will do an activity where they consider what three aspects of society they would change if they could. 55 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
Introduction to The Canterbury Tales
We will review the history of the period in which The Canterbury Tales were written, go over concept vocabulary, and listen to and analyze the first 18 lines in Middle English. After which we will learn about each of the pilgrims. Key Literary Terms: Characterization and Exposition 55 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
The Wife of Bath
Students will begin the lesson by writing a response to the question, What do women want? Then we will review the prologue of the Wife of Bath with a brief overview before jumping into reading her tale. Key Literary Terms: Thematic Development, Plot Structure, and Literary Analysis 55 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
The Wife of Bath
Students will discuss how valid are social roles and what they learned about while reading The Wife of Bath's Tale. They will then practice creating a research plan or annotated outline to answer the initial question of What justice systems existed in England in the late 1800s? 55 mins online live lesson
Other Details
Learning Needs
This course is designed to meet the needs of unique learners in an accessible and inclusive environment. Content is provided in multiple formats, such as audio, video, text, and visuals, to accommodate different learning preferences.
Parental Guidance
The Wife of Bath's Tale from The Canterbury Tales includes mature content such as frank discussions of marriage, sexuality, and gender roles. The Wife openly describes her past relationships, including her manipulation of husbands for power and wealth. The tale also features a plot involving a knight who commits a sexual assault, though it is framed as a lesson on morality and redemption. Parents should be prepared to discuss these themes and the historical context with young readers to help them navigate the complex issues presented.
Supply List
Students will use Google Sites to create a private website that will showcase their blog post entry from their expository essay.
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Joined November, 2024
New on Outschool
Teacher expertise and credentials
Florida Teaching Certificate in English/Language Arts
Master's Degree from Florida Institute of Technology
I am a certified English teacher (grades 6–12) with over five years of experience at a Title 1 school, specializing in diverse learners and engagement through gamification. With a Reading Endorsement and an MBA, I blend teaching expertise with real-world business experience in marketing, content development, and the eSports industry, helping students build both academic and practical skills.Reviews
Live Group Course
$38
weekly or $150 for 8 classes2x per week, 4 weeks
55 min
Live video meetings
Ages: 14-18
1-18 learners per class
