A fully-adapatble PowerPoint for mid-high GCSE English Literature students on the contrasting language and characterisation of Shelia and Mrs Birling. Slides include: LOs and Outcomes A slide-prompt to read pp. 27-33 with a focus question A table with the contrasting language of Shelia and Mrs Birling; in the notes section, ideas for teachers on how to tackle a question on contrasting language as a written task A sample response (five paragraphs) on Shelia’s language focusing on Priestley’s method and message A sample response (five paragraphs) on Mrs Birling’s language focusing on Priestley’s method and message A reflective plenary task in which students are asked to sort various adjectives into two groups to reflect the contrasting characterisations of Shelia and Mrs Birling and their links to the play’s wider themes and ideas. Best wishes, Englbee x

It’s hard work finding quality GCSE model writing answers for AQA English Language Paper 2, and even harder work writing them yourself, especially at a high level. Here, you will find a high-level model answer: a letter to persuade. The topic is homework. Pupils are asked to reflect on the significance of style and genre at the end as a self-reflection exercise. Please note the preview shows only a section of the sheet. Best wishes, Englbee x

A fully-adaptable PowerPoint which explores ‘Before You Were Mine’ in preparation for the AQA Literature Examination The PowerPoint and accompanying teacher notes are aimed at high-level GCSE candidates aiming for grades 6-9 The resource contains the following: AQA Assessment objectives for the poetry anthology examination paper Warm-up activity A brief biography of Carol Ann Duffy A link to an audio of a reading of the poem A link to a copy of the poem (due to copyright; you can easily copy and paste into PowerPoint) A list of high-level terminology for this particular poem as required for higher grades A pyramid of questions which moves from knowledge to evaluation as a way of stretching students’ thinking A student sheet which can be printed off or projected onto the board to record ideas whilst working through questions A short plenary Followed by: Teacher notes -three slides containing ideas for understanding the poem and its methods at a high level which you should likely read before the lesson as preparation for discussion and teaching. How much you ‘teacher-lead’ using these notes, or how much you use them to aid independent learning is up to you. Notes are not definitive, but offer good-grounding in understanding Duffy’s use of method in the poem, with detail on structure and form as well as language in order to reach higher grades (e.g. time shifts, enjambment, use of tableau, verbs, symbolism etc.) NEW: THREE PAGE LESSON PLAN ON HOW TO USE EACH SLIDE INCLUDING KEY QUESTIONS, LEARNING AND OUTCOMES The lesson presumes that some previous learning has taken place on what language, form and structure mean, and that students have a good level of understanding of what questions they should ask of poems in order to explore them (e.g. when was it written? how might that influence language choices? is there a specific form? what relevance is the form? how is the poem’s narrative structured? Is there a clear structure? etc.) Kind regards, Englbee x

A high-level revision sheet (PDF) of Cecil Day-Lewis’ ‘Walking Away’ for students aiming for levels, 6-9 in the new GCSE Literature Paper 2 The revision sheet is laid out in sections with minimal graphics to allow effective revision of ideas and method. Ideas are written in a brief format rather than being too text/colour heavy to aid key learning and memory The method focus is rooted in structure and form as well as language choices in order to hit higher band criteria. Only a few choices for each as AQA stresses depth as opposed to breadth to achieve top grades. There are suggested links to ‘Follower’ and evaluative questions to consider in a potential essay conclusion. The sheet is not definitive, and students should have a much deep knowledge of the poem from class studies; however, it will help as an aid for themes and methods regarding the second, unprinted poem in the examination in which they will need to draw on their memory. Please note the preview shows only a small section of the revision sheet. Best wishes, Englbee x

This is high-level revision sheet of Charlotte Mew’s ‘The Farmer’s Bride’ for students aiming for grades 6- 9 in the new GCSE Literature Paper 2 The revision sheet is laid out in sections with minimal graphics to allow effective revision of ideas and method. Ideas are written in a easy format rather than being too colour-heavy to aid key learning and memory The method focus is rooted in structure and form as well as language choices in order to hit higher band criteria. Only a few choices for each as AQA stresses depth as opposed to breadth to achieve top grades. There are suggested links to ‘Porphyria’s Lover’ and evaluative questions to consider in a potential essay conclusion. The sheet is not definitive, and students should have a much deep knowledge of the poem from class studies; however, it will help as an aid for themes and methods regarding the second, unprinted poem in the examination in which they will need to draw on their memory. Please note the preview shows only a small section of the revision sheet. Kind regards, Englbee x

