Melissa Victoria is a former English teacher with over 15 years' experience in a variety of secondary school settings, including comprehensive and grammar schools. She provides English resources mainly for high-ability students studying for GCSE and A level (AQA).
Melissa Victoria has an MA in English from the University of Birmingham, UK.
Melissa Victoria is a former English teacher with over 15 years' experience in a variety of secondary school settings, including comprehensive and grammar schools. She provides English resources mainly for high-ability students studying for GCSE and A level (AQA).
Melissa Victoria has an MA in English from the University of Birmingham, UK.
A 30-page guide for high-ability students aiming for the new GCSE English Literature grades of 7, 8 and 9. Offered in Publisher as a fully-adaptable resource, and as a PDF.
The guide can be used as revision, or as a starting point for a teacher developing a scheme of work. It will help those new to teaching and/or the play in teaching ‘Much Ado about Nothing’ at a high level, especially with regards to conceptualisation and characters as constructs (needed for top band).
The guide offers detailed discussion on four major themes: marriage, love, deception and transformation.
It also outlines significant moments of major characterisation (Benedick, Beatrice, Hero, Claudio, Leonato, Don John and Don Pedro) in a conceptualised way, considering the significance of character development across the play as a whole, and links with significant themes.
There is also room for students to write in key quotations alongside each change in characterisation.
There are further detailed reflections on the significance of Dogberry and the Watch, Margaret and ‘Green World’ .
Finally there are several extracts from across the play with examination-style questions. Whilst the latter questions are geared towards the new AQA English Literature, the booklet is useful for any high-level study of Much Ado about Nothing.
All notes are written by me, and my studying of the play with a high-level GCSE class.
Best wishes,
Englbee x
A fully-adaptable PowerPoint of Shakespeare’s Richard II for A level English Literature B, Paper 1A Literary genres, Aspects of Tragedy, Part C
These are my notes used with a mid/high A level class. Each scene of Richard II has an individual slide covering the following:
structural points, language choices, thematic points. The first two points are significant in making sure students cover ‘the ways in which…’ Shakespeare explores themes. There is also reference to the dramatic tragedy genre as appropriate with thoughts and comments on peripeteia, anagnorisis and catharsis on some slides
At the beginning of the PowerPoint there are two additional slides: 1) contextual ideas that students should research prior to reading in order to understand kingship 2) an outline of some dramatic methods within the play to continue to explore the significance of ‘the ways in which…’ the play is constructed / crafted.
The PowerPoint might be used in the following ways: as a starting point for you as a teacher new to the play; as a starting point for pupils to read through prior to their own group reading; as a basis for initial ‘teacher-talk’ followed by class discussion (a group could take an area each to build upon - structure, language, theme); as support for independent study of a scene outside of class time; as a starting point for revision.
The PowerPoint is fully-adaptable for you to add your own ideas or insert additional slides as needed. Ideas are not definitive, but rather act as a thorough spring-board for further discussion and exploration of Shakespeare’s method and themes.
An introduction to Tragedy as a dramatic genre can be found at my shop here:
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/dramatic-tragedy-genre-an-introduction-12019491
I hope you find this useful.
Best wishes,
Englbee x
These are high-level revision sheets (PDF) of AQA Love and Relationship Poems for students aiming for levels, 6/7-9 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 other poems 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.
15 high-level poetry lessons here with comprehensive teacher notes. https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/love-and-relationships-poetry-aqa-12180822
Best wishes,
Englbee x
A Bundle of popular high-level Much Ado about Nothing GCSE resources. In this bundle, you will find:
*An introduction to Dramatic Comedy PowerPoint
*A Much Ado about Nothing high-level booklet
*Much Ado about Nothing character revision posters
*Three Much Ado about Nothing high-level essays with notes on how they fulfil AQA’s ‘extract to whole’ criteria
*A high-ability Much Ado about Nothing Knowledge Organiser covering conceptual characterisation, context, themes and dramatic method
Best wishes,
Englbee x
A fully-adaptable PowerPoint which explores ‘Climbing My Grandfather’ 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 Andrew Waterhouse
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 Waterhouse’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. Use of extended metaphor, mountaineering lexis, narrative verse 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 fully-adaptable PowerPoint which explores ‘Eden Rock’ 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 Charles Causley
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 Causley’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. Use of juxtaposition; symbolism, half-rhyme 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
15 fully-adaptable PowerPoints covering each of the Love and Relationship poems in the AQA English Literature GCSE Poetry Anthology. Suitable for those students aiming for grades 7-9.
Each PowerPoint contains:
AQA Assessment objectives for the poetry anthology examination paper
A brief biography of the poet
A link to an audio reading of the poems and a listening task before reading
A list of high-level terminology for each poem as required for higher grades, and as a ‘way-in’ to the poems
A pyramid of critical questions which moves from knowledge to evaluation as a way of stretching higher students’ thinking, rather than you simply offering didactic teaching/leading questions
A copy, or link to a copy of the poem (due to copyright of some poems; you can easily copy and paste into PowerPoint)
A student sheet which can be printed off or projected onto the board as a structure to record ideas whilst working through critical questions
A short plenary
Followed by:
Teacher notes -two/three slides containing ideas for understanding each 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 whether you use them to aid independent learning is up to you. Notes are not definitive, but offer good-grounding in understanding poets’ use of method in the poems, with detail on structure and form as well as language in order to reach higher grades.
NEW: THREE PAGE LESSON PLAN ON HOW TO USE EACH SLIDE INCLUDING KEY QUESTIONS, LEARNING AND OUTCOMES
The lessons presume 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 and why? etc.)
