Melissa Victoria is a former English teacher with over 15 years' experience in a variety of secondary school settings, including comprehensive and grammar schools. She provides English resources mainly for high-ability students studying for GCSE and A level (AQA).
Melissa Victoria has an MA in English from the University of Birmingham, UK.
Melissa Victoria is a former English teacher with over 15 years' experience in a variety of secondary school settings, including comprehensive and grammar schools. She provides English resources mainly for high-ability students studying for GCSE and A level (AQA).
Melissa Victoria has an MA in English from the University of Birmingham, UK.
A fully-adaptable PowerPoint which explores ‘The Farmer’s Bride’ in preparation for the AQA Literature Examination
The PowerPoint and accompanying teacher notes are aimed at high-level GCSE candidates aiming for grades 7, 8 & 9
The resource contains the following:
AQA Assessment objectives for the poetry anthology examination paper
Warm-up activity
A brief biography of Charlotte Mew
A link to an audio of a reading of the poem
A list of high-level terminology for this particular poem as required for higher grades
A pyramid of questions which moves from knowledge to evaluation as a way of stretching students’ thinking
A copy of the poem
A student sheet which can be printed off or projected onto the board to record ideas whilst working through questions
A short plenary
Followed by:
Teacher notes - two slides containing ideas for understanding the poem and its methods at a high level which you should likely read before the lesson as preparation for discussion and teaching. How much you ‘teacher-lead’ using these notes, or how much you use them to aid independent learning is up to you. Notes are not definitive, but offer good-grounding in understanding Mew’s use of method in the poem, with detail on structure and form as well as language in order to reach higher grades (e.g. Subversion of the pastoral, significance of the ending, use of irregular couplets, natural imagery etc…)
NEW: THREE PAGE LESSON PLAN ON HOW TO USE EACH SLIDE INCLUDING KEY QUESTIONS, LEARNING AND OUTCOMES
The lesson presumes that some previous learning has taken place on what language, form and structure mean, and that students have a good level of understanding of what questions they should ask of poems in order to explore them (e.g. when was it written? how might that influence language choices? is there a specific form? what relevance is the form? how is the poem’s narrative structured? Is there a clear structure? etc.)
Best wishes,
Englbee x
This is high-level revision sheet of Lord Byron’s ‘When We Two Parted’ for students aiming for grades 6-9 in the new GCSE Literature Paper 2
The revision sheet is laid out in sections with minimal graphics to allow effective revision of ideas and method.
Ideas are written in a brief format rather than being too text/colour heavy to aid key learning and memory
The method focus is rooted in structure and form as well as language choices in order to hit higher band criteria. Only a few choices for each as AQA stresses depth as opposed to breadth to achieve top grades.
There are suggested links to Winter Swans and evaluative questions to consider in a potential essay conclusion.
The sheet is not definitive, and students should have a much deep knowledge of the poem from class studies; however, it will help as an aid for themes and methods regarding the second, unprinted poem in the examination in which they will need to draw on their memory.
Please note the preview shows only a small section of the revision sheet.
Kind regards,
Englbee x
A fully-adaptable PowerPoint which offers an introduction to the study of dramatic tragedy as a genre. As well as some didactic commentary, the lesson offers visual and practical tasks for pupils to work through in order to explore and begin to understand the concept of tragedy as a genre. The activities should take one lesson, but may take two. There is also an opportunity for pupils to apply their learning to an extract from Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’ at the end.
This PowerPoint will be most useful with higher-level GCSE students aiming for grades 7, 8 and 9 in their study of Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’ or 'Julius Caesar’ (‘Romeo and Juliet’ differs somewhat from traditional dramatic tragedy conventions, but some aspects may be useful), enabling them to explore method and genre as they read, which will help in their reaching higher levels in the examination. Could be adapted for aspiring grade 6 students.
The PowerPoint might also be used as a starting point for AQA A Level English Literature students studying ‘King Lear’, ‘Othello’, or ‘Richard II’, or any of the other dramatic tragedies, although further reading and research will be necessary. It will certainly aid less-able A Level students who need a starting point and benefit from visual and practical tasks, and discussion.