A high-ability knowledge organiser for Much Ado about Nothing for AQA GCSE English Literature Offered as a PDF This is a high-ability revision tool (aspiring grades 7-9) which presumes students are competent already with the basic structure of the plot and basic character roles. The knowledge organiser has two sides which can be copied back-to-to-back on A3 or simply put on your school’s intranet . Side one offers analysis on the following four sections: Characters as concepts (11 characters) with significant key quotations and act/scene Significant Elizabethan contextual factors including: legitimacy, marriage, religion, humanism and patriarchal hegemony Significant themes including: constructive/destructive/self deception, love and marriage, transformation and gender (with act/scenes as relevant) High-level key vocabulary to help discuss the play conceptually Side two offers analysis of method specifically dramatic comedy devices: Metadrama, deception and artifice Self-reflexive language / metalanguage Pairs and Parallels (structure) ‘Happy’ endings Green World If you are new to teaching Much Ado about Nothing at a high-level, this would be a great tool for you as a teacher also to use as a planning aid and way into the text before giving to students for revision. I hope you find it useful. Best wishes, Englbee x

A character revision poster of the Witches with key quotations on the following themes: Masculinity/Femininity; Appearance and Reality; Children; Guilt; Kingship; Fate, Free Will and Ambition. Quotations are not definitive, but offer a simple way for students to link quotations and theme for revision purposes. Act, scene and line are also given. Would be useful printed onto A3 for classroom revision or A4 for home revision. Bundle of all eight Macbeth character posters found here for only £5 https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/macbeth-revision-posters-12070022 Original illustrations by mancsunshine (copyright) Best wishes, Englbee x

A character revision poster of Malcolm with key quotations on the following themes: Masculinity/Femininity; Appearance and Reality; Children; Guilt; Kingship; Fate, Free Will and Ambition. Quotations are not definitive, but offer a simple way for students to link quotations and theme for revision purposes. Act, scene and line are also given. Would be useful printed onto A3 for classroom revision or A4 for home revision. Bundle of all eight Macbeth character posters found here https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/macbeth-revision-posters-12070022 Original illustrations by mancsunshine (copyright) Best wishes, Englbee x

A character revision poster of Duncan with key quotations on the following themes: Masculinity/Femininity; Appearance and Reality; Children; Guilt; Kingship; Fate, Free Will and Ambition. Quotations are not definitive, but offer a simple way for students to link quotations and theme for revision purposes. Act, scene and line are also given. Would be useful printed onto A3 for classroom revision or A4 for home revision. Bundle of all eight Macbeth character posters found here https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/macbeth-revision-posters-12070022 Original illustrations by mancsunshine (copyright) Best wishes, Englbee x

A character revision poster of Banquo with key quotations on the following themes: Masculinity/Femininity; Appearance and Reality; Children; Guilt; Kingship; Fate, Free Will and Ambition. Quotations are not definitive, but offer a simple way for students to link quotations and theme for revision purposes. Act, scene and line are also given. Would be useful printed onto A3 for classroom revision or A4 for home revision. Bundle of all eight Macbeth character posters found here https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/macbeth-revision-posters-12070022 Original illustrations by mancsunshine (copyright) Best wishes, Englbee x

A character revision poster of Macduff with key quotations on the following themes: Masculinity/Femininity; Appearance and Reality; Children; Guilt; Kingship; Fate, Free Will and Ambition. Quotations are not definitive, but offer a simple way for students to link quotations and theme for revision purposes. Act, scene and line are also given. Would be useful printed onto A3 for classroom revision or A4 for home revision. Bundle of all eight Macbeth character posters found here https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/macbeth-revision-posters-12070022 Original illustrations by mancsunshine (copyright) Best wishes, Englbee x

A scheme of work for Enduring Love by Ian McEwan. Written originally for an outgoing specification for AQA A Level English Literature B. 25 PowerPoints in total covering each chapter. It offers a strong starting point for fine-grained analysis of literary method , whilst also focusing upon complex philosophical questions explored in the text. Included in each lesson: Five narrative method slides, one each on - narrative voice, setting, structure, form and language. Some slides more detailed than others depending on importance of method to each chapter. There are prompts for discussion and exploration of significance of each method with quotations if relevant. Advanced Level students will benefit from the prompts without being ‘spoonfed’. Teachers new to Enduring Love will find studying the slides for each chapter in advance, before reading, will help them focus upon the methods McEwan uses in the novel and aid teaching preparation. Later slides focus on debate questions, focusing less on method, and more on the philosophical ideas raised by the text within each chapter. The PowerPoints should be used as starting points for further discussion and analysis by advanced level students. Could be used for undergraduate also. Free prereading lesson here: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/enduring-love-by-ian-mcewan-pre-reading-lesson-11916185s Best wishes, Englbee

It’s hard work finding quality GCSE model writing answers for AQA English Language Paper 2, and even harder work writing them yourself, especially at a high level. Here, you will find a high-level model answer: an article to argue a point of view. The topic is homework. Pupils are asked to reflect on the significance of style and genre at the end as a self-reflection exercise. Please note the preview shows only a section of the sheet. Best wishes, Englbee x

