Independent learning in English -- a unit of work

Based around the theme of journeys, this is a unit of work to encourage independent work. Each student is given a task sheet and the other resources are made available. Working at their own pace, students complete the tasks individually. The teacher is left free to help individual students, or work with pairs. Students are motivated because they have choice (within limits).
The unit is suitable for year 7 or lower ability year 8 classes.
The approach taken in this unit is unusual: give the students what you want them to learn and how they are to go about it and they just get on with it. Students complete the work and show it to the teacher. The teacher recommends improvements (unless it is near perfect) and the student goes away and makes them.
However, lessons can always start with whole class teaching about things such as diary entries, which come up in the unit, if the teacher feels this is necessary. As well, if the teacher finds that a majority of the students are struggling with one particular skill or task, the whole class can be stopped and taught what is needed.
Differentiation comes through choice of task, support given by the teacher, some limited choice of text, and outcome.
The documents are Microsoft Word files so that they can be changed. Tasks can be altered or added. For example, I add completing a punctuation task on the computer -- the particular one depends on the student.
The unit focuses on reading and writing skills. Each task has an objective.
The unit lasts two to three weeks.
One possible use of the unit is for students who are absent for long periods of time. They can complete the work indepedently.