6 model responses/model paragraphs comparing The Handmaid’s Tale and Feminine Gospels for AQA English Literature Paper 2B ‘Modern Times’ 7712/2B. Each response has been written deliberately to try and target the 5 Assessment objectives and has been designed to fit snugly onto one side of A4 for ease of printing. Each response uses a specific chapter or poem to exemplify wider ideas across the whole novel/collection. For A02 there is a particular focus on macro methods with Offred’s unreliable/discontinuous narration in The Handmaid’s Tale and Duffy’s use of conceits, listing, surrealism. For A03 there is a particular focus on the conservative backlash of the 1980s in The Handmaid’s Tale and consumerist culture, shifting identities and societal pressures on women at the beginning of the 21st century in Feminine Gospels. Students are instructed to identify how each of the AOs have been covered across the response through labelling or colour coding. The 6 themes of ‘modern times’ covered are the human body, degradation, isolation, contrasting ideas, motherhood and rebellion. Personally, I find these exemplars are useful for teaching students how to meet the different Assessment Objectives without compromising the fluency of their response - something that is obviously essential for A01.

Question bank for each letter of the alphabet n the style of Blockbusters to help students develop tier 2 vocabulary. Also includes an interactive display of the blockbusters board. For those who didn’t watch the show in the eighties, divide the class into 2 teams and move the hexagon onto the corresponding letter when a question is answered correctly.

Model answers for questions 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the November 2022 language exam based on the extract from The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway, For each question, I have provided 2 different answers so students can compare the merits of each. Both are aimed at meeting the top band (level 4) criteria. For question 5 I have provided a high level response to both questions - the fishing village and the unlikely friendship. The extract is available on the AQA website.

Simple storyboard activity to help students gain a basic understanding of the plot to Much Ado About Nothing.

The plot to Lord of the Flies converted into a short play script to help the main plot points to low ability students in an engaging manner.

Model answers for questions 2-5 of the AQA November 2024 Paper 2 exam when the 2 non-fiction texts were about Egypt. I have included 2 answers of slightly different quality for each question so students can compare them both and adjudge the quality against the marking criteria. Note the extract and exact wording of the questions are not included and would need to be obtained from elsewhere such as the AQA website.

A high level model response to the AQA 2024 question on Romeo and Juliet. The question was focused on the character of Juliet and the featured extract was from Act 2 Scene 5. To obtain the exact wording of the question, you will need to download the paper from the AQA website.

A lesson looking at how Dickens describes Christmas morning at the start of Stave 3.

Lesson on Victorian context for A Christmas Carol.

A lesson looking at the themes of greed and avarice in Stave 2.

A lesson examining Scrooge’s isolation in Stave 1.

2 lessons analsying the Cratchit Family and Tiny Tim in Stave 3.

Ideal as a final lesson in the run up to the exam, this lesson is aimed at teaching students to explore multiple interpretations of each of the 12 main characters in A Christmas Carol. Students are given the blank template and are encouraged to think of 3 things each character symbolises or represents. Then go through the PowerPoint asking students to consider which is the most valid interpretation for each character. Students are also encouraged to think about and select the most analysable quotation for each character to allow opportunities for thoughtful and perceptive comment. Finish by giving the students to A3 revision guide as a revision takeaway.

3 lessons exploring the following 3 themes in A Christmas Carol: Christmas, poverty, family.

A lesson analysing the presentation of Scrooge’s childhood in Stave 2.

A lesson analysing the preface and opening page of A Christmas Carol.

A lesson analysing Fezziwig’s party in Stave 2.

A lesson analysing the character of Fred in A Christmas Carol.

5 lessons to accompany a cold read of A Christmas Carol with comprehension questions to complete at the end of each Stave.