Two lessons. One lesson aimed at covering the themes and ideas in Act 1 Scene 1 with annotations and comprehension activities.
Lesson two is aimed at getting students to produce a powerful piece of descriptive writing based on image from the opening scene of Polanski’s Macbeth. The PowerPoint goes through examples of vocabulary, sentence types, punctuation and literary techniques to help achieve a high level.
There is also an A3 graphic organiser to encourage students to plan a piece of descriptive writing inspired by Act 1 Scene 1 of Macbeth.
The graphic organiser includes:
Act 1 Scene 1
an opening paragraph model to annotate
a long list of useful words
a paragraph planning table
a link to 3 film versions of Act 1 Scene 1 to evaluate
a success criteria of descriptive techniques
some images to help generate ideas
I have carefully selected 20 brief key extracts from the play. They are the 20 extracts I consider to be most likely to come up in the exam.
To complete the revision activity, students must work out what is happening in each extract, analyse two key quotations and make links to context, themes and ideas.
This booklet is helping my students revise for the closed book examination. There are 4 A3 sheets covering Acts 1-5.
Of the hundreds Romeo and Juliet resources I have created, this is probably the most effective.
Also includes a PowerPoint with suggested answers for each extract.
Includes an AQA version (with context) and an Eduqas version (without context).
20 Quotations revisions cards covering 20 of the most important quotations in the novella. These are aimed at high ability students to help ensure their analysis of quotations is thorough and perceptive to meet the Band 5 or 6 stages of the mark scheme.
Each card contains detailed notes linked to the three assessment objects A01, A02 and A03. The notes are colour-coded to help with this. Also methods are underlined to help students see how they meeting the requirements for A02.
Simply cut out each revision card and fold them to create double sided cards with the quotation on the front and the analysis on the back.
Also presented as an A3 knowledge organiser.
Also contains a version with the A03 removed for 14 quotations so students have to add in the A03 using the following prompt:
A03 – Zoom out of the text. What is Dickens’ authorial message/big idea for his 19th century reader? What are the relevant 19th century contextual factors?
A03+ What makes the ideas in this text relevant to human beings NOW? What key concepts or universal truths about being human, or part of society, or a part of a relationship, or alive in the world, are being presented in this text?
Also contains an additional resource with intentionally concise notes on 20 key words from the novella to zoom in on.
Check out my shop for other A Christmas Carol resources:
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/a-christmas-carol-theme-revision-cards-poverty-isolation-ghosts-christmas-family-11869145
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/a-christmas-carol-gcse-differentiated-revision-sheets-on-themes-and-context-11387723
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/stave-1-and-stave-5-scrooge-s-transformation-in-a-christmas-carol-11503154
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/a-christmas-carol-grade-9-lesson-and-essays-on-ghosts-11552659
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/a-christmas-carol-100-comprehension-questions-with-answer-sheet-12450748
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/revise-themes-in-a-christmas-carol-family-isolation-poverty-charity-christmas-supernatural-11577227
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/grade-9-a-christmas-carol-exam-responses-12220340
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/a-christmas-carol-top-50-quotations-11901568
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/a-christmas-carol-3-grade-9-model-answers-for-eduqas-gcse-exam-style-11797550
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/grade-9-response-on-poverty-in-a-christmas-carol-12512988
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/6-grade-9-model-essays-on-a-christmas-carol-for-aqa-or-eduqas-11896608
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/a-christmas-carol-aqa-1-9-super-bundle-11532059#
Ideal lesson to check the students’ understanding of the 15 poems and work out which poems to go over again.
In each round there are 15 questions (one on each poem).
Round 1: Opening Lines
Round 2: Conflict
Round 3: Power
Round 4: Key phrase
Round 5: Structure
Round 6: Context
Extra quiz on thesis statements for each poem.
Also includes an extra quiz on 5 questions per poem.
Another quiz is available here:
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/power-and-conflict-revision-quiz-12352453
Updated for 2023, 4 differentiated writing frames to 4 actual AQA power and conflict past exam questions. Each writing frame has 3 tiers of difficulty to allow for the fact different students in the class require different levels of support and guidance in the run up to the examinations.
Tier 1: Students add the analysis of the quotations. The topic sentences and recommended quotations are already filled in for them.
Tier 2: Students must pick their own 3 quotations from each poem and analyse the quotations.