Link to a similar PowerPoint on Dramatic Comedy here: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/dramatic-comedy-genre-an-introduction-11922680
It’s hard work finding quality GCSE model writing answers for AQA English Language Paper 2, and even harder work writing them yourself, especially at a high level.
Here, you will find a high-level model answer: a leaflet to advise with a clear point-of-view. The topic is homework.
Pupils are asked to reflect on the significance of style and genre at the end as a self-reflection exercise.
Please note the preview shows only a section of the sheet.
Best wishes,
Englbee x
It’s hard work finding quality GCSE model writing answers for AQA English Language Paper 2, and even harder work writing them yourself, especially at a high level.
Here, you will find a high-level model answer: an essay to explain. The topic is homework.
Pupils are asked to reflect on the significance of style and genre at the end as a self-reflection exercise.
Please note the preview shows only a section of the sheet.
Best wishes,
Englbee x
A fully-adaptable PowerPoint which explores ‘When We Two Parted’ by Lord Byron in preparation for the AQA Literature Examination
The PowerPoint and accompanying teacher notes are aimed at high-level GCSE candidates aiming for grades 7-9
The resource contains the following:
PowerPoint:
AQA Assessment objectives for the poetry anthology examination paper
Warm-up activity
A brief biography of Lord Byron
A link to an audio of a reading of the poem
A copy of the poem
A list of high-level terminology for this particular poem as required for higher grades
A pyramid of questions which moves from knowledge to evaluation as a way of stretching students’ thinking
A student sheet which can be printed off or projected onto the board to record ideas whilst working through questions
A short plenary
Followed by:
Teacher notes -two slides containing ideas for understanding the poem and its methods at a high level which you should likely read before the lesson as preparation for discussion and teaching. How much you ‘teacher-lead’ using these notes, or how much you use them to aid independent learning is up to you. Notes are not definitive, but offer good-grounding in understanding Byron’s use of method in the poem, with detail on structure and form as well as language in order to reach higher grades (e.g. cyclical structure, negative lexical fields etc.)
NEW: THREE PAGE LESSON PLAN ON HOW TO USE EACH SLIDE INCLUDING KEY QUESTIONS, LEARNING AND OUTCOMES
The lesson presumes that some previous learning has taken place on what language, form and structure mean, and that students have a good level of understanding of what questions they should ask of poems in order to explore them (e.g. when was it written? how might that influence language choices? is there a specific form? what relevance is the form? how is the poem’s narrative structured? Is there a clear structure? etc.)
Kind regards,
Englbee x
This is high-level revision sheet of Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s 'Sonnet 29: I think of thee…’ for students aiming for grades 6-9 in the new GCSE Literature Paper 2
The revision sheet is laid out in sections with minimal graphics to allow effective revision of ideas and method.
Ideas are written in a brief format rather than being too text/colour heavy to aid key learning and memory
The method focus is rooted in structure and form as well as language choices in order to hit higher band criteria. Only a few choices for each as AQA stresses depth as opposed to breadth to achieve top grades.
There are suggested links to ‘Love’s Philosophy’ and evaluative questions to consider in a potential essay conclusion.
The sheet is not definitive, and students should have a much deep knowledge of the poem from class studies; however, it will help as an aid for themes and methods regarding the second, unprinted poem in the examination in which they will need to draw on their memory.
Please note the preview shows only a small section of the revision sheet.
Best wishes,
Englbee x
This is high-level revision sheet of Percy Bysshe Shelley’s ‘Love’s Philosophy’ for students aiming for grades 6-9 in the new GCSE Literature Paper 2
The revision sheet is laid out in sections with minimal graphics to allow effective revision of ideas and method.
Ideas are written in a brief format rather than being too text/colour heavy to aid key learning and memory
The method focus is rooted in structure and form as well as language choices in order to hit higher band criteria. Only a few choices for each as AQA stresses depth as opposed to breadth to achieve top grades.
There are suggested links to Sonnet 29 and evaluative questions to consider in a potential essay conclusion.
The sheet is not definitive, and students should have a much deep knowledge of the poem from class studies; however, it will help as an aid for themes and methods regarding the second, unprinted poem in the examination in which they will need to draw on their memory.
