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.
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
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 fully-adaptable PowerPoint which explores ‘The Farmer’s Bride’ 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 Charlotte Mew
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 - 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 Mew’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. Subversion of the pastoral, significance of the ending, use of irregular couplets, natural imagery 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
This is high-level revision sheet of Lord Byron’s ‘When We Two Parted’ 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 Winter Swans 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
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
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
Nine GCSE revision posters for Shakespeare’s ‘Much Ado about Nothing’.
These posters would be useful to display in classrooms, but may find an even better purpose as revision tools.
Pupils can struggle to distil and make notes on Shakespeare; these posters offer key themes and ideas on each character with up to three relevent quotations (and references) for each.
Something to give to less-able pupils to take away and revise from. For more able, a starting point towards further revision.
Could be displayed as A3 or made into an A4 booklet.
Your free Benedick poster can be found here: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/much-ado-about-nothing-benedick-poster-free-
Best wishes,
Englbee x
A fully-adaptable PowerPoint which offers an introduction to the study of dramatic tragedy as a genre. As well as some didactic commentary, the lesson offers visual and practical tasks for pupils to work through in order to explore and begin to understand the concept of tragedy 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 ‘Macbeth’ 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 ‘Macbeth’ or 'Julius Caesar’ (‘Romeo and Juliet’ differs somewhat from traditional dramatic tragedy conventions, but some aspects may be useful), 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 AQA A Level English Literature students studying ‘King Lear’, ‘Othello’, or ‘Richard II’, or any of the other dramatic tragedies, although further reading and research will be necessary. It will certainly aid less-able A Level students who need a starting point and benefit from visual and practical tasks, and discussion.
Link to a similar PowerPoint on Dramatic Comedy here: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/dramatic-comedy-genre-an-introduction-11922680
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 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
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
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
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
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
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