Tier 3: Students must pick their own topic sentences, quotations and then analsyse the quotations.
The questions covered are as follows:
2021 question: Compare how poets present ideas about power and control in ‘London’ and in one other poem from ‘Power and conflict’. (30)
Nov 2020 question: Compare how poets present the ways people are affected by difficult experiences in ‘Remains’ and in one other poem from ‘Power and conflict’. (30)
May 2019 question: Compare how poets present the ways that people are affected by war in ‘War Photographer’ and in one other poem from ‘Power and conflict’. (30)
May 2018 question: Compare how poets present ideas about power in ‘Ozymandias’ and in one other poem from ‘Power and conflict’. (30)
Also includes more writing frames to help structure comparisons that I made a few years ago. The poems that feature in the writing frames include:
Storm on the Island and Exposure (conflict with nature)
Prelude and Ozymandias (power)
Tissue and Ozymandias (conflict)
Bayonet Charge and Charge of the light brigade (conflict)
Storm on the Island and The Prelude (conflict)
London and The Emigree (power of a place)
Remains and Poppies (conflict)
War Photographer and Remains (conflict)
My Last Duchess and Ozymandias (power of pride)
My Last Duchess and Checking out me History (frustration)
A revision timeline that explores Lady Macbeth’s journey through the play. Also contains a high grade model exam answer exploring how Lady Macbeth’s character changes during the play.
Also included as a cut and stick activity where students cut out the boxes and place them in the correct order.
Also includes a Lady Macbeth quotation revision sheet and 2 quizzes on Lady Macbeth,
We are still waiting for the theme of kingship to come up. When it does, here are 6 key quotations that are useful for analysing how this theme is presented in the novel. Each quotation is analysed in some depth to meet the requirements for A01, A02 and A03.
10 Sample exam questions for the GCSE 9-1 Eduqas Poetry Anthology.
Includes the 15 mark a) question and the 25 mark b) question.
Also includes 14 sample comparative b) questions for a carousel revision lesson.
In pairs, students will respond to all 14 questions over the course of the lesson.
Also includes 6 unseen poems with questions.
Links to other Eduqas poetry resources:
Revision Cards
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/eduqas-wjec-poetry-revision-cards-gcse-12107545
Lessons on all poems
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/wjec-anthology-bundle-2-lesson-on-each-poem-11896591
Revision resources:
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/wjec-eduqas-poetry-anthology-revising-all-poems-11894072
Bundle:
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/wjec-eduqas-poetry-anthology-bundle-gcse-9-1-11815065
22 key quotations briefly explained for Macbeth and Lady Macbeth on a visually engaging poster. There is an editable word version and a pdf version.
Also contains a more detailed analysis of quotations for each character.
For more Macbeth resources try the following links:
grade 9 model responses:
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/macbeth-6-grade-7-9-model-responses-12187985
Revision Cards
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/macbeth-revision-cards-12173097
Full bundle
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/macbeth-revision-bundle-2019-12115685
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.
On the worksheet I made 40 pairs of quotations from the Power and Conflict poems. There is an even spread of key quotes from across the 18 poems.
To revise making discriminating links, students need to explain how the 2 quotations present ideas about power and conflict in a similar and different way.
Example of how to turn the pairs of quotations into a comparison:
Both Ozymandias and My Last Duchess portray characters with the power to issue commands to explore the corrosive nature of power. In Ozymandias the ‘sneer of cold command’ suggests the statue has a cruel condescending attitude to his subjects. However, in ‘My Last Duchess’ the speaker ‘gave commands’ to arrange for the execution of his wife to reflect his controlling nature.
My attempt at producing a grade 9 full mark (or close to full mark response) to a question about how Macbeth’s fears are presented in the play. 2022.
The response is on the long side (1266) words. It has been written to try and meet the top band criteria for A01, A02 and A03.
Rather than starting with the extract, the response is chronological and charts the journey of Macbeth’s fears from being seemingly fearless at the start to forgetting the ‘taste of fears’ by the end of the play.
Also includes a planning timeline that charts Macbeth’s fears across the play.
This comprehensive lesson and pack contains a full range of resources to help students understand the character of Mrs Birling in ‘An Inspector Calls’. The resources have been created for the AQA 9-1 2017 onwards English Literature Paper 2 examination.
