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.
Three writing frames to help low-ability students structure exam-style response to questions based on the themes of ambition and deception.
Students are provided with a very short extract and an exam-style question. I made the extracts shorter than normal to make it more accessible for the students.
The writing frame starts off each paragraph for the student. There is then space for the students to use their knowledge of the play to add further analysis of each quotation.
It has been designed to fit onto A4 sheets for ease of printing. For some students it may be necessary to enlarge the sheet to A3.
These resources help build student confidence and is an important step for helping them structure their answers independently.
Also contains guidance on thesis-style introductions.
‘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.
53 page revision booklet for Power and Conflict which compiles my most popular resources into one place. Include knowledge organisers, model answers, key vocabulary, context, quizzes, writing frames and more.
A 42 page revision booklet for the Edexcel conflict poetry anthology. Contains a page on each poem packed with analysis of the key quotations. Also contains knowledge organisers on main ideas, structure and context and various high level model responses to a range of questions.
A 23 page booklet containing detailed analysis and annotations for all 18 poems alongside knowledge organisers covering the main ideas, context and structure in each poem.
A lesson that walks students through how to answer an exam question on attitudes to the supernatural in Macbeth. The featured extract comes from Act 1 Scene 3. The lesson includes annotations of the extract, a grade 9 sample answer and annotations for quotations to use from outside the extract to finish the response.
Also contains an alternative lesson which uses Act 1 Scene 1 as the starting extract. This lesson is actually better.
A timeline that looks at 13 quotations across the play that link to the motif of fire. This is aimed at high level students to help them make thoughtful and perceptive points about the way Dickens uses the motif to explore various ideas.
Ideal as a cover worksheet, this worksheet gets students to choose from a range of learning journey tasks to help them compare how a parallel universe is presented in two popular fiction extracts from Hunger Games and The Wizard of Oz.
PowerPoint contains essential annotations for all 18 Eduqas poems.
Also contains a revision booklet with a page of detailed analysis of quotations for each poem.
Also includes a quiz and revision cards for each poem and the PowerPoint for a revision lesson.
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
15 Conceptual Statements - one for each poem. Students must work out which poem each conceptual statement is referring to.
Also contains summaries of each poem using the ‘because, but, so’ method from the writing revolution.
The ‘because, but, so’ method is an excellent tool for teaching students to think analytically about each poem in the Power and Conflict anthology. This tool is powerful because it encourages students to expand their thinking with precision and detail.
After studying each poem, I ask students to write a ‘because, but, so’ paragraph on it.
This document collates ‘because, but, so’ paragraphs on all 15 poems as examples to assist students with revising the key ideas in each poem.
A 76 slide lesson aimed at lower ability students which guides them through 30 key quotations from Macbeth.
Each quotation is introduced with a prompt question. The next slide then explains the quotation. This process continues for all 30 quotations.
There is a knowledge retention test worksheet attached to check how much knowledge students have retained.
A simple plot summary cloze activity and card sort to help students become familiar with the basics of the plot.
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
Other popular Macbeth resources include:
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/macbeth-revise-20-extracts-11868136
Revision cards
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/macbeth-theme-revision-cards-ambition-supernatural-guilt-violence-deceit-courage-11868831
Grade 9 model ansers
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/macbeth-6-grade-7-9-model-responses-12187985
Knowledge organisers
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/macbeth-character-revision-sheet-quotations-themes-context-aqa-9-1-11868119
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/how-is-lady-macbeth-presented-in-act-5-scene-1-worksheets-and-a-model-response-11422450
A list of 120 analytical verbs to help students sharpen their expression to support their critical thinking.
There are 20 alternatives for this shows, this demonstrates, this suggests, this reinforces, this motivates and this highlights.
40 key lines from the play in the form of a quiz in which students have to work out which character speaks each line.
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
A revision sheet covering 6 big ideas in Macbeth with 6 accompanying quotations and brief explanations to help students chart how the big idea is developed across the play.
This is aimed at students working towards grade 5.
I have a similar sheet but aimed at students working towards grade 9 which covers each quotation in much more detail with perceptive inferences.
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/macbeth-big-ideas-revision-cards-aiming-for-grade-9-12685801
Choose the one that you think will best suit the ability of your class.