Annotation prompts for William Blake’s ‘The Chimney Sweeper’ (Songs of Innocence). ‘The Chimney Sweeper’ is set against a backdrop of child labour (prominent in England in the late 18th and 19th century). The annotation prompts are a supportive tool, intended to encourage further poetry analysis and interpretation. Resources included: an editable PowerPoint presentation on William Blake’s ‘The Chimney Sweeper’; a poetry planning table; 20 poetry analysis questions; and a booklet containing the poetry questions, with space to respond. This poetry resource complements the video annotation of William Blake’s ‘The Chimney Sweeper’, on Poetry Essay’s YouTube channel.

This punctuation explained poster presents simplified definitions of all the key punctuation marks. English students are expected to be familiar with all of these punctuation marks and this makes their task easier. The punctuation explained poster has been created in high resolution – A0 size (841mm x 1189mm) – so that you can use it as a classroom display. However, it will print perfectly well in other paper sizes, such as A4.

Annotation prompts for William Blake’s ‘London’ (Songs of Experience). ‘London’ is a poem that depicts England’s capital city during the Industrial Revolution (1760-1820/40). Poem was published in Songs of Experience (1794). The annotation prompts are a supportive tool, intended to encourage further poetry analysis and interpretation. Resources included: an editable PowerPoint presentation on William Blake’s ‘London’; a poetry planning table; 20 poetry analysis questions; and a booklet containing the poetry questions, with space to respond. This poetry resource complements the video annotation of William Blake’s ‘London’, on Poetry Essay’s YouTube channel.

Annotation prompts for Ted Hughes’ ‘View of a Pig’. ‘View of a Pig’ is about someone observing a swine that has died. The annotation prompts are a supportive tool, intended to encourage further poetry analysis and interpretation. Resources included: an editable PowerPoint presentation on Ted Hughes’ ‘View of a Pig’; a poetry planning table; 20 poetry analysis questions; and a booklet containing the poetry questions, with space to respond. This poetry resource complements the video annotation of Ted Hughes’ ‘View of a Pig’, on Poetry Essay’s YouTube channel.

Annotation prompts for James Fenton’s ‘In Paris with You’. In ‘In Paris with You’ the persona in the poem seems to have recently been in a relationship with someone that was unsuccessful. The annotation prompts are a supportive tool, intended to encourage further poetry analysis and interpretation. Resources included: an editable PowerPoint presentation on James Fenton’s ‘In Paris with You’; a poetry planning table; 20 poetry analysis questions; and a booklet containing the poetry questions, with space to respond. This poetry resource can also be found, in video format, on Poetry Essay’s YouTube channel.

Annotation prompts for Percy Bysshe Shelley’s ‘Ozymandias’. ‘Ozymandias’ is about a statue of Ramesses II. “Ozymandias” is the Greek name for the Egyptian pharaoh Ramesses II (often regarded as the greatest / most celebrated / powerful pharaoh of the Egyptian Empire: 1303 BC - 1213 BC). The annotation prompts are a supportive tool, intended to encourage further poetry analysis and interpretation. Resources included: an editable PowerPoint presentation on Percy Bysshe Shelley’s ‘Ozymandias’; a poetry planning table; 20 poetry analysis questions; and a booklet containing the poetry questions, with space to respond. This poetry resource complements the video annotation of Percy Bysshe Shelley’s ‘Ozymandias’, on Poetry Essay’s YouTube channel.

This PEEL (Point Evidence Explain Link) paragraphs poster presents a simplified way for students to understand analytical writing. English students are expected to be familiar with this technique and this bold display makes their task easier. This compliments the PEEL Paragraphs Sentence Starters Poster, which is also available to download. The PEEL paragraphs poster has been created in high resolution – A0 size (841mm x 1189mm) – so that you can use it as a classroom display. However, it will print perfectly well in other paper sizes, such as A4.

This persuasive techniques / devices poster (PERSUADERR) presents a range of persuasive terms regularly used in an English classroom, with simplified definitions. English students are expected to be familiar with all of these persuasive devices and this makes their task easier. The persuasive techniques poster has been created in high resolution – A0 size (841mm x 1189mm) – so that you can use it as a classroom display. However, it will print perfectly well in other paper sizes, such as A4.

Annotation prompts for Imtiaz Dharker’s ‘Tissue’. ‘Tissue’ concentrates on the different things in life that control us and shows that our lives are mapped out by paper. The annotation prompts are a supportive tool, intended to encourage further poetry analysis and interpretation. Resources included: an editable PowerPoint presentation on Imtiaz Dharker’s ‘Tissue’; a poetry planning table; 20 poetry analysis questions; and a booklet containing the poetry questions, with space to respond. This poetry resource can also be found, in video format, on Poetry Essay’s YouTube channel.

Annotation prompts for Clement Clarke Moore’s ‘A Visit from St. Nicholas’. ‘A Visit from St. Nicholas’, also known as ‘The Night Before Christmas’ and ‘'Twas the Night Before Christmas’. It is largely responsible for some of the ways we perceive Father Christmas or Santa Claus. The annotation prompts are a supportive tool, intended to encourage further poetry analysis and interpretation. Resources included: an editable PowerPoint presentation on Clement Clarke Moore’s ‘A Visit from St. Nicholas’; a poetry planning table; 20 poetry analysis questions; and a booklet containing the poetry questions, with space to respond. This poetry resource can also be found, in video format, on Poetry Essay’s YouTube channel.

