J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings is probably one of the
most important texts written in the 20th century. It is also a
text that most students can read without much difficulty if
given proper time. Most teachers do not realize that the epic
saga can be used to teach most of the Common Core Standards. I
have devised a unit for English teachers to use which is based
on a unit I taught a few years ago when I was experimenting with
using Advanced Placement style instruction in an at-level
classroom. It will work well for Common Core and will work for a
freshman or sophomore class as juniors focus on American
literature while seniors focus on British literature. 1. Unit
Thematic Questions – I ask several questions (meant for free-
writing sessions) before we begin reading the text: What does
power mean to you? State several types of governments that you
know about and explain whether they are effective or
ineffective? Why or why not? What does it mean to sacrifice
something for someone? List three reasons why