This resource offers two comprehensive PowerPoints for English Language GCSE AQA: one for you to teach to your class, and the second with exemplar responses for you to share with your class as you see fit. The resource is most suitable for introducing a strong summer Year 9 class to GCSE skills needed next year, or as an introduction to a high-ability autumn Year 10 class just starting GCSE. The resource allows students to consider the GCSE as a whole, and the AOs as overlapping, before dividing them between the two papers later on in their GCSE studies How the PowerPoint works: The Learning Objectives and AOs are colour-coded to link with AQA’s symmetry grid (hyperlink provided in PowerPoint) Resources out of copyright are provided within the PowerPoint Resources in copyright are hyperlinked for you. You can copy and paste into the PowerPoint onto new slides should you wish, or you can continue to use the hyperlinks (I have had to hyperlink to avoid copyright breach) Questions are curriculum-aligned The PowerPoint works through AO1, AO2, AO4, AO3, AO5/6 The second PowerPoint contains high-level exemplar answers for AO1-4 questions, and detailed exemplar paragraphs for writing tasks covering AO5/6. If exemplars are too difficult for your class, you can adapt downwards as needed, but showing good quality ‘top’ answers may benefit most pupils aiming for 5+. I have used this myself with high-ability classes who have found it useful as an introduction to their GCSE English Language. The texts are: the opening two/three pages of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service; two linked 19th century letters on hanging; and a Guardian article on capital punishment. Links to 20th/21st Century articles necessary due to copyright. Please note the links to On Her Majesty’s Secret Service are sometimes temperamental. There is a copy here: https://archive.org/stream/JamesBondBooks/OHMS_0020#page/n7/mode/2up and here (also on PowerPoint): https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=MkH504QgSKsC&pg=PA1&source=kp_read_button&redir_ese=y However, as with all things internet, sources disappear from time-to-time. Purchasing a cheap paperback copy of OHMSS might be an idea… Best wishes, Englbee

This is a high-ability 16-page GCSE Literature booklet on Macbeth. Offered both in Publisher as a fully-adaptable resource, and also as a PDF. Are you new to teaching English? Is this the first time you have taught Macbeth at GCSE? Or have you only ever taught the play to lower- and middle-ability groups, and are worried about pitching it to the new top-set class you’ve been allocated? Concerned as to how to stretch to those 7s, 8s and 9s? Then this guide might be for you. The guide contains detailed analysis of: the theme of masculinity, focusing upon Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, the Witches and Macduff the theme of womanhood, focusing upon Lady Macbeth, the Witches and Lady Macduff the significance of children, heirs, legacy and posterity There are also concise explanations of: Types of Kings and Kingship found in the play The Great Chain of Being and the Divine Right of Kings Aspects of the ‘Human Condition’ found in the play Macbeth as part of the tragedy genre: characterisation, tragic flaw and structure inc. anagnorisis, peripeteia and catharsis The guide is not exhaustive, but offers good grounding in higher-level ideas especially surrounding characters as constructs and vehicles for concepts, and also devices within the tragedy genre. In the summer before exams, the guide can be adapted and given to pupils to take away as part of their revision. Original posters on characters can be found at my shop: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/macbeth-revision-posters-12070022 Best wishes, Englbee x

Three PowerPoints exploring Act 4 of ‘Macbeth’ for mid-high level GCSE Engish Literature classes. The PowerPoint contains exploration of themes: Appearance and Reality; Ambition, Fate & Freewill; Gender & Identity; Kingship; and Children Genre, Shakespeare’s Method and Context are also explored. The teacher can choose to focus on some, or all of the slides, as the class requires. Underneath most slides are teacher notes to aid with class teaching. Best wishes, Englbee x

A fully-adaptable PowerPoint for the end of Act Two on Mrs Birling’s involvement with Eva Smith and her condemnation of Eric. Suitable for mid-high GCSE Literature groups Slides include: LOs and Outcomes A prompt slide with focus questions whilst reading pp40-49 (end of Act 2) Questions to explore Mrs Birling’s class prejudice with example ideas in the teacher notes below An exploration of Mrs Birling’s first name -Sybil - and its links to blindness A tension graph (blank) for students to complete if the teacher wishes with the language of the Inspector and Mrs Birling towards the end of Act 2 A completed tension graph A written response to explore Priestley’s method at the end of Act 2 including a focus on the use of narrative gaps and structure A plenary task to reflect on learning regarding context, language and structure from the day’s lesson. Best wishes, Englbee x

A fully-adaptable PowerPoint on adjectives. Suitable for high-ability KS3, mid-to high ability KS4, and intermediate ESOL. Suitable for home-learning. The PowerPoint introduces the student to five different adjective types: positive; negative; comparative; superlative; and descriptive. Includes: *an explanation of the function of each adjective type within the English language *an example list of the type of adjective discussed *three differentiated challenge exercises for each adjective type with examples for students to choose from (less able might choose challenge one, with increasingly able choosing challenges two and three OR students could work from challenges one to three) Teachers can choose to teach the adjectives types in any order, dip in or out, or select as necessary. Could be used as a series of starter activities or as a longer grammar lesson. Could also be set remotely for home-learning as an independent study exercise The PowerPoint is not definitive, but offers a clear approach to understanding and using different types of adjectives. Best wishes, Englbee x