Annotation prompts for Jane Weir’s ‘Poppies’. ‘Poppies’ is about a mother’s experience of pain / loss as her son leaves home for war. The annotation prompts are a supportive tool, intended to encourage further poetry analysis and interpretation. Resources included: an editable PowerPoint presentation on Jane Weir’s ‘Poppies’; a poetry planning table; 20 poetry analysis questions; and a booklet containing the poetry questions, with space to respond. This poetry resource can also be found, in video format, on Poetry Essay’s YouTube channel.

Annotation prompts for Seamus Heaney’s ‘Follower’. ‘Follower’ deals with someone (Heaney) following his father – literally and metaphorically. The annotation prompts are a supportive tool, intended to encourage further poetry analysis and interpretation. Resources included: an editable PowerPoint presentation on Seamus Heaney’s ‘Follower’; a poetry planning table; 20 poetry analysis questions; and a booklet containing the poetry questions, with space to respond. This poetry resource complements the video annotation of Seamus Heaney’s ‘Follower’, on Poetry Essay’s YouTube channel.

Annotation prompts for Wilfred Owen’s ‘Exposure’. Wilfred Owen’s ‘Exposure’ focuses on the impact of weather and the harsh conditions that were encountered during World War 1. The annotation prompts are a supportive tool, intended to encourage further poetry analysis and interpretation. Resources included: an editable PowerPoint presentation on Wilfred Owen’s ‘Exposure’; a poetry planning table; 20 poetry analysis questions; and a booklet containing the poetry questions, with space to respond. This poetry resource complements the video annotation of Wilfred Owen’s ‘Exposure’, on Poetry Essay’s YouTube channel.

Annotation prompts for Wilfred Owen’s ‘Disabled’. ‘Disabled’ accounts for a soldier who has lost some of his limbs in a battle. The annotation prompts are a supportive tool, intended to encourage further poetry analysis and interpretation. Resources included: an editable PowerPoint presentation on Wilfred Owen’s ‘Disabled’; a poetry planning table; 20 poetry analysis questions; and a booklet containing the poetry questions, with space to respond. This poetry resource complements the video annotation of Wilfred Owen’s ‘Disabled’, on Poetry Essay’s YouTube channel.

Annotation prompts for Wilfred Owen’s ‘Anthem for Doomed Youth’. Wilfred Owen’s ‘Anthem for Doomed Youth’ is an elegy – it mourns death like a funeral song. The annotation prompts are a supportive tool, intended to encourage further poetry analysis and interpretation. Resources included: an editable PowerPoint presentation on Wilfred Owen’s ‘Anthem for Doomed Youth’; a poetry planning table; 20 poetry analysis questions; and a booklet containing the poetry questions, with space to respond. This poetry resource complements the video annotation of Wilfred Owen’s ‘Anthem for Doomed Youth’, on Poetry Essay’s YouTube channel.

This sentence types poster presents simplified definitions of the four main sentence types: simple, compound, complex and compound-complex. English students are expected to be familiar with all of these four sentence types and this makes their task easier. The sentence types poster has been created in high resolution – A0 size (841mm x 1189mm) – so that you can use it as a classroom display. However, it will print perfectly well in other paper sizes, such as A4.

Annotation prompts for Ted Hughes’ ‘Bayonet Charge’. ‘Bayonet Charge’ is a poem that presents the thoughts and feelings of a soldier as he charges at the enemy and begins to question his role in the battle. The annotation prompts are a supportive tool, intended to encourage further poetry analysis and interpretation. Resources included: an editable PowerPoint presentation on Ted Hughes’ ‘Bayonet Charge’; a poetry planning table; 20 poetry analysis questions; and a booklet containing the poetry questions, with space to respond. This poetry resource complements the video annotation of Ted Hughes’ ‘Bayonet Charge’, on Poetry Essay’s YouTube channel.

Annotation prompts for Carol Ann Duffy’s ‘War Photographer’. ‘War Photographer’ is about someone who takes pictures of war for a living. The annotation prompts are a supportive tool, intended to encourage further poetry analysis and interpretation. Resources included: an editable PowerPoint presentation on Carol Ann Duffy’s ‘War Photographer’; a poetry planning table; 20 poetry analysis questions; and a booklet containing the poetry questions, with space to respond. This poetry resource can also be found, in video format, on Poetry Essay’s YouTube channel.

Annotation prompts for John Agard’s ‘Checking Out Me History’. ‘Checking Out Me History’ is about how we are educated and how it can be biased. The annotation prompts are a supportive tool, intended to encourage further poetry analysis and interpretation. Resources included: an editable PowerPoint presentation on John Agard’s ‘Checking Out Me History’; a poetry planning table; 20 poetry analysis questions; and a booklet containing the poetry questions, with space to respond. This poetry resource can also be found, in video format, on Poetry Essay’s YouTube channel.

This model essay is based on Owen Sheers’ ‘Skirrid Hill’ collection of poetry. It would be helpful to A Level students studying Owen Sheers’ ‘Skirrid Hill’. It is approximately 1,778 words long and 3 pages in length. The essay answers the following question: How far do you agree with the view that ‘Border Country’ is the key to the collection? For more learning resources, please visit Poetry Essay’s website.