A list of her lines throughout the play
A mid/high level model essay
An incomplete model essay to develop
A differentiated carousel activity to promote insightful thinking about the character
An essay plan
An essay checklist
An evidence finding worksheet
A mind map to complete
There is also an essay plan for a response on Mr Birling.
A term of resources covering everything you need to teach ‘An Inspector Calls’ for the 9-1 GCSE. Includes lessons, essay plans on all 7 characters, various model responses, carefully selected quotations, notes on themes and relevant points about context for A03 and lots of helpful worksheets! Check out the many previews to see what you will be getting.
The pack includes:
differentiated vocabulary activity
differentiated context activity
differentiated activity on the stage directions
differentiated resources for teaching Mrs Birling
differentiated resources for teaching Mr Birling
differentiated resources for exploring who is responsible for Eva Smith’s death
test on who speaks each line
detailed plan for essay on Sheila
detailed essay plan with answers on Gerald
detailed essay plan with answers on Eric
planning sheet for Inspector Goole
detailed planning sheet with answers for Eva Smith
A quotation sheet containing 32 quotations about Eva to match to the character who said it.
Plus lots more that I keep adding.
New for 2023, I have collated some of the best resources into a 43 page revision booklet for ease of printing and downloading.
Analysis sheet and key quotations sheet for 6 key motifs in Macbeth: blood, darkness, weather, animals, clothing and illness. The sheets can be used in lots of different ways to assist with revision.
6 quotations exploring the effects of greed in A Christmas Carol based on the May 2023 AQA exam question.
The revision cards are aimed at students look to develop grade 7-9 comments about the key quotations which meet the requirements for A01, A02 and A03.
A bundle of resources to use in the final few weeks after you have taught all 18 poems.
The resources encourage students to learn quotations, explore comparisons and write up comparative paragraphs.
Links to other Eduqas poetry resources:
Revision Cards
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/eduqas-wjec-poetry-revision-cards-gcse-12107545
Lessons on all poems
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/wjec-anthology-bundle-2-lesson-on-each-poem-11896591
Revision resources:
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/wjec-eduqas-poetry-anthology-revising-all-poems-11894072
Bundle:
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/wjec-eduqas-poetry-anthology-bundle-gcse-9-1-11815065
Links to other Eduqas poetry resources:
Revision Cards
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/eduqas-wjec-poetry-revision-cards-gcse-12107545
Lessons on all poems
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/wjec-anthology-bundle-2-lesson-on-each-poem-11896591
Revision resources:
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/wjec-eduqas-poetry-anthology-revising-all-poems-11894072
Bundle:
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/wjec-eduqas-poetry-anthology-bundle-gcse-9-1-11815065
A revision lesson on key quotations from Blood Brothers.
Start by giving out the revision grid with only the quotations so students can analyse the top 6 quotations for each character.
Then give out the answer sheet so students can compare their answers to the model.
There is also a larger revision grid which contains quotations for each character linked to theme in case a theme question comes up.
I like to revise BIG IDEAS for my final revision lesson. This lesson is student led.
Students create a mind map 6 BIG IDEAS about Romeo and Juliet using the 3 knowledge organisers to help them form their ideas.
Also includes 6 sample exam questions on one A3 sheet for ease of photocopying. The 6 questions are my predictions for what might come up in 2019.
A worksheet and PowerPoint to support the study of the character of Eva Smith in An Inspector Calls.
Students read the 32 carefully selected quotations about Eva Smith and work out who said each one. They can plot the utterances into a table to enable further analysis.
Also includes a worksheet examining who is responsible for her death and an essay planning sheet with and without answers.
The PowerPoint then encourages students to create a revision page on Eva by explaining what the key quotations reveal.
Students look at a grade 5/6 full response on Eva.
Students then write a model paragraph.
I have other resources available for An Inspector Calls:
Bundle
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/an-inspector-calls-aqa-1-9-differentiated-birling-sheila-11412310
Revision Cards:
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/theme-revision-cards-for-an-inspector-calls-12124143
Knowledge Organisers
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/an-inspector-calls-4-ultimate-revision-sheets-themes-character-stage-directions-cards-11574057
Revision quotations:
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/an-inspector-calls-test-on-10-quotations-per-character-9-1-revision-12138293