Please note the preview shows only a small section of the revision sheet.
Kind regards,
Englbee x
A high-level GCSE essay for those studying Much Ado about Nothing for AQA English Literature Paper 1
The resource offers an extract from Act 4 scene 1 with an AQA-style examination question on the characterisation of Benedick (small amount shown in synopsis).
There follows an essay which focuses on the question. The essay is written to a high-level for those aiming for grades 7-9 (although might help aspiring grade 6 also). The essay is around a side-and-a-half typed, meaning handwritten it would be about four sides (in keeping with high-level candidate expectations).
After the essay, there is discussion as to:
how the essay’s approach fits AQA’s ‘extract to whole’ further insight booklet on GCSE English Literature
how the essay hits AO1, AO2 and AO3.
how the essay covers higher band criteria
The resource is fully-adapatable for you to change as needed for your OWN classroom use.
Best wishes,
Englbee x
Al revision sheet of Thomas Hardy’s ‘Neutral Tones’ for students aiming for levels, 6-9 in the new GCSE Literature Paper 2
The revision sheet is laid out in sections with minimal graphics to allow effective revision of ideas and method.
Ideas are written in a brief format rather than being too text/colour heavy to aid key learning and memory
The method focus is rooted in structure and form as well as language choices in order to hit higher band criteria. Only a few choices for each as AQA stresses depth as opposed to breadth to achieve top grades.
There are suggested links to ‘Winter Swans’ and evaluative questions to consider in a potential essay conclusion.
The sheet is not definitive, and students should have a much deep knowledge of the poem from class studies; however, it will help as an aid for themes and methods regarding the second, unprinted poem in the examination in which they will need to draw on their memory.
Please note the preview shows only a small section of the revision sheet.
Best wishes,
Englbee x
A fully-adaptable PowerPoint which explores ‘Neutral Tones’ in preparation for the AQA Literature Examination
The PowerPoint and accompanying teacher notes are aimed at high-level GCSE candidates aiming for grades 6- 9
The resource contains the following:
AQA Assessment objectives for the poetry anthology examination paper
A warm-up acitvity
A brief biography of Thomas Hardy
A link to an audio of a reading of the poem
A list of high-level terminology for this particular poem as required for higher grades
A pyramid of questions which moves from knowledge to evaluation as a way of stretching students’ thinking
A copy of the poem
A student sheet which can be printed off or projected onto the board to record ideas whilst working through questions
A short plenary
Followed by:
Teacher notes - two slides containing ideas for understanding the poem and its methods at a high level which you should likely read before the lesson as preparation for discussion and teaching. How much you ‘teacher-lead’ using these notes, or how much you use them to aid independent learning is up to you. Notes are not definitive, but offer good-grounding in understanding Hardy’s use of method in the poem, with detail on structure and form as well as language in order to reach higher grades (e.g. cyclical structure, time shift, enclosed rhyme, symbolism, unusual language collocations etc…)
NEW: THREE PAGE LESSON PLAN ON HOW TO USE EACH SLIDE INCLUDING KEY QUESTIONS, LEARNING AND OUTCOMES
The lesson presumes that some previous learning has taken place on what language, form and structure mean, and that students have a good level of understanding of what questions they should ask of poems in order to explore them (e.g. when was it written? how might that influence language choices? is there a specific form? what relevance is the form? how is the poem’s narrative structured? Why? Is there a clear structure? etc.)
Best wishes,
Englbee x
Literary Nonfiction writing exemplars for AQA English Language GCSE Paper 2 question 5.
The Bundle contains the following:
*A article to argue a point-of-view
*An essay to explain a point-of-view
*A leaflet to advise
*A letter to persuade
All exemplars are based around the theme of homework. These allows for easy cross-reference in order for students to see that a similar topic can be written about in varied ways in order to achieve differences in form and style.
The exemplars are for higher-level students, grades 6-9.
There is also an extra writing-to-persuade exemplar in the form of a speech on the topic of giving to charities.
Best wishes,
Englbee x
It’s hard work finding quality GCSE model writing answers for AQA English Language Paper 2, and even harder work writing them yourself, especially at a high level.
