Writing frames and essay plans designed to help lower ability GCSE students write about the whole of the text not just the given extract.
There are 7 writing frames in total using two different styles. Some with an introduction and conclusion and some without.
For each question I have identified 5 points with 5 quotations. Students must then develop each point by adding language analysis, inferences zoom in to language and zoom out to context.
2023 update: Extra 4 essay plans added.
Also includes some advice on thesis statements with an easy to follow 3 sentence formula.
Also includes advice on how to create a thesis-style introduction.
‘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.
Narrative writing lesson for mid to low ability based on preparing students for English Language Paper 1 Section B.
Using an image of a dark alley, students use the 6 paragraph planning sheet to structure their narrative.
This lesson works very effectively with mid/low ability students.
There are also 3 model paragraphs to annotate about a dark alley.
Also includes resources for self and peer assessment of the first draft.
This 44 page PowerPoint collates my carefully selected annotations for each poem onto one 44 page powerpoint.
The annotations are animated to appear on the mouse click so you can go over them one by one.
The revision lesson asks students to make 3 mind maps by grouping the poems into 3 themes:
Power of nature: Tissue, Storm on the Island, Kamikaze, Prelude, Ozymandias,
Effects of war: Bayonet Charge, Exposure, War Photographer, Charge of the Light Brigade, Poppies, Remains
Conflict with identify: London, Emigree, Checking out my History, My Last Duchess
Also includes an A3 revision sheet containing key notes on each poem.
Also includes a test with 5 questions on every poem.
I do have other power and conflict resources available:
Bundle
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/power-and-conflict-revision-11626301
Model answers:
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/power-and-conflict-grade-9-model-essays-12213236
Revision cards:
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/power-and-conflict-revision-cards-12107049
Effective for building skills in answering the 8 mark Question 2 on AQA English Language Paper 1.
Uses 3 short extracts from Chapter 5 of Frankenstein to practise writing 3 answers to Q2 - commenting on language.
Each short extract has animated annotations to talk through.
There are also model paragraphs for students to peer assess.
Includes success criteria.
Complete lesson analysing language in the opening to Great Expectations with a focus on the skills for English Language Paper 1 Question 2.
Contains detailed annotations of the extract along with exemplar responses to the exam-style questions.
Plenary asks students to review the features of a successful analytical paragraph.
15 Conceptual Statements - one for each poem. Students must work out which poem each conceptual statement is referring to.
Also contains summaries of each poem using the ‘because, but, so’ method from the writing revolution.
The ‘because, but, so’ method is an excellent tool for teaching students to think analytically about each poem in the Power and Conflict anthology. This tool is powerful because it encourages students to expand their thinking with precision and detail.
After studying each poem, I ask students to write a ‘because, but, so’ paragraph on it.
This document collates ‘because, but, so’ paragraphs on all 15 poems as examples to assist students with revising the key ideas in each poem.
In this 16 slide powerpoint, I have selected 4 key quotations for each poem to annotate in detail with a focus on all 3 areas of assessment:
A01: meanings
A02: analysis of methods
A03: Context/Themes
This lesson is repeatable in the run up to the exam to revise all 60 quotations and their various layers of meaning. I have also included an answer sheet on A3 paper with all the slides on one page.
How it works:
Show students the 4 quotations and give them time to annotate them then reveal the teacher answers to compare.
The teacher annotations are animated and appear one by one on the mouse click so you can talk through them.
A successful lesson that doesn’t require any photocopying!
This PowerPoint contains detailed annotations of 34 key quotations to the novel.
There are 4 annotations for each quotation which link to
A01 - meaning
A02 - writer’s methods
A03 - context/themes/wider ideas
Start by showing the students the 4 quotations and asking them to annotate them. Then talk through the annotations which appear one by one on the mouse clicl
The following characters and themes are covered:
Simon
Roger
Jack
Ralph
Piggy
Hair
Evil
Island
Conch
Also includes a random generator quotation PowerPoint. Simply stop the PowerPoint on a slide and students must guess the missing word.
Bundle contains the following:
Annotations for all 15 poems
Revision cards
Knowledge organiser (2 versions)
Quizzes
Thesis statements
Comments on structure
Key quotation annotations
Writing frames
model essay
model introductions
I do have other power and conflict resources available:
Bundle
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/power-and-conflict-revision-11626301
Model answers:
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/power-and-conflict-grade-9-model-essays-12213236
Revision cards:
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/power-and-conflict-revision-cards-12107049
A quote revision game for Macbeth and A Christmas Carol containing 98 quote prompts (49 for Macbeth and 49 for A Christmas Carol). The competitive and collaborative nature of the task means students find it highly engaging.
Can be used with 1 or 2 dice.
It is currently in A4 but I recommend enlarging it to A3.
In order to advance the number decided by the dice, the student must think of a relevant quotation that matches the prompt.
For example:
The prompt might be: A quote about Macbeth’s masculinity.
The answer could be: ‘I dare do all that may become a man’.
Lesson guides students through an exam question on Piggy. Aimed at students with a target grade of 7-9.
Includes help with writing a thesis style introduction and an exemplar.
For the main body there are a selection of quotes students can pick to support a specific idea that links back to the thesis.
There is also an exemplar conclusion.
Lesson looking at how Macbeth and Banquo react differently to the witches’ predictions with two model paragraphs.
Also includes 15 questions aimed at understanding Act 1 Scene 3 and teacher annotations of Act 1 Scene 3.
A 16 slide PowerPoint which contains detailed animated annotations for 6 soliloquies from the play along with modern translations and follow up comprehension questions on each speech.
Act 1 Scene 5 (Unsex me here)
Act 1 Scene 7 (If it were done)
Act 2 Scene 1 (Is this a dagger)
Act 3 Scene 1 (To be thus is nothing)
Act 5 Scene 3 (Seyton! I am sick at heart)
Act 5 Scene 5 (She should have died hereafter)
My top 50 Macbeth quotations on one sheet with some analysis about why each quotation is important in the play as well as the scene each quotation has been taken from. Also now updated to contain the top 100 quotations too.
Also includes a blank version with space to add the explanations in to test yourself.
A good way to use the sheet to revise is to group the quotations into themes to help prepare for the possible exam questions that might come up.
a) ambition
b) appearance versus reality
c) guilt
d) animal imagery
e) supernatural
Also includes an additional sheet matching the 50 quotations to 50 brief explanations.
Also contains a Macbeth quotation random generator quiz and a sheet to revise 6 motifs in Macbeth.
A grade 9 exemplar essay to the 2018 AQA question on Romeo and Juliet which was as follows:
Starting with this moment in the play, explore how Shakespeare presents relationships between adults and young people in Romeo and Juliet. (30+4 marks)
Includes some examiner comment for A01, A02, A03.
A full lesson on Act 1 Scene 5 including discussion about the role of women in Jacobean society, annotations of the whole scene followed up with an analytical writing task with an example paragraph as guidance. There is also an alternative version of the lesson included for differing abilities.
4 PowerPoint lessons covering the 4 scenes from Act 2 of Macbeth.
Each lesson includes a differentiated starter, scene summary, line by line annotations, comprehension questions. Many also include example paragraphs and stretch activities.
Lessons, PowerPoints, detailed annotations, questions testing understanding of the annotations, writing frames, revision sheets, model paragraphs covering all 15 Power and Conflict poems.
I do have other power and conflict resources available:
Bundle
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/power-and-conflict-revision-11626301
Model answers:
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/power-and-conflict-grade-9-model-essays-12213236
Revision cards:
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/power-and-conflict-revision-cards-12107049