You can find revision posters for your students nearer exam time here https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/love-and-relationships-revision-12183742
Kind regards,
Englbee x
A fully-adaptable PowerPoint which explores ‘Letters From Yorkshire’ 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 Maura Dooley
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 -two 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 Dooley’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. juxtaposition, enjambment, communication as metaphor, pronoun shifts 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 fully-adaptable PowerPoint which offers an introduction to the study of dramatic comedy as a genre (most likely useful with the study of Shakespeare). The lesson offers visual and practical tasks for pupils to work through in order to explore and begin to understand the concept of comedy as a genre. The activities should take one lesson, but may take two. There is also an opportunity for pupils to apply their learning to an extract from Shakespeare’s ‘Much ado About Nothing’ at the end.
This PowerPoint will be most useful with higher-level GCSE students aiming for grades 7,8 and 9 in their study of Shakespeare’s ‘Much Ado about Nothing’, enabling them to explore method and genre as they read, which will help in their reaching higher levels in the examination. Could be adapted for aspiring grade 6 students.
The PowerPoint might also be used as a starting point for A Level English Literature students although further reading and research will be necessary. It will certainly aid less able A Level students who benefit from visual and practical tasks, and discussion (I have used a version of this PowerPoint as a starting point with an AS group for coursework under an old spec).
Best wishes,
Englbee x
A fully-adaptable PowerPoint which explores ‘Love’s Philosophy’ in preparation for the AQA Literature Examination
The PowerPoint and accompanying teacher notes are aimed at high-level GCSE candidates aiming for grades 7, 8 & 9
The resource contains the following:
AQA Assessment objectives for the poetry anthology examination paper
A warm-up activity
A brief biography of Percy Bysshe Shelley
A link to an audio of a reading of the poem
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 copy of the poem
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 - a detailed slide 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 Shelley’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. Use of structure/argument, use of irregular couplets, plosive and sibilant sounds 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.)
Best wishes,
Englbee x
A fully-adaptable PowerPoint which explores ‘Sonnet 29 'I think of thee…’ in preparation for the AQA Literature Examination
The PowerPoint and accompanying teacher notes are aimed at high-level GCSE candidates aiming for grades 7, 8 & 9
The resource contains the following:
AQA Assessment objectives for the poetry anthology examination paper
Warm-up activity
A brief biography of Elizabeth Barrett Browning
A link to an audio of a reading of the poem
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 copy of the poem
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 Barrett Browning’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. use of the ‘abstract thought/empirical being’ structure; breaking of the Petrarchan sonnet form; use of extended metaphor/symbolism.
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.)
Best wishes,
Englbee x
This is high-level revision sheet (PDF) of Carol Ann Duffy’s ‘Before You Were Mine’ 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 ‘Eden Rock’ 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 fully-adaptable PowerPoint which explores ‘Walking Away’ 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 Cecil Day-Lewis
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 -two 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 Day-Lewis’ 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, enjambment, verbs, unusual collective nouns and collocations 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
This is high-level revision sheet of Robert Browning’s ‘Porphyria’s Lover’ 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 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 ‘The Farmer’s Bride’ 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-level GCSE essay for those studying Much Ado about Nothing for AQA English Literature Paper 1
The resource offers an extract from Act 3 scene 2 with an AQA-style examination question on attitudes towards Hero.
There follows an essay which focuses on the question. The essay is written to a high-level for those aiming for grades 7-9 (although might help aspiring grade 6 also). The essay is around a side-and-a-half typed, meaning handwritten it would be about four sides (in keeping with high-level candidate expectations).
After the essay, there is discussion as to:
how the essay’s approach fits AQA’s ‘extract to whole’ further insight booklet on GCSE English Literature
how the essay hits AO1, AO2 and AO3.
how the essay covers higher band criteria
The resource is fully-adapatable for you to change as needed for your OWN classroom use.
Best wishes,
Englbee x
A high-level GCSE essay for those studying Much Ado about Nothing for AQA English Literature Paper 1
The resource offers an extract from Act 2 scene 2 with an AQA-style examination question on attitudes towards Deception
There follows an essay which focuses on the question. The essay is written to a high-level for those aiming for grades 7-9 (although might help aspiring grade 6 also). The essay is around a side-and-a-half typed, meaning handwritten it would be about four sides (in keeping with high-level candidate expectations).
After the essay, there is discussion as to:
how the essay’s approach fits AQA’s ‘extract to whole’ further insight booklet on GCSE English Literature
how the essay hits AO1, AO2 and AO3.
how the essay covers higher band criteria
The resource is fully-adapatable for you to change as needed for your OWN classroom use.
Best wishes,
Englbee x
10 AQA Writing to Describe GCSE English Language Question 5 Writing Tasks with both a descriptive and a narrative question for all pictures. Variety of pictures included.
Could also be used with KS3 or any creative writing class despite being specifically designed for the new AQA English Language GCSE.
Best wishes,
Englbee x
This bundle contains two PowerPoints, one focusing upon the dramatic comedy genre, and the other the dramatic tragedy genre.
Both PowerPoints follow a similar format:
*students are introduced to the terms ‘comedy’ or ‘tragedy’
*critical interpretations
*revision of dramatic method
*paired exploration of genre-specific method
*a didactic commentary of characterisation
language and structure
Best wishes,
Englbee
A free AQA English Language Q5 Practice Question to save you time. If you like what you see, there are 10 more at the link below for a small cost.
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/writing-to-describe-tasks-11915510
Best wishes,
Englbee x
The lesson is part of an outgoing AQA English Literature B Specification. It offers relevant background discussion on method and philosophical ideas explored in the novel, Enduring Love.
If you like what you see in this lesson, at a the link below you can find further resources for this text:
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/-enduring-love-by-ian-mcewan-chapter-by-chapter-11916197
Best wishes,
Englbee x