Here, you will find a high-level model answer: a letter to persuade. The topic is homework.
Pupils are asked to reflect on the significance of style and genre at the end as a self-reflection exercise.
Please note the preview shows only a section of the sheet.
Best wishes,
Englbee x
A fully-adaptable PowerPoint which explores ‘Before You Were Mine’ in preparation for the AQA Literature Examination
The PowerPoint and accompanying teacher notes are aimed at high-level GCSE candidates aiming for grades 6-9
The resource contains the following:
AQA Assessment objectives for the poetry anthology examination paper
Warm-up activity
A brief biography of Carol Ann Duffy
A link to an audio of a reading of the poem
A link to a copy of the poem (due to copyright; you can easily copy and paste into PowerPoint)
A list of high-level terminology for this particular poem as required for higher grades
A pyramid of questions which moves from knowledge to evaluation as a way of stretching students’ thinking
A student sheet which can be printed off or projected onto the board to record ideas whilst working through questions
A short plenary
Followed by:
Teacher notes -three slides containing ideas for understanding the poem and its methods at a high level which you should likely read before the lesson as preparation for discussion and teaching. How much you ‘teacher-lead’ using these notes, or how much you use them to aid independent learning is up to you. Notes are not definitive, but offer good-grounding in understanding Duffy’s use of method in the poem, with detail on structure and form as well as language in order to reach higher grades (e.g. time shifts, enjambment, use of tableau, verbs, symbolism etc.)
NEW: THREE PAGE LESSON PLAN ON HOW TO USE EACH SLIDE INCLUDING KEY QUESTIONS, LEARNING AND OUTCOMES
The lesson presumes that some previous learning has taken place on what language, form and structure mean, and that students have a good level of understanding of what questions they should ask of poems in order to explore them (e.g. when was it written? how might that influence language choices? is there a specific form? what relevance is the form? how is the poem’s narrative structured? Is there a clear structure? etc.)
Kind regards,
Englbee x
A high-level revision sheet (PDF) of Cecil Day-Lewis’ ‘Walking Away’ for students aiming for levels, 6-9 in the new GCSE Literature Paper 2
The revision sheet is laid out in sections with minimal graphics to allow effective revision of ideas and method.
Ideas are written in a brief format rather than being too text/colour heavy to aid key learning and memory
The method focus is rooted in structure and form as well as language choices in order to hit higher band criteria. Only a few choices for each as AQA stresses depth as opposed to breadth to achieve top grades.
There are suggested links to ‘Follower’ and evaluative questions to consider in a potential essay conclusion.
The sheet is not definitive, and students should have a much deep knowledge of the poem from class studies; however, it will help as an aid for themes and methods regarding the second, unprinted poem in the examination in which they will need to draw on their memory.
Please note the preview shows only a small section of the revision sheet.
Best wishes,
Englbee x
This is high-level revision sheet of Charlotte Mew’s ‘The Farmer’s Bride’ for students aiming for grades 6- 9 in the new GCSE Literature Paper 2
The revision sheet is laid out in sections with minimal graphics to allow effective revision of ideas and method.
Ideas are written in a easy format rather than being too colour-heavy to aid key learning and memory
The method focus is rooted in structure and form as well as language choices in order to hit higher band criteria. Only a few choices for each as AQA stresses depth as opposed to breadth to achieve top grades.
There are suggested links to ‘Porphyria’s Lover’ and evaluative questions to consider in a potential essay conclusion.
The sheet is not definitive, and students should have a much deep knowledge of the poem from class studies; however, it will help as an aid for themes and methods regarding the second, unprinted poem in the examination in which they will need to draw on their memory.
Please note the preview shows only a small section of the revision sheet.
Kind regards,
Englbee x
A high-ability knowledge organiser for Much Ado about Nothing for AQA GCSE English Literature
Offered as a PDF
This is a high-ability revision tool (aspiring grades 7-9) which presumes students are competent already with the basic structure of the plot and basic character roles.
The knowledge organiser has two sides which can be copied back-to-to-back on A3 or simply put on your school’s intranet .
