A highly detailed lesson analysing how discontent is presented in the opening of The Catcher in the Rye.
This 26 slide lesson focuses on developing the skills students require for the unseen prose section of AQA Paper 2 English literature.
Contains a range of strategies to encourage students to elicit perceptive inferences from the extract which meet the assessment objectives.
Three writing frames to help low-ability students structure exam-style response to questions based on the themes of ambition and deception.
Students are provided with a very short extract and an exam-style question. I made the extracts shorter than normal to make it more accessible for the students.
The writing frame starts off each paragraph for the student. There is then space for the students to use their knowledge of the play to add further analysis of each quotation.
It has been designed to fit onto A4 sheets for ease of printing. For some students it may be necessary to enlarge the sheet to A3.
These resources help build student confidence and is an important step for helping them structure their answers independently.
Also contains guidance on thesis-style introductions.
‘A thesis-style introduction that demonstrates your understanding of the question can be a really helpful way of starting your answer. It shows that you are ‘in charge’ of your essay and that you know what you think. It can provide a strong foundation for the rest of the essay. Keep referring back to the introduction to create a coherent response.’ AQA examiner’s report 2022
Creating a thesis-style introduction is a challenge for many students but is essential in helping students to reach levels 4-6 in the mark scheme. I have produced a simple 3 point structure to help students quickly generate a thesis statement in timed exam conditions. There is an example of the 3 point structure being used and then students attempt to imitate the structure for 4 other exam-style questions.
A detailed and complete lesson looking at the impact of 6 symbols in Lord of the Flies. Includes judicious quotations and perceptive inferences aimed at high ability students.
Revision lesson looking at 12 key extracts from A Christmas Carol. Using the revision clock concept, students spend 5 minutes on each extract by answering 3 questions which focus on A01, A02 and then A03.
Works really in the run up to mock exams or actual exams.
Includes a 5 minute PowerPoint timer embedded into the slides which has an alarm so you don’t lose your timings.
Also includes analysis of the top 10 single words to analyse in the novella with high level explanations of how to zoom in and then how to zoom out to explore Dickens’ authorial purpose.
Also includes:
A timeline revision activity for A Christmas Carol that asks students to offer 3 layers of analysis for 13 key Scrooge quotations to help track his transformation in the novel from a solitary miser to a redeemed philanthropist.
A01: What is the meaning of the quotation?
A02: What is the impact of words/methods?
A03: What is Dickens’ message in this quotation?
Comprehensive answer sheet is included. I give this out at the end of the lesson so students can compare their answers to it.
Ideal revision activity in the run up to the May examinations.
Lesson analysing 12 quotations describing the island in Lord of the Flies.
The lesson encourages students to make perceptive inferences about the importance of the island in the novel.
I have lots more resources for Lord of the Flies available:
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12072617
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12593021
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12515512
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12619460
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12682935
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12682934
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12119967
A full lesson analysing the character of Old Benjamin in Animal Farm that offers support for weaker students and challenge to higher ability students.
The PowerPoint/pdf includes the following:
3 question starter with detailed answers on slide 2.
Then student attempt to explain 6 key quotations before comparing their explanations to the teacher explanations.
Students are then given a grade 5/6model paragraph and asked to write their own paragraph analysing Benjamin.
Higher level students can instead be shown an aspirational grade 9 paragraph.
The included writing frame is optional for weaker students.
A document with a summary of the Afro Celt movement on2 sides of A4 with the main features students need to know for the exam (this is in prose). There are 20 differentiated questions where answers can be found in the text. Lower grade questions ask students to recall musical facts. Higher grade questions require students to analyse and evaluate the musical facts in order to answer questions on context as well (in preparation for AO4 on the essay).
Ideal for revision lesson, homework or a cover lesson. Answers are provided.
A document with a summary of the Bach movement on 2 sides of A4 with the main features students need to know for the exam (this is in prose). There are 20 differentiated questions where answers can be found in the text. Lower grade questions ask students to recall musical facts. Higher grade questions require students to analyse and evaluate the musical facts in order to answer questions on context as well (in preparation for AO4 on the essay).
Ideal for revision lesson, homework or a cover lesson. Answers are provided.
A lesson focusing on AQA Paper 1 Question 4 an extract from Lord of the Flies as the stimulus.
Includes detailed advice on how to approach the question, annotations of the extract and a model exemplar.
Students look at the 40 images and try to work out which quotation each image is referring to. This is great for quotation revision because students often come up with lots of different suggestions for each image.
The answer sheet is included too.
I use this as an end of term activity and invite students to colour in the images to help them remember each image.
Also includes a second activity with 100 key quotations all missing a key word that needs to be added.
If you find this resource useful, try my bundle for more Macbeth resources including lesson on all scenes, writing frames, model answers, theme and character revision cards and lots more.
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/macbeth-full-unit-12584291
A full lesson analysing the character of Old Benjamin in Animal Farm.
The PowerPoint/pdf includes the following:
3 question starter with detailed answers on slide 2.
Then student attempt to explain 6 key quotations before comparing their explanations to the teacher explanations.
Students are then given a model paragraph and asked to write their own paragraph analysing Benjamin.
The included writing frame is optional for weaker students.
A Grade 9 909 word response answering a question that I have made up myself in the same style as AQA.
How does Golding use the character of Roger to explore ideas about evil? Write about:
• what Roger says and does
• how Golding uses Roger to explore ideas about evil.
The response would achieve Band 6 in the mark scheme because it has a conceptualised approach with a careful selection of judicious references from across the novel. There is fine-grained and insightful analysis of language
supported by judicious use of subject terminology as well as convincing exploration of contextual factors and different interpretations.
A lesson that walks students through how to structure a high level Macbeth response on the theme of the supernatural.
It gives students the start of each paragraph and asks them to finish each off with analysis of methods and context.
It then goes over model examples for each section of the essay.
Also includes a prior learning activity and a timeline for knowledge retention to prepare for writing up the response.
Grade 9 response analysing the character of Jack and how his character develops in the novel.
Formatted to fit neatly onto one page.
Also contains a Jack top 10 quotation revision page.
Ideal for Spaced Learning. There are two versions of the 50 quotation quiz.
The longer version can take a whole lesson and the shorter version is ideal as a 10 minute repeatable recap activity.
Also contains a top 30 quotations PowerPoint lesson and worksheet aimed at lower ability students.
The 100 most important quotations from Macbeth, in my opinion, placed onto one A3 sheet to assist with revision. Each quotation has a brief explanation of its importance in the text.
There are lots of ways you can use this in lesson/to revise.
OPTION 1: Create a code for themes e.g. a for ambition, g for guilt, k for kingship, d for deception, s for supernatural. Apply the code to link each quotation to one or more themes.
OPTION 2: Ask students to add to each quotation explanation by adding deeper inferences, comments on the impact of language and the wider symbolic significance of each quotation in helping to communicate Shakespeare’s message.
OPTION 3: Give students a range of exam questions and ask students to pick 5 quotations they would use to answer each question.
OPTION 4: Find pairs of contrasting quotations and explain the contrast to show you can explain how a character or theme develops and changes across the novel.
Also contains a top 30 quotation lesson and resource (76 slides) aimed at lower ability students.
Updated sheet has meanings, methods and message explored for 100 quotations.
A full lesson that prepares students for how to write a speech about the benefits of reading for pleasure.
Includes an example and invites students to follow the same 4 part structure.
Cards for performing, composing and appraising which can be used by students at KS2 and 3 to further stretch and challenge them in lessons.
Usually printed on 3 different coloured cards, they can be selected by students when completing any work and they should be able to link the extra challenge to what they are completing.