The teaching implemented in this unit reflects the requirements of the Connecticut's Common Core of Learning K-12 Content Standards. The curriculum for Language Arts in the New Haven District adheres to the state standards, and each part of this unit offers the opportunity to teach, deepen or scaffold the four essential standards: Reading and Responding, Exploring and Responding to Literature, Communicating with Others, and English Language Conventions. Specifically, my students read, interpret, analyze and evaluate both visual and written texts in order to extend their understanding and appreciation of details; they apply strategies to facilitate word recognition and develop a vocabulary to comprehend a text. They also explore multiple written responses to visual images, Dickens's novel and the three contemporary essays, and discuss their analysis. In composing the synthesis essay, they reinforce the conventions of Standard English.