Side one offers analysis on the following four sections:
Characters as concepts (11 characters) with significant key quotations and act/scene
Significant Elizabethan contextual factors including: legitimacy, marriage, religion, humanism and patriarchal hegemony
Significant themes including: constructive/destructive/self deception, love and marriage, transformation and gender (with act/scenes as relevant)
High-level key vocabulary to help discuss the play conceptually
Side two offers analysis of method specifically dramatic comedy devices:
Metadrama, deception and artifice
Self-reflexive language / metalanguage
Pairs and Parallels (structure)
‘Happy’ endings
Green World
If you are new to teaching Much Ado about Nothing at a high-level, this would be a great tool for you as a teacher also to use as a planning aid and way into the text before giving to students for revision.
I hope you find it useful.
Best wishes,
Englbee x
A scheme of work for Enduring Love by Ian McEwan. Written originally for an outgoing specification for AQA A Level English Literature B. 25 PowerPoints in total covering each chapter.
It offers a strong starting point for fine-grained analysis of literary method , whilst also focusing upon complex philosophical questions explored in the text.
Included in each lesson: Five narrative method slides, one each on - narrative voice, setting, structure, form and language. Some slides more detailed than others depending on importance of method to each chapter. There are prompts for discussion and exploration of significance of each method with quotations if relevant. Advanced Level students will benefit from the prompts without being ‘spoonfed’. Teachers new to Enduring Love will find studying the slides for each chapter in advance, before reading, will help them focus upon the methods McEwan uses in the novel and aid teaching preparation.
Later slides focus on debate questions, focusing less on method, and more on the philosophical ideas raised by the text within each chapter.
The PowerPoints should be used as starting points for further discussion and analysis by advanced level students. Could be used for undergraduate also.
Free prereading lesson here: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/enduring-love-by-ian-mcewan-pre-reading-lesson-11916185s
Best wishes,
Englbee
It’s hard work finding quality GCSE model writing answers for AQA English Language Paper 2, and even harder work writing them yourself, especially at a high level.
Here, you will find a high-level model answer: an article to argue a point of view. The topic is homework.
Pupils are asked to reflect on the significance of style and genre at the end as a self-reflection exercise.
Please note the preview shows only a section of the sheet.
Best wishes,
Englbee x
This resource offers two comprehensive PowerPoints for English Language GCSE AQA: one for you to teach to your class, and the second with exemplar responses for you to share with your class as you see fit.
The resource is most suitable for introducing a strong summer Year 9 class to GCSE skills needed next year, or as an introduction to a high-ability autumn Year 10 class just starting GCSE. The resource allows students to consider the GCSE as a whole, and the AOs as overlapping, before dividing them between the two papers later on in their GCSE studies
How the PowerPoint works:
The Learning Objectives and AOs are colour-coded to link with AQA’s symmetry grid (hyperlink provided in PowerPoint)
Resources out of copyright are provided within the PowerPoint
Resources in copyright are hyperlinked for you. You can copy and paste into the PowerPoint onto new slides should you wish, or you can continue to use the hyperlinks (I have had to hyperlink to avoid copyright breach)
Questions are curriculum-aligned
The PowerPoint works through AO1, AO2, AO4, AO3, AO5/6
The second PowerPoint contains high-level exemplar answers for AO1-4 questions, and detailed exemplar paragraphs for writing tasks covering AO5/6. If exemplars are too difficult for your class, you can adapt downwards as needed, but showing good quality ‘top’ answers may benefit most pupils aiming for 5+.
I have used this myself with high-ability classes who have found it useful as an introduction to their GCSE English Language.
The texts are: the opening two/three pages of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service; two linked 19th century letters on hanging; and a Guardian article on capital punishment. Links to 20th/21st Century articles necessary due to copyright.
Please note the links to On Her Majesty’s Secret Service are sometimes temperamental.
There is a copy here: https://archive.org/stream/JamesBondBooks/OHMS_0020#page/n7/mode/2up
and here (also on PowerPoint):
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=MkH504QgSKsC&pg=PA1&source=kp_read_button&redir_ese=y
However, as with all things internet, sources disappear from time-to-time. Purchasing a cheap paperback copy of OHMSS might be an idea…
Best wishes,
Englbee